Esade Law School: Barcelona, Spain
a. General Information
Esade is a global institution structured as a Business School, a Law School, and an Executive Education program, known for the quality of its education, its international outlook, and its focus on holistic personal development. Esade has strong ties to the business world.
Esade’s academic activity encompasses three main areas:
- Education
Esade applies a unique and innovative learning model based on the internalization of values and the development of professional and executive competences. - Research
Esade generates new knowledge that helps to improve the dynamics of organizations, businesses and the practice of law. - Social Debate
Esade is a platform where people can gather and discuss important issues with the aim of improving society.
Read more at: https://www.esade.edu/en/about-us/what-is-ESADE
b. The Exchange Program
Esade Law School welcomes every year more than 100 students from the United States, Latin America, Asia, Middle East, Europe and Oceania partner universities at its Barcelona-Pedralbes campus. Incoming students can join the Esade Law Exchange Program for one term or two terms (fall, spring, or annual), subject to Stanford Law School policies. Exchange students are considered as part of the Esade community and will have the same rights and duties that Esade regular students, faculty, and staff.
c. Academic Calendar
2026/2027 Academic Calendar
Fall term 2026:
- Orientation Program (optional Spanish language course offered to incoming students): End August – early September
- Semester dates: from September 3, 2026, to December 22, 2026 (tentative exam period included)
Spring term 2027:
- Orientation Program (optional Spanish language course offered to incoming students): Early February
- Semester dates: from February 8, 2027, to End June 2027 (tentative exam period included)
d. Language of Instruction
Fall term: English and/or Spanish
Spring term: English and/or Spanish
e. Eligible Courses
Exchange students enrolled in the program can choose courses from different programs of undergraduate and master level depending on the chosen term. Please note that course list for 2026/27 and syllabi will be available on the Esade Exchange Moodle website by June/July 2025. Courses from previous years are available in the links below under the “Exchange Incoming Students” section:
Fall term: Degree in Laws-LLB, Bachelor in Global Governance, Master in International Business Law, Master in Corporate Compliance, Master in Legal Practice-LLM
Spring term: Degree in Laws-LLB, Bachelor in Global Governance
f. English Language Courses
Please see the list of Esade Law course offerings in section e, where the language of instruction is noted.
g. Academic Requirements for Admission to the Exchange Program
Students must be in good standing and nominated by their partner school. In addition, nominated students should have at least completed two years of undergraduate law studies at university level (in countries where law is offered as a first degree). First-year graduate law students are eligible to participate in the law exchange program at Esade Law School during their second year of legal studies.
After being nominated by Stanford Law School, the student must complete the Esade application procedure within the application deadline. The student will be considered as “admitted” by Esade Law School once the student’s application has been successfully completed.
h. Standard Course Loads
Incoming students from non-European Universities are required to take at least 20 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits and a maximum of 33 ECTS per term.
i. Course Enrollment and Registration
All course registrations should be requested online only, through the Esade Law School bidding system, from the end of June to early July 2026* (Fall term), and from early November 2026* (Spring term). Courses can only be added/dropped during the official registration or change round in Mid-July and Mid-November. No changes will be made once those periods are over.
*Tentative dates
j. Grading System
Esade grades are on a scale of 0 to 10. In the academic year 2005-2006, as one of the steps towards building the European Higher Education Area – the grading system established by the Ministry for Education in Spain was adopted (Royal Decree 1125/2006, 5th September. BOE 18.09.2003). From this moment onwards, the following scale was applied: 0-4.9: Fail; 5.0-6.9: Pass, 7.0-8.9: Remarkable, 9.0-10: Outstanding.
The mention of ‘Distinction’ (Matrícula de Honor, MH) may (though not necessarily) be awarded to a limited number of students – 5% of those enrolled in that course in that academic year – who have obtained a grade of 9.0 or more.
For additional academic information, please visit the Esade Academic Affairs website.
k. The Application Procedure
Nominated students must submit the following required application documents:
- Copy of Passport (showing full name)
- Proof of Health Insurance with International Coverage
- CV / Resumé
- Current Official Transcript (Only ORIGINAL scanned transcripts or e-transcripts will be accepted. Students will be required to show their original transcript during the ESADE mandatory check in once in Barcelona, in order to validate the uploaded document.). Previous undergraduate (first degree) transcripts are not required for students from countries where law is a graduate degree program.
- Language certificates:
- Fall: Courses mainly taught in English (some courses offered in Spanish) English language certificate* required (minimum C1) only for applicants who are not native English speakers or who are from an institution where the language of instruction is not English.
- Spring: Courses English and Spanish. Spanish language certificate* required (minimum B2) for non-native Spanish speakers interested in taking Spanish-taught courses.
* The language certificate must be issued by a competent body, coordinator of Spanish Language or another authorized institution (language school).
l. Application Deadlines
Fall term: May 22* (TBC)
Spring term: October 23* (TBC)
*Tentative Application deadlines
Please note that students who need to apply for a visa should complete and submit their applications as soon as possible.
m. Housing Information
Esade does not have housing facilities for students in Barcelona–Pedralbes but students are welcome to stay at the Residencia Sarria, which is a 15-minute walk down to the Pedralbes campus.
There is a large amount of available housing in Barcelona and it can take time to find accommodation. It is highly recommended that you begin researching accommodation well in advance and try to arrive in Barcelona at least one or two weeks prior to the start of the program to locate or finalize permanent accommodation. It is highly recommended as well to book a room in a hotel, hostel or student residence for this initial period. Another possibility is to find classmates on the Esade Facebook groups who are already here and are willing to rent a room on a short-term basis.
The Esade International Students Advisor will provide with more detailed information after the student admission.
n. Visa/Immigration Information
All applicants from Non-EU nations need a visa to study in Spain. In order to get a visa, all students must apply at the embassy or consulate of Spain in their home country at least 2 months before their planned date of departure.
The documentation that you may be required to present when applying for a Student Visa includes:
- Passport
- Passport-size photos
- Proof of financial means
- Admission Letter from ESADE (invitation to housing included)
- Proof of medical insurance including repatriation
- Proof of Accommodation*
- Other documentation specific to your situation
* Esade-issued Invitation to Housing Letters for Visa Applications (non-EU students)
The Esade International Students Advisor will provide with more detailed information after the student admission.
o. Fees
Esade Law exchange students are exempt from paying tuition fees at Esade Law School.
p. Estimated Cost of Living
Estimated monthly budget (2026/2027):
NOTE: This is a rough estimate and depends on your lifestyle while here.
| Housing Off-Campus (Shared) | €500 – €700 |
| Public Transportation | €40 |
| Groceries | €250 – €400 |
| Eating out | €215 – €320 |
| Sports | €45 – €80 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | €200 – €500 |
q. Health Insurance Requirements
For visa application purposes your policy has to include €100,000 of coverage including hospitalization, with no co-payments, reimbursement clauses, deductible or waiting period. If your stay in Spain is longer than a year and you will be renewing your TIE, you must provide proof of medical insurance when you renew next year. If the policy you submit when renewing your TIE is from another country, you will need to have it legalized by your country’s consulate in Spain or the Spanish consulate in your country. Also, all documentation submitted for the renewal process must be in Spanish and if you have it translated, it must be done by a sworn translator, and the amounts of coverage should be stated in euros. Students from Non-EU countries are required to arrange private insurance to cover medical care in Spain and check with the insurance company about the specific details and exact procedure to follow should they need medical attention while in Spain.
r. Program Contacts/Advisors at the Partner School
Law International Academic Relations Team:
| Associate Director International Academic Relations, Themis Coordinator (Bilateral agreements, international partners contact) |
Araceli Domènech araceli.domenech@esade.edu |
| International Program Manager | Julia Anglès julia.angles@esade.edu |
School of Law Team:
| Exchange Program Manager (Incoming students helpdesk for academic issues: application documents, course offer, registration, transcripts,…) |
Eva Mestres eva.mestres@esade.edu |
| Exchange Students Academic Advisor (Learning Agreements, courses descriptions…) |
Silvia Romboli silvia.romboli@esade.edu |
| Non-Academic International Student Advisor (Students’ advisor for non-academic issues: housing, visa, insurance…) |
Caroline Beckershaus and Mireia Cuesta isa@esade.edu |
s. Library Information
The Esade library offers its services in Barcelona–Pedralbes and Barcelona–Sant Cugat. It houses an extensive collection of literature on Management Science, Law and other related subjects, including books, journals, yearbooks, student theses and final projects, working papers and other documents.
The Digital Library also provides access to over 40 electronic information resources containing journal articles, international statistical and financial data, market research, company directories, annual reports, legislation and jurisprudence. Most of these information resources can be accessed from any device or computer connected to the Internet.
The Esade library receives all the official publications of the European Union (in the Esade European Documentation Center), the OECD (in electronic format since 1998), the ILO and the World Bank (in electronic format).
Information sessions are held at the beginning of each term to inform new students of the possibilities the library has to offer.