Reflections So Far as an Intern in Barcelona

By Georgia Renshaw

As a language student, a year abroad is compulsory, and you can choose to either study at a university, teach English, or complete an internship. After careful consideration, I decided to use my year abroad as an opportunity to gain some valuable experience in the marketing industry. Following various applications, interviews, and mock tasks, I successfully secured a 12-month paid marketing internship in Barcelona. And so, my year abroad journey began! I have now been in Barcelona for three months and thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on my adventure so far!

La Sagrada Familia

The Biggest Challenge

Securing my visa emerged as the most challenging hurdle I had to face. Brexit meant that many of the requirements had changed for Spanish internship visas, additional documentation was needed, and the overall cost of the visa process was amplified. Working full-time during the holidays and part-time during the academic year prepared me for some of the financial stress, however, there were certain challenges that could not have been predicted. For instance, I encountered setbacks such as the rejection of my work permit, the embassy’s dissatisfaction with one of my apostilles, and the consulate misplacing all of my visa-related documents… a very stressful few months to say the least. All of these visa challenges meant that I was unable to be in the office for the agreed start date, and therefore had to work remotely for the first two months. Despite the problems I faced, I am a strong believer of everything happening for a reason, and although at times it was difficult to remain in this mindset, I realise now that the entire pre-departure process taught me to stay determined and positive, even when things don’t go to plan.

The view from Los Bunkers del Carmel

Culture Shocks

One of the initial cultural shocks I experienced was related to the language. Before relocating to Barcelona, I was aware that there were two official languages, Castilian and Catalan. Although I have a good level of Castilian, thanks to my studies at Sheffield, I lacked any knowledge of Catalan, which was quite intimidating. However, the majority of locals are bilingual in both Castilian and Catalan, so don’t be discouraged if you only know one of the official languages. With time, I have actually managed to learn some basic Catalan and I have found that making an effort to speak Spanish, whether it be Castilian or Catalan, is met with immense respect, so don’t be scared to speak the language or make grammatical errors! 

The Spanish way of life has been really inspiring – the relaxed atmosphere, great weather, and the friendliness of the people all contribute to an exceptional quality of life. However, one aspect that I am still adjusting to is the local concept of time; everything happens so much later. Attending the company Christmas meal, I intentionally arrived 45 minutes later, only for us to still wait an additional 30 minutes for others to arrive. The nightlife in Barcelona also follows a delayed schedule, with most clubs staying open until 6 am, making for quite an interesting night out!!

I am also adjusting to the reality that my schedule doesn’t allow me to have as much time off as those teaching English or studying at a university. In Sheffield, the holidays were a little break from work and a time for family and friends, however, I only have the national bank holidays off and then 11 days of my own personal leave, making it slightly difficult to completely detach from work and have affordable city breaks away. Nonetheless, my job is still thoroughly rewarding, I just have to make the most of my weekends!

Parc de la Ciutadella 

Hopes For the Next Few Months

Now that I’ve settled into both the city and my job, my aim for the upcoming months is to explore more of Europe! My TIE card will be available to collect at the end of January, which will allow me to leave and re-enter Spain without any issues, so I can finally start planning group and solo trips without worrying about any challenges at the border. One of the main places on my bucket list for my year abroad is to visit Morocco, as it’s not that far from Spain, so hopefully I’ll be writing about that trip in one of my next blogs!

La Barceloneta Beach

Tips and Advice

• Visa – Stay updated with the consulate website and make sure you have all of the correct documentation, be prepared for it to get costly (translations, apostles etc), and don’t be disheartened if things go wrong – it’ll all be worth it once you’re on your year abroad. 
• Interning Abroad/ Imposter Syndrome – I’ll be honest, it is daunting working in a foreign office and being the ‘newbie’, but remember that you deserve to be there and the company offered you a position for a reason! View it as an incredible opportunity to gain valuable experience, acquire new skills, and expand your network. 
• Homesickness – While I haven’t personally experienced much homesickness in my first three months, it does surface occasionally. To counter this, I remind myself that this is an incredible opportunity to grow, both professionally and personally! 
• My biggest piece of advice would be to remind yourself that this opportunity could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so make the most of it! Carefully consider your year abroad options and don’t be scared to diverge from what your friends are doing, everything will work out the way that it’s meant to!
• For those considering an internship abroad, I wholeheartedly recommend it. My experience has been incredible so far, providing me with a full year of valuable industry exposure that will benefit my post-graduation career. Whether you decide to complete an internship, study at a university, or teach English at a school, your year abroad promises a truly enriching experience!
• If you have any questions about my experience as an intern abroad, life in Spain, or you want some advice for your year abroad, feel free to message me via The Ambassador Platform (you can access this via the Global Opportunities website).

FC Barcelona Match

Your Guide to Getting a Spanish Visa: Internship Edition

By Georgia Renshaw

**Please note that this is Georgia’s personal experience applying for a visa and is NOT visa advice nor the official visa application process**

Language students at the University of Sheffield must undertake a compulsory year abroad, offering choices such as studying at a foreign university, working as a language assistant, or pursuing an internship. Additionally, numerous students studying different degrees also choose to complete a placement abroad, so for anyone considering completing an internship in Spain, this blog is for you!

I am currently pursuing a degree in Spanish and Italian at Sheffield, and I chose to spend my year abroad in Barcelona as a Marketing Intern. I knew that I wanted to use my year abroad to enhance my marketing knowledge, improve my language skills, and experience a whole new culture, however, I was unaware of the challenges that I would face with regards to obtaining a visa. This guide will provide you with the process that I followed to eventually obtain my visa, with the aim of making your experience a lot smoother than mine. 

               

Documents Needed for your Work Permit/ Residence 

Authorization for an Internship

The very first step you must overcome is getting your work permit/ residence authorization for your internship. Without this document, you will not be able to obtain a visa. 

What is a Work Permit/ Residence Authorization and why do I need it?

This a document to essentially say that Spain gives you permission to intern in Spain, and you need it for your visa appointment. 

Who approves it?

The document must be approved by the Delegation or Sub-delegation of the Government in the province in which the internship will be carried out

How do I get the work permit?

I knew that it would be difficult to sort this document from the UK, so I used a Spanish lawyer, who was recommended to me by my internship, to submit my application on my behalf. This was an expensive decision, however, it saved me a lot of stress, and ensured that I had support there if anything went wrong. 

What documents do I need for it?

Here is a list of every document that I sent to the lawyer:

1. Passport

A scanned copy of every single page in my passport, from the front cover to the rear cover.

2. Criminal Record Certificate – ACRO

This document needed to be apostilled and translated into Spanish. This cannot be more than 3 months old prior to applying for the work permit.

3. Internship Contract

I used the training agreement provided by the university, but it must be signed by the university, the internship company, and yourself. It must also state the exact hours you will work each day (my work permit was originally rejected because it didn’t have this extra information). This must also be translated into Spanish. 

4. Academic Certificate

I used my HEAR report which you can access via muse. This document must be signed by the university, and also be translated and apostilled. 

5. Letter/ Certificate signed by the university explaining that you are a registered student at that specific university and in that specific degree. 

The university (SSID) can provide a ‘Certificate of Student Status’. This must be apostilled and translated. 

6. Health insurance

I sent a scanned copy of my GHIC card (you must apply for this on the UK government website, and it is then sent to your home address), and a scanned copy of my travel insurance (which is provided for by the university).

The travel insurance needs to be translated into Spanish. 

7. Proof of economic means

I had to send numerous bank statements to show that I had sufficient funds in my bank account. The amount of funds that you need in your bank is dependent on your duration in Spain, but it is approximately €625 per month. Eg my internship is 12-months long so I had to have €7,500 on my bank statements. These bank statements must also be translated into Spanish.

I also had to send a letter of recommendation from my bank and a copy of both sides of my credit card.

All of the documents provided for by the bank had to be signed and stamped by the bank to prove they were legitimate documents.

What Next?

Once the work permit/ residence of authorisation has been submitted, it usually takes around a month for it to be approved. Once it has been approved you are then given a month to submit your actual visa application, if you do not do it within this time, the work permit will expire, and you will have to submit a new application, and go through the steps above again. 

Documents Needed for your Visa Appointment

You should be able to book your appointment at the consulate, provided that you have the following documents:

1. National Visa Application Form

You must fill out this form, which is provided on the government website. 

2. Photograph

A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the face. A normal passport photo is fine.

3. Valid, unexpired passport.

Original and a photocopy of the biometric pages on the passport. Must have a minimum validity period of 1 year and contain two blank pages. 

4. Authorisation for residence and internship

This is the work permit document mentioned in the prior section. Bring the original and a copy.

5. ACRO criminal record certificate 

Bring the original and a copy. It must be apostilled and translated by a sworn translator. It cannot be older than 6 months. 

6. Proof of residence in the consular district

You need a document that has your address on it, to prove that you are attending the consulate which is closest to your home address. 

7. Bank Documents

Bring the same bank documents that you used for the work permit. Make sure you have your most recent bank statements, which should state the correct amount of financial means.

8. Medical Certificate of Good Health

You need the original and a copy of a medical certificate that states that you do not suffer from any diseases that may have serious public health implications in accordance with the international Health Regulations 2005. There is one on the consulate website that you can use, but you must also get the document translated into Spanish and apostilled. 

9. Payment of the visa fee

When submitting your documents you must pay the visa fee. I would keep the receipt for this, just in case.  

It is important to remember that the Consular Office may ask for additional documents. At my appointment, they decided they didn’t like the apostille of my ACRO Criminal Record Certificate, and gave me 10 days to get a new one sorted. 

What next?

It typically takes between 2-4 weeks to receive a decision on your application, so it’s just a waiting game after this.

Tips and Important Advice

• Have copies of absolutely everything 

Even if you don’t need a copy of the document, do it anyway and take it with you to the consulate. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

• Be prepared for the process to get costly 

Paying for a lawyer, standard translations, sworn translations, and apostilles, as well as making sure that you have sufficient funds in your bank account as proof of economic means, means that you will be spending a lot before you even get there. 

• Stay in contact with your internship company/ manager

Due to the delays and problems with my visa, I arrived in Spain two months later than planned. I kept my manager informed, worked remotely from the UK to mitigate the visa delay’s impact, and joined the Barcelona office later. Spanish businesses are usually understanding of the challenges interns face due to Brexit, but it is crucial to have clear communication with your manager or internship company. 

• Visit the consulate’s website for updates

Given the challenges posed by Brexit, obtaining a Spanish visa has become more complex, and last year, there was a lack of clear guidance on the application process. It is crucial to consistently monitor the consulate website for any potential changes in requirements or the need for additional documentation. 

• Engage with the Global Opportunities Team

Maintain open communication with the Global Opportunities Team throughout your journey. Whether you’re sharing positive or negative developments, asking questions, expressing concerns, or seeking advice, feel free to reach out to them. They are a very busy team, but are dedicated to supporting you throughout the process and will assist you in any way possible. They were a godsend for me!!

• STAY POSITIVE WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

My work permit got rejected, then the consulate asked for more documents at my visa appointment and only gave me 10 days to sort them, and then the consulate lost my visa documents…but I got to Spain in the end! It is really easy to get down when things are going wrong, but all of the hard work and stress will be worth it once you are there!

Feel free to get in contact with myself (grenshaw1@sheffield.ac.uk), if you want to know more about my experience in Spain, getting an internship abroad, or simply want some advice for your year abroad! Here are some photos to show you that it is all worth it!!

Things to Consider Before Moving to Germany: Cultural Differences Between Germany and the UK, and How to Prepare for Your Year Abroad

By Tori Barlow

Here is a simple, bullet-pointed list of some tips to help your year abroad in Germany get off to a smooth start!

1. Language and Culture Immersion: Dive In Early

Prepare for your German adventure by immersing yourself in the language and culture before you travel here. Beyond the basics, consider watching popular German TV shows like “Dark”, “Tatortreiniger”, or “Türkisch für Anfänger” with subtitles, or consider trying out different genres of German music.. you never know what you might find! To keep up to date with nationwide events, celebrations, or rail strikes, make sure to read the German news sources, such as Der Spiegel or Die Zeit, which will not only improve your language skills but will also allow you to make informed decisions about your travel plans. (If there are any Deutsche Bahn rail strikes, NOTHING will run, so if you have to travel on these days I would recommend taking a FlixBus if you can). This technique works excellently for learning the language and making this country feel like home. It will also make your environment seem less intimidating or overwhelming if you are at all nervous or anxious about moving abroad on your own.

• Personal Space and Formality: Respectful Connections

Germans value personal space and maintain formality, especially in initial interactions. When addressing individuals, particularly in professional settings, use appropriate titles like Herr (Mr.) or Frau (Ms./Mrs.). As relationships develop, the formality may ease, but initiating connections with respect sets a positive tone for future interactions. This is particularly evident when you address someone you don’t know for the first time. You must always use the formal version of ‘du’ which is ‘Sie’ when you first address a new person, or someone more senior than yourself. Most Germans will understand if you make this mistake and use ‘du’, but don’t be surprised if they try to correct you. For example, you would say “Können Sie mir helfen?” instead of “Kannst du mir helfen?” if you were asking someone if they can help you.

Further, it is custom in the morning to greet people with “Morgen!”, even if you don’t know them. Then, throughout the day if you pass someone such as your neighbour, it is polite to say “Hallo”. If you do not do this, the Germans may think you are rude.

• Punctuality Matters: The German Time Precision

Punctuality is more than a virtue in Germany; it’s a cultural expectation. Arriving on time demonstrates respect and professionalism. Set the tone for positive interactions by planning your schedule carefully, whether attending a social gathering or a professional meeting. The German commitment to punctuality extends to public transport, so embracing this cultural norm ensures smooth and stress-free travel. That being said, public transport services can be early as much as they can be late, so I would recommend arriving to your bus stop/ train station at least 5mins before your departure. They will not wait for you, even if you are on time but they are early! Learn how to use apps like Deutsche Bahn’s Navigator for schedules and ticket information. Efficiently navigating public transport not only enhances your independence but also allows you to explore the diverse corners of Germany seamlessly. I recommend for the first time you travel here or need to use German public transport, to have at least one person with you. If you will be doing all of this alone, make sure to do your research and have back-up travel routes!

• Sunday Silence: The Day of Rest

Sundays in Germany offer a stark contrast to the lively scenes in the UK. Most establishments, including supermarkets and shops, remain closed, encouraging a day of rest and reflection. An easy way to embrace this cultural practice is by planning your weekly shopping ahead and taking your Sunday to explore local scenery with friends. There is definitely a hike to be found almost anywhere in this country.

• Communal Living: Searching for Accommodation

This will vary depending on whether you have access to university accommodation or not. As a student or young adult, most people here find their flats using this website: WG-Gesucht.de . Unlike in England where you often have to search for your flat/house almost a year in advance, here the changeover is much faster. Germans will usually advertise properties a month or so in advance, so my advice would be to monitor what comes up at least a few months in advance, and when you see something promising, act quickly! From my experience, it is a very competitive market. It is also worth noting that subletting is extremely common here unlike in England, even subletting a sublet… so make sure you know who and where your money is going each month to avoid any complications! Subletting can also be great, because all the responsibility for your utilities falls on the main tenant, so usually you pay one all-inclusive bill each month, instead of rent per third and bills every month 😊 .

• Money Money Money: The Cost of Living

From my personal experience, I would say the cost of living in Germany is higher than the UK, but a German salary will compensate for this… so perhaps it balances out? I think it is important to remember this topic is very subjective, but still vital to consider if you are considering moving abroad. EU imports are obviously cheaper than in the UK, but non-EU imports are more expensive than in the UK. For example, your next pair of trainers might be cheaper to buy at home depending on the brand.

Here is some information I have found about comparing the cost of living in different countries. According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Germany is 21% cheaper than in the UK. However, the cost of living in Sheffield is lower than the UK average.

Here is a comparison of the prices of some common items in Sheffield and Germany: (please note that these figures could be completely inaccurate and this just serves as a general guide)

Item	Sheffield	Germany
Meal at McDonald’s (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	5.00£ (5.77€)	7.83£ (9.00€)
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)	3.00£ (3.46€)	3.48£ (4.00€)
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)	3.50£ (4.04€)	3.13£ (3.60€)
Cappuccino (regular)	2.50£ (2.89€)	2.80£ (3.22€)
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)	1.00£ (1.15€)	2.31£ (2.65€)
Water (0.33 liter bottle)	0.80£ (0.92€)	2.06£ (2.37€)
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	1.00£ (1.15€)	3.57£ (4.10€)
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	0.90£ (1.04€)	1.50£ (1.72€)
Rice (white), (1 lb)	0.50£ (0.58€)	0.97£ (1.11€)
Eggs (regular) (12)	1.80£ (2.08€)	2.65£ (3.05€)
Local Cheese (1 lb)	2.50£ (2.89€)	4.82£ (5.54€)
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	3.00£ (3.46€)	4.92£ (5.66€)
Apples (1 lb)	0.80£ (0.92€)	0.93£ (1.07€)
Oranges (1 lb)	0.80£ (0.92€)	0.82£ (0.94€)
Potato (1 lb)	0.50£ (0.58€)	0.60£ (0.69€)
Onion (1 lb)	0.50£ (0.58€)	0.59£ (0.68€)
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	0.80£ (0.92€)	0.53£ (0.61€)
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	7.00£ (8.08€)	4.34£ (4.99€)
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.50£ (2.89€)	2.61£ (3.00€)
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.00£ (3.46€)	3.13£ (3.60€)
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	2.00£ (2.31€)	2.80£ (3.22€)
Totals	43.40£ (50.13€) Sheffield	56.12£ (64.82€) Germany

• Hey Big Spender: Managing Your Money

Taking a year abroad is a great opportunity but it can also be expensive – especially with upfront costs. As soon as you know you will go abroad, I recommend to start saving as much money as reasonably possible. Do not exhaust yourself trying to manage every penny, but consider how you spend your money, and start to think about how you could earn more. Some easy things I did include:

• Set up a new flexible savings account with a high interest rate. Right now, Chase by JP Morgen has 4.1% AER.
• Enable ‘round ups’ on all your transactions. This means that whatever you spend, your bank will round this number up to the next pound and put those pennies in a pot for you to save. I did this again with Chase, which put the pennies directly into my savers account, with an additional interest rate of 5% AER.
• Keeping rent money in a flexible savings account so that it can accumulate some pennies while you aren’t needing it. Make sure to remove the rent in time for your payments thought o avoid complications with your landlords!
• Sell old clothes or belongings you wouldn’t take abroad on Vinted. This is also useful for general consumer management, because if you wouldn’t take these items abroad for a year, do you really need them? You can also link your Vinted to your chosen bank account, so moving the money into your savings is even easier.
• Look into what financial support you can access through the university. The university can help you with scholarships, bursaries, and the Turing Scheme, so it is a good idea to attend any talks or help sessions, and know how much, if anything, you could be entitled to.
• Reconsider your expenses and try to make them cheaper. This includes your phone bill, streaming or delivery services, contact lenses, try to get creative with it.
• Create a spending budget, and anything you don’t spend each month move into these savings. I believe the university’s website still has a money planner or calculator you can use to help you.
• Get a part-time job or pick up freelance work. Check out the university’s careers service for flexible opportunities, and I also recommend signing up to a hospitality company such as Arc or Constellation who offer casual shifts around local areas.

Moreover, when you arrive in Germany: while card payments are widely accepted, having cash on hand remains practical. Smaller establishments, local markets, or street vendors may prefer cash transactions, so make sure you always have emergency cash with you at all times, you never know when you may need it!

As for card payments, I recommend using Revolut for your day-to-day spending, and PayPal is also common here for people to send money to one another. It may be better to set up a new PayPal in German to avoid exchange fees, and for this you will need a new email, and potentially a German phone number. I found having an email such as username_de@email.com really useful for managing all the admin in general, and you can find cheap prepaid sims here to get a phone number, which you can top up as you need.

• Biking Culture and The Green Revolution

Germany’s commitment to environmental sustainability is reflected in its intricate recycling system. Take recycling seriously by familiarising yourself with the waste separation bins in your local area (or when you plan to move to). For example, the “Gelbe Tonne” (yellow bin) is for packaging materials and so on. Pfand is a deposit system for plastic bottles and aluminium drink cans in Germany. You pay extra money when you buy a drink (around 25 cents) and you can get it back when you return the empty container to the stations you can find at all supermarkets. You will sometimes see homeless people collecting these bottles, so that they can buy themselves food with the ‘voucher’ you are given after donating them at the shop.

Germany’s commitment to sustainability also extends to its biking culture. Like in Sheffield, I have seen locals cycle in ALL weather conditions. Plus, the roads here are much more adapted for bikes than they are in the UK so you could argue it is safer, however, make sure to allow time to familiarise yourself with cycling on the other side of the road to avoid any accidents! You could even consider joining local biking groups or using bike-sharing programs to connect with the community, offering a more authentic perspective on German urban life.