I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Biochemistry at Freie Universität Berlin. For my Erasmus internship, I decided on Barcelona because I had previously completed an Erasmus semester there. Since I already knew the professor of the research group from the lectures during my Erasmus, the application process was very straightforward, and I received an immediate acceptance. Preparing the documents for the Erasmus+ Internship application also went smoothly and without any issues.

Accommodation in the Host Country
For housing, I used platforms like Spotahome, Badi, and HousingAnywhere. The prices for shared apartments are quite high, typically between €500 and €600 per month. Through these platforms, I found a small room for €500 near my lab. Although everything worked well, the price was significantly too high for the size and location of the room.

Internship at the Host Lab
During my internship in Carlos Sebastian Muñoz’s lab in Barcelona, I had an incredibly enriching and positive experience. The team members were kind and welcoming, integrating me into the group immediately and eventually becoming good friends. The research project I worked on was very exciting, focusing on the effects of specific bacteria on the metabolism of cancer cells—a topic I found fascinating.
What I appreciated most was the high degree of independence I was given in my work, along with the trust placed in my abilities. This allowed me to expand my knowledge significantly and learn many new and modern techniques, which were valuable for my academic and personal development.

Daily Life and Leisure
Barcelona is a fantastic city for an Erasmus experience. There are numerous cultural activities for Erasmus students organized by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), such as discounted entry to museums or the Sagrada Familia. They also frequently arranged trips to various cities in Spain.
Every day, there were opportunities to attend parties in clubs or bar evenings, making it very easy to meet new people and make friends. I also spent a lot of time with my lab colleagues, which gave me a chance to experience another side of Barcelona. Having a beach in the city was, of course, a significant advantage—you could play beach volleyball or spikeball daily, or simply relax in the sun and go for a swim.

The only downsides to living in Barcelona were the lack of parks and green spaces, the constant need to stay alert due to the high number of pickpockets, and the overwhelming crowds of tourists starting in early June.

Intercultural Experiences
Barcelona is a highly international city, and it was fascinating to interact with students from many different countries. Through these interactions, I learned interesting details about studying in other countries and participated in engaging political discussions.

Conclusion
My Erasmus internship in Barcelona was one of the best decisions I could have made. It was incredibly fun to follow up my Erasmus semester with an internship in the same city, and I would recommend it to anyone considering an Erasmus internship. I will always cherish the wonderful time I had in Barcelona and the many new friends I made there.