Looking for an apartment in Barcelona from abroad as a postgraduate student: why coliving helps avoid the most common challenges

Moving to Barcelona to study a master’s degree, an MBA, a PhD or an international postgraduate programme is an exciting decision. The city combines recognised universities, business schools, design centres, an entrepreneurial ecosystem, Mediterranean lifestyle and a very active international community. For many postgraduate students, Barcelona represents a stage of academic, professional and personal growth.

However, before classes begin, before discovering the campus or building a new network of contacts, one of the first big questions appears: where should you live?

Looking for an apartment in Barcelona from abroad as a postgraduate student is not always simple. Unlike a short trip or a temporary stay, this stage requires a stable, well-located base that supports a demanding lifestyle. It is not only about finding an available room, but about choosing an environment that allows you to study, rest, socialise, connect and grow.

Between virtual viewings, contracts, deposits, documentation, additional expenses, doubts about location and limited clarity around the real conditions of the accommodation, finding an apartment from another country can become a long and unclear process. And when you are also looking for a more refined experience than a traditional shared apartment, the decision becomes even more relevant.

In this context, coliving in Barcelona has become an increasingly attractive alternative for international postgraduate students who want to settle in more easily, while also enjoying a higher quality of life, community and included services.

The challenges of looking for an apartment in Barcelona before arriving

For an international postgraduate student, looking for an apartment in Barcelona from abroad presents several challenges from the start. It can be difficult to understand which neighbourhoods best fit your academic routine, which areas are well connected to universities and business schools, or whether the space advertised truly matches the photos.

There may also be doubts about contracts, upfront payments, minimum stay periods, move-in conditions, additional costs or required guarantees. In many cases, students arrive without a local network that can visit the apartment for them or confirm whether the area, building and overall environment are truly suitable. To better understand this process, we have prepared a guide with more information for those looking for accommodation in Barcelona from abroad.

There is also another important factor: time. Those arriving to study a postgraduate programme usually have an intense schedule from day one. Even before starting the programme, they already need to manage enrolment, documentation, flights, visas, insurance, budget, schedules and a new life in the city. Having to resolve every detail of housing can add unnecessary pressure.

In addition, traditional rentals are not always designed around the needs of international students. An apartment may look correct in photos, but that does not necessarily mean it responds to the needs of someone looking for focus, wellbeing, community and a smooth arrival in Barcelona.

Why coliving in Barcelona makes arrival easier for postgraduate students

Coliving responds precisely to that need: arriving in a new city with an already structured base. Instead of starting from zero, this model gives access to a space designed to live, study, work and connect from the first day.

Unlike a traditional apartment, where many responsibilities fall directly on the student, coliving brings several key elements together into one experience. This helps reduce uncertainty, save time and avoid many of the usual obstacles of looking for accommodation from another country.

At La Fabrica &Co, located in Poblenou, coliving is designed for people arriving in Barcelona with an international mindset, academic ambition and the desire to become part of an active community. It is an especially relevant option for postgraduate students looking for an environment that feels more considered, more connected and more aligned with their goals.

The experience is not limited to occupying a room. It is about becoming part of a design-led building with shared spaces, included services, areas to disconnect and a local and international community of talent. For someone arriving from abroad, that combination can make adapting to the city feel much more natural.

A base to study, rest and grow in Barcelona

The postgraduate stage is usually intense. Between classes, projects, reading, group work, internships, events, networking and new professional opportunities, the place where you live has a direct impact on both performance and wellbeing.

That is why choosing a coliving space in Barcelona is not simply about solving accommodation. It means having a base that supports your daily routine. At La Fabrica &Co, that base is reflected in a building of around 7,000 m², with more than 2,000 m² of common areas designed to live, work and connect naturally. A well-designed environment helps you focus better, rest with more quality and access shared spaces where conversations, collaborations or new ideas can also emerge. In addition, its studios are designed for one or two people, which means you never share a room with strangers, and the building itself integrates workspaces and coworking areas that make the routine between personal life, professional focus and community feel more fluid.

In a traditional apartment, the experience often depends on chance: flatmates, the condition of the property, domestic organisation or the relationship with the landlord. In a coliving space, by contrast, there is a structure designed to support coexistence, take care of the space and create a more coherent experience.

For a postgraduate student, this can be especially valuable. After an intense day of classes, work or research, returning to a comfortable, well-managed environment with integrated services can make a meaningful difference to quality of life.

Included services for a lighter academic routine

One of the main benefits of coliving for postgraduate students is the possibility of simplifying daily life. When your academic schedule is demanding, not having to manage every domestic detail separately can become a real advantage.

At La Fabrica &Co, the monthly fee includes several services designed to make arrival in Barcelona and everyday life clearer, more comfortable and more predictable:

• Weekly cleaning included
• WiFi
• Maintenance
• Air conditioning
• Equipped kitchen
• Private bathroom
• Smart TV

This provides comfort, but also peace of mind. For those arriving in Barcelona from abroad, having an environment that is ready from the start helps reduce the friction of adaptation and allows more energy to be dedicated to studies, projects and life in the city.

Unlike a traditional shared apartment, where expenses, domestic tasks and certain practical aspects are often managed separately, a well-designed coliving space reduces that operational burden. As a result, the experience of living with other people becomes smoother, less improvised and better aligned with an intense, international and dynamic academic stage.

Gym, swimming pool and wellbeing included in the coliving experience

Studying a postgraduate programme does not mean spending all your time between classrooms, libraries and screens. Quality of life also depends on being able to disconnect, move, train and find moments of pause within the routine.

That is why having a gym and swimming pool included within the building is an important added value. For international students with intense schedules, having access to wellbeing spaces without needing to look for external memberships or travel somewhere else makes it easier to maintain a more balanced lifestyle.

These services are not simply extras. They form part of an experience designed to support an active, healthy lifestyle connected to wellbeing. Being able to train before class, relax after a long day or enjoy moments of disconnection within the building itself helps create a more sustainable routine.

For students arriving from another country, this integration also reduces admin. There is no need to look for a gym, compare prices, sign another contract or add new journeys to everyday life. Everything forms part of a more complete proposal.

A local and international community of talent

One of the biggest challenges when moving to Barcelona as a postgraduate student is not only finding where to live, but finding who to connect with. Arriving in a new city means rebuilding a social, academic and professional network from scratch.

Coliving helps accelerate that process in a natural way. At La Fabrica &Co, the community brings together local and international profiles connected to talent, entrepreneurship, creativity, research, innovation and continuous learning.

For a postgraduate student, this can be especially valuable. Connections are not limited to the classroom or campus. They can also emerge in a common area, during an activity, in the coworking space, at an event or simply through a spontaneous conversation inside the building.

Living surrounded by international talent, ambitious people, curiosity and a global mindset turns accommodation into much more than a practical solution. It becomes a platform to meet people, share ideas and open new possibilities.

In addition, a local and international community makes it easier to understand the city. Arriving in Barcelona in isolation is not the same as arriving within an environment where people already understand the local rhythm, neighbourhoods, opportunities and professional life of the city.

A design-led building in Poblenou for international talent

Location is also part of the experience. Poblenou has become one of Barcelona’s most attractive neighbourhoods for international students, entrepreneurs and creative professionals. Its proximity to the sea, connection to the 22@ district and mix of local life, innovation and contemporary design make it an especially interesting area for those who want to experience Barcelona from a more current perspective.

In this context, La Fabrica &Co offers a design-led building created to integrate living, work, wellbeing and community. It does not follow the logic of conventional student accommodation or an improvised shared apartment. It is a more considered proposal, where the space supports the way people live, study and connect.

For those arriving from abroad, this offers a clear advantage: settling directly into an environment with identity, a strong location and everything prepared for a stage of personal, academic and professional growth.

Coliving in Barcelona vs a traditional apartment for postgraduate students

Looking for a traditional apartment may make sense for those who already know Barcelona, have a local network or want to manage everything from the beginning. However, for international postgraduate students, especially during the first stage in the city, coliving can offer a much smoother transition.

It allows you to reduce admin, avoid rushed decisions, access included services and become part of a community from the start. It also offers a more flexible experience, prepared for those who are not only looking for accommodation, but for a base from which to live their academic stage better.

Instead of facing the uncertainty of looking for an apartment remotely, coliving offers a clearer solution: a place to live, study, work, train, connect and start a new stage with greater confidence.

La Fabrica &Co: coliving in Barcelona for international postgraduate students, with studios from €1,629/month

Moving to Barcelona from abroad to study a postgraduate programme involves making many decisions in a short period of time. Choosing where to live is one of the most important, because it directly influences your routine, wellbeing, connections and the way you experience the city.

La Fabrica &Co offers an alternative to traditional rental for international students looking for something more complete: coliving in Poblenou, cleaning included, gym, swimming pool, design-led spaces and a local and international community of talent.

For those arriving in Barcelona with a new academic and professional stage ahead, coliving can be much more than a practical solution. It can be the smartest way to begin.

Discover La Fabrica &Co

If you are looking for an apartment in Barcelona from abroad as a postgraduate student and want to avoid the most common obstacles of traditional rental, La Fabrica &Co offers a simpler, more considered and more connected way to settle into the city.

Reserve your studio for the second semester of 2026 and start your Barcelona chapter from Poblenou. Limited availability.

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