Barcelona has three major public universities and dozens of private institutions. Each September, tens of thousands of students — domestic, international, and Erasmus — move into accommodation in and around the city.
This guide is specifically for students arriving at the three main campuses and the areas around them.
The Three Universities and Their Locations
Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
UB's main faculties are spread across the city, but the main campus (Zona Universitària) is on Avinguda Diagonal in the Les Corts/Pedralbes area. UB also has faculties in Eixample (Gran Via) and elsewhere.
Popular student areas for UB: Les Corts, Eixample Esquerra, Sants, Gràcia. All accessible by metro. Rent ranges from affordable (Sants, Nou Barris) to premium (Eixample).
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
UPC's main Barcelona campus is on Carrer de Jordi Girona in the Diagonal/Les Corts area — directly adjacent to UB's Zona Universitària. Both campuses share the same metro station (Zona Universitària, L3).
Popular student areas for UPC: Les Corts, Sants-Montjuïc, Eixample, Nou Barris.
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
UPF has two main campus clusters: El Born/La Ribera (Ciutadella campus) and Diagonal Mar (communication and technology faculties). El Born is one of Barcelona's most popular and expensive areas for students.
Popular student areas for UPF: El Born, Barceloneta, Poblenou, Eixample.
When to Move: September Timing
Most Barcelona universities begin classes in the second or third week of September. The peak move-in window is 1–15 September.
This is by far the busiest period for removals in Barcelona. Our September availability fills up by late July for the peak September window. If you know your start date:
- Book before 31 July for a September move
- Book before 15 August at the absolute latest
- If you're booking in September for a September move, same-week availability is unlikely
What Student Moves Typically Involve
Most students moving to Barcelona need:
- Personal items from home — brought by parents' car or shipped ahead
- IKEA setup — bed, desk, wardrobe, shelving. Almost always IKEA Badalona
- Carry-up to their room — student housing is often older buildings with no lift
The No-Lift Problem in Student Housing
Much of Barcelona's affordable student housing stock is in older buildings — particularly in Gràcia, El Raval, El Born, and Barceloneta. These buildings typically have:
- No lift, or a very small original lift
- 4–6 floors
- Narrow staircases (80–90cm wide)
- Shared access with other tenants — the staircase needs to be clear for the move
Carrying a flat-pack PAX wardrobe up five flights of stairs is not a solo job. Our two-man crews handle this as standard.
Typical Student Move Packages
The most common bookings we do for students:
IKEA Room Setup
IKEA pickup (Badalona or L'Hospitalet) + delivery to your flat + carry-up + assembly of bed and wardrobe. Typically 3–4 hours for a single room setup. Fixed price from €135.
Moving In from Parents' Car
Parents arrive with a loaded car. We transfer everything to the van, carry up to the room, and unload. Add IKEA pickup if needed. Typically 2–3 hours. Fixed price from €90.
Moving Rooms in Barcelona
Moving from one flatshare to another within the city. LWB van, two people, 2–4 hours. Most common mid-year when students switch accommodation. From €90.
Student Discount
We offer a student discount on all bookings. Have your student card ready when you call — we'll apply the discount to your fixed quote.
Tips for a Smooth Student Move
- Coordinate with your new flatmates — if multiple people are moving in the same day, book one van together to share the cost
- Check your building's lift size before buying IKEA furniture — original Eixample lifts are 60cm wide
- Book the IKEA visit and our pickup for consecutive days (IKEA day 1, we collect and carry up day 2)
- Tell your new landlord we're coming — some buildings require 24h notice for access
- Don't try to manage it with friends carrying things on the Metro — it takes 4x longer and someone always gets hurt