Studying A Levels in Barcelona: Sofi’s Journey at The Learn Academy

Students considering A-Levels in Barcelona have a growing number of options. But for many international families, choosing the right school goes beyond academic results. Finding a learning environment that offers personalised support, strong university guidance and a genuine sense of community can make all the difference.

For Sofi Dobrodub, that search began after she relocated from Ukraine to Spain in 2022. Faced with the challenges of moving, adapting to a new country, and rebuilding her future plans, Sofi found a second home at The Learn Academy Barcelona (TLA). 

Now studying at ESADE Business School, Sofi reflects on the role the school played in helping her rebuild confidence, develop academically and prepare for university life.

Whether you’re considering A-Levels in Barcelona, exploring international schools in Spain, or looking for the best educational pathways for globally-minded students, Sofi’s journey offers valuable insight into what makes The Learn Academy one of Barcelona’s most unique educational environments.

Relocating from Ukraine to Spain

My name is Sofi Dobrodub, I’m 19 years old, and I moved to Spain from Ukraine in 2022 after the war started.

At first, my family and I moved to Poland, and later we settled in Alicante, where we spent almost a year. My dad stayed behind initially because he needed time to transition his business online, so it was quite a difficult period for all of us. I was worried about our home, friends, grandparents, and especially my dad. At the same time, I was helping my mum and younger brother adapt to a completely new life.

Before the war, I had my future planned out. I imagined finishing school in Ukraine, studying economics in London, building a career, and following a very clear path. When everything changed overnight, I realised that life cannot always be planned.

Looking back, that experience taught me some of the most valuable lessons of my life: resilience, adaptability, and confidence in facing uncertainty. I learned how to rebuild, make new connections, and keep moving forward even when circumstances are completely outside your control.

During that year, I focused heavily on improving myself. I worked on my English, started preparing for IELTS, got into running and sports, and became determined to attend an international school that would help me build a new future.

Why Barcelona Became the Family’s Chosen Home

When my dad finally joined us in Spain, we decided to move to Barcelona because it offered everything we were looking for: strong educational opportunities, an international environment, and an amazing quality of life.

What I loved immediately was how open and diverse the city felt. When we visited schools and explored Barcelona, I saw people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds all living together. No matter how someone looked, what language they spoke, or where they came from, they seemed accepted.

What I admire most about Barcelona is its balance. It’s a large international city with plenty of opportunities, but at the same time people genuinely enjoy life. You see professionals working hard during the day and then spending evenings with friends, having picnics, dancing, going to concerts, or simply enjoying the city.

That combination of ambition and quality of life made Barcelona feel like home very quickly.

Looking Beyond Traditional International Schools in Barcelona

Before finding TLA, I was actually looking for a much bigger school. After spending time studying online, I missed being surrounded by people. I wanted large campuses, lots of students, international classmates, extracurricular activities, and a busy social atmosphere. That’s why I initially explored several well-known international schools in Barcelona.

At that stage, I thought a traditional international school would be the perfect fit because it was the only type of environment I knew.

After attending several trial days, I realised that many traditional schools weren’t what I was looking for. Some of them felt quite strict and focused on rules that didn’t necessarily improve education. There were regulations about appearance, uniforms, makeup, and other things that felt restrictive to me.

Another challenge was location. Many schools were quite far from the city centre, meaning long daily commutes. As someone who values balancing academics with personal growth, activities, and family life, spending hours travelling every day didn’t feel ideal. Most importantly, I didn’t feel the same sense of connection that I was hoping to find.

Discovering The Learn Academy

Finding TLA was actually quite accidental. At first, I honestly thought it was a tutoring centre rather than a school. My dad and I decided to visit anyway, just to have a look.

When we arrived, we were surprised by how small it seemed compared to the large international schools we had been visiting. But everything changed the moment we walked inside and met Hannah.

She immediately made us feel welcome. My dad doesn’t speak English, yet he still understood the warmth, energy, and care she was communicating. That first conversation completely changed our impression. For the first time since moving countries, I felt like I had found a place where I genuinely belonged.

First Impressions of a Different Learning Environment

I chose a day with subjects I was most interested in and attended Business, Maths, and Biology classes during my trial day. From the very beginning, the atmosphere felt completely different from anything I had experienced before.

Coming from the Ukrainian education system, I was used to a much more formal relationship with teachers. Teachers were educators first and foremost, and students often felt nervous about asking questions or admitting they didn’t understand something.

At TLA, it was the opposite. The classes were small, teachers were approachable, and students felt comfortable participating. What surprised me most was how natural the interaction felt. You could ask questions, share your opinions, joke with teachers, and have genuine conversations without feeling intimidated.

I also loved how international the community was. There were students from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures, which made the environment incredibly open-minded.

By the end of the day, I knew I had found the right place. It was close to home, offered the subjects I wanted to study, and most importantly, it felt like a community rather than just a school.

Adjusting to the A-Level System

One of the biggest examples was my experience during my first year. In Ukraine, I had always been a top student, so when I received a D in one of my first Business mock exams, I was honestly shocked. I knew the material, I worked hard, and I completed all my assignments. I couldn’t understand what had gone wrong.

The reality was that I was studying in a completely different educational system and in a language that wasn’t my first language. My academic English, especially essay writing, still needed a lot of development.

Instead of simply giving me a grade and moving on, the teachers genuinely invested time in helping me improve. Hannah spent time working with me on essay structure and exam technique, helping me understand not only what I was learning but how to communicate my knowledge effectively.

That support completely changed my approach. I stopped focusing on the disappointment of the grade and started focusing on adapting and improving. By my next mocks, I was achieving A grades.

For me, personalised learning wasn’t about making things easier. It was about having teachers who understood where you were struggling and helped you find the best way forward.

Developing Critical Thinking and Independent Study Skills

The biggest academic skill I developed at The Learning Academy was definitely critical thinking. Rather than memorising information, I learned how to analyse, evaluate, and apply knowledge. This became especially important in subjects like Business, Psychology, and Maths, where at the end I graduated with A*, A*, A, B, B.

I also significantly improved my academic English. When I first arrived, I could communicate well socially, but writing essays, analysing case studies, and expressing complex ideas academically was much more challenging. Over two years, I became much more confident in both written and spoken English.

Another major skill was independent learning. A-levels require students to take responsibility for their own progress, which prepared me extremely well for university.

Looking back, those skills have probably been even more valuable than the actual content I studied.

The Value of Support from Teachers

At first, I didn’t realise how important it would become because I wasn’t used to receiving that kind of support.

In my previous educational experience, students were expected to figure things out independently and asking for help wasn’t always encouraged. At TLA, I discovered that asking questions and seeking guidance was actually part of learning.

The teachers genuinely cared about students as individuals. They wanted us to succeed academically, but they also cared about our wellbeing and personal development.

For example, my Psychology teacher, Cassia, became someone I could talk to not only about coursework but also about life, future plans, and challenges I was facing. Even now, after graduating, we still stay in touch. Those relationships made a huge difference because they created an environment where students felt supported rather than judged.

Leadership, Creativity and Life Beyond the Classroom

TLA gave me opportunities to develop skills outside the classroom that became incredibly important for my future.

I joined the Student Council, helped organise events, and became involved in promoting the school through social media. Content creation and marketing had always interested me, so being able to contribute in that area gave me practical experience while I was still a student.

These experiences helped me strengthen my leadership, communication, and organisational skills. They also gave me confidence in my own ideas because people genuinely listened and encouraged students to take initiative.

Most importantly, TLA helped me rebuild my confidence after a very uncertain period in my life. Moving countries because of war had completely changed my plans and my sense of stability. Being part of a supportive community helped me regain confidence in myself and in my future.

Looking back, I left TLA not only with strong academic results but also with a much clearer understanding of who I was and what I wanted to achieve.

Navigating the University Application Process as an International Student

TLA played a huge role throughout the entire university application process. One thing I really appreciated was that the support started early. During the summer before our final year, students began preparing for university applications, and we were grouped based on the countries and universities we were interested in applying to.

At first, my main goal was to study Economics at Bocconi University in Milan. Since the application process is highly competitive and opens early, I submitted my application at the beginning of Year 13 and was fortunate to receive an offer quite quickly.

Later, I also applied to IE University in Madrid. I was invited to participate in the Bright Minds Challenge, where students compete for scholarships. At the time, I had actually broken my ankle, so I travelled to Madrid wearing a cast. Despite that, it was an incredible experience, and I was awarded a 60% scholarship that significantly reduced my tuition fees.

Throughout all of this, Hannah and the teachers were always available to help. Whether I needed documents, references, advice on applications, or simply reassurance during stressful moments, there was always someone I could turn to. The process of applying to competitive universities can feel overwhelming, but I never felt like I was doing it alone.

What I appreciated most was that they genuinely cared about helping each student find the university that was right for them rather than pushing everyone toward the same path.

How A-Levels Supported the Transition to University

The transition was much smoother than I expected. One of the biggest advantages of A-levels is the depth of study. Because you focus on a smaller number of subjects, you develop a much stronger understanding of them.

I studied Business, Maths, Psychology, and Art, and many of the concepts I encountered during my first year at ESADE were already familiar to me. Instead of learning everything from scratch, I was able to build on knowledge I had already developed during my A-levels.

Beyond academics, TLA prepared me for the independence that university requires. At university, nobody reminds you about deadlines or constantly checks your progress. You need to manage your own workload, organise your schedule, and take responsibility for your learning.

Because A-levels encourage independent study, I already had those habits before arriving at university, which made the adjustment much easier.

Why The Learn Academy Still Feels Like Home

I think the reason is simple: my relationship with TLA didn’t end when I graduated.

I still visit regularly, I still talk to my teachers, and I still help with social media projects whenever I can. Some of my closest friendships were built there, and many of those relationships continue today.

But beyond that, TLA became important because of what it represented during a very difficult period of my life. When I arrived in Spain, I was trying to rebuild my future after everything that had happened in Ukraine. I had lost the certainty I once had about what my life would look like, and I was trying to find my place again.

TLA gave me more than an education. It gave me a community, confidence, support, and a sense of belonging. It helped me rediscover my ambitions and believe that I could still achieve them, even if the path looked completely different from the one I had originally imagined.

That’s why, even today, whenever I’m nearby after university or the gym, I often stop by just to say hello. It genuinely feels like a second home.

Advice for International Families

For international students or families considering TLA, I would honestly tell them to go and experience it for themselves.

One of the biggest advantages of A-levels is that students can focus on the subjects that are most relevant to their future goals. If a student already knows they want to study Economics, Business, Law, Psychology, or another specific field, they can dedicate their time to developing expertise in those areas rather than spreading themselves across a large number of unrelated subjects.

From my own experience, that depth of learning helped tremendously when I started university. Beyond academics, what makes TLA special is the environment. The school accepts students as they are. People come from different countries, speak different languages, have different styles and personalities, and everyone is respected.

I also think the location is a huge advantage. Being in the centre of Barcelona allows students to build a balanced life. You can focus on your studies while also gaining independence, exploring the city, taking part in internships, developing hobbies, and preparing for adulthood.

Most importantly, TLA genuinely cares about its students. Even after graduation, many former students still stay in touch with teachers and regularly come back to visit. I think that says more about the school than any ranking or statistic ever could.

If a school can make students want to return long after they’ve graduated, it means it has created something much more meaningful than just a place to study.

To learn more about The Learn Academy, arrange a visit, or speak with their admissions team, contact the school directly and discover why so many students describe it as their “second home.”

Frequently Asked Questions About The Learn Academy Barcelona

What is The Learn Academy Barcelona?

The Learn Academy (TLA) is an independent international sixth-form college in central Barcelona specialising in A-Level education. The school offers a highly personalised learning experience designed to help students achieve excellent academic outcomes while preparing for university and future careers.

What curriculum does The Learn Academy offer?

The Learn Academy specialises in British A-Levels, allowing students to focus on a smaller number of subjects aligned with their university and career aspirations.

Is The Learn Academy suitable for international students?

Yes. TLA welcomes students from a wide range of nationalities and cultural backgrounds. Its international environment makes it particularly attractive for expatriate families and students relocating to Barcelona.

What makes The Learn Academy different from traditional international schools?

Unlike many larger international schools, The Learn Academy offers smaller class sizes, personalised academic support, close student-teacher relationships, and tailored university guidance. Students benefit from individual attention and mentorship throughout their educational journey.

Does The Learn Academy help with university applications?

Yes. Students receive dedicated support throughout the university application process, including guidance on personal statements, references, admissions tests, interviews, scholarship applications, and university selection.

Where is The Learn Academy located?

The Learn Academy is located in central Barcelona, offering students easy access to the city while maintaining a focused and supportive learning environment.

About Sofi Dobrodub, former student at The Learn Academy Barcelona

Sofi Dobrodub is a Ukrainian student currently studying at ESADE Business School in Barcelona. After relocating to Spain in 2022, she completed her A-Levels at The Learn Academy Barcelona, where she achieved outstanding academic results and developed a strong foundation in Business, Mathematics, Psychology, and critical thinking.

During her time at The Learn Academy, Sofi actively contributed to student leadership initiatives, social media projects, and school events while successfully securing university offers from prestigious institutions including Bocconi University, IE University, and ESADE.

Her experience highlights the power of personalised education, resilience, and international learning environments in helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

Read more articles about education on the MumAbroad blog