ESCI-UPF

What ESCI-UPF does

ESCI-UPF (Escola Superior de Comerç Internacional) is a higher-education institution founded in 1993 and headquartered at Passeig de Pujades, 1 in the Born district of Barcelona, Spain. The school is affiliated with the public Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and operates under UPF's academic regulations and quality assurance framework, while maintaining its own governance through a Board of Overseers (Patronat). It offers two bachelor's tracks in International Business and Marketing (one in Spanish, one in English), four master's programs covering International Business, Sustainability Management, International Management, and International Digital Marketing, plus summer schools and study-trip programs for international students. The institution also runs three research units — the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change, the RISE research group in International Studies and Economics, and the EUKIT initiative on European trade — along with corporate-internship and career-service functions.

The core "technology" stack is non-proprietary: degree delivery is supported by a standard university website (trilingual in Catalan, Spanish, and English), an academic management portal, and a publicly audited quality system (SGIQ v8, verified by AQU). Programs are differentiated by their international focus, mandatory internships with company partners, and an environmental sustainability pathway branded ECOTOPIA. The revenue model mixes three streams — annual tuition fees (with higher non-EU rates), institutional funding from the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Spanish Ministry of Education via the UPF affiliation, and corporate/professional services revenue including sustainability transition management training. Student recruitment relies on a hybrid go-to-market: an event-driven motion (information sessions, university fairs, recruitment events) combined with a community-led motion (rankings, alumni networks, and exchange-program pipelines).

ESCI-UPF's customer base is concentrated on two personas — undergraduate and graduate students — alongside a secondary set of corporate partners recruited for internships, talent pipelines through the JobsESCI portal, and applied research collaboration. International exchange partnerships extend intake channels into France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the UK, the US, China, and Brazil. Operationally the school is a small-to-mid size institution with 51-100 employees and a single 7,600 m2 campus, jointly procuring shared services through the CSUC consortium and the Catalan government's central procurement system. No funding rounds, acquisitions, or restructuring events beyond the 2020 statutes refresh are recorded in the available data.

Name

ESCI-UPF

Legal name

ESCOLA SUPERIOR DE COMERÇ INTERNACIONAL

Website

https://esci.upf.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ESCI-UPF is a Barcelona-based higher-education school affiliated with Universitat Pompeu Fabra offering bachelor's and master's degrees in international business, sustainability management, and digital marketing to undergraduate, graduate, and international exchange students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAJAA

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Pathway, Foundation & Bridging Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAEAB

English Language Schools (ESL/EFL)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Language Schools & Immersion Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAJAF

Integrated Language + Academic Skills (EAP) Bridging Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Pathway, Foundation & Bridging Programs

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• International business degrees
• Sustainability management education
• Digital marketing programs
• Professional master's degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: ESCI-UPF generates revenue through tuition fees charged to students for bachelor's and master's degree programs. Fees vary by program and student residency status (EU vs. non-EU).
2. Government Funding: As a public university affiliated with UPF, ESCI-UPF receives institutional funding from the Catalan government and Spanish Ministry of Education, evidenced by public audit reports and transparency portal disclosures.
3. Professional Services and Training: The school offers continuing education courses and partnerships with businesses for corporate training, including sustainability transition management programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ESCI-UPF is a higher education school in Barcelona that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in international business, marketing, sustainability, and digital marketing. It offers two bachelor's degrees (Spanish and English tracks), four master's programs, summer schools, career services, and applied research including a UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change. Its teaching methodology combines theoretical coursework with in-company internships and international exchange opportunities.

Product overview

ESCI-UPF (Escola Superior de Comerç Internacional) is a higher education institution affiliated with Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain, offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs in international business, marketing, sustainability, and management. The institution provides two bachelor's degrees (in Spanish and English) focused on International Business and Marketing, four master's programs covering International Business, Sustainability Management, International Management, and International Digital Marketing, plus summer school offerings including ESCI-UPF Summer School, UPF Summer Spanish Programme, and UPF BISS. The institution also operates research chairs and groups including the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change, RISE (Research in International Studies and Economics), and EUKIT, alongside student support services such as Career Services, Internship Programmes, and the ECOTOPIA environmental sustainability pathway. The institution maintains partnerships with companies for student internships and employs a learn-by-doing methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor's Degree in International Business and Marketing (taught in Spanish) Undergraduate degree equipping students with professional tools to adapt to a fast-changing global environment, covering international business and marketing disciplines. Taught in Spanish.
• Bachelor's Degree in International Business and Marketing (taught in English) 100% English-taught version of the International Business and Marketing bachelor's degree providing multidisciplinary and multicultural training for international career paths.
• Master of Science in International Business Master's program focused on international business strategy, providing specialized skills for graduates seeking to boost their professional careers in global trade environments.
• Master of Science in Sustainability Management Master's program providing specialized skills in sustainability management, addressing environmental and social responsibility in business contexts.
• Master in International Management Master's program equipping students with skills to lead companies with a 360-degree business vision including new technologies and sustainability considerations.
• Master in International Digital Marketing Master's program focused on international digital marketing strategies, providing skills to master digital technologies and design global marketing strategies.
• ESCI-UPF Summer School Intensive summer programs offered for international students seeking short-term educational experiences at ESCI-UPF.
• UPF Summer Spanish Programme Spanish language and culture summer program for international students offered by UPF.
• UPF BISS (Barcelona International Summer School) International summer school program providing academic courses in Barcelona during the summer session.
• Career Service Programme Career development and employment support services connecting students with internship and job opportunities with partner companies.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Generalitat de Catalunya - Sistema central d'adquisicionsminorOthers · 15 May 2019ESCI-UPF joined the Central System for the Acquisition of Goods and Services of the Central Supply Commission of the Government of Catalonia for office supplies, office furniture, printing paper, security services, and travel management.
• Resa HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResa Housing provides accommodation services for ESCI-UPF international students through Barcelona Centre Universitari (BCU). The partnership offers comprehensive housing services for students and researchers.
• Federació Catalana de Voluntariat SocialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESCI-UPF has signed an agreement with the Catalan Federation of Social Volunteering, the reference platform for social volunteering in Catalonia. It groups a network of 350 non-profit entities working for the promotion of social volunteering.
• Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya (CSUC)minorOthersESCI-UPF signed joint procurement agreements for audiovisual equipment, computer equipment, electricity, and telecommunications with CSUC, the consortium of university services in Catalonia.
• Barcelona Centre Universitari (BCU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCU is an entity dedicated to providing services related to the extracurricular life of the foreign university community in Barcelona. ESCI-UPF collaborates with BCU for student housing and integration services.
• Erasmus PlayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent housing search and comparison platform recommended by ESCI-UPF for international students seeking accommodation in Barcelona.
• Housing AnywhereminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational student accommodation platform partnered with ESCI-UPF for student housing services.
• UPF (Universitat Pompeu Fabra)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESCI-UPF is a school affiliated with Pompeu Fabra University. It operates under UPF's academic regulations and quality assurance systems, sharing the university's mission for international excellence in education.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IE Business School: IE Business School is a leading Spanish business school offering bachelor's, master's, and executive education across business and international management. It is a primary competitor for ESCI-UPF's international business programs across Spain and Europe.
• EU Business School: EU Business School is an international business school with campuses in Barcelona, Geneva, Munich, and Montreux, offering English-taught bachelor's and master's programs in international business. It directly competes with ESCI-UPF for English-language international business students in Barcelona.
• EADA Business School: EADA Business School is a Barcelona-based institution offering undergraduate, master's, and executive education in business and management. It directly competes with ESCI-UPF for business students in the Barcelona catchment area.
• ESADE Business School: ESADE is a Barcelona-based business school offering undergraduate, master's, and executive programs in business and management. It directly competes with ESCI-UPF for international business students in the Barcelona market and shares similar positioning.
• EAE Business School: EAE Business School operates in Barcelona and Madrid, offering bachelor's, master's, and MBA programs with strong positioning in marketing and international business. It shares target markets and program offerings with ESCI-UPF.
• IESE Business School: IESE is a top-ranked Barcelona-based business school at the University of Navarra offering MBA and executive programs. Its international management and business offerings directly overlap with ESCI-UPF's master's portfolio.
• ESEI International Business School: ESEI is a Barcelona-based international business school offering English-taught bachelor's and master's programs in international business. It is a direct competitor for ESCI-UPF's English-taught international business students.

Broad incumbents

• Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF): UPF is the parent university of ESCI-UPF and operates broader undergraduate and graduate programs across economics, political science, law, and humanities. While UPF encompasses ESCI-UPF, it provides the academic framework, brand, and governance umbrella that ESCI-UPF relies on.
• Hult International Business School: Hult International Business School is a global business school with campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, and Shanghai, offering bachelor's and master's programs in international business. It shares ESCI-UPF's international student focus and English-language delivery model.

Emerging players

• OBS Business School: OBS Business School is an online business school affiliated with the University of Barcelona offering master's programs in business and marketing. It represents the digital-delivery model that competes with parts of ESCI-UPF's master's portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ESCIupf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ESCIupf
• Facebookfacebook.com/ESCI.UPF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esciupf
• Instagraminstagram.com/esciupf

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ESCI-UPF