What ESN Barcelona UPF does

ESN Barcelona UPF is a non-profit student association (ASSOCIACIÓ ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK UPF POMPEU FABRA) operating at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, affiliated with the Erasmus Student Network international body headquartered in Brussels. It serves international exchange students — primarily Erasmus participants — plus a secondary cohort of national mobility students in Catalonia, through four core offerings: the ESNcard membership (priced at €20 per year, valid 12 months and providing access to a pan-European discount network), organized travel packages, on-campus events (cultural activities, parties, museum visits, sports tournaments), and a discount network of 18+ brand partners spanning transport (Ryanair, FlixBus, ALSA, Avis, Budget, Omio), accommodation (Spotahome, Erasmus Play, Stasher), banking (N26), shipping (DHL, Eurosender), and entertainment/lifestyle (Fever, Samsung, Perlego, Lobster, Fresh Greens, Langoo).

The underlying technology stack is modest and operational rather than differentiated: a Drupal-based website at esnupf.org, CloudFlare for security, Google Analytics for traffic measurement, and the ESN Galaxy CAS-based single sign-on system shared across the international ESN network. The esncard.org platform functions as the cross-border discount-discovery and voucher-redemption layer, while a separate Drupal sub-site handles partner brand microsites (samsung.esncard.org, etc.). The organization has no mobile app and no proprietary AI/ML components.

The business model is volunteer-led and cost-recovery in nature. ESNcard membership is the only publicly listed priced product at €20/year; travel packages and event tickets are sold transactionally through the website and in-person at the UPF Campus Ciutadella office (despacho 20.1E08). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via a multi-channel mix: website, Instagram (@esn_upf), the campus office, and cross-promotion through ESN International's 520-institution network across 42 countries. The organization is supported by approximately 50 named volunteers — most of them former exchange students — and a small paid staff (~5), with the broader ESN International network (15,000+ volunteers, 300,000 students served) functioning as the parent brand and shared-services layer. No revenue, funding, or financial figures are disclosed.

Name

ESN Barcelona UPF

Legal name

ASSOCIACIÓ ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK UPF POMPEU FABRA

Website

https://esnupf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ESN Barcelona UPF is a non-profit student association at Pompeu Fabra University serving international Erasmus exchange students with a €20/year ESNcard membership, organized travel packages, social events, and access to a pan-European partner discount network spanning 18+ brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Student Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Inbound Exchange Hosting & Visiting Student Administration (EDAIABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB), International Student Orientation & Transition Programs (EDALANAC), International Student Onboarding & Pre-Departure Orientation Services (EDAIACAG)

Keywords

• International student support
• Student exchange programs
• Membership discount network
• Student travel packages
• Cultural integration events

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ESNcard Membership Sales: Sale of ESNcard memberships for €20.00 per year, valid for 12 months from date of issuance. The card provides access to discounts and benefits across partner establishments in Barcelona, Spain, and throughout Europe.
2. Travel Package Sales: Organization and sale of group travel packages for international students. Payments are processed via website or in-person office. Currency is Euro (€).
3. Event Tickets and Activities: Sale of tickets for cultural events, parties, museum visits, sports activities, and other social events organized by ESN UPF.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ESN Barcelona UPF is a volunteer-run non-profit student association that supports international exchange students at Pompeu Fabra University through the sale of the €20 ESNcard annual membership, organized group travel packages, cultural and social events, and access to a pan-European partner discount network. Services are sold directly to individual students through the esnupf.org website and the on-campus office at UPF Campus Ciutadella.

Product overview

ESN Barcelona UPF is a volunteer-run student association at Pompeu Fabra University that operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings center on the ESNcard membership program, which provides international exchange students access to a network of discounts and ESN activities. Supporting services include organized travel packages with accommodation and transportation, event organization (parties, cultural activities, sports tournaments), and a comprehensive partner discount network spanning local Barcelona establishments, national Spanish partners, and international European companies covering transportation, accommodation, banking, shipping, entertainment, and lifestyle services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESNcard Membership Annual ESNcard membership (€20.00) that gives international and national mobility students access to ESN association membership, hundreds of partner discounts across Europe for 12 months, and eligibility to participate in ESN activities and travel programs. Sold directly to individual students via the esnupf.org website or the on-campus office.
• Travel Packages Group travel packages organized for ESNcard holders, bundling accommodation, transportation, and activities. Prices vary per trip. Open only to valid ESNcard members; payments processed in euros via the website or the on-campus office.
• Events Organization Recurring social, cultural, and sports events (parties, museum visits, cultural activities, sports tournaments) for international exchange students. Tickets sold through the website and on-campus office; prices vary by activity.
• Partner Discount Network Network of partner discounts accessible via the ESNcard at local establishments in Barcelona, national partners across Spain, and international partners across Europe. Spans transportation, accommodation, services, entertainment, and lifestyle brands; discounts unlocked through esncard.org and partner-specific codes.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RyanaircoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2017Exclusive partnership launched September 2017. Provides ESN members with 10% discount on flights (up to 4 flights), free checked baggage on each booked flight, and exclusive offers. One of ESN's flagship airline partnerships.
• FlixBuscoreGTM or Marketing Partner10% discount on FlixBus travel across 2,500 destinations in 39 countries. Each ESNcard allows claiming up to 12 vouchers. Accessed via esncard.org unique discount codes.
• AvisminorGTM or Marketing Partner15% discount on car rental services in Spain. Discount code: N933507. Avis operates approximately 5,750 offices in 165+ countries.
• BudgetminorGTM or Marketing Partner15% discount on car rental services in Spain. Discount code: L854802. Budget operates 3,400+ offices in 128 countries.
• ALSAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading Spanish transport operator (part of National Express Group). Provides 15% discount on national destinations and 12% on international destinations. Discount code: ESN25.
• OmiominorGTM or Marketing Partner5% discount on Omio app for trains, buses, and flights. Compare schedules and prices across all transport options.
• SpotahomecoreGTM or Marketing Partner25% off reservation fee on medium and long-term accommodation rentals. Properties verified by Homecheckers with photos, video tours, and detailed descriptions.
• DHLcoreGTM or Marketing Partner30% discount on all DHL shipments. Code: ESNSPAIN. Over 3,700 service points in Spain and 100,000 in Europe. Door-to-door delivery with free basic insurance.
• EurosenderminorGTM or Marketing Partner10% discount on luggage, package, and moving services. Helps 500,000+ students organize international moves. Door-to-door delivery with free basic insurance.
• PerlegominorGTM or Marketing Partner15% discount on unlimited e-book access for academic, professional, and non-fiction books. Platform available on all devices with highlighting and citation features.
• N26coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFree online bank account for international students in Spain. Free transfers with Bizum and Wise, free payments in any currency, free Eurozone cash withdrawals. €20 bonus for first payment of €20+. Code: ESNESPAÑAN26
• LangoominorGTM or Marketing Partner10% discount on DELE Spanish certification exam preparation using AI-based technology combined with qualified teachers. Code: ESN10.
• LobsterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree SIM card pickup at university office. Special rates: Small (50GB) €12.99/mo, Medium (100GB) €18.99/mo, Large (150GB) €24.99/mo. Unlimited calls to Spain, UK, Romania and other countries.
• Fresh GreensminorGTM or Marketing Partner25% discount on first 4 purchases of healthy, sustainable plant-based meals. Ready to eat in 2 minutes. Code: ESN25.
• Erasmus PlaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFree personalized accommodation assistance service (valued at €200) for international students. Helps find verified accommodation. Partnership between ESN Spain and Erasmus Play.
• FeverminorGTM or Marketing Partner10% discount on Fever Originals including Candlelight Concerts, Dining in the Dark, Neon Brush Experience, and other live entertainment events in 100+ cities.
• StasherminorGTM or Marketing Partner10% discount on luggage storage at verified locations worldwide. Ideal for weekend trips, early arrivals, or late departures. Code: ESN10.
• SamsungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSamsung Student Program with up to 30% discount on selected products. Access via samsung.esncard.org after ESNcard validation.
• ESN InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization based in Brussels. Present in 520 institutions across 42 countries, serving 300,000 students with 15,000+ volunteers. Coordinates international projects and maintains network cohesion. Headquarters in Brussels with elected Board of Directors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Others

• Erasmus Play: An accommodation-matching platform serving Erasmus and international students, currently a core ESN partner. Comparable as an enabling service in the same international-student ecosystem, though it operates commercially rather than as a volunteer non-profit.

Direct peers

• ESN Spain: The national coordinating body for all Spanish ESN chapters. Directly comparable as the parent-tier organization that negotiates many of the partnership deals (e.g., ALSA, N26 ESN Spain) leveraged by ESN Barcelona UPF.
• ESN UPC (ESN Barcelona - UPC): A direct sibling ESN chapter at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona. Operates the same ESNcard, same partner discounts, and same volunteer exchange-student support model, competing for the same Barcelona international student population.
• ESN UAB (ESN Barcelona - UAB): Another direct ESN sibling chapter at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in the same metro area. Shares the ESNcard, partner ecosystem, and operating playbook, and competes for cross-registered or community-attached exchange students in Barcelona.
• Erasmus Student Network International (ESN): The umbrella organization of which ESN Barcelona UPF is a local chapter. Directly comparable because it operates the same ESNcard platform, partner discount network, and volunteer-led exchange-student support model, and sets the standards every local chapter follows.
• ESN UB (ESN Barcelona - UB): ESN chapter at Universitat de Barcelona in the same city. Same ESNcard and partner network, overlapping volunteer pool, and same exchange-student support offering — a near-clone competitor for inbound Erasmus students in Barcelona.

Broad incumbents

• AEGEE (European Students' Forum): A European student association running intercultural exchange projects and events. Comparable as a peer volunteer-led student organization serving international and exchange students across multiple European university chapters.
• AIESEC: A global youth-run organization offering international student exchanges and leadership programs. Comparable because it serves a similar international-student audience with volunteer-led mobility programs, but operates at broader scope and scale than a single ESN chapter.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): A large non-profit study abroad and exchange organization serving international students in multiple countries. Comparable because it supports international students with arrival services, events, and discount-style benefits, though with paid professional staff rather than volunteers.
• IAESTE: An international association for student exchange of work experience. Comparable as a peer non-profit focused on international student mobility, though its focus is paid traineeships rather than the social/cultural integration ESN emphasizes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/esn_upf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esn-barcelona-upf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 ESN Barcelona UPF