Nastic Sport Academy Tarraco (NSA Tarraco)

• Founded: 1982
• Location: Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain,
• Age of students: 13+,
• Number of students: 2000+,
• Language of instruction: English, Spanish,
• Type of education: sports school.

The Nastic Sports Academy in Tarragona is a leading international educational institution in Spain in the field of sports education, where athletic young people from different countries are given the opportunity to learn, improve their skills and develop in a safe and comfortable environment with the help of innovative pedagogical methods and modern technologies. The Nastic Sports Academy was founded in 1982 by the Fundació Escoles Familiars Rurals del Penedès.

The Catalan NSA was one of the pioneers in the field of sports education in Spain, and the next 40 years only strengthened its authority, allowing it to form the best team of specialists in Western Europe.

The NSA is the perfect option for combining high-performance sports and academic education. This becomes possible due to the fact that on campus ideal conditions for the personal, intellectual, physical and social improvement and development of athletes were created. On campus there are a comfortable residence, sports and training centers, canteens, leisure and recreational areas and numerous facilities for world-class training, allowing you to save time on the road and focus on what matters most.

The programs are adapted to train both national athletes and international students, and in total more than 2000 students from more than 35 countries of the world study here - highly qualified teachers, coaches and sports doctors help them achieve success in sports such as football, paddle tennis, karting and sailing. The school's pedagogical method is based on a deep and comprehensive interdisciplinary approach that includes not only athletic but also high-quality academic preparation, from high school to higher education. The emphasis is made on balance, because it is fundamentally important to ensure harmonious and integral development, to help young people develop their sports talents.

Teaching at the academy is conducted in English. To study at school, you need a level of at least A2 or B1, for bachelor's and MBA programs, it is required to speak at the B2 level and above.

Students whose speaking and writing skills are not good enough are encouraged to take preparatory courses.

The academy is located on the Camp Joliu campus, one of the best boarding schools in Spain. The campus is located in the suburban area of the urban agglomeration of Barcelona, 40 minutes from the historic center of the city, so players will be able not only to train in a school with the best conditions, but also to develop culturally, aesthetically, and socially. For decades in a row, the Catalan capital has held the palm as the best in Spain and one of the best student cities in Europe: in 2022, in the QS ranking, it took 19th place in the list of the best student cities (this ranking takes into account not only the credibility of educational institutions and the quality of education, but also socio-economic factors - the level of quality of life, cost, job search prospects and the sum of information about the student community of the city). At the same time, among the Spanish academic centers, it is Barcelona that has the longest history, progressive universities are located here, and conditions have been created for expat students, allowing them to obtain a prestigious European diploma and at the same time not face cultural and language barriers. Every year, schools and universities in Barcelona accept almost 30 thousand foreign students (expats from the CIS countries play a significant role in this flow).

In addition, Barcelona is one of the global financial, business and industrial centers, an important logistics hub in Southern and Western Europe. Every year, dozens of major international forums, sports and cultural events are held here, which have a decisive impact on the world as a whole and relate to the global problems of the 21st century.

Studying here is not only interesting and useful, but also enjoyable! The only thing is that it is important to form your schedule correctly, balancing study and rest in it. A mild climate, gentle sea, magnificent beaches and a variety of leisure activities are significant advantages.

Tarraco Cup

• Age of students – 12+;
• Duration of studying  – 5 days, 4 nights;
• The language of instruction is English;
• Price – 550€

The Tarraco Cup is a series of football tournaments for young players, the first step to a professional football career. Competitions are held at the NSA campus in Tarragona in the following age categories:

• U10 (2014/15) - 8vs8 format - 6 teams - 2 halves of 25 minutes each;
• U12 (2012/13) - 8vs8 format - 6 teams - 2 halves of 25 minutes each;
• U14 (2010/11) - format 11vs11 - 6 teams - 2 halves of 25 minutes.

Each athlete is guaranteed participation in a minimum of 5 matches. Arbitration is carried out by judges certified in accordance with international standards.

The price of the tour includes accommodation on campus for 4 nights in shared bedrooms, three meals a day, shuttle bus transportation between the playing fields and the residence. Athletes are given collective and individual prizes, and a professional media group will prepare photos and videos of the games.

A private bus for the team, airport transfers and back, a number of entertainment activities and a sightseeing tour are paid separately.

• Students get the opportunity to compete and train within sports federations in accordance with their age up to the highest level, to take part in tournaments with the participation of the best national teams;
• The high quality of education is confirmed by the good positions of the academy in national and international rankings;
• Foreign students get access to a high-class residence, one of the best among sports academies in Spain;
• The academy has a support service for high school students: its specialists provide assistance, conduct consultations, fairs and other events aimed at helping in admission to universities;
• NSA certificates and diplomas are valid and gain well-deserved recognition around the world;
• NSA students are helped with employment and internships - the academy has partnerships with dozens of national sports schools and teams;
• Over the four decades of history, the NSA has managed to build a world-class sports infrastructure unparalleled in Spain;
• Another significant advantage is the affordable prices: compared to other European sports academies, NSA can offer 10-15% lower prices per year of study, not to mention the associated costs;
• With a high level and quality of life and urban infrastructure, living in Barcelona is inexpensive compared to many European metropolises, rental rates are low, as well as spending on utilities, health insurance, public transport and food;
• The language factor plays an important role (as it has a direct impact on the quality of education). The working language at the academy is English, which frees you from the need to learn Spanish urgently (at the same time, no one prevents you from practicing Spanish in your free time or learning Spanish/Catalan with a professional teacher - both inside and outside the academy).

Located 45 minutes from Barcelona, a quarter of an hour from El Prat airport and close to the magnificent beaches of Calafell, the academy has a world-class sports infrastructure unparalleled in Spain and provides sports such as football, athletics, paddle tennis, sailing and basketball – a total of more than 10 sports disciplines.

The campus has a training field meeting UEFA standards, a gym, a physiotherapy room, two swimming pools - indoor and outdoor, a medical clinic with the constant duty of junior medical staff and doctors, several gyms, a treadmill, tennis and paddle courts, classrooms and a library, a spacious event hall.

There is also a restaurant, cafeteria and snack bar on site.

All rooms are equipped with air conditioning systems.

The admission procedure is unified. To join the NSA family, you must:

• Fill out the application online, after which a representative of the school will contact the applicant, send all the necessary information about the program and invite for an interview;
• After the interview, the applicant will be sent an e-mail with detailed information about the mechanisms for applying for financial aid;
• After you send all the necessary documents, and the admissions committee reviews them, you will be sent an offer from the NSA;
• You may think about the offer, but you should not delay in responding, especially if you have applied for financial aid (the number of scholarships is limited);
• Make a deposit - this way you will confirm the seriousness of your intentions and book a place at the academy. After that, school representatives will contact you and provide the necessary instructions on the procedure for obtaining a visa, send an invitation.

Students who have completed their studies and want to stay in Spain permanently can use the services of the NSA Job Center, where they will not only be helped to soberly and objectively assess their capabilities and competencies, but also select options, offer to attend job fairs or give them an internship.

Expat students are allowed to work under Spanish law, but the length of the working week is limited to 20 hours per week.

• Boarding School

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a sufficient level of English proficiency - at least A2. One of the teachers of the school will conduct an interview with the applicant (in person or online, via video) to make sure that they are able to effectively study on the program. In addition, the admissions committee conducts an interview with the applicant. 2 letters of recommendation from the current school and/or club must be provided.

• Higher education

To study in one of the higher education programs, students must confirm their level of English - for this purpose, TOEFL or similar exams can be used (students from countries where English is an official or state language are exempt from the need to confirm English level). The minimum level is B1 and above. In addition, it is necessary to:

• provide a diploma of completion of high school,
• have a GPA of at least 2.5,
• pass an interview with the admissions committee,
• provide 2 letters of recommendation from the school and/or club.

If we are talking about a transfer from one university to another, it will be necessary to provide a transcript with current grades and a curriculum.

• MBA

To study under the MBA program, you must pass an interview and confirm that the level of English proficiency is sufficient for studying within the program. Also, applicants will have to pass an interview with the admissions committee and provide 2 letters of recommendation from a sports club or school, educational institution where they are currently studying. Finally, it is necessary to provide a document on higher education - a diploma (with translation into English or Spanish).

Students can apply for financial aid if they need it – you can find out the procedure for granting it and the amount of our specialists.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision