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University education. Students enrolled. By sex and universities

University education. Students enrolled in oficial degrees. By sex and universities Catalonia. School year 2023/2024
Men Women Total
Students enrolled 102,873 133,264 236,137
State university system 66,641 84,406 151,047
University of Barcelona 14,727 27,361 42,088
Autonomous University of Barcelona 12,840 20,052 32,892
Polytechnic University of Catalonia 16,983 7,470 24,453
Pompeu Fabra University 6,249 8,227 14,476
University of Girona 5,803 7,786 13,589
University of Lleida 4,130 5,502 9,632
Rovira i Virgili University 5,909 8,008 13,917
Private university system 13,063 19,429 32,492
Ramon Llull University 6,894 7,638 14,532
University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia 3,838 7,354 11,192
International University of Catalonia 1,535 3,036 4,571
Abat Oliba CEU University 796 1,401 2,197
Open University of Catalonia 23,169 29,429 52,598
Source: Ministry of Business and Knowledge.
Note: Integrated and attached centers.

Last update: September 2, 2025.

Methodological note

Definition of concepts

University education
Education that seeks to prepare and specialise professionals, foster cultural progress and develop research. Access to university requires candidates to pass PAAU (university entrance aptitude tests). In the case of university colleges there is a set of reserved places for students proceeding from CFGS or FP2. University can also be accessed by people aged over twenty-five years that pass regulatory university entrance exams as proposed by universities, even though they do not possess the batxiller certificate. University education taken in higher technical colleges and faculties involves three cycles: first cycle studies, first and second cycle studies, second cycle studies and third cycle studies. Since the Bologna Plan came into force, university certificates are structured into three cycles: bachelor's degree, masters and doctorate. Bachelor's degrees replace diplomas and licentiates. Masters courses are for acquiring specialised training focused on research and the professional world. The aim of doctorate courses is to offer students advanced training in research techniques.

Methodological aspects

We have used the information obtained from the statistics services of Catalan universities. Data is offered on the number of teachers, and students enrolled at and qualified by the private and public universities that make up the Catalan university system. Data is also included in relation to the number of students taking third cycle (PhD and continuing education) courses. Since the Bologna Plan came into force (2010), information has been included on students enrolled for official degrees and masters. At the moment there are two coexisting systems until the expiry of the old plan. Data is also provided on PhD theses, and on students on the different student mobility programmes.

The mobility data for the Catalan university system are made up of all the students who take part in mobility actions, whether through international programmes or bilateral agreements with the different universities, and both the students who come and those who leave.

Catalan universities are:

Name Year established
University of Barcelona (UB) 1837
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) 1968
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) 1971
Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) 1990
University of Lleida (UdL) 1991
University of Girona (UdG) 1991
Rovira i Virgili University (URV) 1991
Open University of Catalonia (UOC) 1995
Ramon Llull University (URL) 1991
University of Vic (UVic) the 2014 renamed University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) 1997
Internacional University of Catalonia (UIC) 1997
Abat Oliba CEU University (UAO) 2003