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Students enrolled in oficial degrees. By sex and universities

University education. Students enrolled in oficial degrees. By sex and universities Catalonia. School year 2024/2025
Men Women Total
Students enrolled 105,208 136,883 242,091
State university system 67,882 85,903 153,785
University of Barcelona 15,000 27,627 42,627
Autonomous University of Barcelona 12,946 20,148 33,094
Polytechnic University of Catalonia 17,336 7,994 25,330
Pompeu Fabra University 6,178 8,155 14,333
University of Girona 5,855 7,927 13,782
University of Lleida 4,388 5,806 10,194
Rovira i Virgili University 6,179 8,246 14,425
Private university system 13,387 20,432 33,819
Ramon Llull University 6,996 7,861 14,857
University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia 4,017 7,906 11,923
International University of Catalonia 1,537 3,089 4,626
Abat Oliba CEU University 837 1,576 2,413
Open University of Catalonia 23,939 30,548 54,487
Source: Ministry of Business and Knowledge.
Note: Integrated and attached centers.

Last update: August 10, 2026.

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