Mathematics and physics, degree requiring highest score to enroll for 12th consecutive year

A dual degree in mathematics and physics requires the highest minimum score for enrollment according to figures made public by the Catalan universities department on Thursday.

Students must have a combined university entry exam and Batxillerat high school average of 13.436 out of a maximum of 14 to study mathematics and physics during the 2023-2024 academic year at the public Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

To enroll in the same course at the University of Barcelona, they must have at least obtained a 13.318 average. 

The joint mathematics and physics degree has been the hardest course to enroll in for the last decade. In both cases, there are less than 40 students per course.

Another joint degree in Law and International Relations at UAB is the third most difficult to enroll in, with a 13.084-grade minimum required, followed by medicine at Barcelona's Hospital Clínic (13.040) and at Pompeu Fabra University (12.925)

The third position represents a change since last year, as the degree in Mathematics at Catalonia's Polytechnic University stood at a 13.254-grade minimum required but has gone down to a 12.925 grade.

"Once again, we see that of the top 10 degrees, 7 of them are in the health sciences, specifically medicine, psychology, nursing, and dentistry," Laura Roman, from the Catalan Interuniversity Council, said on Thursday.

 

57,263 pre-enrolled students

All in all, this year there were 57,263 students who pre-enrolled in public university degrees — that is, students who stated their course preferences and who will be offered places based on their scores. This is a small decrease compared to 2022’s 57,413 students.

There has also been a decrease in applications from students who are not from Catalonia this year, which has translated into 16.87%, which was at 26.3% last year. Foreigners account for 7.97% of these students, 4,561 in total.