Pompeu Fabra University
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
A young, compact Barcelona university founded in 1990, strong in economics and communication, with city-centre campuses.
- Students
- 12,713
- 10,074 undergraduates
- Tuition
- €6,800
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1990
- QS World Ranking
- #263
- 2027 edition
About UPF
Universitat Pompeu Fabra was created by the Government of Catalonia in 1990 and named after the Catalan philologist Pompeu Fabra. It is small and focused for a public university: in 2025-26 it had 10,074 bachelor's students across 27 bachelor's degrees, 1,270 master's students and 1,369 doctoral candidates. Its three campuses are all in Barcelona: Ciutadella (social sciences and humanities, beside the Parc de la Ciutadella), Mar (health and life sciences, by the Port Olímpic) and Poblenou (ICT and communication).
Teaching is organised into seven faculties and an engineering school, covering economics and business, law, political and social sciences, communication, humanities, translation and language sciences, health and life sciences, and engineering. UPF is known internationally for economics, with the research institute CREI (directed by Jaume Ventura, with Jordi Galí among its senior researchers) on its Ciutadella campus, and its Poblenou campus is home to its communication and ICT degrees. International Business Economics is taught in English.
Admission is through Catalonia's centralised pre-enrolment, with places allocated by entrance mark, and many UPF degrees attract high-scoring applicants: in 2025-26, 282 new students arrived with a matrícula d'honor. Students with EU citizenship pay about 1,200 euros for a typical first year, while non-residents from outside the EU pay about 6,800 euros. It suits motivated students who want an intensive, internationally minded university in central Barcelona.
Why students choose UPF
All three campuses are in central Barcelona, near the Parc de la Ciutadella, the beach at the Port Olímpic and the 22@ district in Poblenou.
International Business Economics is taught entirely in English, and many UPF economists also teach at the Barcelona School of Economics.
46.9% of UPF's recent graduates spent time studying abroad during their degree.
A typical first year costs about 1,202 euros for EU citizens (2026-27).
Admissions
2027/28 entry (autumn 2027)
Selectivity
UPF does not publish an overall admission rate. Places go by entrance mark through Catalonia's centralised pre-enrolment, and cut-off marks vary by degree; in 2025-26, 282 of 2,374 new bachelor's students had a matrícula d'honor.
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato + PAU | Entrance mark above the degree's cut-off |
|---|---|
| EU/EEA or bilateral-agreement qualifications (e.g. IB) | UNEDasiss accreditation, then Catalan pre-enrolment |
| Other foreign qualifications | Diploma recognition (homologación) by the Spanish Ministry of Education |
Deadlines
- Catalan university pre-enrolment, June call (2026/27 intake, for reference) Non-binding Passed26 June 2026
Past cycle. Pre-enrolment ran 2 to 26 June 2026; first allocation of places published 10 July 2026.
The 2027 Catalan pre-enrolment calendar had not been published by 29 September 2026. In 2026 the June call ran 2 to 26 June, followed by a September call. Start your UNEDasiss accreditation early.
How to apply
Apply through Catalonia's single online university pre-enrolment (Accés Universitat portal), ranking up to eight degrees in order of preference. International applicants must have a UNEDasiss accreditation or recognised diploma. Places are assigned by entrance mark and you then enrol at UPF.
What admissions looks for
- An entrance mark above the degree's cut-off; many UPF degrees attract top-scoring applicants.
- A valid, recognised school-leaving qualification (UNEDasiss accreditation or homologated diploma for international students).
- Strong results in the specific subjects weighted for your chosen degree.
Tips for applying to UPF
- 1 Use all eight pre-enrolment choices and order them carefully; you can change them until the deadline.
- 2 If you want to study in English, look at International Business Economics.
- 3 Non-EU students without Spanish residence should budget about 6,800 euros for the first year.
- 4 Double degrees such as Law and Economics cost more per year (about 1,963 euros for EU citizens).
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Fees are set each year by a Government of Catalonia decree. Students can apply for Spanish government and Catalan grants, and UPF lists fee reductions and exemptions (bonificacions) on its enrolment pages. Double degrees cost more.
- About 1,202 euros
- Approximate first-year cost, EU citizens (2026-27)
- About 6,800 euros
- Approximate first-year cost, non-EU non-residents (2026-27)
Academics
International Business Economics
Taught in English at the Faculty of Economics and Business.
Economics
UPF's economics department works alongside CREI, the international economics research centre directed by Jaume Ventura, and the Barcelona School of Economics.
Philosophy, Politics and Economics
An interdisciplinary Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree.
Mathematical Engineering in Data Science
An engineering degree combining mathematics and data science, from UPF's Engineering School.
Audiovisual Communication and Journalism
UPF's communication programmes count film directors Oliver Laxe (filmmaking studies) and Isaki Lacuesta (master's in creative documentary) among their alumni.
Medicine
Taught at the Mar campus alongside the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB).
Research
- The Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) sits on UPF's Mar campus.
- CREI, the Centre de Recerca en Economia Internacional (director Jaume Ventura), is based at the Ciutadella campus.
- UPF's Music Technology Group, a sound and music computing lab, was founded and is directed by Professor Xavier Serra.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
- Faculty of Economics and Business
- Faculty of Political and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Communication
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Translation and Language Sciences
- Engineering School
UPF reports a 91.3% bachelor's performance rate (credits passed vs enrolled) and 2,081 bachelor's graduates in the previous year, 46.9% of whom had spent time abroad.
Student life
UPF has no out-of-town campus: students study in converted buildings in central Barcelona, from Ciutadella beside the park to the Poblenou innovation district and the seafront Mar campus. There is no large residential system, so most students rent flats or live at home, and campus life spills into the city's parks, beaches and neighbourhoods. With nearly half of graduates studying abroad and many international exchange students, the atmosphere is international.
- Three campuses in central Barcelona: Ciutadella, Poblenou and Mar.
- 46.9% of graduates spent time abroad during their studies.
- Member of the EUTOPIA European university alliance.
- 2,374 new bachelor's students in 2025-26.
Housing. UPF does not guarantee housing; most students rent privately in Barcelona or live at home.
Location
Barcelona is a large Mediterranean city and Catalonia's capital. UPF's campuses are close to the Parc de la Ciutadella, the Port Olímpic and the Poblenou innovation district, so students live in the middle of the city. Rent is the biggest expense, so start looking for a room early. The city is well served by metro, tram and bus.
Nearest airport: Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
Notable alumni
- PA Pol AntràsHarvard economist; BA (1998) and MSc (1999) in economics from UPF
- MB Meritxell BatetFormer President of the Spanish Congress of Deputies; law graduate (1995)
- AP Alexia PutellasProfessional footballer; studied business administration and management
- OL Oliver LaxeFilm director; studied filmmaking
- IL Isaki LacuestaFilm director; master's in creative documentary at UPF
- GR Gabriel RufiánPolitician and member of the Spanish Congress for ERC; labour relations diploma and human resources master's at UPF
Frequently asked questions
How much does Pompeu Fabra University cost?
For 2026-27 a typical first year costs about 1,202 euros for EU citizens and about 6,800 euros for non-residents and non-EU citizens, including admin fees and insurance.
Does UPF teach degrees in English?
Yes: International Business Economics is taught in English. For other degrees, check the language of instruction on each degree page, as teaching is largely in Catalan and Spanish.
How do international students apply to UPF?
Get a UNEDasiss accreditation (EU/bilateral systems) or have your diploma recognised, then apply through Catalonia's pre-enrolment, which ran 2 to 26 June in 2026.
Where is UPF located?
In central Barcelona, on three campuses: Ciutadella (social sciences and humanities), Poblenou (communication and ICT) and Mar (health and life sciences).
Is it hard to get into UPF?
It depends on the degree's cut-off mark. UPF does not publish an admission rate, but many degrees fill with high-scoring students; 282 of 2,374 new students in 2025-26 had a matrícula d'honor.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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