Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Catalonia's public technical university, where entry to engineering and maths is decided by the PAU cut-off mark.
- Students
- 33,705
- 25,917 undergraduates
- International
- 13%
- of students
- Tuition
- €1,800
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1971
About UPC
The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) is Catalonia's public university of engineering, architecture, science and technology. It was formally established in 1971 from older technical schools, some with long histories: the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB) celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2025, and the Terrassa engineering school opened its Modernista building in 1904.
The UPC has 25,917 bachelor's students, 5,516 master's students and 2,272 doctoral students, with 3,703 teaching and research staff. Teaching is organised in schools rather than faculties, spread across Barcelona, Castelldefels, Manresa, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Terrassa and Vilanova i la Geltrú, and it runs 70 bachelor's degrees, from Informatics and Aerospace Engineering to Mathematics, Architecture and a new school of medicine planned for 2026-27.
Admission is purely by grades: Spanish and international applicants compete on an admission mark out of 14 in the Catalan pre-enrolment system, and the most sought-after degrees fill at marks above 12. Fees are low by international standards, about 1,061 euros a year (1,800 euros for non-EU residents). It suits students who already know they want a technical career and who are ready for a demanding, exam-heavy first year.
Why students choose UPC
The UPC reports that 95% of its graduates are in work and 88% find a job in under three months.
Annual fees are about 1,061 euros (1,800 euros for students not resident in the EU), set by the Catalan government and covering around 15% of the real cost.
Its research partners include the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, home of the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, which the UPC helped inaugurate in 2023.
Selective double and sequential degrees, such as Aerospace Technology Engineering plus a master's (admission mark 12.694) or Mathematics (12.552), attract top-scoring students.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (cut-off marks shown are from 2026-27 admission)
Selectivity
The UPC publishes no overall admission rate. Each degree has a fixed number of places and admits applicants in order of their admission mark (out of 14); the published 2026-27 cut-offs include Informatics Engineering 10.008 (360 places), Industrial Technology Engineering plus master's 10.724 (400 places), Artificial Intelligence 11.514 (50 places), Data Science and Engineering 12.006, Engineering Physics 12.406, Mathematics 12.552 and Aerospace Technology Engineering plus master's 12.694 (60 places).
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato + PAU/EBAU | Admission mark out of 14 above the degree's cut-off, e.g. 10.008 for Informatics Engineering and 12.552 for Mathematics (2026-27) |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma / European Baccalaureate / EU school-leaving certificates | Direct access without the PAU via a UNEDasiss accreditation, which converts the grade; specific subject tests can raise the mark towards 14 |
| Non-EU secondary diplomas | Homologation of the diploma to the Spanish Bachillerato (Ministry of Education), then admission by converted mark, optionally improved with PCE-UNED subject tests |
| English language | Applicants must have adequate knowledge of the language of instruction. Most bachelor's degrees are taught in Catalan, Spanish and English depending on the subject (the UPC asks students to check each course sheet); Bioinformatics, run jointly with UB, UAB and UPF, is taught in English. No university-wide IELTS or TOEFL minimum is published for bachelor's admission. |
Deadlines
- Catalan university pre-enrolment (main round) Non-bindingSpring-summer 2027; exact dates set by the Catalan University Admissions Office
The UPC says pre-enrolment is completed online on the established dates, with periods in May and September; students need their PAU/EBAU or UNEDasiss mark to be admitted.
- February intake (selected degrees) Non-bindingDates set annually for the February start
Some UPC bachelor's degrees also offer places for pre-enrolment in February.
The UPC does not publish its own application deadlines: dates are set each year by the Catalan University Admissions Office (Generalitat de Catalunya), which was not accessible when this profile was checked. Start the UNEDasiss accreditation or homologation early, as admission depends on having your mark ready for pre-enrolment.
How to apply
All Catalan public universities admit bachelor's students through one pre-enrolment process run by the Catalan University Admissions Office, where you rank your preferred degrees. International applicants first obtain their access credential (UNEDasiss accreditation for EU, IB and reciprocity diplomas, or Ministry homologation for other diplomas) and then pre-enrol with that mark. Admitted students are told by the UPC when and where to enrol.
What admissions looks for
- An admission mark (out of 14) above the cut-off for the chosen degree; the UPC ranks applicants on this alone.
- High scores in the PAU or subject tests in subjects weighted for the degree, such as mathematics and physics for engineering.
- A valid access qualification: Spanish Bachillerato, IB or European Baccalaureate, an EU or reciprocity diploma accredited by UNEDasiss, or a homologated non-EU diploma.
- Adequate knowledge of the languages of instruction, which include Catalan and Spanish as well as English.
Tips for applying to UPC
- 1 Check the degree's weighting table: sitting the right subjects in the specific phase (or PCE-UNED abroad) can lift your mark well above 10.
- 2 Compare cut-offs across campuses: Informatics Engineering at Barcelona (FIB) closed at 10.008 in 2026-27, while the same degree is also taught at Vilanova i la Geltrú.
- 3 Rank several degrees in your pre-enrolment; places are allocated strictly in order of admission mark.
- 4 Plan for 60 credits of first-year enrolment and the minimum progress rule: you must pass at least 12 credits in your first year to continue.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Bachelor's students can apply for the Spanish Ministry of Education general grant (processed with AGAUR) for first-time credits, and for the Catalan government's EQUITAT grants, which scale fees by income. The UPC also offers its own and sponsored scholarships, and fees can be paid in two or three instalments.
- 17.69 euros; 30.00 euros for non-EU residents
- Price per credit, first enrolment (2026-27)
- 21.85 euros per credit the second time, 47.34 the third, 65.55 the fourth (non-EU residents: 40, 70, 110)
- Repeat enrolment
- About 15%
- Share of real cost covered by fees
- 95% in work; 88% find a job within three months
- Graduate employment
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (autumn and spring), with some degrees also admitting students in February
Aerospace Technology Engineering + Master's in Aerospace Engineering (ESEIAAT)
A sequential bachelor's-master's route with 60 places and a 2026-27 admission mark of 12.694, among the UPC's highest.
Mathematics (FME)
75 places and an admission mark of 12.552 in 2026-27.
Artificial Intelligence (FIB)
A 50-place bachelor's at the Barcelona School of Informatics with a 2026-27 admission mark of 11.514.
Engineering Physics (ETSETB)
44 places and a 2026-27 admission mark of 12.406.
Informatics Engineering (FIB)
The UPC's largest computing degree, with 360 places and majors in computing, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems and IT.
Architecture Studies (ETSAB)
The Barcelona School of Architecture, one of the schools that formed the UPC; 342 places in 2026-27.
Research
- The UPC had 1,935 active research projects and 108 million euros of R&D project turnover in 2024, and was Spain's top university for Horizon Europe funding in 2021-2022 and again in 2024.
- It helped inaugurate the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center in December 2023, and in 2026 presented a leading Spanish infrastructure for developing and testing 6G technologies.
- New institutes include IRIS (Research and Innovation in Health, 2025) and IRIA-UPC for architecture, urbanism and building construction.
Schools & faculties
- Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB)
- Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB)
- Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB)
- Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB)
- Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB)
- Barcelona East School of Engineering (EEBE)
- School of Mathematics and Statistics (FME)
- Castelldefels School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering (EETAC)
- Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering (ESEIAAT)
- Barcelona School of Building Construction (EPSEB)
- Barcelona School of Nautical Studies (FNB)
- Vallès School of Architecture (ETSAV)
The UPC reports that 95% of its graduates are in work and 88% find a job in under three months. Each year about 6,000 bachelor's and master's students graduate.
Student life
UPC life depends on which school you join: the main Barcelona sites include the Campus Diagonal Nord, home to the Barcelona School of Informatics and the central services, while other schools sit in Terrassa, Castelldefels, Manresa, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Sant Cugat del Vallès and Sant Adrià de Besòs, all linked by public transport. Most students live at home or rent privately. There are about 1,760 international students, 80 international double-degree agreements with 47 universities, and more than 6,000 students on work placements each year, so industry contact starts early.
- More than 6,000 students a year in educational cooperation agreements with companies.
- 80 international double-degree agreements with 47 universities, and membership of the Unite! European university alliance.
- Over 100,000 members in the UPC Alumni community.
- Sports, library, language and accommodation services for students, plus a new International Welcome Center.
Housing. The UPC does not guarantee housing; its accommodation service helps students find rooms in Barcelona and the other campus towns.
Location
Barcelona is Spain's second city, on the Mediterranean, with a mild climate, beaches, Gaudí's architecture and a strong tech and start-up scene. Rents are high and rising, so many students share flats or choose schools in nearby towns such as Terrassa, Castelldefels or Manresa, which are cheaper and connected to the city by train.
Nearest airport: Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
Notable alumni
- OV Oriol VinyalsMachine-learning researcher at Google DeepMind; studied mathematics and telecommunications engineering
- MV Mateo ValeroComputer architect and founding director of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center; PhD in telecommunications engineering
- AK Anna KiesenhoferTokyo 2020 Olympic road race champion; PhD in mathematics (2016)
- MM Matthias MaurerESA astronaut and materials scientist; studied materials science at the UPC
- CP Carme PigemPritzker Prize-winning architect (RCR Arquitectes); studied at the Vallès School of Architecture
- IT Ignasi TerrazaJazz pianist; Informatics Engineering graduate of the FIB and the first visually impaired person to graduate in that field in Spain
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study at UPC?
For 2026-27, first-enrolment bachelor's credits cost 17.69 euros, about 1,061 euros for a 60-credit year. Students not resident in the EU pay 30 euros per credit, 1,800 euros a year.
What admission mark do you need for UPC?
It depends on the degree. In 2026-27 cut-offs (out of 14) included 10.008 for Informatics Engineering, 11.514 for Artificial Intelligence, 12.552 for Mathematics and 12.694 for Aerospace Technology Engineering plus master's.
Do international students need to take the PAU to enter UPC?
No, if they hold an EU or reciprocity-country diploma, the IB or the European Baccalaureate: they get a UNEDasiss accreditation and can take optional subject tests to raise their mark. Other non-EU diplomas must be homologated by the Spanish Ministry of Education.
Are UPC bachelor's degrees taught in English?
Partly. The language varies by subject among Catalan, Spanish and English, and each course sheet states it; the interuniversity Bioinformatics degree is taught in English.
How do you apply to UPC?
Through the single pre-enrolment process of the Catalan University Admissions Office, ranking your preferred degrees. The UPC then contacts admitted students with enrolment instructions.
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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