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Grabbing the Grails of Academia in Spain's Corridors of Knowledge
Crunch time. The big ten-second count. Picking your academic journey's path is no joke. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the top desired degrees in Spanish public universities veered towards the most selective double degrees, specifically the fascinating fusion of Mathematics and Physics, or Computer Engineering.
To decipher the mystery of the most competitive careers, the Datosour website embarked on a puzzlement tour, tabulating the highest admission score for each Spanish university and unveiling a ranking of the top 100 most sought-after programs – the ultimate battle map for this year's PAU warriors targeting coveted slots in the public system.
Mathematics Gets a Game-Changing Upgrade
Among the university bigwigs, a colossal 28 institutions flaunt a single degree with the highest admission score. However, the leading 10 most desired programs boast remarkably high double degrees, all with scores of over 13.4.
The double degree in Physics and Mathematics paces the national podium with a score of 13.764 at the University of Seville. This proportion dishes out top scores in 13 academic battlegrounds, ranging from its maximum to 12.261 at the University of Extremadura.
In second place, the double degree in Mathematics and Computer Engineering accrues the most elusive spots in seven universities. Scores for this brute force duo vary from 12.22 (University of the Balearic Islands) to an ironclad 13.62 (Polytechnic University of Valencia).
Medicine's Iron Grip on the Throne
In a single-degree showdown, Medicine reigns supreme as the program demanding the most final scores in an astounding 35 Spanish public universities, except for the UNED (National University of Distance Education), which always sport a low admission score of 5 due to a unique entry scheme.
Medicine's admission scores shift dramatically depending on the university: from the modest 11.388 at the University of Vic (Catalonia) to a daunting 13.416 at the University of Granada – a perennial magnet for hopeful minds year after year.
In institutions where Medicine does not rule the roost, the programs vying for the highest admission scores primarily revolve around engineering degrees or, to a lesser extent, ones in Nursing or Biomedicine – also frequent magnetisers of competitive hopefuls.
The Dominant Degrees in the Ranking
Medicine scores 26 times among the top 100 programs with the highest admission scores in 2024-2025, although it does not always grab the top spot in its university. The highest score on this list belongs to the University of Seville (13.45) – a title it only shares with Basic and Experimental Biomedicine. Medicine's low score reveals itself at the University of Valladolid, at 12.888.
The double degree in Physics and Mathematics (in its various forms) brings up the flag 14 times in the top 100. It triumphs at the national level with a score of 13.764 in Seville and closes with a score of 12.989 at the University of Alicante. This program, together with other combos featuring Mathematics, often crowns the top positions in the ranking.
Mathematics, in all its guises, appears another 18 times, as either a single degree or a vital aspect of a double degree. One of its most frequent pairings is with Computer Engineering, which pops up 14 times on the list.
Outside the STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), International Relations shines most brightly among the social science degrees, appearing ten times in the ranking. It only assumes a standalone role at the University of Seville (13.054). In contrast, it partners with Law five times, and the double degree in Law and International Relations becomes the highest-scoring program absent from the Mathematics domain and the only non-science and technology degree to snag a top 10 position.
The rankings extend from the 13.764 score for Physics and Mathematics in Seville to a 12.874 shared by two degrees: Biomedicine and Advanced Therapies (University of Valladolid) and the double degree in Physics and Electronic Engineering (University of the Basque Country).
When it comes to universities with the most representation in the top 100, the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the Universidad de Sevilla emerge victorious, boasting nine degrees each. They are trailed by the Rey Juan Carlos University (Madrid), the Universidad de Valencia, the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, with six degrees each.
The average score for the top 100 programs in online-education and self-development, such as the double degree in Mathematics and Computer Engineering, is over 13.4, showcasing high competition in these fields. Interestingly, the double degree in Physics and Mathematics, with a score of 13.764 at the University of Seville, is the most sought-after program in Spain's education-and-self-development sector, indicating a preference for interdisciplinary learning.
