In the first round of elections on 24 May Ferran Sancho, professor of Fundamentals of Economic Analysis, received 36.08% of the university community's votes; Pere Solà, professor of Theory and History of Education, received 29.77%; Margarita Arboix, professor of Pharmacology, received 28.54%; and Joaquim Coll, professor of Medicine, received 5.61%.

Participation in this first round of elections was of the highest seen in the past years. A total of 76.72% of members of the Sector A cast their vote; as did 32.33% of Sector B; 11.11% of Sector C; and 60.60% of Sector D.

Candidate Ferran Sancho received most of his votes from Sectors A and B (teaching and research staff); Pere Solà was largely voted by Sector C (students); and Margarita Arboix was voted mainly by members of Sector D (administrative and services staff).

Polling took place from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm with no major incidents occurring during the day.

The rector of the university is chosen by the university community and elections are held by universal suffrage. Votes are weighted according to the Organic Law of Universities in the following manner:

- Sector A, tenure-track academic staff, 51%
- Sector B, all other academic and research staff, 9%
- Sector C, undergraduate and postgraduate students, 30%
- Sector D, administration and services, 10%