Over 8,000 new students begin their studies at the UAB
Over 8,000 first-year students start their studies at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) on Monday 28 September; this is the last group to begin their lectures, after all other students began returning to the UAB earlier this month. First-year students enrolled online for an academic year that is prepared to deal with the current pandemic as best as possible.
25/09/2020
Monday 28 September marks the day that the 2020/21 academic year begins for over 8,000 first-year students studying undergraduate degrees at the UAB. This year is the first time that new students enrol online before beginning their university studies.
The enrolment process for students who were accepted to the UAB after passing the university entrance exams in June took place earlier in September, given the different delays caused by the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. From 7 to 10 September, students with the UAB as their first choice enrolled in their studies, and students who had listed the UAB as their second choice enrolled on 18 September.
A 2020/21 academic year marked by the pandemic
The 2020/21 academic year will adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, according with the UAB Contingency Plan and Organisation Protocol, all activities held at the University must comply with the measures set down in the resolutions SLT 1429/2020 and SLT/1648/2020. All university members must adopt the necessary measures to prevent the risk of propagation of the COVID-19 virus, as well as prevent becoming exposed to any risks.
Individual and collective preventive measures are based mainly on the frequent washing of hands, minimising the impact of reflex respiratory mechanisms (avoiding coughing directly into the air, covering one's mouth with the inside of one's arm, not touching one's face, nose and eyes), the maintenance of interpersonal physical distance, the use of masks, etc. When symptoms appear or there is a confirmed case of COVID-19, all members must follow the specific Contingency Plan in order to act quickly and efficiently and stop the possibility of contagion.
With regard to individual protection measures, the use of masks is mandatory in all areas of the UAB campus, both inside buildings and outside on campus. The specific cases in which masks are not necessary are specified in the plan.
New degrees for the 2020/21 year
In relation to new academic programmes, the UAB this year will be offering a degree in Spanish and Chinese Studies: Language, Literature and Culture, the first of its kind to be offered in a university in Spain. The degree will be offered by the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting and by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and will last four years (240 ECTS credits). Another new programme is the degree in Catalan Studies: Literature and Linguistics, which will be offered instead of the current degree in Catalan Language and Literature. Anotehr novelty is a new degree in Science offered in Barcelona and Madrid through the Alliance4Universities, which in addition to the UAB, includes the Autonomous Universityof Madrid (UAM), the Carlos III University (UC3M) and the Pompeu Fabra Univeristy (UPF). Lectures in Barcelona will be held at the UAB, while lectures in Madrid will be offered by the UAM and the UC3M. Finally, the Salesian University School of Sarrià (Escola Universitària Salesiana de Sarrià - EUSS), a UAB-affiliated centre, will offer a new degree in Autonotive Engineering lasting four years. It will train professionals with skills in mechanical engineering specialised in automotion, electronic engineering, energetic engineering and industrial organisation.
A record year in figures
This year has seen many records in figures: a total of 54,936 students (compared to 47,559 in 2019) have enrolled in one of Catalonia's seven universities. The UAB offers 8,325 places this year, a few more than last year, when it offered 8,260; it is the second university in Catalonia to offer more places after the University of Barcelona (UB), with 10,623 places. As happened last year, Medicine and Psychology are two of the UAB's most sought after degrees: 917 people applied for Medicine (vs. 654 people last year), and 820 applied for Psychology (vs. 605 in 2019). They are thus among the top 10 bachelor's degrees students apply for in Catalonia. Medicine was the fourth most sought after degree and Psychology, the sixth degree with the most number of applications.
Information on COVID-19 and the 2020/21 academic year