Universitat Pompeu Fabra
The University

Key characteristics of UPF

The model followed by Universitat Pompeu Fabra can be summed up in the ideas outlined below:

An urban university. It’s in the very heart of the city, stretching from the Rambla to the Olympic Village. It’s responsible for the rehabilitation of historic buildings and has contributed to the renewal of the urban fabric. The campus is very central and is well connected with the rest of the city.

A public university. It was set up by an act of the Catalan Parliament, with the aim of encouraging quality public university education. Conditions for entrance and registration are the same as those for all Catalonia’s public universities.

Innovative and up-to-date syllabuses. Fully updated syllabuses with work placements on all degree courses.

Full-time studentship. This is the best way to learn and the shortest route to graduation.

Personalisation. Small study groups allows attention on an individual basis and closer contact between teacher and student.

Internationalisation. Studying abroad and gaining personal and academic experience are high priorities at UPF; more than 2,400 UPF students have spent periods studying at other universities all over the world.

Work placements. UPF offers several educational cooperation programmes for putting the knowledge acquired in the University into practice in a business or institutional context.

Subjects lasting one term. This makes for a smooth learning process and more effective evaluation of the knowledge acquired.

New technologies. “Campus Global”, UPF’s intranet, provides students with all the technological potential they need to make studying easier and more profitable: e-mail, newsgroups, virtual material, the Internet, etc.

Quality services. A fully computerised main library open until the small hours and closed only five days a year; computer rooms with long opening hours and constantly updated software; a fully equipped intranet; staff ready to clear up any doubt and provide all the necessary support, etc.

Doctoral programmes. Every year programmes are organised that lead to a high-level academic training with specialised research. This year 12 doctoral courses have been started.

Continuing education. After their degree course, graduates can carry on their training within UPF with a wide range of Master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas and refresher courses. At present there are more than 30 options available.

Last updated 09-07-2009
© Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona