Published on 6 June, the 2024 edition of the U-Ranking is an initiative by the Valencian Institute of Economic Research (IVIE) and the BBVA Foundation. This edition analyses 70 Spanish universities based on 20 indicators grouped into two major dimensions: teaching, and research and innovation. These dimensions are further divided into four areas: resources, production, quality and internationalisation. The U-Ranking publishes two types of rankings: U-Ranking, which sorts universities by performance, and U-Ranking Volume, which considers the volume of results.

In the 2024 edition, the U-Ranking places the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) among the top Spanish universities, appearing as the top-ranked university in the dimension of research and innovation. It shares this position with the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

The UPC has also taken second place among Spanish universities in teaching and in the overall ranking, sharing the position with seven other universities in teaching and with the UPF and the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) in the overall ranking.

In the U-Ranking Volume, the UPC climbs two positions in the overall classification of Spanish universities to the 8th place. It is also ranked one position higher in the teaching dimension, in which it takes the 7th place; and in the research and innovation dimension it is ranked 8th.

Above the Spanish average
In addition to these classifications, the publishers produce an annual report called U-Ranking. Synthetic Indicators of Spanish Universities, as well as an individual report per university showing the institution’s results in each indicator.

As for the UPC’s indicators, the University stands out once again in the research and innovation dimension, in which it achieves performance scores above the national average in all the analysed indicators. It stands out especially in ERDF funds per faculty members with PhD, research staff contracts over budget and the percentage of publications in the first quartile. In these three cases, the UPC gets the highest score: 100 out of 100. In the teaching dimension, the UPC achieves its highest score in budget per full-time student, with 93 points.

As in previous editions, the UPC’s higher position in the performance ranking compared to the volume ranking shows that the institution’s results surpass what would be expected based on its size. This relationship is illustrated in the comprehensive results report published by U-Ranking, which includes a graph comparing the positions of institutions in both rankings.

U-Ranking vs U-Ranking-Volume of Spanish universities, 2024. Source: extracted from Pérez and Aldás, 2024, Synthetic Indicators of Spanish Universities, figure 4.1, p. 47.

By clicking on “Choose a university”, the ranking’s website also allows institution rankings to be obtained by area of study or bachelor’s degree. Based on the default weights proposed by the publishers—56% for teaching and 44% for research and innovation—several UPC bachelor’s degrees are ranked 1st in Spain in their respective area, either alone or together with degrees from other universities.

In Sciences:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences and Technologies
• Double bachelor’s degree in Informatics Engineering and Mathematics

In Architecture and Engineering:

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science and Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Agronomic Science Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Geoinformation and Geomatics Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Energy Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Mineral Resource Engineering and Mineral Recycling
• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Technology and Design Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence
• Bachelor’s degree in Marine Technologies
• Double bachelor’s degree in Architectural Technology and Building Construction and Civil Engineering
• Double bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Physics
• Double bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and Informatics Engineering
• Double bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering and Telecommunications Systems Engineering or Network Engineering
• Double bachelor’s degree in Informatics Engineering and Industrial Technology Engineering

In Health Sciences:

• Bachelor’s degree in Optics and Optometry (Terrassa)

Further information

• UPC Rankings Observatory