Getting into health degrees, many engineering fields, and some social science careers is an odyssey in the public university network. And, beyond true vocation, when choosing a degree, many enrolled students are driven by the prospect of earning a salary above the average upon graduation (32,218 euros base contribution after four years), although advisors recommend choosing based on genuine interest in the subject. Employability, however, is a determining factor and, when selecting, there are degrees that go unnoticed despite their good employment data. The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities has published on its website the latest Social Security base contribution data, showing the progression of graduates from the 2019/2020 academic year over the past four years. These figures can serve as a guide for those who, just days before the PAU (University Entrance Exam) begins, are still unsure what to study.
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Industrial Chemical Engineering
Base contribution: 32,910 euros
Engineering suffered a big drop in student numbers a decade ago and, although recovering, there are degrees with not much demand and good employment. This is the case of the Industrial Chemical Engineering degree, offered at 10 public universities. Last year, the cutoff was around 6, except at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, where it reached 8.7. It has a traditional industrial technical engineer aspect and a high level of specialization demanded by the labor market. Job opportunities are not limited to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries but also include paper, petrochemical, agro-food industries, as well as water and waste treatment.
Public Management and Administration
Base contribution: 35,447 euros
The degree in Public Management and Administration is unknown to many families of future students, as it emerged after the Bologna Plan, when each university could design the degree it wanted without having to adhere to a central government catalog. The entry grade last year was around 6, except at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, which exceeded 8. The purpose of this degree is to train professionals specialized in management, administration, advisory, and analysis activities of the Administration, which is Spain’s largest employer. The natural career path is public service exams, but graduates are also sought by third sector companies related to public entities.
Graduate in Classical Philology
Base contribution: 34,888 euros
Philologies are attracting fewer students in their classrooms ― salaries have never been high ― but there is a specialty that is thriving: Latin and Greek. Enrollments have grown by 26% in a decade, but students remain few. A 5 is required to enter, and schools need experts in both subjects, so it is not difficult to find employment or pass secondary education public exams. They are also well received in companies. “Our field is a comprehensive study of the human phenomenon in all its aspects ― artistic, moral, creative… ― and the human resources departments of large companies have begun to appreciate it,” says Francisco J. González Ponce, professor of Classical Philology at the University of Seville, in this newspaper.
Environmental Engineering
Base contribution: 33,198 euros
All degrees related to the green economy are on the rise due to the increasing obligations decreed by the European Union in all areas. In a decade, 400,000 jobs will be created in the sector. That is why this degree has emerged, currently offered at five public universities with a cutoff grade between 6 and 8. The idea of this degree is to train engineers capable of leading multidisciplinary teams specializing in waste, water, soil and air pollution control, or renewable energies. The access grade for the Energy Engineering degree, which shares part of the content, is much higher.
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Navigation and Maritime Transport
Base contribution: 37,412 euros
In an increasingly globalized world, logistics in transport is gaining importance and more universities are opening specialized degrees in response to market demand. It is already offered at six universities located on the coast. Each center has a different orientation and an access grade ranging from 5 to 7.5. At the University of the Basque Country, for example, students learn astronomy, meteorology, radar navigation, or cargo stowage and handling; and they must embark for 12 months to become a second officer in the merchant navy. Or at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, students can specialize in Maritime Business and Port Logistics with instruction in English. Degrees related to land or air transport require much higher access grades.
Building
Base contribution: 34,341 euros
Paradoxically, those working as employees in technical architecture, the former building surveyors, earn more four years after finishing the degree (34,341 euros) than those graduating in Fundamentals of Architecture (29,932 euros). Almost all graduates of the latter degree then pursue a master’s to be able to sign plans, which shortens their work experience by two years. The average entry grade for Building varies between 5 and 9.
Security
Base contribution: 39,371 euros
Under the heading of degrees in “Protection of property and people” are the degrees in Security and Risk Control. Their natural career path is the state security forces, which require passing a competitive exam, or the private sector. The access grade is around 6, except if studied at the Public Security Institute of Catalonia, affiliated with the University of Barcelona, which requires more than a 9. It includes subjects such as Law, Anthropology, Psychology, or Criminology. The latter degree is experiencing a boom in vocations that does not correspond to job opportunities, as about 2,500 criminologists graduate each year. Its base contribution is lower: 32,859 euros.
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