Between fear and opportunity: Is it worth opting for a newly created degree?

Irina Barranco

Student of the degree in Geography and Global Change (UB), started in the 2023/2024 academic year

Irina discovered this degree at the Feria de la Enseñanza and immediately found it a very innovative and attractive option. "The Geography degree had become obsolete in many ways, and looking back at the curriculum, I saw that the new degree took into account contemporary challenges and current dynamics," she explains. Despite being a newly created program, she wasn't afraid to apply. "I saw it as an opportunity to study an updated approach adapted to reality," she explains.

Martí Surrallés

Student of the degree in Artificial Intelligence (UAB), started in the 2021/2022 academic year

When he reached his second year of high school, Martí wasn't sure what to study. "I wanted a degree that would give me knowledge of technological tools, but at the same time, I felt like I'd have a hard time doing any kind of engineering," he recalls. While browsing the UAB website, he came across this newly created degree. "At first, I was worried about not having a reference for the entrance exam cut-off score, but other than that, I didn't give it much thought," he confesses.

Sara Estruch

Graduated from the first class of the degree in Bioengineering (UIC), launched in the 2017/2018 academic year

In the summer of 2017, Sara decided to enroll at the university. Since her research work had previously been awarded by the UIC, she received an email with information about the new degree. "I was captivated to learn that it was possible to regenerate biological tissues and create artificial organs with 3D printing," she explains. It was the only degree in Spain in that discipline. "Sometimes I felt like a guinea pig, but being part of the first class also has its advantages: it carries a certain prestige," she notes. Today, her brother is also enrolled in a first class: CAFE Pirineus.

Aitana Seguí

Student of the degree in Global Studies (UVic-UCC), starting in the 2024/2025 academic year

Last year, Aitana attended the Teaching Fair and was drawn to a new degree offered by UVic-UCC: Global Studies. "I was very motivated by the fact that it was entirely in English, and I saw that it could give me the opportunity to have a future job abroad," she recalls. The fact that it was a new program didn't bother her at all. "On the contrary, it made me even more interested: being the first to take it was an incentive for me," she explains.

Oriol Rosell

Graduate of the first class of the degree in Organizational Communication (UAB), launched in the 2019/2020 academic year

"I discovered the degree while browsing the internet and it caught my attention because it was a newly created degree," she recalls. She liked that it approached communication from a cross-disciplinary perspective, but focused on addressing the communication needs of businesses and organizations. "I was close to opting for journalism because I saw a broader career path, although the new degree offered training more tailored to market demands," she adds. This finally convinced her.

Ivan Hidalgo

Student of the degree in Environmental Engineering (UPC), started in the 2020/2021 academic year

Ivan is a lover of the mountains and natural environments. When it came to choosing a degree, he searched through the Unportal repository and landed on the new degree program that the UPC had just introduced: Environmental Engineering. He enrolled. "I didn't want to confine myself to just one field, and in this program, we cover everything: from chemistry and physics to biology and geology," he explains. "At first, my environment questioned the degree's job prospects, but now I see it as an opportunity: many graduates come from conventional programs, and here, we still have a long way to go," he points out.

Aleix Casals

Student of the degree in Mathematical and Physical Engineering (URV), started in the 2021/2022 academic year

A first-year high school teacher recommended that Aleix look into physics or mathematics, and he followed her lead. He ultimately opted for a new degree that combined both subjects at Rovira i Virgili University. "I had doubts right from the start because I couldn't talk to previous classes, the job prospects were uncertain, and I worried about running into management and curriculum issues," he admits. However, he managed to turn the situation around. "The teachers are very receptive to our suggestions, and the fact that the curriculum is so up-to-date plays in favor of these studies," he explains.

Mireia Margarit

Graduate of the degree in Global Governance, Economics and Legal Order (Esade-URL), launched in the 2019/2020 academic year

Mireia is part of the first class of one of the latest degrees launched by Esade-URL. "I thought it was a multidisciplinary program that included exactly all the topics I was most interested in studying," she says. In her case, when she realized it was the first year it was offered, she saw it as a very positive development. "It was part of Esade's effort to innovate and train students in relevant and current issues," she admits.

Nicolás Fernández

Student of the degree in Contemporary History, Politics and Economics (UAB), started in the 2021/2022 academic year

Nicolás learned about the degree he's pursuing through a friend, who was also considering enrolling. "The multidisciplinary nature of a humanities program and the fact that it's taught in English were what most motivated me to enroll," he says. It wasn't an easy decision. "I come from Madrid, and from the moment I set foot at the UAB and learned about everything it offered, I understood that the degree would be well-structured," he says. For him, the sacrifice of the faculty, students, and coordination staff has been key to completing his studies.

Lorena Pinillos

Student of the double degree in Business Management and Artificial Intelligence

Lorena learned about Esade's training programs through friends and family. "In 2021, there was more and more talk about machine learning and data analysis, but artificial intelligence still seemed like a distant concept to me," he recalls. This encouraged him to sign up. Being part of the first class seemed like an exciting challenge. "I see it as a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of the discipline," he says.