University of Barcelona Admitted Student Profiles & Alumni

Santiago Ramón y Cajal

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1906); “father of modern neuroscience”

MD (Medicine)

Late 1870s

Pau Gasol

NBA champion (2009, 2010), 6× All‑Star; Spain’s basketball legend

Studied Medicine

Late 1990s

Isabel Coixet

Acclaimed Spanish film director

BA (Contemporary History)

c. 1980s

Lluís Companys

President of Catalonia (1934–40)

BA (Law)

Early 1900s

Joan Laporta

President of FC Barcelona football club

BA (Law)

1980s

Ada Colau

First female Mayor of Barcelona (2015–23), social activist

Studied Law

c. 1990s

Carme Chacón

Spain’s Defence Minister (2008–11)

BA (Law)

Late 1990s

José Carreras

World‑renowned operatic tenor

Studied Music

Mid-1960s

Manuel Castells

Leading sociologist, pioneer in information society theory

BA (Sociology)

N/A

Pau Claris i Casademunt

17th-century lawyer and clergyman

Studied Law

Early 17th century

Jordi Pujol

Long-time President of Catalonia (1980–2003)

Studied Medicine

c. 1950s

Elisenda Paluzie

Economist; former President, Catalan National Assembly

BA, PhD (Economics)

1992 / 1999

Pilar Ruiz‑Lapuente

Astrophysicist; researched supernovae linked to dark energy

PhD (Physics)

c. 1990s

Toni Soler i Guasch

Journalist, TV producer, writer

BA (Journalism/History)

c. 1980s

Oriol Mitjà i Villar

Physician-researcher; tropical disease specialist

PhD (Medicine)

c. 2010s

Bad Gyal (Alba Farelo)

Singer-songwriter and model in modern Catalan music scene

BA (Music?)

c. 2010s

Alicia Esteve Head

Known survivor/hoax figure of 9/11 false claim

Studied Business

c. 1990s

Espen Barth Eide

Norwegian Foreign Minister

Studied Political Science

c. 1980s

Manuela Trasobares

Opera singer, painter, and politician

BA (Arts/Music)

c. 1970s

Josep Guardiola

Legendary footballer and manager (Barcelona, Manchester City)

Studied Law?

c. 1990s