Data from the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) updated today reveal that 17,114 students applied for nearly 16,000 available spots.
Last year, higher education institutions received 19,810 applications during the second phase, 2,696 more than this year.
The reduction in the number of candidates was already noted in the first phase, with fewer than 50,000 students enrolled, a figure significantly below recent years and only comparable to 2018.
At the end of the first phase, only 43,899 students secured placement (12.1% less than last year), and many can now attempt to enter higher education again.
There are now 15,923 spots available, the majority of which are positions that had no candidates in the first phase (11,513), in addition to 4,401 places where students were placed but did not enroll, and 20 additional spots.
The results will be announced on September 14, followed by a third phase from September 23 to 25 with the remaining vacancies.
Last week, the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation expressed concern over the decreased number of students placed, associating it with changes in exam rules which now require three national exams to complete the 12th grade and at least two to apply for higher education.
Nevertheless, the minister refused to alter the rules for completing secondary education and accessing higher education, though he admitted the possibility of a “broad national discussion” in the future to reconsider changes, acknowledging that some higher education institutions in the interior were significantly affected by the decrease in students.
