The Evolution of Admission Age at the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies from 1769 to the Present: An Example of Changing University Access Profiles

This study analyses the evolution of the age of students at the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies[1], from its founding in 1769 as a Nautical School to its current integration within the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. It examines the admission age across different historical periods, as well as the factors that have influenced these changes, illustrating the evolution of access profiles over time. Analysis of the evolution of the entry age in nautical studies, using the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies as a case study from its foundation to the present, and offering results that can be extrapolated to other professional programmes. This article begins with the search and examination of the main existing primary sources related to age and other admission requirements for nautical studies. Subsequently, an analysis and statistical treatment of the collected data are carried out. Finally, the conclusions are presented. The age and admission requirements vary over time, and the following periods have been clearly identified. Foundational Period, 1769–1806 The methodology is based on quantitative and qualitative historical research using primary sources from the Royal Board of Trade of the City of Barcelona[2]. No minimum admission age was formally established, as records reveal a wide range of students, from thirteen to twenty-seven years old—ages significantly lower than those typical in today’s university context. According to the records, an exceptional case of a seven-year-old student is documented. This pattern is similar to that of other nautical institutions of the time, such as the Royal College of Saint Telmo in Málaga, where students were admitted between eight and fourteen years of age, according to Article 12. The duration of studies at this institution was longer than that of the private Nautical Schools, such as the one in the city of Barcelona. Pre-University Period, 1806–1975 In the records of the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies from the years 1824 to 1847[3], we find students under the age of fourteen and, once again, students from outside Catalonia and born on the American continent. The records of the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies from the year 1901 show that the age of newly admitted students ranged from twelve to twenty-seven years. The 1903 curriculum established the minimum admission age at fourteen years.By 1972, students were required to have completed the COU[4], which meant that the admission age was approximately eighteen years, although some students who had not repeated any year could complete it at age 17. University Period, 1975–Present: Standardisation The Royal Decree 1439/1975[5] marked the beginning of the recognition of higher-level qualifications for studies undertaken at the Nautical Schools. On 18 October 1977, a new curriculum was approved, consisting of five academic years and leading to the degrees of Diploma, Licentiate, and Doctorate in Merchant Marine Studies. In 1990, the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies became part of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The age of admission became standardised at around eighteen to twenty years, aligning with the typical pattern of university students due to the full integration of nautical studies into the university structure, successive curricula and access via the Baccalaureate/University Entrance Examination. The evolution of admission age at the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies reflects a significant shift in university access profiles within technically oriented programmes with strong professional foundations. The system has moved from training closely linked to professional practice—where students of varying ages and experience levels coexisted—to a structured academic model with a more homogeneous admission age typical of post-secondary education. The main reasons for this change include, on one hand, the increased academic demands requiring more extensive prior education, and on the other, the fact that students in the foundational period acquired professional maturity earlier due to the socioeconomic conditions of the time. [1]FNB [2]Arxiu de la Biblioteca de Catalunya. Fons antic de la Junta de Comerç [3]Arxiu de la Diputació de Barcelona. [4]Pre-University Course [5]Decreto 1439/1975, de 26 de junio, sobre calificación de las enseñanzas de la carrera de Náutica. Consult the following link 7-10-2025: https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1975/07/03/pdfs/A14439-14440.pdf.