Overview
The Ciclo de Nivelación (leveling cycle) is the introductory course incoming students take at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC) before starting their degree. It is not a single university-wide exam; each faculty runs its own leveling cycle, with its own subjects and pass rules, aimed mainly at students finishing their last year of secondary school. The details below describe how it works at the Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, as an example of the general format; other UNC faculties set their own subjects and rules.
Who can take it
Students entering the faculty for the first time, most commonly those completing their final year of secondary school, take the Ciclo de Nivelación before beginning their chosen degree.
Structure or exam pattern
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| Ciclo de Nivelación Anticipado (CNA) | An early-start option, with exam dates spread across the year |
| Ciclo standard | Held in the February–March period, in person, with a fully virtual section available for students who face access difficulties |
At the Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, the cycle covers three subjects: Introducción a los Estudios Universitarios y a la Economía, Introducción a la Contabilidad, and Introducción a la Matemática.
What it covers
The three subjects introduce foundational concepts in economics/university study skills, accounting, and mathematics, to prepare students for first-year coursework in economics-related degrees.
Scoring and results
Each subject has an integrating exam, taken in person. A score of 50–100 (on a 0–100 scale) approves the subject directly, without needing a further final exam. A score of 0–49 leaves the student in "libre" (non-approved) status for that subject, requiring them to repeat it in the February–March cycle or sit a final exam from February onward.
How to register
Pre-registration is done entirely online; applicants are directed to the faculty's admissions guide for instructions, career information and important dates, rather than needing to attend in person.
Preparation tips
Check your specific faculty's Ciclo de Nivelación page directly, since subjects and pass rules differ across UNC faculties.
Consider the Ciclo de Nivelación Anticipado (CNA) option where offered, since it lets students start and finish earlier than the standard February–March cycle.
Is the UNC Ciclo de Nivelación the same for every faculty?
No. Each UNC faculty runs its own leveling cycle, with its own subjects and pass rules; this profile describes the Facultad de Ciencias Económicas as an example.
What score is needed to pass a Ciclo de Nivelación subject without a further exam?
At the Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, a score of 50 to 100 out of 100 on the subject's integrating exam approves it directly.
What happens if a student scores below 50 on a subject?
They are placed in "libre" status for that subject and must retake the course in the February–March cycle or sit a final exam from February onward.