The secondary education is mandatory for those wishing to pursue higher education. In addition, students must pass a competitive entrance examination (known as "vestibular") for their specific course of study. The number of candidates per available place in the freshman class may be in excess of 30 or 40 to one in the not so competitive courses at the top public universities. The most competitive ones excess 80 or 150. In some courses with small number of vacancies, this number can be as high as 200 (medical school, for example).