Different authors have pointed out the importance of applying competitive intelligence (CI) to non-business sectors (public administration, universities, non-governmental organizations, etc.). Besides, universities increasingly apply management tools and techniques coming from the business field. On the other hand, in recent years universities have perceived an environmental pressure as a consequence of a) their implication in regional development where they are located, and b) their need to reform their program offerings according to the needs of society and the requirements of the labour market, as well as a result of the process of adapting their degrees to the European Higher Education Area (Bologna process). This paperdescribes and characterises CI practices in the universities and analyses the CI contribution to the design of degree courses.The research is based on qualitative methods, and data were collected through interviews. Results suggest that the use of CI in universities is mainly reactive, and addressed only to organisational tactics