Objectives and competences

The study of biodiversity is an emerging area of biology that is of growing importance in the public and political spheres. Understanding the diversity of living organisms, their origin and evolution and ensuring their conservation is not only of academic interest but is also crucial to ensuring the sustainable development of our society and a sound management of land and the environment.

The master¿s degree Biodiversity is intended primarily for holders of bachelor¿s degrees or equivalent undergraduate degrees in branches of life sciences, environmental sciences or related disciplines, and for professionals in education, public administration, NGOs, environmental consulting, etc., who are interested in the latest high-quality training in the study and conservation of biodiversity.

This master's degree offers two possible specializations:

  • Evolutionary Biology. This specialization is designed for future researchers in the field of biodiversity, providing the knowledge and tools needed to reconstruct evolutionary relationships and population histories from genus and species to community and to use this information to draw inferences about the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, the processes of evolution, adaptation and diversification, and the relationship between organisms and the environment.
  • Conservation Biology and Biodiversity Management. This specialization is designed for future researchers and managers of natural heritage, providing knowledge and tools that address the mechanisms regulating biodiversity, its course and evolution; to assess human impact and to manage and evaluate biodiversity.

The program also offers students a wide range of highly specific optional subjects.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Biology
Branch of knowledge
  • Environmental sciences and ecology
  • Biology and genetics
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available45
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instructionSpanish
Approximate price per credit19.37 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2025-2026
CoordinationALBERTO MACEDA VEIGA
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentNo
Open enrolmentYes
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesNo
Specializations
  • Conservation of Biodiversity
  • Evolutionary Biology

Objectives and competences

Objectives

To acquire advanced multidisciplinary training designed to begin research in the area of biodiversity, its conservation and management.

Competences



  • Advanced knowledge and the ability to demonstrate an in-depth, well-founded understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of scientific investigation and of the working methodology used in the evolution of biodiversity or in its management and conservation.

  • The ability to apply and integrate knowledge, understanding, sound science and skills in order to solve problems in new, imprecisely defined environments, including multidisciplinary contexts involving highly specialized researchers and professionals.

  • The ability to assess and select the appropriate scientific theory and precise methodology to formulate judgments in the area of biodiversity based on incomplete or limited information, ensuring that any solution reflects social and ethical responsibility in each case.

  • The ability to predict and control the evolution of complex situations by means of new and innovative working methodologies adapted to the scientific or research area of biodiversity.

  • The ability to convey results clearly and unambiguously to a general or specialist public, presenting scientific and technological findings or results of the latest innovations, as well as the most relevant underlying principles.

  • The ability to develop sufficient autonomy to take part in scientific or technological research projects and collaborations in the field of biodiversity, featuring interdisciplinary contexts and a high level of knowledge transfer.

  • The ability to take responsibility for professional development and specialization within the field of biodiversity.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

This master's degree is intended for holders of bachelor's degrees and equivalent undergraduate degrees in branches of life sciences, environmental sciences, experimental sciences and related disciplines, and for professionals in related areas (including education, public administration, NGOs, environmental consulting, etc.). interested in acquiring advanced, up-to-date training in biodiversity.

Students interested in applying should have previous academic training in one or more areas of life sciences, experimental sciences or environmental sciences.

Access requirements and conditions

General requirements
Students wishing to be admitted to a university master's degree must hold one of the following qualifications:

  • Official Spanish university degree.

  • A degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area framework that authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue.

  • A qualification issued by an institution outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, applicants must request homologation of the degree to its equivalent official Spanish university qualification or obtain express approval from the University of Barcelona, which will conduct a study of equivalence to ensure that the degree is of a comparable level to an official Spanish university qualification and that it grants access to university master's degree study in the country of issue. Admission shall not, in any case, imply that prior qualifications have been recognized as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree and does not confer recognition for any purposes other than that of admission to the master's degree course.

Specific requirements

Applicants should hold one of the following official undergraduate degrees, or a direct equivalent issued outside Spain:


  • Bachelor's degree in Biology

  • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Biology

  • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences

  • Bachelor's degree in Marine Sciences

  • Bachelor's degree in Genetics

  • Llicenciatura degree in Biology

  • Llicenciatura degree in Pharmacy

  • Llicenciatura degree in Veterinary Science

  • Llicenciatura degree in Biotechnology

  • Llicenciatura degree in Environmental Sciences

  • Llicenciatura degree in Marine Sciences

  • Llicenciatura degree in Geology

  • Llicenciatura degree in Chemistry

  • Agricultural Engineering

  • Forest Engineering

  • Chemical Engineering

  • Geological Engineering

Holders of university diplomas and technical engineering qualifications will be required to complete bridging courses with a total value of up to 30 ECTS credits. These courses will consist of subjects currently offered as part of the EHEA bachelor's degree in Biology and are intended to give students the basic understanding of botany, zoology and ecology needed for the master's degree subjects.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

3 February'9 June 2025.
Notification of resolutions: 17 June.

Notes:

  • Pre-enrolment fee: A pre-enrolment fee of 30,21 euros is charged. Students who apply to more than one master's degree must pay the fee for each pre-enrolment request. Pre-enrolment requests cannot be processed until this fee has been paid.Fees will only be refunded if the master's degree in question is suspended.
  • Reserved places: A maximum of 5% of the new places of the master's degree are reserved for students who meet the general and specific access requirements and accredit the recognition of a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%.

Required documentation

Selection criteria

Notification

Admitted candidates must make a payment of 300 euros to reserve their place. The payment will be made on account of the enrolment fee and must be paid within seven calendar days (non-extendable) from the date on which the payment receipt is generated, which will be notified to the interested party by email. This amount will not be refunded in the event that the student does not enrol in the master's degree course. Once this amount has been paid, a copy of the payment must be sent to the e-mail address mastersoficialsbio@ub.edu within a maximum period of three calendar days from the date of payment. If the payment confirmation email has not been received within this period, the place will be forfeited.ul>
  • Admissions
  • Enrolment

    As a general rule, at the UB you will be required to enrol online. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned


    Enrolment calendar

    • July: 14-30
    • September: 15–28

    Course curriculum

    Subjects and course plans

    Distribution of credits

    Type ECTS
    Compulsory 15
    Optional 27
    Compulsory placements 0
    Compulsory final project 18
    TOTAL 60

    List of subjects

    Subject Type Language Credits
    Specialization: Conservation of Biodiversity
    Agroecology Optional 3
    Applied Entomology Optional 3
    Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions and Services Optional 6
    Biosystematics of Seed Plants Optional 3
    Biotic Interactions in Agroecosystem Plant Communities Optional 3
    Comparative Genomics Optional 3
    Conservation Biology in the Anthropocene Optional 6
    Conservation Biology Optional 6
    Conservation Genetics Optional 3
    Conservation of Inland Waters and Coastal Marshes Optional 3
    Diversity and Applications of Algae and Bryophytes Optional 3
    Effects of Pollution on Biodiversity Optional 3
    Ethnobiology: Traditional Uses and Management of Biodiversity Optional 3
    Evaluation of Biodiversity Compulsory 3
    Evolution of Genes and Genomes Optional 6
    Evolutionary Biology of Vertebrates Optional 6
    Evolutionary Mechanisms of Behaviour and the Creation of Communities Optional 6
    Final Project Compulsory 18
    Functional Adaptations of Animals Optional 3
    Fungal Diversity Optional 3
    Genomic Methods in Biodiversity Analysis Optional 6
    GIS in the Analysis and Representation of Biodiversity Optional 3
    Introduction to R for Biodiversity Analysis (Rbio) Optional 3
    Lichens and Bryophytes as Indicators in Terrestrial Ecosystems Optional 3
    Management and Analysis of Biodiversity Data Compulsory 6
    Methods and Techniques in Plant Population Biology Optional 3
    Methods and Techniques in Plant Systematics and Evolution Optional 3
    Phylogenetics and Phylogeography: Methods and Applications Optional 6
    Population Genetics Optional 3
    Population Viability Analysis Optional 3
    Practicum in Biodiversity on the Macroscale Optional 3
    Practicum in Biodiversity on the Microscale Optional 3
    Practicum in Marine Biodiversity Optional 3
    Practicum in River Biodiversity Optional 3
    River Ecosystems: Biodiversity Sampling and Analysis Techniques Optional 3
    Survival and Reproductive Strategies in Metazoans Optional 3
    The Tree of Life Compulsory 6
    Trophic Relationships Optional 3
    Wildlife Management Optional 6
    Specialization: Evolutionary Biology
    Agroecology Optional 3
    Applied Entomology Optional 3
    Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions and Services Optional 6
    Biosystematics of Seed Plants Optional 3
    Biotic Interactions in Agroecosystem Plant Communities Optional 3
    Comparative Genomics Optional 3
    Conservation Biology in the Anthropocene Optional 6
    Conservation Biology Optional 6
    Conservation Genetics Optional 3
    Conservation of Inland Waters and Coastal Marshes Optional 3
    Diversity and Applications of Algae and Bryophytes Optional 3
    Effects of Pollution on Biodiversity Optional 3
    Ethnobiology: Traditional Uses and Management of Biodiversity Optional 3
    Evaluation of Biodiversity Compulsory 3
    Evolution of Genes and Genomes Optional 6
    Evolutionary Biology of Vertebrates Optional 6
    Evolutionary Mechanisms of Behaviour and the Creation of Communities Optional 6
    Final Project Compulsory 18
    Functional Adaptations of Animals Optional 3
    Fungal Diversity Optional 3
    Genomic Methods in Biodiversity Analysis Optional 6
    GIS in the Analysis and Representation of Biodiversity Optional 3
    Introduction to R for Biodiversity Analysis (Rbio) Optional 3
    Lichens and Bryophytes as Indicators in Terrestrial Ecosystems Optional 3
    Management and Analysis of Biodiversity Data Compulsory 6
    Methods and Techniques in Plant Population Biology Optional 3
    Methods and Techniques in Plant Systematics and Evolution Optional 3
    Phylogenetics and Phylogeography: Methods and Applications Optional 6
    Population Genetics Optional 3
    Population Viability Analysis Optional 3
    Practicum in Biodiversity on the Macroscale Optional 3
    Practicum in Biodiversity on the Microscale Optional 3
    Practicum in Marine Biodiversity Optional 3
    Practicum in River Biodiversity Optional 3
    River Ecosystems: Biodiversity Sampling and Analysis Techniques Optional 3
    Survival and Reproductive Strategies in Metazoans Optional 3
    The Tree of Life Compulsory 6
    Trophic Relationships Optional 3
    Wildlife Management Optional 6

    Previous years

    Placements

    Placements in a company or another type of organization are an integral part of university studies, providing first-hand experience of working methodologies in students' chosen professional fields. They offer invaluable practical experience for the transition into work after graduation. The Study Plan of this teaching includes a mandatory subject of curricular practices of 20 credits (250 hours).

     

    Placements are supervised by tutors and subject to assessment. They are therefore included in the academic record.  There is also an option to complete non-curricular placements of up to 500 hours. For both curricular and non-curricular placements, an educational cooperation agreement is signed between the UB and the company, institution or other organization at which the placement will be carried out. The coordinator of the internship program for this teaching is professor Enric Batllori Presas.

     

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