Chemistry and Biochemistry for Health - MD30F - Studies portal

The master's degree is intended for graduates in chemistry or similar disciplines who are looking to work in the general area of healthcare, particularly in research settings. They will learn to resolve problems related to the use of analytical and diagnostic techniques, the implementation of biomarkers, innovation and drug design, and analytical tests for biohealth applications. The programme also focuses on the statistical treatment of health-related data, the management and application of current legislation, and quality assurance of biohealth activities.

The master's degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry for Health is mainly taught via synchronous video conference over the first two semesters; the final semester will comprise an external placement and the preparation of the final project, carried out face-to-face with a laboratory or research group. The combination of the final project and the external work placement allows students to obtain first-hand experience of professional and research settings in the field of study. Graduates can join biomedical, biosanitary and clinical biochemistry laboratories and research groups and/or access several doctoral programmes.

Basic information

Type	Master's degree
Faculty or school	Faculty of Chemistry
Branch of knowledge	Chemistry
Mode of delivery	Blended learning
Credits	90
Length of course	2 academic years
Approximate price per credit	27.67 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2024-2025
Coordination	M. VICTORIA SANZ NEBOT
Course details	Indicators
Open pre-enrolment	No
Open enrolment	No
Lead to doctoral studies	Yes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualification	No
Interuniversity	Yes
Main university	Universitat Barcelona
Universities	Universitat Barcelona Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Universitat Girona Universitat Rovira i Virgili Universitat València Estudi General
Bridging courses	No

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The main objective is for students to acquire advanced training in chemistry and biochemistry for health, though the theoretical and practical acquisition of knowledge and skills that will enable them to work to a high standard in biomedical and biosanitary research laboratories and clinical laboratories. Within this framework, the specific learning objectives are as follows:

To acquire a solid theoretical framework to understand the significance of chemical and biochemical quantities for the detection, diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of diseases.
To acquire the methodological foundations of the most relevant analytical techniques for obtaining chemical and biochemical quantities, and the statistical tools necessary for their treatment, interpretation and application in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry for health.
To learn to critically evaluate current advances and trends to design, identify, use and validate new biomarkers and emerging drugs with the potential to improve clinical diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
To acquire the theoretical bases of the principles and concepts in the examination of biological fluids, the alternations of systems and organs, and the biochemical study of pathological processes.
To acquire information about current quality management legislation and regulations and understand how to apply it to the design, implementation and maintenance of quality management procedures in health laboratories.
To apply knowledge of clinical biochemistry, molecular biology and biomedicine to analytical chemistry in the healthcare field.
To acquire the conceptual knowledge to critically evaluate current research and innovations in chemistry and biochemistry for health in order to assess cutting-edge methodologies, identify entrepreneurial opportunities and propose new approaches and hypotheses.

Competences

ochemical quantities used, and to apply and interpret them in the field of chemistry and biochemistry for health.
Ability to select the appropriate statistical techniques for data analysis in the health field.
Ability to define applicable legislation and quality management standards for each type of laboratory, safety and waste management systems, and the associated records and documentation.
Ability to relate a drug's mode of action from intake to elimination with the theoretical foundations of the interactions established between a drug and its therapeutic target.
Ability to link innovations and future research trends in chemistry and biochemistry for health for their application to solve problems in the biohealth field.
Ability to describe laboratories operation systems, clinical systems or research institutes related to chemistry and biochemistry for health.
Ability to define the main phases, objectives and challenges of a scientific-academic job role in the field of chemistry and biochemistry for health.
Ability to determine the general characteristics of diseases with the molecular, cellular, and physiological bases of biological processes.
Ability to apply the bases of strategic thinking in the design and management of available resources in a clinical laboratory.
Ability to critically interpret current advances and trends in the identification and validation of new biomarkers to improve disease diagnosis and prognosis.
Ability to structure new business initiatives based on determining unmet needs and/or creatively solving challenges that arise in the health sector.
Ability to interpret obtained results from the application of statistical techniques in terms of uncertainty linked to a specific clinical situation.
Ability to apply adequate analytical techniques for the separation, identification and quantification of analytes in different matrices and complex clinical samples.
Ability to operate with computational and synthetic chemistry tools alongside biological ones in the study of drugs mode of action and design.
Ability to search, critically review and integrate scientific and technical information in the field of chemistry and biochemistry for health.
Ability to defend, orally and in-writing, scientific material and argumentation to an specialized audience in chemistry and biochemistry for health.
Sustainability and social commitment. Ability to participate in the development of projects in the field of chemistry and biochemistry for health that respect fundamental rights and obligations, the environment and democratic values in line with sustainable development objectives.
Commitment to ethical practice. Clinical and self-critical reasoning skills in the field of chemistry and biochemistry for health that consider aspects such as professional ethics, moral values and social implications of the different activities.
Ability to work as part of a team. Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams in the health sector and develop personal values in interpersonal relationships and teamwork.
Learning and responsibility. Ability to adapt to new environments and changing scenarios, autonomy in work and decision-making in the field of chemistry and biochemistry for health.
Creative and entrepreneurial skills. Entrepreneurial abilities and attitudes to apply to the analysis and design of innovative projects in the health sector.
Critical awareness towards gender perspective situations during the training process and in the subsequent professional practices.
Ability to assess gender differences in risk factors, biological mechanisms, clinical manifestation, treatment of diseases and disorders, and biomarker values.
Ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the master¡s degree to resolve specific problems in a research and professional environment in the field of chemistry and biochemistry for health.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

The master's degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry for Health is intended for graduates in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, biotechnology or other related areas, at the discretion of the master's degree coordination committee.

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.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

2 April - 6 September 2024.

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

Pre-enrolment application
Photocopy of degree certificate or equivalent qualification. In case of admission, foreign degrees that require so should be translated and authenticated through diplomatic channels before completing the enrolment.
Other specific documentation related to the selection criteria:
- Passport
- CV
- Official academic certificate
- Motivational letter

Selection criteria

If the number of suitable candidates exceeds the total places offered, the coordination committee will draw up a shortlist on the basis of the following criteria:

Curricular pathway of the candidate's previous studies (20%). It is essential to have completed the subjects Chemistry, Biology and Biochemistry. Credit will also be given for completion of other subjects in the fields of chemistry, biology, biochemistry and biomedical sciences.
Gradepoint average of academic record (60%).
Interest in the master's degree (as stated in cover letter) (10%).
Other merits: professional experience, participation in other programmes, mobility experiences during degree studies, etc. (10%).

The coordination committee prepares a prioritized shortlist and finalizes the successful candidates according to the order of priority and number of places available.

Notification

Once the pre-enrolment process is completed, the committee publishes the list of admitted candidates.

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

Welcome

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type	ECTS
Compulsory	48
Optional	12
Compulsory placements	18
Compulsory final project	12
TOTAL	90

List of subjects

Subject	Type	Language	Credits
Specialization: Chemistry and Biochemistry for Health
Advanced Techniques for Clinical Laboratories	Compulsory	1st semester	6
Analysis in Clinical Laboratories	Compulsory	1st semester	6
Basic Concepts of Pathology	Optional	2nd semester	3
Chemistry of Bioactive Compounds	Compulsory	2nd semester	6
Clinical Biochemistry	Compulsory	1st semester	6
Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapy	Optional	2nd semester	3
Forensic Chemistry	Optional	2nd semester	3
Hereditary Metabolic Disorders and Metabolomics Analysis	Optional	2nd semester	3
Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Healthcare	Compulsory	2nd semester	3
Management of Clinical Laboratories: Legislation and Quality Control	Compulsory	1st semester	3
Medical Chemistry	Optional	1st semester	3
Molecular Biology	Compulsory	1st semester	6
Public Health and Healthcare Management	Optional	2nd semester	3
Radioactive Materials and Radiological Protection in Healthcare	Optional	2nd semester	3
Research Seminars	Compulsory	2nd semester	6
Statistical Analysis of Healthcare Data	Compulsory	1st semester	3
Toxicological Analysis	Compulsory	2nd semester	3

Previous years

Teaching staff

List of spring and autumn teaching staff on a current course

Placements

Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

Master's degree holders can join biomedical, biosanitary and clinical biochemistry laboratories and research groups. Graduates will be able to resolve problems related to the most common tests and analyses in the fields of molecular biology, clinical biochemistry, clinical analysis and toxicology and apply their findings to the diagnosis of human pathologies and diseases. Similarly, graduates will have the expertise to evaluate research projects, to typify and implement biomarkers of human diseases, and to further their understanding of innovation and drug design and the biosanitary application of analytical tests, including the mechanisms related to regulation and quality control.

After the master's degree, graduates can access doctoral programmes in chemistry and biochemistry for health. Examples of possible specific areas:

(Bio)health research teams, for the preparation of a doctoral thesis in chemistry, biochemistry or biology for health.
Quality units in the health sector, including healthcare centres and consultancy firms.
Pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostic industries to develop drugs and diagnostic tests.
Companies specialized in the management of biodata for statistical and bioinformatic analysis.
Public health institutes.