Objectives and competences

This master's degree provides specialist research skills in the field of political science, in preparation for advanced academic activity (doctoral studies) or professional practice (consultancy, private institutions offering studies and reports).
The subjects focus on examination of the key elements and variables in analysing the theoretical and applied aspects of public institutions, practices and policies.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Law
Branch of knowledge
  • Social sciences, social work, industrial relations and human resources, sociology, political science and international relations
  • Law and legal specializations
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available40
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instructionSpanish
Approximate price per credit27.67 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
CoordinationALBERT FALCO GIMENO
E-mailmaster.analisi.politica@ub.edu
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentNo
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesYes

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The master's degree in Political Analysis and Institutional Assessment aims to provide students and professionals with the theoretical and methodological training to analyse the current political reality and to carry out research in various aspects of political science, in preparation for professional practice (consultancy and advisory work) or further academic study (at doctoral level).

Students will examine the theoretical approaches to the study of public action and the problems encountered in politics and public administration, learning about the variables and analytical procedures required for empirical research in this field.

Competences

General competences:

  • Commitment to ethical practice (critical and self-critical capabilities/capacity to demonstrate attitudes consistent with accepted notions of ethical practice).

  • Capacity for learning and responsibility (analysis, synthesis, initiative and team work).

  • Communication skills (spoken and written expression, correct use of specialized language).

  • Commitment to strengthening democratic values (pluralism, gender equality, sustainability).


Specific competences:

  • Capacity to apply specific techniques, procedures and analytical tools to the study of public action.

  • Capacity to display an analytical, research-oriented mentality.<>/li>
  • Expertise in the different forms of presentation of research results.

  • Understanding of the different schools and epistemological/methodological approaches of political science.

  • Critical reasoning skills applicable to the appraisal of political and social problems arising in the field of public action.

  • Capacity to distinguish between the normative and empirical areas of political science and apply them in the analysis of specific problems.

  • Ability to adopt a strategic, prospective approach to reflection on key issues in the field.

  • Ability to understand and assess public policies in terms of performance and efficiency.

  • Capacity to organize data, theories and methods for individual or group research.

  • An understanding of different ways of organising information in public institutions.

  • Capacity to strengthen commitment to ethical practice in the positions of both researcher and citizen.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

This master's degree is intended primarily for graduates in Political and Administration Science. In exceptional cases, graduates in social and legal sciences are also admitted. Holders of other qualifications with relevant professional experience may be accepted, subject to completion of the necessary bridging courses. Future students should be interested in public affairs, and demonstrate a capacity for research, hard work and analysis, as well as a critical approach.

Access requirements and conditions

General requirements
In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, 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
The legal admission requirements are defined in Royal Decree 1393/2007. Applicants must hold an official Spanish degree or a degree issued by a higher education institution within the EHEA. Other requirements for admission are established for students from educational systems outside the EHEA. Holders of pre-EHEA degrees or bachelor's degrees in political and administration science and sociology are eligible to enrol. In these cases there are no special admission requirements. Holders of pre-EHEA degrees or bachelor's degrees in social and legal sciences can also enrol, if they meet the requirements specified below (see selection criteria). Holders of degrees in other areas may also be eligible to enrol, if they have an academic or professional curriculum that indicates their suitability for the master's degree, and if accepted by the Admissions Committee.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

1 February - 30 June 2024.
Notification of resolutions: 9 April and 15 July.

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

Applications are processed by the master's degree coordination committee.
  • If the number of students who wish to enrol is greater than the number of places offered, graduates in political and administration science will have priority over graduates in sociology, who will have priority over other graduates in social and legal sciences.

  • If the above criterion is not sufficient, priority will be established by taking into consideration the cumulative grade point average from applicants' academic records.

  • Students from other social and legal sciences will have to take bridging courses.

  • The Admissions Committee will indicate the specific support that students must receive if they are affected by a disability, so that they can take the course without any problems. The general protocols that have already been established by the UB will be implemented (agreements with ONCE, personal assistance from other students, etc.). Individual tutorship procedures shall be reinforced.
  • Notification

    The Committee will consider all documentation submitted up before each deadline. Successful candidates must pay a fee of 300 euros to reserve their place on the course.

    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


    Schedules

    Course curriculum

    Subjects and course plans

    Distribution of credits

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

    List of subjects

    Subject Type Language Credits
    Specialization: Political Analysis and Institutional Assessment
    Analytical Models in Political Science Compulsory 1st semester 6
    Consultancy for High-Ranking Officials and the Political Elite Optional 2nd semester 3
    Current Areas of Political Debate Compulsory 2nd semester 6
    Data Analysis I Optional 1st semester 3
    Data Analysis II Optional 2nd semester 3
    Design and Analysis of Organizations Optional 2nd semester 3
    Direction and Management of Public Institutions Optional 2nd semester 3
    Electoral Analysis Optional 1st semester 3
    Final Project Compulsory 1st semester
    2nd semester
    15
    Information and Communication Technologies and Political Processes Optional 1st semester 3
    Institutional Analysis Optional 1st semester 3
    Institutional or Company Placement Optional 1st semester
    2nd semester
    3
    Intelligence and Strategic Action Optional 1st semester 3
    Network Analysis Optional 2nd semester 3
    Observatory on Local Government Optional 2nd semester 3
    Political Consulting Optional 2nd semester 3
    Project Evaluation Optional 1st semester 3
    Public Agenda and Public Policy Optional 1st semester 3
    Qualitative Analysis Optional 1st semester 3
    Quality of Democracy and Political Representation Optional 2nd semester 3
    Research Guidance Compulsory Annual 6
    Stakeholder Groups and Lobbying Strategies Optional 1st semester 3
    Text and Discourse Analysis Optional 1st semester 3
    Urban Governance and Metropolitan Policies Optional 2nd semester 3

    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.



    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 750 hours, which can be extended to 900 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.



    Institutional information


    Career opportunities

    What can you work on ?

    Students who acquire the competences established for the master's degree in Political Analysis and Institutional Assessment will be well equipped to carry out consultancy and advisory work in a range of public-sector bodies and organizations, the voluntary sector, studies services, documentation centres and private consulting firms. They will also be in an ideal position to continue their studies at doctoral level or embark on a university teaching career.

    Access to the labour market

    Data from the university system in Catalonia

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