Objectives and competences
The master's degree Astrophysics, Particle Physics and Cosmology of the University of Barcelona is intended for holders of bachelor's degrees and equivalent undergraduate degrees (particularly in physics), engineers and technical engineers who wish to pursue a specialization in one of the following branches of knowledge: <strong>astrophysics and space sciences; atomic, nuclear and particle physics; or gravitation and cosmology.</strong> The duration and specific content will depend on each applicant's previous studies.
The master's degree seeks to provide students with the training needed to conduct research in one of the fields listed above or in a related field, thanks to the interdisciplinary subjects also included in the program.
The course focuses on preparing students to begin a doctoral thesis upon completion of their degree, enabling them to pursue an academic career. However, it also provides highly valuable training for a career in the public or private sector, opening up a wide range of employment options.
The course focuses on preparing students to begin a doctoral thesis upon completion of their degree, enabling them to pursue an academic career. However, it also provides highly valuable training for a career in the public or private sector, opening up a wide range of employment options.
Basic information
| Type | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Faculty or school | Faculty of Physics |
| Branch of knowledge |
|
| Mode of delivery |
|
| Credits | 60 |
| Number of places available | 25 |
| Length of course | 1 academic year |
| Language(s) of instruction | English |
| 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 | RICARDO VAZQUEZ GOMEZ |
| Course details | Indicators |
| Open pre-enrolment | No |
| Open enrolment | No |
| Lead to doctoral studies | Yes |
| Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualification | No |
| Bridging courses | Yes |
| Specializations |
|
Objectives and competences
Objectives
The objectives of the master's degree are to provide students with advanced academic training in the fields of astrophysics, space sciences, atomic, nuclear and particle physics, gravitation and cosmology. More specifically, the objectives are:
- to study the content of a carefully selected set of subjects;
- to acquire the work methodology needed for conducting research and completing a doctoral thesis in the above fields through the completion of one or more research projects during the program;
- to acquire the skills needed to give scientific presentations;
- to acquire the competences, skills and abilities required to join a research group and complete doctoral studies or eventually join companies that pursue developments related to research in the mentioned fields.
Competences
The specific competences obtained by students will be the capacity to understand a physical system in terms of the relevant scales of energy, the capacity to identify observable magnitudes and the capacity to test predictions from theoretical models with experimental and observational data.
Another potential specific competence is the capacity to develop and apply new technologies.
Access and admission
Applicant profile and access requirements
Recommended applicant profile
Applicants should have an EHEA bachelor's degree in physics, with a standard study load of 240 ECTS credits, or an equivalent undergraduate degree. UB graduates applying for the course should have completed the major in Fundamental Physics as part of their bachelor's degree. In addition, UB graduates should preferably have completed the optional subjects most closely related with the specialization (Particle Physics and Gravitation or Astrophysics and Space Sciences) they wish to take.Access requirements and conditions
General requirementsIn 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
EHEA bachelor's degree or llicenciatura degree in physics, or an equivalent undergraduate degree issued outside Spain.
Pre-enrolment
Calendar
The pre-registration period for the academic year 2024-2025: February 1 - June 21.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
Selection criteria
Notification
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
- Documents required for enrolment
- Procedure to formalize enrolment
- Grants and financial aid (in Catalan)
- Economic information (in Catalan)
Course curriculum
Subjects and course plans
Distribution of credits
| Type | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Compulsory | 12 |
| Optional | 24 |
| Compulsory placements | 0 |
| Compulsory final project | 24 |
| TOTAL | 60 |
List of subjects
Bridging courses
| Subject | Type | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialization: BC for admission to the Master's Degree in Astrophysics, Particle Physics and Cosmology | |||
| Astronomy | Optional |
1st semester
2nd semester |
6 |
| Astrophysical Plasmas and their Processes | Optional | 1st semester | 6 |
| Astrophysics and Cosmology | Optional |
1st semester
2nd semester |
6 |
| Classical Electromagnetism | Optional |
1st semester
2nd semester |
6 |
| General Relativity | Optional | 2nd semester | 6 |
| High-Energy Physics and Accelerator Physics | Optional | 2nd semester | 6 |
| Nuclear and Particle Physics | Optional |
1st semester
2nd semester |
6 |
| Quantum Mechanics | Optional |
1st semester
2nd semester |
6 |
| Quantum Physics | Optional |
1st semester
2nd semester |
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.
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, 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