Objectives and competences
The master's degree trains experts in the use and development of computational techniques in chemistry, physics, life sciences or materials, placing a particular focus on international mobility.
This international master's degree is contributed to by nine European universities and other international academic institutions, including Stanford University, the University of California at Berkeley and the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne.
This international master's degree is contributed to by nine European universities and other international academic institutions, including Stanford University, the University of California at Berkeley and the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne.
The most notable features of the master are its international character, the mobility of its students and teachers and the prestige of the institutions involved. At the end of the studies, students will receive a joint Erasmus Mundus master's degree, signed by the nine participating European universities. The master's degree offers funding possibilities through grants funded by the institutions involved and by the European Union under the Erasmus Mundus programme.
Basic information
| Type | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Faculty or school | Faculty of Chemistry |
| Branch of knowledge |
|
| Mode of delivery |
|
| Credits | 120 |
| Length of course | 2 academic years |
| Language(s) of instruction | English |
| Coordination | PABLO GAMALLO BELMONTE |
| Course details | Indicators |
| Open pre-enrolment | No |
| Open enrolment | Yes |
| Lead to doctoral studies | Yes |
| Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualification | No |
| Main university information | Master's degree course homepage |
| Interuniversity | Yes |
| Main university | Universitat Autònoma de Madrid |
| Universities |
|
| Bridging courses | No |
Objectives and competences
Objectives
- To establish a European standard for studies focused on theoretical chemistry and computational modelling research.
- To train experts in the use and development of computational techniques in molecular sciences, in order to work with new materials in the pharmaceutical, petrochemical and new materials industry.
- To prepare students for doctoral programmes in chemistry, physics, life sciences or materials science.
- To promote international mobility among research students.
- To provide a high-level postgraduate qualification for students from a wide range of countries, including those outside of Europe.
Competences
- Capacity to apply the knowledge acquired and to solve problems in new or relatively unknown environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the specific field of study.
- Capacity to integrate knowledge and tackle the complexity of formulating judgements based on incomplete or limited information, taking due consideration of the social and ethical responsibilities involved in applying knowledge and making judgements.
- Capacity to communicate knowledge and conclusions and the grounds on which they have been reached to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
Specific:
- Capacity to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the essential facts, concepts, principles and theories related to the different areas of theoretical chemistry and computational modelling.
- General understanding of the applications of theoretical chemistry and computational modelling in chemistry, biochemistry, materials science, astrophysics and catalysis.
- Capacity to use the most common programming techniques in physics and chemistry and to understand the calculation tools that are key to these areas.
Access and admission
Applicant profile and access requirements
Recommended applicant profile
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
The same requirements are applied by all participating institutions. Therefore:
- Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate qualification in chemistry, physics or materials science. Applicants who do not hold one of these qualifications, but have a science degree and sufficient knowledge to follow the programme may be admitted, under the tutor's supervision. Such students may be asked to complete additional bridging courses, as determined by the Academic Committee or as agreed with their supervisor and tutor.
- Level B2 of English or higher.
Students may enrol at any of the participating universities. Decisions on admission, credit recognition and validation of previous studies are taken by the Academic Coordination Committee.
Pre-enrolment
Calendar
3 March'12 July 2024.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.
- Specific documentation or linked to the selection criteria
Selection criteria
- Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate qualification in chemistry, physics or materials science. Applicants who do not hold one of these qualifications, but have a science degree and sufficient knowledge to follow the programme may be admitted, under the tutor's supervision. Such students may be asked to complete additional bridging courses, as determined by the Academic Committee or as agreed with their supervisor and tutor.
- Academic record
- Level B2 of English or higher.
- Candidates should demonstrate a positive attitude and motivation (through the statement of interest and, in some cases, a personal interview).
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 | 47 |
| Optional | 43 |
| Compulsory placements | 0 |
| Compulsory final project | 30 |
| TOTAL | 120 |
List of subjects
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 attend and complete this master's degree will be prepared to work in fundamental or applied advanced research, both in public and private R&D&I centres. An important outcome for the students who complete this master's degree and who are interested in continuing to carry out tasks of research will be the accomplishment of a doctorate in an area of research in which molecular modelling is important. In the BKC and the Barcelona hub, there are different research groups dedicated to computational modelling in different fields of Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry in which the students will be able to pursue a doctorate. Likewise, they would not have any problem should they continue their doctoral studies in any of the universities of the European Higher Education Area or other continents.Besides, the applied knowledge of scientific models and programs that students will acquire, along with their advanced training in computer science and programming, will offer them the possibility to work in different environments. Some of them include R&D&I departments and business management units of the technology sector: companies that need to analyse complex control systems and networks, analysis and modelling of big data; pharmaceutical companies; companies dedicated to environment or energy technologies and materials; companies in technology consulting and audit, software development companies, etc.