Master in Organic Chemistry

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The objective of this master's degree is to complete the training of degree holders in chemistry and related disciplines. The master's degree provides additional training in advanced theories of organic chemistry and includes an experimental focus that covers more than half of the total ECTS credits required. Students will develop the majority of their cases in the laboratories of research groups whose members form part of the master's degree teaching staff. The master's degree will train professionals who can adapt to various research and development areas in the field of organic chemistry or in cross-disciplinary areas of chemistry in which organic chemistry predominates. The master's degree is intended to encourage students to develop rigour, initiative and critical thinking in their laboratory work, to stimulate the motivation needed to tackle a research project in new settings, and to produce students who are knowledgeable about the theoretical and practical tools that are available for the proper development of their work.

Competences

• Skills to deliver scientific presentations orally and in written form in the three languages used in the master's degree.
  
  


• Understanding of scientific and technical documents about chemistry written in English.
  
  


• Ability to work in a coordinated manner in the preparation and development of a project.
  
  


• Practical knowledge of current laboratory techniques used in organic chemistry.
  
  


• Knowledge and mastery of the common techniques used in the characterization of organic compounds.
  
  


• Knowledge of the regulations on risk prevention in laboratories and in the organic chemical sector.
  
  


• Mastery of the practical aspects involved in the use of chemical documentation.
  
  


• Knowledge of the reaction mechanisms commonly accepted in organic chemistry.
  
  


• Capacity to design synthesis routes for organic molecules of average complexity.
  
  


• Solid knowledge of the most important synthesis methods in organic chemistry, including the fundamental aspects of stereoselective processes.
  
  


• Capacity to take a comprehensive view of organic chemistry in order to apply acquired knowledge to adjacent branches of science, such as biochemistry, pharmacy, medicine and materials science.
  
  


• Understanding of the most common processes and concepts in the organic chemical sector.
  
  


• Basic knowledge of the most common techniques used in the theoretical study of organic structures and reaction mechanisms.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

Applicants to the master's degree Organic Chemistry should have an interest in in-depth study in the field, leading to a professional career in R&D&i. In order to ensure their success in the master's degree, applicants should have a strong level of preparation in chemistry and especially in organic chemistry, obtained through a bachelor's degree in chemistry or an equivalent discipline. Applicants should also have strong manual skills in the use of laboratory equipment, a good working knowledge of English, including reading, speaking and writing, and strong user-level skills for relevant software.

Access requirements and conditions

In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/29 October 2007, students must hold one of the following qualifications to access university master's degree courses:

• An official Spanish 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 from outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, the qualification should be recognized as equivalent to an official Spanish degree. If it is not recognized, the University of Barcelona shall verify that it corresponds to a level of education that is equivalent to official Spanish degrees and that it authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses 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.


• EHEA bachelor's degree or llicenciatura degree in Chemistry
  
• EHEA bachelor's degree or llicenciatura degree in Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or similar, subject to approval by the Admission Committee.
  
• Sufficient knowledge of at least two of the languages of instruction, one of which must be English (level B1).

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

1 March - 7 September 2023

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

• Student's curricular pathway (45%).
  
• Academic record (40%).
  
• Physical ability to work independently in a laboratory (15%).

Notification

Admissions and selection of students is managed by the Coordination Committee for the Master's Degree in Organic Chemistry. The Committee evaluates each application received, and draws up a list of pre-selected candidates.
If the number of potential candidates who, in the opinion of the Committee, would be able to take full advantage of the master's degree exceeds the number of places available, or in cases where a student's academic record indicates that his or her level of knowledge may be insufficient, the Committee may convene a personal interview or written test, depending on the number of participants, consisting of a questionnaire on significant fundamental aspects of organic chemistry. Thus, the Committee's decision to grant admission or not may be based on the demonstration of relevant knowledge.
The Committee's will then issue their resolution of each application, notifying the applicants individually by email.
Candidates that have been granted admission and received notification by email, and wish to reserve a place in the course, must confirm their intention to enrol by email to master.qo@ub.edu.

Enrolment

As a general rule, at the UB you will be required to enrol online via the Món UB portal. To find out the date and time you have been assigned, check the specific information for your course. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned.

Academic information

• Documents required for enrolment


• Procedure to formalize enrolment


• Grants and financial aid

Welcome

Pre-enrolment information and events

• Welcome portal


• Student Support Service (SAE)


• Open days


• Informative sessions

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

List of subjects

Subject	Type	Language	Credits
Specialization: Organic Chemistry
Advanced Structural Organic Chemistry	Optional	1st semester	3
Biological Chemistry	Compulsory	1st semester	3
Chemistry of Peptides and Nucleic Acids	Optional	1st semester	3
Final Project	Compulsory	2nd semester	30
Heterocyclic Chemistry	Optional	1st semester	3
Industrial Organic Chemistry	Optional	1st semester	3
Iniciació a la Recerca en Química Orgànica	Compulsory	1st semester	3
Medical Chemistry	Optional	1st semester	3
Molecular Modelling	Optional	1st semester	3
Organic Materials	Optional	1st semester	3
Organic Synthesis: Design and Methods	Compulsory	1st semester	3
Organometallic Chemistry	Optional	1st semester	3
Stereoselective Organic Synthesis	Optional	1st semester	3
Tècniques Espectroscòpiques en Química Orgànica	Compulsory	1st semester	3
Theoretical Organic Chemistry	Compulsory	1st semester	3

Previous years

• Plans docents 2021 - 2022
• Plans docents 2020 - 2021
• Plans docents 2019 - 2020

Teaching staff

List of spring and autum teaching staff at teaching on a current course

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

• Regulations on external placements


• FeinaUB

Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

Graduates of the Master's Degree in Organic Chemistry will have received the necessary training to be able to join teams working in R&D programmes in related fields, in both public and private sectors, and in particular in the chemical or pharmaceutical industries, university research laboratories, and R&D institutes.

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