Objectives and competences

Organic chemistry plays a crucial role in modern society. It is particularly important in the synthesis of drugs and other biologically active compounds, new materials for technology, polymers and the petrochemical industry.

This master's degree provides specialized training in organic chemistry to prepare professionals who are capable of responding to the research and development needs of research centres and industry in this branch of chemistry, enabling their involvement in cases where a cross-disciplinary preparation in chemistry is needed. Students gain the knowledge and skills required to conduct research tasks and pursue a successful academic or professional career focusing on research, development or innovation. The master's degree also prepares students for admission to the doctoral program in organic chemistry.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Chemistry
Branch of knowledge
  • Chemistry
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available36
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instruction50 % Catalan - 25 % Spanish - 25 % English
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 2023-2024
CoordinationJAVIER ARIZA PIQUER
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentYes
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesNo

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

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
  • 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

9 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

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. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned

Specific information about the faculty

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 15
Optional 15
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 30
TOTAL 60

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Organic Chemistry
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

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 ?

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.

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

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