Objectives and competences

The Erasmus Mundus Master's Degree in Quality in Analytical Laboratories (EMQAL) is an international interuniversity master's degree taking part in the Erasmus Mundus programme (EM). The degree was first chosen to be part of the programme in 2007, and its participation was renewed in 2012. It is the first Erasmus Mundus master's degree coordinated by the University of Barcelona.

The consortium offering the master's degree is composed of the universities of Barcelona, Cádiz, Algarve (Portugal), Bergen (Norway), and Sao Paulo (Brazil); Gdansk University of Technology (Poland), Central South University (China), and Novosibirsk State University (Russia). There are more than twenty associated partners: private companies, official laboratories, research institutes, national accreditation organizations (such as the ENAC), scientific and academic societies, and other universities in Norway, Portugal, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Australia and Mexico.

The master's degree is structured in a two-year programme (120 credits): during the first year, students follow theory lessons and theory lessons with a practical component (60 credits). During the second year, they work on a research assignment (Final project, 60 credits). All academic activities are conducted in English.

Classes take place in one of the European universities, which hosts all students and is changed for each new edition. During the second year (Final project), students are distributed among the other European universities within the consortium. Part of this project can be completed in a non-European university. The mobility structure is regulated by the Erasmus Mundus programme regulatory framework.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Chemistry
Branch of knowledge
  • Chemistry
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits120
Length of course2 academic years
CoordinationMIGUEL ESTEBAN CORTADA
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentNo
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
InteruniversityYes
Main universityUniversitetet I Bergen
Universities
  • Universitetet I Bergen
  • Politechnika Gdanska
  • Universidade do Algarve
  • Universidad de Cadiz
  • Universitat de Barcelona
Bridging coursesNo

Objectives and competences

Objectives

Competences

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

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.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

The pre-enrolment period opens as of January and closes, at the latest, in September. Each centre and each master's degree can establish their specific periods within this general period.

Required documentation

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

Specific information about the faculty

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 15
Optional 60
Compulsory placements 15
Compulsory final project 30
TOTAL 120

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Erasmus Mundus Master in Quality in Analytical Laboratories
Calibration and Verification Optional 2nd semester 2
Entrepreneurial and Leadership Skills Optional 2nd semester 2
Final Project Compulsory 1st semester 30
Institutional or Company Placement Compulsory 2nd semester 15
Jobseeking Strategies Optional 1st semester 2
Laboratory Audits (EN ISO 19011) Optional 2nd semester 2
Mass Spectrometry and Hybrid Techniques Optional 2nd semester 2
Proficiency Testing Schemes and Certified Reference Materials Optional 2nd semester 2
Project Compulsory 2nd semester 15
Sampling and Sample Processing Compulsory 1st semester 2
Statistical Tests and Analysis of Variance Optional 1st semester 2

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


Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

Contact us