Objectives and competences

The master's degree in Advanced Legal Studies is addressed to lawyers from Spain and abroad, including recent graduates and experienced professionals, who would like to receive additional research-oriented training and to refresh their knowledge of recent and innovative trends in law. 

Some 18 credits are dedicated to fundamental knowledge and methodology, 24 credits to a specialization (Public Law or Private Law), and 18 credits to the final project. 

The master's degree in Advanced Legal Studies is a university master's degree course offered by the University of Barcelona, one of the top 100 universities in the world according to the Shanghai ranking. It is designed for lawyers from Spain and abroad, including recent graduates and experienced professionals, who would like to receive additional research-oriented training and to refresh their knowledge of recent and innovative trends in law. It comprises 18 credits of core training in fundamental knowledge and methodology: in terms of knowledge, comprehensive, cross-disciplinary training in comparative law and the foundations of law; in terms of methodology, since the master's degree grants access to doctoral studies, the course teaches the skills required to complete a research project or doctoral thesis. 

Additionally, 24 credits correspond to a specialization, which is chosen from among a number of key areas at the cutting edge of either Public Law or Private Law.

Finally, 18 credits correspond to the final project, in the chosen specialization. 

Teaching staff for the course meet the required levels of excellence, skill and expertise, and belong mainly to the University of Barcelona's Faculty of Law. The teaching methodology is both theoretical and practical. Classes are held in the afternoon where possible. 

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Law
Branch of knowledge
  • Law and legal specializations
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available30
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instructionSpanish
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
CoordinationANTONIO GIMENEZ MERINO
E-mailmaster.meja@ub.edu
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentNo
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesYes
Specializations
  • Private Law
  • Public Law

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The master's degree in Advanced Legal Studies offers legal training focused on research, providing students up-to-date knowledge of the main and most innovative areas of the discipline. It is therefore addressed to three main groups of learners: graduates in disciplines related to law and legal practice; experienced legal professionals (lawyers, magistrates, judges, advisors and consultants, civil servants and researchers); and those interested in developing a doctoral thesis or a legal research project, which would include those interested in pursuing an academic career at university level.

In this context, the master's in Advanced Legal Studies is primarily designed to provide solid cross-disciplinary training as well as specialized training in the different disciplines of law, and in-depth analysis of the most contemporary legal issues. The topics covered in each specialization largely coincide with the many recognized research projects undertaken by the staff who teach the programme.

Competences

Upon completion of the course, successful students will be able to:

  • display an implicit capacity for original thinking in the development or application of ideas, in a research context;

  • apply acquired knowledge to problem-solving in new or relatively unknown environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts;

  • tackle the complexity of formulating judgements based on incomplete or limited information, taking due consideration of the associated social and ethical responsibilities;

  • communicate knowledge, theories and conclusions to specialists and non-specialists in a clear and unambiguous manner;

  • display a capacity for on-going self-directed and independent learning;

  • develop an analytical and investigative mind-set in order to design and conduct a legal research project;

  • develop the capacity to propose criteria for the application of legal rules;

  • apply protection systems covering public and private situations of failure or dependency;

  • evaluate conflicts of territorial competence between the autonomous regions of Spain;

  • Conduct research into the limits of State intervention in private autonomy;

  • evaluate and apply the impact of European and international legislation on Spanish law.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

The recommended applicant profile is directly related to the training in research and up-to-date legal knowledge offered by the master's degree in Advanced Legal Studies. It is addressed to three principal groups of students:

  • Graduates in law or related disciplines who wish to specialize or acquire further training in legal sciences.

  • Legal professionals looking to refresh or expand their knowledge of legal sciences (lawyers, magistrates, judges, advisors and consultants, civil servants and researchers, who are already involved in a specific activity but would like to extend their expertise to other areas of law).

  • Students interested in doctoral studies or legal research, in particular those interested in pursuing an academic career.

Access requirements and conditions

General requirements
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.

Specific requirements
The master's degree in Advanced Legal Studies is open to candidates who hold a bachelor's degree, pre-EHEA degree or diploma (or equivalent) in law, political and administrative sciences, public management and administration, labour relations, criminology, business administration and management, sociology or economics.

For candidates with an official university degree other than those listed above, the Coordination Committee will decide whether access may be granted, taking into account academic records and professional experience in the field of law.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

- First period: 1 February - 30 June 2023.
Notification of resolutions: 31 March and 7 June.

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

The Coordination Committee evaluates applications on the basis of the following criteria:
  • Academic record for previous studies (50%).
  • Statement of interest (25%). Applicants must attach to their application a letter explaining why they wish to study the master's degree in Advanced Legal Studies.
  • Curriculum vitae (25%). Candidates must submit a full curriculum vitae detailing their academic background and professional experience.
    Students from countries where neither Spanish nor Catalan are official languages shall provide evidence of at least a B2-level language skills in Spanish.

Notification

The Committee will consider all documentation submitted up before each deadline.


Successful candidates must pay a fee of '300 to reserve their place on the course.

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

Course curriculum

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 ?

The master's degree in Advanced Legal Studies grants direct access to doctoral studies and is an officially recognized qualification both nationally and internationally, meaning that it can be used for official accreditation of advanced legal studies at university level.

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

Contact us

Coordinator: Rosa Ana Alija Fernández

Faculty of Law

Diagonal, 684 - 08034 Barcelona

Secretary: 934 020 127

mmuu.dret@ub.edu