Basic information
| Type | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Faculty or school | Faculty of Physics |
| Branch of knowledge | Physics and astronomy, Interdisciplinary |
| Mode of delivery | Presencial |
| Credits | 60 |
| Length of course | 1 academic year |
| Approximate price per credit | 27.67 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2021-2022 |
| Coordination | MIQUEL MONTERO TORRALBO |
| master.complex.biophys@ub.edu | |
| Course details | Indicators |
| Open pre-enrolment | Yes |
| Open enrolment | No |
| Lead to doctoral studies | Yes |
| Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualification | No |
| Bridging courses | Yes |
Objectives and competences
Objectives
Competences
Basic competences
- Capacity to demonstrate knowledge forming the basis of original thinking in the development or application of ideas, typically in a research context.
- Capacity to apply the knowledge acquired to problem-solving in new or relatively unknown environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the field of studies.
- Capacity to integrate knowledge and tackle the complexity of formulating judgements based on incomplete or limited information, giving due consideration to the social and ethical responsibilities that are implicit in their application.
- Capacity to communicate knowledge and conclusions and the grounds on which these conclusions have been reached to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
- Capacity for ongoing self-directed and independent learning.
Generic competences
- Critical reasoning and commitment to the plurality and diversity of social realities.
- Capacity to identify, establish or resolve a problem in a relevant way and to interpret and assess the results obtained with a critical spirit.
- Capacity to apply communication techniques to scientific literature searches and to acquire information effectively.
- Capacity to write scientific and technical documents.
- Capacity to communicate, make presentations and write scientific articles in English in the subject area of the master's degree.
Generic competences
- Capacities of autonomy, dynamism, organization, critical and prospective analysis.
- Capacity for self-assessment and self-criticism.
- Capacity to work as part of a team and adapt to multidisciplinary and international teams at different scales.
- Capacity for analysis and synthesis and capacity to adopt global perspectives and to apply knowledge to practical cases.
- Capacity to take decisions and adapt to new situations.
Specific competences
- Knowledge of advanced techniques to analyse the empirical data that are used most regularly in the physics of complex systems and biophysics.
- Command of mathematical methods and statistical physics techniques that are required in physics of complex systems and biophysics.
- Command of the most common numerical methods and simulation techniques used in physics of complex systems and biophysics.
- Capacity to compare the predictions of theoretical models with empirical data from different disciplines.
- Capacity to critically analyse the results of calculations, experiments or simulations and determine potential errors.
- Command of the fundamental concepts of statistical physics of non-equilibrium.
- Advanced knowledge of stability analysis techniques.
- Command of advanced concepts relating to probability and statistics to apply them to complex systems.
- Capacity to communicate the results of an analysis clearly using communication and display techniques with suitable, interpretable data for specialist and general audiences.
- Capacity to identify the relevant magnitudes that can be observed in a specific complex system to carry out efficient simulations.
- Knowledge of the most advanced techniques in relation to statistical physics that are currently used in research.
- Capacity to make advanced use of physical statistics principles of artificial intelligence.
- Capacity to forecast interdisciplinary applications of statistical physics.
- Command of basic physical and statistical mechanisms of biophysics.
Access and admission
Applicant profile and access requirements
Recommended applicant profile
The master's degree is aimed at students with a university qualification in sciences and engineering disciplines with broad training in physics, mathematics and computer science, who want to obtain interdisciplinary postgraduate training in complex systems and biophysics.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.
The master's degree in Physics of Complex Systems and Biophysics can be accessed directly by students who have taken official bachelor's degrees (240 ECTS credits) in physics, physical engineering or equivalent areas of knowledge.
Students with national or foreign qualifications at a level equivalent to the EHEA bachelor's degree and corresponding to areas of physics knowledge other than those mentioned previously, mathematics and statistics or information and communication technologies who have suitable knowledge to take advantage of the master's degree course must take as bridging courses subjects of the Minor in Fundamental Physics from the UB EHEA bachelor's degree in Physics that the Coordination Committee considers to be suitable, up to a maximum of 30 ECTS.
Exceptionally, students with qualifications in environmental sciences, biology and related sciences with strong training in quantitative aspects of biology or ecology who are particularly motivated to gain a command of physical and mathematical aspects of biology could be admitted.
In any case, students must have a level of English equivalent to at least B1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Pre-enrolment
Calendar
1 February - 23 June 2023.3 June - 8 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
The Coordination Committee is responsible for selecting students for the master's degree based on their curriculum vitae, with the possibility of a personal interview. The following aspects of CVs will be evaluated in particular:- The academic record relating to basic subjects (mathematics and physics) and computer science (75%)
- The knowledge of languages other than B1 in English, with official certification (15%).
- The student's interest in taking the master's degree, as explained in their letter of interest, that indicates the reason for this choice, and a personal interview with the members of the coordination committee, if necessary (10%).
The Coordination Committee could take into account other merits, such as letters of recommendation.
The Coordination Committee does not consider applications that omit any of the following documentation:
- CV.
- Certificate or academic record of the qualification used for admission to the master's degree, issued by the university of origin, that describes the subjects that have been taken and the grades.
Notification
The Coordination Committee of the master's degree makes the decision on applications for pre-enrolment. Applicants are notified directly of the decision on their application.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
- After enrolment
- Grants and financial aid
Welcome
Support and guidance
Pre-enrolment information and events
Course curriculum
Subjects and course plans
Distribution of credits
| Type | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Compulsory | 21 |
| Optional | 21 |
| Compulsory placements | |
| Compulsory final project | 18 |
| TOTAL | 60 |
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 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