Universitat de Barcelona

BIODIVERSITY

Introduction

New master's degree replacing the former program Biodiversity
The study of biodiversity is an emerging area of biology that is of growing importance in the public and political spheres. Understanding the diversity of living organisms, their origin and evolution and ensuring their conservation is not only of academic interest but is also crucial to ensuring the sustainable development of our society and a sound management of land and the environment.

The master's degree Biodiversity is intended primarily for holders of bachelor's degrees or equivalent undergraduate degrees in branches of life sciences, environmental sciences or related disciplines, and for professionals in education, public administration, NGOs, environmental consulting, etc., who are interested in the latest high-quality training in the study and conservation of biodiversity.

This master's degree offers two possible specializations:


  • Evolutionary Biology. This specialization is designed for future researchers in the field of biodiversity, providing the knowledge and tools needed to reconstruct evolutionary relationships and population histories from genus and species to community and to use this information to draw inferences about the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, the processes of evolution, adaptation and diversification, and the relationship between organisms and the environment.
  • Conservation Biology and Biodiversity Management. This specialization is designed for future researchers and managers of natural heritage, providing knowledge and tools that address the mechanisms regulating biodiversity, its course and evolution; to assess human impact and to manage and evaluate biodiversity.

The program also offers students a wide range of highly specific optional subjects.

Learning objectives

To acquire advanced multidisciplinary training designed to begin research in the area of biodiversity, its conservation and management.

Number of ECTS credits awarded:  60
Language(s) of instruction:  Catalan, Spanish and English
Number of places available:  60
Faculty or school:   Faculty of Biology
Master's degree course homepage:  http://www.ub.edu/estudis/mastersuniversitaris/biodiversitat/

Recommended applicant profile

This master's degree is intended for holders of bachelor's degrees and equivalent undergraduate degrees in branches of life sciences, environmental sciences, experimental sciences and related disciplines, and for professionals in related areas (including education, public administration, NGOs, environmental consulting, etc.). interested in acquiring advanced, up-to-date training in biodiversity.

Students interested in applying should have previous academic training in one or more areas of life sciences, experimental sciences or environmental sciences.

Admission 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

Applicants should hold one of the following official undergraduate degrees, or a direct equivalent issued outside Spain:


  • Bachelor's degree in Biology
  • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Biology
  • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences
  • Bachelor's degree in Marine Sciences
  • Bachelor's degree in Genetics
  • Llicenciatura degree in Biology
  • Llicenciatura degree in Pharmacy
  • Llicenciatura degree in Veterinary Science
  • Llicenciatura degree in Biotechnology
  • Llicenciatura degree in Environmental Sciences
  • Llicenciatura degree in Marine Sciences
  • Llicenciatura degree in Geology
  • Llicenciatura degree in Chemistry
  • Agricultural Engineering
  • Forest Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Geological Engineering

Holders of university diplomas and technical engineering qualifications will be required to complete bridging courses with a total value of up to 30 ECTS credits. These courses will consist of subjects currently offered as part of the EHEA bachelor's degree in Biology and are intended to give students the basic understanding of botany, zoology and ecology needed for the master's degree subjects.

Skills and competences



  • Advanced knowledge and the ability to demonstrate an in-depth, well-founded understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of scientific investigation and of the working methodology used in the evolution of biodiversity or in its management and conservation.
  • The ability to apply and integrate knowledge, understanding, sound science and skills in order to solve problems in new, imprecisely defined environments, including multidisciplinary contexts involving highly specialized researchers and professionals.

  • The ability to assess and select the appropriate scientific theory and precise methodology to formulate judgments in the area of biodiversity based on incomplete or limited information, ensuring that any solution reflects social and ethical responsibility in each case.
  • The ability to predict and control the evolution of complex situations by means of new and innovative working methodologies adapted to the scientific or research area of biodiversity.
  • The ability to convey results clearly and unambiguously to a general or specialist public, presenting scientific and technological findings or results of the latest innovations, as well as the most relevant underlying principles.
  • The ability to develop sufficient autonomy to take part in scientific or technological research projects and collaborations in the field of biodiversity, featuring interdisciplinary contexts and a high level of knowledge transfer.
  • The ability to take responsibility for professional development and specialization within the field of biodiversity.

Course calendar

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