Objectives and competences

The master's degree in Ecology, Environmental Management and Restoration aims to train professionals capable of developing and applying preventive and corrective techniques to address aspects of environmental degradation problems and for the correct management of natural systems; and to train specialized, competitive researchers in the field of ecology to study populations, communities and the functioning of ecosystems.

 

The programme provides scientific knowledge, methodological and technical skills, and advanced, specialized multidisciplinary training. It also encourages students to participate in applied subjects with research groups and public or private organizations as a means of acquiring further experience of the discipline.

More generally, this master's degree is a response to growing demand across society for greater action in environmental conservation and management and for a more sustainable use of natural resources.
 

It has a study load of 60 credits (which can be completed in 1 or 2 years, as best suits the student) and offers two specializations:

  • Management and Restoration of the Natural Environment

This specialization is intended for future professionals who want to work in management or as environmental consultants. It provides the skills to implement and oversee restoration projects and to apply preventive and corrective techniques to address various aspects of environmental degradation.

  • Ecology

This specialization is intended for future researchers, offering advanced multidisciplinary training (conceptual and methodological) in the study of populations, communities and ecosystems and in the restoration of ecosystems.

The programme also includes a wide range of specific optional subjects that enable students to build their own learning experience. Students are offered the chance to complete the compulsory Final Project (TFM) in research centres, universities, private companies and the public administration.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Biology
Branch of knowledge
  • Environmental sciences and ecology
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available45
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
CoordinationFRANCESC DE P. SABATER COMAS
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentYes
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesNo
Specializations
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Management And Restoration

Objectives and competences

Objectives

This master's degree has the following basic learning objectives:
- To acquire professional training in the environmental sciences for developing and applying preventive and corrective techniques to address aspects of environmental degradation.
- To acquire the techniques and skills to carry out ecosystem restoration projects and environmental management.
- To acquire advanced scientific training (conceptual and methodological) in the study of populations, communities and ecosystems.

Competences

Students will acquire the following competences:


  • A solid, multidisciplinary understanding of the social, economic, scientific and technological aspects of environmental management.

  • The specialized knowledge to conduct competitive research in ecology and in the areas of conservation and restoration of ecosystems.

  • The ability to solve problems associated with the conservation of biodiversity.

  • Use of techniques to obtain, analyse and treat environmental information gathered from field work or in the laboratory.

  • The ability to adopt structural and functional approaches to the management and restoration of ecosystems.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

This master's degree is intended for applicants interested in ecology and the environment who have a degree in environmental sciences, biology, biosciences, marine sciences, geology, physics or chemistry or in chemical, forest, agricultural or civil engineering or related fields.

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

Applications should hold one of the following official degree qualifications, 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 Geology

  • Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

  • Llicenciatura degree in Biology

  • Llicenciatura degree in Pharmacy

  • Llicenciatura degree in Environmental Sciences

  • Llicenciatura degree in Marine Sciences

  • Llicenciatura degree in Geology

  • Degree in Agricultural Engineering

  • Degree in Forest Engineering

  • Degree in Chemical Engineering


Pre-enrolment

Calendar

First period: 1 February - 17 June 2024.
Notification of resolutions: 21 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

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

Calendar: July (13 -28) and September (12 -17).

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 12
Optional 33
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 15
TOTAL 60

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Ecology
Adaptació i Extinció a l'Antropocè Optional 2nd semester 3
Advances in Population and Community Ecology Optional 1st semester 6
Application of Integrated Management Systems to Environmental Issues Optional 2nd semester 3
Biodiversity and Function in Lake Ecosystems Applications and Management Optional 2nd semester 3
Biogeochemistry Optional 1st semester 6
Diagnosis and Restoration of the Environmental Quality of Water Resources Optional 2nd semester 6
Dynamic Systems in Ecology Optional 1st semester 3
Ecological Structures and Processes in the Sea Optional 2nd semester 3
Ecology and Forest Management Optional 2nd semester 6
Ecology of Marine Environment Interactions Optional 1st semester 3
Economics and Environmental Management Compulsory 1st semester 3
Ecotoxicology of Aquatic Systems Optional 2nd semester 3
Effects of Global Change on Trees and Woods Optional 2nd semester 3
Environmental Biotechnology: Bioremediation Optional 1st semester 3
Final Project Compulsory 1st semester 15
Forest Fires and Restoration Optional 2nd semester 6
Management and Restoration of Polluted Soil Optional 2nd semester 3
Regeneration of Dunes and Beaches Optional 2nd semester 3
Restoration and Creation of Humid Regions Optional 2nd semester 3
Restoration of Talus Slopes and Quarries Optional 2nd semester 3
River Management and Restoration Optional 2nd semester 6
Seminars on Global Change Optional 2nd semester 3
Statistical Data Analysis Techniques Compulsory 1st semester 6
Vulnerability of Ecosystems Compulsory 1st semester 3
Specialization: Environmental Management And Restoration
Adaptació i Extinció a l'Antropocè Optional 2nd semester 3
Application of Integrated Management Systems to Environmental Issues Optional 2nd semester 3
Biodiversity and Function in Lake Ecosystems Applications and Management Optional 2nd semester 3
Description, Evaluation and Diagnosis of Ecosystems Optional 2nd semester 6
Diagnosis and Restoration of the Environmental Quality of Water Resources Optional 2nd semester 6
Ecological Structures and Processes in the Sea Optional 2nd semester 3
Ecology and Forest Management Optional 2nd semester 6
Ecology of Marine Environment Interactions Optional 1st semester 3
Economics and Environmental Management Compulsory 1st semester 3
Ecotoxicology of Aquatic Systems Optional 2nd semester 3
Effects of Global Change on Trees and Woods Optional 2nd semester 3
Environmental Biotechnology: Bioremediation Optional 1st semester 3
Environmental Legislation and Territorial Management Optional 1st semester 3
Final Project Compulsory 1st semester 15
Forest Fires and Restoration Optional 2nd semester 6
Management and Restoration of Polluted Soil Optional 2nd semester 3
Regeneration of Dunes and Beaches Optional 2nd semester 3
Restoration and Creation of Humid Regions Optional 2nd semester 3
Restoration of Talus Slopes and Quarries Optional 2nd semester 3
River Management and Restoration Optional 2nd semester 6
Seminars on Global Change Optional 2nd semester 3
Statistical Data Analysis Techniques Compulsory 1st semester 6
Vegetation Analysis and Landscape Ecology Optional 1st semester 6
Vulnerability of Ecosystems 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 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 ?

Holders of the master's degree in Ecology, Environmental Management and Restoration will have the training to:




  • carry out their professional activity in environmental consulting and civil engineering, specializing in drafting management plans and developing or executing environmental restoration projects;

  • focus their professional activity on public administration departments with responsibilities for the management and conservation of natural spaces, and monitoring restoration work;

  • work as specialists in the field of the environment in regional and local administrations;

  • become independent  professionals with specific expertise in environmental consulting, environmental diagnosis studies and project design for the management and restoration of natural spaces;

  • continue their studies at doctoral level and pursue teaching and research careers in the field of ecology and environmental biology;

  • carry out academic and research activities in the ecological study of populations, communities and ecosystems, at universities or research centres;

  • carry out the role of a project manager in the monitoring and direction of research, development and innovation projects in the fields of ecology and environmental biology;

  • work as specialists in the field of research, working with multidisciplinary teams from public and private entities that develop new environmental planning and management strategies, or that are researching new tools to address environmental degradation, and

  • be disseminators of scientific and professional activity in areas of ecology, restoration and management of natural spaces.

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

Contact us

secretaria-biologia@ub.edu

Secretary: 934 021 671
Information: 934 021 086
Coordinator: FRANCESC DE P. SABATER COMAS