Objectives and competences

The master's degree in General Health Psychology provides training for psychology graduates who wish to enter the profession of general health psychologist, which is formally regulated by the seventh additional provision of Law 33/2011 on Public Health (Official State Gazette 5/10/2011).

The text of the provision states that: 'corresponding to the role of general health psychologist is investigation, evaluation and psychological intervention regarding aspects of human behaviour and activity that have a bearing on the promotion and improvement of the general state of health, provided that these activities do not warrant specialized care from other health professionals'.

The master's degree qualifies graduates to pursue a career as a self-employed or salaried professional in the public health system and to work as a registered specialist in healthcare units or psychological consultations centres listed in the General Register of health centres, services and establishments.

The degree has a total study load of 90 credits, 78 of which are awarded for compulsory subjects: of the compulsory study load, 30 correspond to the external professional placement and 12 correspond to the master's degree final project. The course follows a face-to-face learning model. Students interested in continuing their studies at doctoral level can consult general information about the doctoral programme in Clinical and Health Psychology in the following guide (in Catalan).

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Psychology
Branch of knowledge
  • Behavioural sciences and psychology
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits90
Number of places available70
Length of course2 academic years
Language(s) of instructionSpanish, 70%; Spanish/Catalan, 30%
Approximate price per credit27.67 euros per credit (71 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2023-2024
CoordinationADELA FUSTE ESCOLANO
E-mailmaster.psicologiasanitaria@ub.edu
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentYes
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Professional practiceYes
Bridging coursesYes

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The master's degree in General Health Psychology is designed to prepare candidates for careers in health psychology, giving them the knowledge and skills for competent professional practice in the regulated professional role of General Health Psychologist.

The course takes a scientific and professional approach that confers the skills required to analyse and formulate hypotheses on human behaviour and the capacity for behavioural intervention in order to promote and improve health.

Competences

  • Capacity to draw on extensive knowledge in an original way and to apply knowledge in new or unfamiliar environments.
  • Ability to make judgments based on limited or incomplete information.
  • Commitment to lifelong learning and capacity to pursue continuing education independently.
  • Ability to apply ICTs in professional practice.
  • Capacity to apply the scientific method to data collection and evaluation and to critically analyse the information obtained.
  • Capacity to work with a focus on quality and continual improvement, and capacity for self-criticism and for the critical analysis of the work of other professionals.
  • Ability to communicate with other professionals and with non-specialists.
  • Commitment to the prioritization of health, and an understanding of and ability to put into practice a holistic concept of health which acknowledges and respects human diversity.
  • Capacity to apply the principles of bioethics in professional practice and broader social contexts, and to respect the human and democratic rights.
  • Understanding of the scope of the general health psychology profession and the current regulations in the Spanish health system, including an awareness of and respect for obligations regarding patient confidentiality.
  • In-depth understanding of the biopsychosocial nature of human behaviour and of the health problems and disorders relating to human behaviour.
  • In-depth knowledge of models and techniques for diagnosis and intervention in the field of health psychology.
  • Capacity to plan and conduct psychological evaluations of human behaviour, understanding of the factors that affect it, and ability to apply knowledge in a critical and rigorous manner.
  • Ability to design, develop and evaluate psychological intervention programmes, addressing issues with a concern for the principles of equality and human dignity.
  • Capacity for writing psychological reports suited to the needs of their intended recipients.
  • Awareness and understanding of personal limitations and capacity for interpersonal communication and emotional management.
  • Capacity to work in teams and multidisciplinary groups.
  • Understanding of how to promote psychological health in individuals and communities.
  • Understanding of business structures and business management.


See the full list of competences

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

This master's degree is suitable for students who have completed a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate qualification in psychology and are interested in pursuing a career in general health psychology. Applicants must be able to work with scientific texts written in English.

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

To have obtained at least 90 ECTS credits in the healthcare area. Starting on academic year 2020-2021, all students obtain a minor in Health Psychology after completing the basic and compulsory subjects of the bachelor's degree. In addition, according to the REACU agreement of 15 January 2020, all graduates in Psychology prior to the aforementioned academic year already meet the requirement of having obtained the 90 credits in the healthcare area to access the master's degree. Therefore, students who have a pre-EHEA degree (llicenciatura) or current bachelor's degree (grau) from a Spanish university need not to present this certificate.



If a candidate with a foreign qualification cannot document the 90 ECTS credits in the healthcare area, they must complete additional training.


Pre-enrolment

Calendar

11 March - 24 May 2024.
Test: 1 July 2024 (16 - 18 h).
Notification of resolutions 23 July 2024.

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



Candidates should contact the Secretary's Office for Students and Teaching Staff if they have any questions: +34 934 020 169 / +34 933 125 009.

Selection criteria

The selection criteria are listed below, in order of priority and the weighting of each one (the sum of the score of the criteria can be a maximum of 100 points).

Criterion 1. Examination of multiple-choice questions in the field of clinical psychology and health. 80% of the questions are in Spanish and the other 20% in English (up to a maximum of 40 points). The questions are about the contents of the degree and refer to the areas of psychopathology, personality, assessment, intervention, clinical psychology, health psychology and neuropsychology.

Criterion 2. Average grade of the academic transcript of the access degree (up to a maximum of 30 points).

Criterion 3. Electives taken at the undergraduate or graduate level in the field of clinical and health psychology (up to a maximum of 15 points).

Criterion 4. Specific training in the field of clinical and health psychology (except for the access degree) (up to a maximum of 5 points).

Criterion 5. Professional, teaching and research experience in the field of clinical and health psychology (up to a maximum of 5 points).

Criterion 6. Duly accredited knowledge of English (up to a maximum of 5 points).

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Notification

The coordination committee master's degree evaluates the suitability of all applicants, ensuring that they meet the access conditions and taking into account the specific admission criteria and weightings.

Notification of results is posted on the master's degree web page.

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

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 36
Optional 12
Compulsory placements 30
Compulsory final project 12
TOTAL 90

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: BC for admission to the Master's Degree in General Health Psychology
Assessment of At-Risk Adults and Coping Optional 1st semester 3
Child Psychoanalysis Optional 1st semester 3
Children and Adolescent Psychopathology Optional 2nd semester 3
Clinical Applications of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy I Optional 1st semester 3
Clinical Applications of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy II Optional 1st semester 3
Clinical Psychophysiology Optional 1st semester 3
Psychology of Sexuality Optional 1st semester 3
Psychology of Violence Optional 1st semester 3
Systemic Family Intervention I Optional 1st semester 3
Systemic Family Intervention II Optional 1st semester 3

Bridging courses

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: General Health Psychology
Addictions Optional 2nd semester 3
Clinical Management of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents Optional 2nd semester 3
Clinical Management of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioural Disorders in Children and Adolescents Optional 2nd semester 3
Final Project Compulsory 1st semester
2nd semester
12
Institutional or Company Placement I Compulsory 2nd semester 12
Institutional or Company Placement II Compulsory 1st semester
2nd semester
18
Intervention in Anxiety and Affective Disorders Compulsory 1st semester 5
Intervention in Health Psychology Compulsory 2nd semester 5
Intervention in Neuropsychology Compulsory 2nd semester 5
Intervention with Families and Carers Optional 2nd semester 3
Perinatal Psychology Optional 2nd semester 3
Personality Disorders Optional 2nd semester 3
Promotion and Prevention in Health Psychology Optional 2nd semester 3
Psychological Mentoring in the field of Sexual Diversity and Gender Optional 2nd semester 3
Scientific and Professional Principles of Health Psychology Compulsory 1st semester 6
Sexual Dysfunctions Optional 2nd semester 3
Skills and Assessment Methods in Clinical Health Psychology Compulsory 1st semester 5
Skills and Intervention Methods in Clinical Health Psychology Compulsory 1st semester 5
Sleep Disorders Optional 2nd semester 3
Therapeutic Skills of General Health Psychologists Compulsory 1st semester 5

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.  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 ?

This master's degree provides the training that graduates require to access to the healthcare profession in the field of psychological care. They will acquire the skills to work in a number of settings, including the following:

  • Clinics and private healthcare units.
  • Municipal health centres, institutions or companies that run prevention and health promotion programmes.
  • Rehabilitation centres for people with health problems or disabilities.
  • Addiction treatment centres.
  • Associations for people with health problems or behavioural disorders.
  • Sports teams.
  • Military centres.
  • Schools and psychological guidance centres.
  • Early childhood development and care centres.
  • Special education centres.
  • Childcare centres.
  • Nursing homes.
  • Prisons.

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

Contact us