Objectives and competences

Today, genomics is essential to understand human diseases, plant and animal development, the evolution of species and their relationships with the environment. The aim of this master's degree is to train new professionals and researchers in genomics and genetics, and prepare them in specific areas of science and technology to face current challenges in these disciplines.

The master's degree is focused on basic and applied research, genetics, evolution, development and biomedicine, in the broadest sense, and provides the training required to access third-cycle studies. It prepares students for professional practice in the new technologies of genetic analysis and genomics in particular. As a result, graduates will have opportunities as highly qualified staff in companies and institutions in which these types of analysis are increasing relevant, including hospitals, diagnostic centres, and analysis and genotyping companies.

The teaching staff responsible for this master's degree have considerable research experience in the fields of genetics and genomics and, in most cases, lead groups that are at the forefront of research in these fields. Consequently, students receive up-to-date, in-depth training based on the latest genomics and genetics knowledge. In addition, researchers from the National Centre for Genome Analysis (CNAG) participate in the master's degree. The CNAG is an international leader in genomics studies.  

The University of Barcelona is the only Spanish university to offer this master's degree. The aim is to provide an up-to-date overview of the structure, function, regulation and evolution of genes and genomes applied to different fields of biology, such as embryo development and stem cells, human diseases and molecular evolution.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Biology
Branch of knowledge
  • Biology and genetics
  • Biomedical sciences
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available50
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instructionEnglish
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
CoordinationFLORENCIO SERRAS RIGALT
E-mailmaster.genetica@ub.edu
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentYes
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesYes
Specializations
  • Developmental Genetics and Genomics
  • Human Genetics and Genomics

Objectives and competences

Objectives

Human genome sequencing represents one of the greatest scientific achievements of the early twenty-first century. This master's degree is intended to train new professionals in genetics and genomics who are prepared technologically and scientifically with the latest advances in these scientific disciplines. These new professionals will need to incorporate and innovate basic and applied research in genetics, evolution, development and biomedicine. Training in the new technologies of genetic analysis will also enable participants to work as highly qualified technicians in companies and institutions where genetic analysis plays an increasingly important role, such as hospitals, diagnostic centres and companies providing genetic analysis. This is the only master's degree of its type offered at any Spanish university and is intended to provide a general understanding of the structure, function, regulation and evolution of genes and genomes applicable to different areas of study, including embryonic development, the principal types of human disease and molecular evolution.

Competences

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

Applicants should possess basic prior knowledge of genetics in order to gain the maximum benefit from this master's degree.

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

Applicants for this master's degree should hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedicine, Veterinary Science, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Medicine, Environmental Sciences, Genetics, Microbiology, Marine Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, or other undergraduate degrees in branches of experimental sciences, granted by a university within the European Higher Education Area framework or a university outside this framework (in which case, authorization or validation must be obtained from the University of Barcelona).

In addition, applicants should be able to provide accreditation of intermediate English language skills, since the classes and seminars, as well as the teaching material, will use English as the primary language

Bridging subjects:

Applicants who do not have a minimum basic knowledge of genetics will be required to complete bridging courses with a total value of up to 30 ECTS credits in disciplines such as Genetic Analysis, Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology and Genetic Engineering. The admissions committee will determine the number of ECTS credits from bridging courses that are required for each applicant.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

1 February - 7 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

  1. Academic transcript stating the average grade and the rating scale (1 to 10) proving to have taken at least three years and the first semester of the final year of degree*.
  2. Curriculum Vitae stating explicitly English skills and other activities, particularly those that are relevant to the academic, scientific and professional career. The language proficiency required in English is B2, TOEFL 90 iBT or IELTS 6.0.
  3. Candidates already admitted to a research group for the Final Master Project must send a letter of acceptance signed by the group responsible.
  4. Motivation letter (free format with a maximum of 400 words). It must include up to two options ("human genetics and genomics", "development and stem cells" and "evolutionary genetics and genomics") clearly specifying your first selection. 
  5. Reference letter (optional)

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 (18 -28) and September (12 -17).

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 25
Optional 5
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 30
TOTAL 60

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: BC for admission to the Master's Degree in Genetics and Genomics
Cell Biology Optional 1st semester 6
Developmental Biology Optional 2nd semester 6
Genetic Engineering Optional 2nd semester 6
Genetics: Genetic Analysis Optional 2nd semester 6
Molecular Genetics Optional 1st semester 6

Bridging courses

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Developmental Genetics and Genomics
Advanced Bioinformatics Optional 1st semester 2.5
Advanced Genetic Analysis and Functional Genomics Compulsory 1st semester 5
Advanced Techniques in Genetic Engineering Optional 1st semester 2.5
Applications of Fluorescence and Image Analysis Compulsory 1st semester 5
Bioethics Optional 1st semester 2.5
Comparative Genomics Optional 1st semester 2.5
Developmental Genetics and Genomics Compulsory 1st semester 5
Epigenetics and Cellular Memory Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Evolution and Development Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Final Project Compulsory 2nd semester 30
Forensic Genetics Optional 1st semester 2.5
From Organogenesis to Ageing Optional 1st semester 2.5
Genetic Diagnosis Optional 1st semester 5
High-Throughput Analysis of Genomic Data Optional 1st semester 2.5
Mendelian and Complex Genetic Diseases Optional 1st semester 5
Regeneration and Stem Cells Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Seminars on Genetics Research Optional 1st semester 2.5
The Human Genome Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Tissue Differentiation in Fetal and Neonatal Development Optional 1st semester 2.5
Specialization: Human Genetics and Genomics
Advanced Bioinformatics Optional 1st semester 2.5
Advanced Genetic Analysis and Functional Genomics Compulsory 1st semester 5
Advanced Techniques in Genetic Engineering Optional 1st semester 2.5
Applications of Fluorescence and Image Analysis Optional 1st semester 5
Bioethics Optional 1st semester 2.5
Comparative Genomics Optional 1st semester 2.5
Developmental Genetics and Genomics Optional 1st semester 5
Epigenetics and Cellular Memory Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Evolution and Development Optional 1st semester 2.5
Final Project Compulsory 2nd semester 30
Forensic Genetics Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
From Organogenesis to Ageing Optional 1st semester 2.5
Genetic Diagnosis Compulsory 1st semester 5
High-Throughput Analysis of Genomic Data Optional 1st semester 2.5
Mendelian and Complex Genetic Diseases Compulsory 1st semester 5
Regeneration and Stem Cells Optional 1st semester 2.5
Seminars on Genetics Research Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
The Human Genome Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Tissue Differentiation in Fetal and Neonatal Development Optional 1st semester 2.5

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. In addition, 30 ECTS are dedicated to the research project for the Master Thesis, to be performed in a research laboratory.

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 750 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 volume of data acquired through genome sequencing has placed increasing importance on genomic analysis. The potential applications of this analysis are infinite and are particularly relevant to the understanding of gene function. The master's degree in Genetics and Genomics (MGG) combines laboratory learning with in silico or computational learning, each of which is fundamental to the work of modern laboratories.

What career opportunities does the degree offer?

This programme provides students with the expertise to work in research institutes, academic organizations, hospitals, genetic diagnosis centres and pharmaceutical companies. Students are offered two pathways to professional life. On the one hand, they acquire the competences to access doctoral studies. In particular, the programme aims to prepare students to carry out doctoral studies in one of the research groups or institutions directly involved in or associated with the master's degree. Students will have the chance to meet scientists and professionals in the sector with whom they may discuss prospective employment opportunities or funding for doctoral studies. On the other, those students who prefer to wait until they have completed the master's degree will have a solid grounding in molecular genetics and genomics. The primary career opportunities can be found in hospitals, research centres and the biotech industry.

Career opportunities

Graduates will have acquired specific expertise in biomedical genetics, developmental genetics and genome analysis, making them highly sought after in the current market. Holders of this master's degree will have the skills profile to work for the following institutions:

  • Research centres
  • Hospitals
  • Academic research units
  • Diagnostic centres
  • Biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and spinoffs
  • Political organizations in science and health
  • Education

The degree provides training that matches the demands of prospective employers, for example:

  • Genetic diagnosis
  • Genome analysis
  • Forensic genetics
  • Developmental biology and disorders
  • Research with stem cells and organoids
  • Drug detection
  • Development of gene therapies

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

Contact us

Faculty of Biology

Diagonal, 643 - 08028 Barcelona

Secretary
934 021 671
secretaria-biologia@ub.edu
​​​​​​​​​​​​master.genetica@ub.edu