Objectives and competences

The master's degree Mineral Resources and Geological Hazards is an interuniversity degree coordinated by the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona and offers two possible specializations:

  • Geology and Ore Deposits Modelling
  • Geological Hazards

The specialization Geology and Ore Deposits Modelling is intended to provide professionals with in-depth knowledge of the magmatic, hydrothermal, metamorphic and sedimentary processes that produce diverse types of mineral deposits, and prepare them to apply this knowledge in exploration. Students will also acquire skills in the most modern quantitative methods used in the characterization and evaluation of mineral resources.

The specialization Geological Hazards seeks to equip students with knowledge of the techniques used in cartography, analysis, modelling and evaluation of any danger or hazard posed by potentially destructive geological phenomena and processes. Students will also acquire skills in the methods and techniques currently employed in strategies aimed at mitigating geological hazards.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Earth Sciences
Branch of knowledge
  • Earth sciences
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available25
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instruction95 % Spanish - 5 % English
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
CoordinationMARIA ORTUñO CANDELA
E-mailmasters.ciencies.terra@ub.edu
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentYes
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
InteruniversityYes
Main universityUniversitat Barcelona
Universities
  • Universitat Barcelona
  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Bridging coursesYes
Specializations
  • Geological Hazards
  • Geology and Modelling of Mineral Deposits

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The master's degree Mineral Resources and Geological Hazards seeks principally to complete students' training in the concepts, methodologies and techniques currently used by research teams involved in the characterization and modelling of mineral resources and in the identification, analysis, evaluation and management of geological hazards. Students in the master's degree Mineral Resources and Geological Hazards will:


  • Obtain professional preparation to meet the most demanding requirements of companies engaged in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources.
  • Expand and consolidate their knowledge of geological materials and structures and the characterization and modelling of natural phenomena and processes that could produce a hazard.

  • Enhance their knowledge of methodology in order to work successfully as researchers in the analysis and modelling of mineral deposits and the analysis and prevention of geological hazards.

  • Acquire this training within a solid conceptual framework of general and specialized geological knowledge, enabling students to develop general standards in the application of these techniques in each circumstance.

Competences

Geology and Ore Deposits Modelling

  • Capacity to process and interpret mineralogical, petrological and geochemical data.

  • Skills to apply the most advanced analytical techniques of mineralogical and geochemical characterization to the exploration, exploitation and evaluation of mineral resources.

  • Knowledge of the main software programs used to model and simulate petrological, geochemical and tectonic processes.

  • Capacity to build conceptual, genetic and numerical models of mineral deposits.

  • Skill in the application of geochemical and geophysical models to the exploration of mineral deposits.



Specialization in 'Geological Hazards'



  • Capacity to apply the procedures and techniques used in the characterization of internal and external geodynamic phenomena and processes.

  • Capacity to use and apply the techniques of territorial data acquisition, representation and management.

  • Capacity to prepare thematic cartography of land use, hazards, vulnerability, etc.

  • Capacity to understand and apply instrumental techniques used to analyse, monitor and model geological phenomena.

  • Capacity to meet the highest demands of institutions and companies engaged in the management of hazards and propose the most efficient mitigation strategies for each problem.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

The master's degree Mineral Resources and Geological Hazards is a qualification that deepens knowledge previously acquired by students in the geological sciences. The master's degree is recommended for students with broad education in the Earth sciences, including prior knowledge of disciplines in the program.

Applicants should also be motivated to work in the field as well as in the laboratory, have a relatively strong level of mathematics, chemistry and physics and possess a good understanding of software tools.

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 should hold an official bachelor's degree or an equivalent undergraduate degree in geology, geological engineering or mining engineering.

Applicants with an official bachelor's degree in environmental sciences, geography and cartography or geodesy will be considered for the specialization Geological Hazards.

International students in possession of a bachelor's degree which has no specific equivalent in Spain are welcome to apply, provided that their degree curriculum covers aspects of geology (for example, degrees in geosciences or geochemistry) that meet the admission requirements.



Students who have a bachelor's degree in Geology, Geological Engineering and Mining Engineering, obtained in the European area, do not need to take any bridging course.

For the rest of the degrees that give access to the master's degree (Geography, Environmental Sciences) bridging courses must be made depending on the subjects studied in the degrees of origin. The bridging courses are based on subjects form the Geology degree and mainly consist of Mineralogy, Mineral Resources, Geomorphology and Structural Geology.

bridging courses
Students with a higher education qualification in geology, geological engineering or mining engineering obtained in the European Higher Education Area will not have to complete any bridging courses.
Students who hold one of the remaining qualifications that grant access to the master's degree (geography and environmental sciences) must complete bridging courses depending on the subjects taken in their original qualification. The bridging courses are based on subjects from the Geology degree and mainly consist of mineralogy, mineral resources, geomorphology and structural geology contents. The bridging courses must be taken the year before the start of the master's degree.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

First period: 22 January - 5 April 2024.

Second period: 6 April - 12 July 2024.

Third period: 13 July - 6 September 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

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

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 15
Optional 25
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 20
TOTAL 60

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Geological Hazards
Camp I Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Camp II Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Final Project Compulsory 2nd semester 20
Flood Risk Optional 1st semester 5
Geochemistry Prospecting, Geophysics and Drilling Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
GIS Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Land Monitoring Methods Optional 1st semester 2.5
Landslide and Avalanche Risk Optional 1st semester 5
Models of Mineral Deposits Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Remote Sensing Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Risks Associated with Geological Materials Compulsory 1st semester 5
Seismic and Volcanic Hazards Optional 1st semester 5
Seminars on Geological Hazards Optional 1st semester 2.5
Specialization: Geology and Modelling of Mineral Deposits
Analysis of Mineral Deposits Optional 1st semester 2.5
Diagenesis and Metamorphism Optional 1st semester 2.5
Evaluation of Mineral Deposits Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Fieldwork Project Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Final Project Compulsory 2nd semester 20
Fluids in the Crust Optional 1st semester 2.5
Fragile and Ductile Deformation Optional 1st semester 2.5
Geochemistry Prospecting, Geophysics and Drilling Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Geodynamics and Metallogeny Optional 2nd semester 2.5
GIS Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Magma and Mineral Deposits Optional 1st semester 2.5
Mineral Characterization Methods and Geochemistry Optional 1st semester 2.5
Models of Equilibrium Optional 1st semester 2.5
Models of Mineral Deposits Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Remote Sensing Compulsory 1st semester 2.5
Risks Associated with Geological Materials 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.

There is also an option to complete non-curricular placements of up to 500 hours, which can be extended to 900 hours. 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 main career opportunities for specialists in geology and mineral deposit modelling include:
  1. Companies specializing in the exploration, assessment and exploitation of mineral deposits.
  2. Companies specializing in the prevention, mitigation and restoration of the environmental impact deriving from mining activities.
  3. Academic career at universities and research institutions (geological services). This official master's degree grants access to doctoral studies.
  • The main career opportunities for specialists in geological hazards include tasks such as the following:
  1. Analysis, mapping and assessment of geological hazards (floods, landslides, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanism, etc.) that affect and have an impact on the land and its occupation. Design of defence and geological risk mitigation and management proposals.
  2. These professional tasks are carried out in public organizations such as geological services, civil protection services, natural disaster management units; or in companies, environmental, public works or natural resources engineering and consultancy agencies, and NGOs working in natural disaster mitigation and care.

This official master's degree grants access to doctoral studies and an academic career at universities or research institutions.

Access to the labour merkat

Data from the university system in Catalonia

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