Objectives and competences

The master's course is designed to train researchers to an internationally competitive level in behavioural sciences, specifically in the areas of personality and behaviour, cognition and plasticity, primatology and in research methodology in behavioural sciences. This programme has obtained a quality award from the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency (AQU).

The teaching plan consists of a number of subjects that provide an overall update in the contents of these areas, complemented with solid training in research methodology and other related topics, such as neuroscience. The master's degree also prepares students to access the doctoral programme. In particular, it is associated with the UB doctoral programmes in Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, and in Biodiversity.

To access the master's degree, students must have a high level of English, as this is the language of instruction. On completion of the master's degree, students should be able to operate easily in an international environment.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Psychology
Branch of knowledge
  • Behavioural sciences and psychology
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available25
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instructionEnglish, 80%; Catalan, 10%; Spanish, 10%
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
CoordinationFERRAN PONS GIMENO
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentYes
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesNo

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The master's degree is designed to provide internationally competitive training in behavioural sciences, particularly in the areas of personality, psychological assessment and treatment, basic psychology and psychobiology, and the methodology of the behavioural sciences.

Competences

On successful completion of the master's degree, students will have achieved the following competences in the program's target areas:

- Capacity to design, plan and carry out a scientific project to solve a specific research problem.
- Understanding of and capacity to apply data collection and analysis techniques for specific types of research.
- Understanding of and capacity to apply a range of data processing techniques.
- Ability to critically interpret scientific research.
- Ability to write scientific articles and books, and an understanding of the steps required for publication.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

Applicants should hold a llicenciatura degree/EHEA bachelor's degree in Psychology, have a strong academic record, a basic knowledge of English at level B1, and possess the motivation and discipline required to undertake a research career in the various disciplines of the behavioural sciences.

The program is directed at two types of students:
1) Professionals in the behavioural sciences who wish to complete their research training.
2) Recent graduates interested in embarking on a research career.

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 must hold a llicenciatura degree, an EHEA bachelor's degree or an equivalent university degree issued outside Spain. In the case of applications from graduates in disciplines other than psychology, the Coordination Committee will determine whether additional bridging credits are required, which would be taken from the core subjects of the EHEA bachelor's degree in Psychology at the UB.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

3 April - 14 June 2024.
Notification of resolutions: 26 June - 3 July.

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

Recommendation letters should be directly sent to the master's program coordinator at ferran.pons@ub.edu.

Selection criteria

The selection criteria are:
  • Solid academic record

  • High level of English (minimum B1)

Publications, scientific presentations and letters of reference shall be taken into account.
The two selection criteria have the same weight (50%).

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 25
Optional 25
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 10
TOTAL 60

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Research in Behaviour and Cognition
Advances in Language Processes and Memory Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Attention and Prediction in Cognitive Neuroscience Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Cognitive Neuroscience Compulsory 1st semester 5
Computational Models and Programming Techniques Optional 1st semester 5
Ethoecology and Conservation Optional 1st semester 2.5
Final Project Compulsory 2nd semester 10
Genetics of Behaviour Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Learning and Cognition Optional 1st semester 2.5
Multivariate Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling Optional 2nd semester 5
Origins of Human Conduct Optional 2nd semester 5
Personality and Cognition Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Principles of Decision-Making in Perception and Action Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Regression and General Linear Model Compulsory 1st semester 5
Research in Human Cerebral Function Optional 2nd semester 5
Research in Individual Differences Optional 1st semester 5
Research in Personality Science Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Research Methods in Behaviour and Cognition Compulsory 2nd semester 10
Seminar on Behaviour and Cognition Compulsory 1st semester 5
Social Behaviour, Animal Cognition and Conservation Optional 2nd semester 5
Workshop on Data Analysis Optional 2nd semester 2.5
Workshop on Neuroimaging Techniques and Sensory Motor Control Optional 2nd 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.



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 ?

The training programme is designed for people who wish to start a career as researchers in the fields of experimental psychology, behaviour, neurosciences and primatology. It is also suitable for professionals of the behavioural sciences and life sciences who wish to complement their research training.

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

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