Objectives and competences

The aim of the master's degree in Environmental Agrobiology is to provide specialized, multidisciplinary training in the areas of agriculture, forestry management and the environment. The master's degree reflects current and future needs of our society. Sustainable management of agrosystems and the preservation of production resources without damaging the environment can help to increase agricultural and forestry production and quality, as a source of biomass, energy and industrial applications, to meet the needs of a growing population

The master's degree in Environmental Agrobiology covers the latest developments in scientific, technical and methodological aspects of knowledge areas related to the qualification. This is a one-year programme. The course syllabus consists of various compulsory subject blocks, various optional subject blocks, and a final project, which must be completed in a research group attached to a public or private entity, or in a company in the sector. The subject blocks are broken down into basic and applied subjects that reveal the integrated, complementary nature of the knowledge. From a holistic and environmental perspective, the course address real problems of our society that are related to agriculture and forestry and associated with climate change and resource use. The master's degree in Environmental Agrobiology is intended for holders of bachelor's and pre-EHEA degrees, engineers, technical engineers, diploma holders and holders of equivalent qualifications in the areas of the life sciences, agricultural sciences, environmental sciences and related subjects. Scientific advances must be used to face situations of limited productivity in agriculture and forestry, and the effects of climate change. The master's degree reflects this social need, and trains highly specialized researchers and freelancers who will be able to work in companies or entities in the agricultural, forestry or environmental sectors. The ECTS credits awarded as part of this master's degree for subjects related to plant protection can be used towards accreditation as an integrated pest management (IPM) advisor (DOGC no. 6408, 2-7-2013).

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Biology
Branch of knowledge
  • Agricultural sciences and food technology
  • Biochemistry and biotechnology
  • Environmental sciences and ecology
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available22
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
CoordinationMARTA PINTó MARIJUAN
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentYes
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesYes

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Objectives and competences

Objectives

The main aim of the master's degree in Environmental Agrobiology is to provide specialized, high-level, multidisciplinary training in sustainable vegetable production field .The course trains specialists who will gain in-depth knowledge of the scientific, methodological and technological principles behind sustainable agriculture, based on the promotion and efficiency of resources and the conservation and protection of the environment in the present and future context of climate change.

The specific objectives are to:
    Gain up-to-date scientific training in the field of environmental agrobiology.
    Develop skills in conventional, current and innovative methods and instrumental techniques applied to environmental agrobiology.
    Design and develop projects, draw conclusions, and communicate them with scientific and technical rigour.

Competences

Basic competences
  • Knowledge forming the basis or opportunity of original thinking in the development and/or application of ideas, typically in a research context.
  • Capacity to apply the acquired knowledge to problem-solving in new or relatively unknown environments within broader or multidisciplinary contexts related to the field of studies.
  • Capacity to integrate knowledge and tackle the complexity of formulating judgements based on incomplete or limited information, giving due consideration to the social and ethical responsibilities involved in applying knowledge and making judgements.
  • Capacity to communicate knowledge and conclusions and the grounds on which they have been reached to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
  • Skills to enable lifelong self-directed and independent learning.
General competences
  • Skills to search for, analyse and summarize highly specialized scientific and technical information, including a capacity for understanding, reasoning and scientific criticism.
  • Basic research skills in the field of environmental agrobiology.
  • Capacity to identify the objectives, purposes, and priorities of projects or tasks, and to organize appropriate deadlines and resources.
  • Capacity to assess and select the most appropriate theory and method to solve specific problems in environmental agrobiology, including skills in handling specific instruments and obtaining and interpreting experimental results.
  • Critical attitude in specialized projects in the field of environmental agrobiology, and a capacity to make judgements and defend them rigorously using scientific language.
  • Capacity to assess social, legal and ethical responsibilities as well as the sociological and environmental impact of the use of certain techniques and applications in environmental agrobiology.
Specific competences
  • Capacity to assess the current state and future prospects of environmental agrobiology in relation to the improvement and management of crops, as well as their socioeconomic and environmental implications.
  • Capacity to carry and improve crops through conventional methods and the most advanced technologies, such as molecular tools, in vitro culture and transgenesis.
  • Capacity to analyse the effects of environmental factors and the impact generated by climate change on plant metabolism, and its impact on the improvement of crop production and their quality.
  • Capacity to assess the quality of soils in order to prevent and control nutritional deficiencies to improve crop production and quality.
  • Capacity to describe the response mechanisms of plants to different situations of environmental stress, the procedures to attenuate it, and thus collaborate in the development of commercial products to mitigate crop stress.
  • Knowledge of the bases and abilities in the application of relevant technologies, such as remote, ecophysiological and molecular perception techniques, to monitor, evaluate production and diagnose the nutritional status and stress crops can undergo.
  • Capacity to design and obtain transgenic plants, and to evaluate their efficacy and the risks of applying these techniques to plant improvement, through the manipulation of plant metabolism, adaptation to adverse environments and the improvement of qualitative parameters, and also in their use as biofactories.
  • Capacity to apply the knowledge acquired to design and carry out research work on environmental agrobiology: to formulate a hypothesis, to select the methodology and carry out the research, to execute a statistical analysis protocol, to interpret and write the results (in a clear and concise manner), to discuss them and elaborate reasoned conclusions.
  • Capacity to transfer the knowledge acquired (scientific, methodological and technical) to the agri-food sector, collaborating with companies in the sector or creating and managing a company.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

The master's degree in Environmental Agrobiology is intended for holders of bachelor's degree or pre-EHEA degrees, engineers, technical engineers, diploma holders and holders of equivalent qualifications in the life sciences, agricultural sciences, environmental, experimental sciences and related subjects, who have sufficient academic training for postgraduate study; can understand and incorporate the knowledge and skills in the course syllabus; and are highly motivated to develop their knowledge of environmental agrobiology. The course is also suitable for professionals in this field who are interested in updating their knowledge.

The master's degree is taught in Spanish, but candidates should have a sound knowledge of English. Candidates should also have basic knowledge of the computer skills that are usually required in bachelor's degree courses.

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
Degrees that grant access to the course. The qualifications that meet the recommended applicant profile are:
  • Bachelor's or pre-EHEA degrees in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Food Science and Technology and Enology.

  • Agricultural, chemical and forestry engineering.

  • Technical agricultural and forestry engineering.

  • Technical engineering in agricultural and livestock farming, fruit and vegetable farming, gardening, agricultural and food industries.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

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

  • 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

Selection criteria

To be accepted on the master's degree in Environmental Agrobiology, candidates must meet the legal requirements for the qualification and complete the pre-enrolment process correctly. In addition, the following criteria will be assessed:
  • Academic record (70%).

  • Professional or research experience (15%)

  • Letter or letters of reference from university lecturers or researchers at research centres (10%)

  • Student's interest in the master's degree, assessed by a statement of interest (5%).


In this statement, candidates should describe their educational and professional background, and highlight any aspects that could be useful or related to the master's degree. In addition, they should mention why they have selected this master's degree; their interest in taking it; and its potential impact on their professional and personal life in the future.

Notification

The Coordination Committee will examine and select candidates' pre-enrolment applications, taking into consideration the recommended applicant profile and the selection criteria. The list of accepted students will be published on the official website of the master's degree, and students shall be informed of the decision in writing through the Secretary's Office for Students and Teaching Staff at the University of Barcelona's Faculty of Biology.

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

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 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 ?

Graduates in Environmental Agrobiology could go on to prepare a doctoral thesis and start a teaching or research career in universities; work as specialized researchers in multidisciplinary research teams in public and private entities, companies or farms associated with the agricultural, agrifood, forestry, environmental and industrial sectors; or work as specialists, advisors and consultants in these sectors. In this framework, the career opportunities are:

  • Direction, management and control of research, development and innovation in agrobiological companies, cooperatives and agrifood industry.
  • Direction and management of agricultural companies, horticultural centres, nurseries, and garden centres.
  • Professional activity in the agriculture and livestock sector and in crop farming and improvement.
  • Professional activity in industries related to agriculture and the agrifood industry.
  • Consultancy and advice on agricultural, forestry and environmental research.
  • Consultancy on integrated management of plagues. (The ECTS credits awarded as part of this master's degree for subjects related to plant protection can be used towards accreditation as an integrated pest management [IPM] advisor, DOGC no. 6408, of 2-7-2013.)
  • Evaluation of research, development and innovation projects.
  • Edition and advice on informative scientific texts.
  • Professional activity in government bodies (agriculture and the environment).

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

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