Objectives and competences

The Master's in International Security taught at the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) is an interdisciplinary programme intended to educate future professionals in the area of security within the field of peace and war studies. Its aims are to provide students with a comprehensive set of analytical skills, robust training in research methods, and a deep understanding of international conflicts in the 21st century.

This one-year-long, advanced master's degree is worth 60 credits ECTS and is taught fully in English. It is addressed to graduates in political sciences, international relations and economics. It combines theory and practice and provides students with both academic rigour and policy relevance. The programme is becoming increasingly popular given the current armed conflicts and their consequences on community policies. The overall objective is to train analysts in international security equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to study and interpret current challenges in international spheres, from both a global and a local perspective.

IBEI's teaching model is organised around lectures, seminars and small tutorials. Modules are capped and candidates are expected to actively participate in the form of presentations, group work and assignment writing. In addition, students are assigned a personal tutor and their progress is monitored throughout the academic year. IBEI also develops transferable skills that students can apply in their future international careers. The postgraduate programme includes the possibility of doing an internship or studying abroad for one semester.

IBEI's masters' degrees are officially accredited in Spain and adapted to the European Higher Education Area. The degree diplomas are issued jointly with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the University of Barcelona and the Pompeu Fabra University.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Law
Branch of knowledge
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instructionEnglish
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentNo
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Main university information Master's degree course homepage
InteruniversityYes
Main universityUniversitat Pompeu Fabra
Universities
  • Universitat Pompeu Fabra
  • Universitat Barcelona
  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Bridging coursesNo

Objectives and competences

Objectives

  • Master and apply specific knowledge of contemporary international relations, security, and global governance from a comprehensive and multidisciplinary perspective.
  • Identify the main sources of bibliographic information on issues related to international studies, including specialised periodicals and primary source collections.
  • Identify the main authors, approaches and ideas in the study of international security, as well as its debates and explanatory limits.
  • Design and carry out specialised information searches on subjects related to international security, as well as to analyse results obtained following the rules of the scientific method.
  • Develop an independent reflection for decision-making aimed at solving the specific problems and challenges of international security.
  • Have a command of and apply the dynamics, processes and factors that interact in local, national and international decision-making, as well as the instruments used for its implementation.
  • Command the knowledge acquired about the actors, dynamics, processes and factors of international security in order to analyse the results of the daily practice of governments, non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations, companies, etc.

Competences

Access and admission

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

Until 1 July 2023.

Required documentation

Selection criteria

Notification

IBEI runs a rolling admissions process. The Admissions Committee meets once a month to evaluate all complete applications received by then. Applicants can expect an answer after four to six weeks following the submission of all the required documents (including both reference letters).

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 22
Optional 28
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 10
TOTAL 60

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: International Security
Anàlisi de Política Exterior Optional 4
Conflictes Intraestatals (Guerres Civils Comparació) Optional 4
Decisió - Fer en la Política de les Nacions Unides Optional 4
Decisions de Pau i Manteniment de la Pau Optional 4
Desenvolupament en la Pràctica Optional 4
Desenvolupament i Canvi Social a Amèrica Llatina Optional 4
Economia Política del Desenvolupament Optional 4
Estudis d'Intel.ligència Optional 4
Estudis del Món Mediterranis i Àrabs Optional 4
Estudis Llatinoamericans Optional 4
Fluxos de Població: Migració, Refugiats, Desplaçats Optional 4
Geopolítica Energètica Optional 4
Governança Global Optional 4
Guerra en la Política Mundial Optional 4
Guerra i Genocidi Optional 4
Història Política Global Optional 4
Indùstria de les Armes: El Comerç i el Desarmament Optional 4
Justícia Global Optional 4
L'assoliment de la Pau i l'Ordre Internacional Optional 4
La Presa de Decisions a la Unió Europea Optional 3
Mètodes d'Investigació en Seguretat Internacional Compulsory 6
Mitjans de Comunicació i Seguretat Internacional Optional 4
Negocis Internacionals i Institucions Econòmiques Optional 4
Pobresa, Desigualtat i Creixement Optional 4
Política Ambiental Internacional Optional 3
Política Comparada del Regionalisme Optional 4
Política Exterior Europea Optional 4
Política Exterior Nord-Americana Optional 3
Política i Programes de Desenvolupament Optional 4
Pràctiques Professionals Optional 4
Processos de Pau i Resolució de Conflictes Optional 4
Processos Polítics a la Unió Europea Optional 4
Protecció Internacional dels Drets Humans Optional 4
Reforma del Sector de la Seguretat Optional 4
Relacions Internacionals a Amèrica Llatina Optional 4
Relacions Internacionals a Àsia Optional 4
Resolució de Conflictes: Prevenció, Reacció, Reconstrucció Optional 4
Seguretat Humana Optional 4
Seguretat Internacional i Armes de Destrucció Massiva Optional 4
Seguretat Internacional i Forces Armades Optional 4
Seguretat Internacional I: Teories i Institucions Compulsory 8
Seguretat Internacional II: Agenda i Temes Compulsory 4
Seminari d'Investigació en Seguretat Internacional Compulsory 4
Treball Final de Màster Compulsory 10
Xarxes Transnacionals a l'Orient Mitjà Optional 4

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


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