What do we offer?
The official master's degree programmes have been developed to provide our students with top quality education and training coupled with professional skills required in the employment sphere. The aim is for our graduates to be preferentially qualified to work in biodemedical sciences-related fields in the public or private sector, or the academic domain.
The programmes include intensive practical modules (each known as a practicum), complemented by theoretical modules characterised by the application of innovative teaching methods based on active learning and problem-solving, and extensive use of learning based on practical experience. During the practicum on all master's courses, students will perform tasks and activities similar to those carried out by the researchers or workers in the laboratories or companies where they do their placement. On placement, students will receive guidance and supervision from tutors or instructors belonging to the place where they are working as well as from a member of the university teaching staff who will act as their supervisor. It is expected that some of those completing the master's degrees will continue their research education and training by taking a PhD at the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), of which our department is a founder member.
The core of our master's syllabuses is based on the Professional Itineraries which were developed on the successful biology degree course and on the International PhD in Biomedical Sciences. These programmes have received awards for quality from the Catalan autonomous government and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, respectively. As an indication of the success of the Professional Itineraries programme, we may add that more than 85% of the students of the last three intakes to have completed the Biology degree are now in full-time paid employment or are doing their PhDs on full-time grants at public- or private-sector research centres. In addition, the Master in Bioinformatics (BIOINFO) and the Master in Public Health (MSP) courses come from successful MSc courses run earlier by our department and therefore have the benefit of the experience built up on previous courses.
An academic and professional environment of excellence
The courses will be held at Pompeu Fabra University's Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, in the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB). The PRBB comprises five different scientific institutions linked to the University's postgraduate programme. This provides a unique and vibrant environment with more than a hundred research groups and various companies. With internationally acclaimed scientists as well as modern facilities and equipment, the PRBB is fast becoming a world-ranking research centre of excellence in a large number of areas of biomedical research. As a fundamental part of our activities at the PRBB, our Biology degree programme and master's programmes aim to give students an excellent academic education and training, and an outstanding professional qualification in the biomedical sciences field.
In addition to the PRBB's research laboratories, our department has collaboration agreements with various public- and private-sector benchmark institutions. In consequence, master's degree students can choose from a catalogue of more than 30 pharmaceutical and clinical analysis companies in which to acquire their practical training. Moreover, the Pompeu Fabra University's established position as a leader in both research and teaching will enable us to offer students education and training in biomedical sciences of the standard of excellence that has always characterised everything we do.
Our teaching staff
Our faculty members belong to leading-edge groups in the PRBB, are active researchers and are highly skilled in teaching and training both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Our teaching team have pursued part of their scientific careers in institutions of international prestige all over the world and have participated in a multitude of international research networks.
