The International MA in Sociology, Social Research and Demography is a Double Degree Program offered jointly by the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) of Barcelona, in Spain, and the Dipartimento di Sociologia e Ricerca Sociale of the University of Trento, in Italy. After the successful completion of the program students end up with two official diplomas:

• Master of Research in Sociology and Demography, issued by the University Pompeu Fabra
• MA in Sociology and Social Research, issued by the University of Trento

The double degree program combines the strengths of two of the highest-ranked Social Science Departments in Europe to offer high level research training in Sociology and Demography. Relative to other double degrees offered here, the International MA in Sociology, Social Research and Demography offers students who begin their postgraduate studies at the UPF the opportunity of further developing their expertise in other aspects of social inequality and getting acknowledge with other methods of social research.

Students who enroll in the double degree will have the opportunity to develop their expertise in social inequality by taking the courses on 'Social Structure and Social Inequality' and 'Education and Social Inequality' that are offered at the University of Trento. They will also have the opportunity to complement their knowledge of quantitative research methods by taking courses that should make them proficient in the use of qualitative research methods, as 'Research Methods in History' or 'Qualitative Methods'

The program, which is entirely offered in English, is taught by top active researchers and academics from the two participating universities during two academic years, both in Barcelona and in Trento.

Description

The International MA in Sociology, Social Research and Demography is a two-year program that combines the contents of two Master programs: the Master of Research in Sociology and Demography offered by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and of the Master in Sociology and Social Research (Laura Magistrale in Sociologia e Ricerca Sociale) offered by the University of Trento (UNITN). Each of these masters carries 60 ECTS. In order to graduate from the double degree program students have to satisfy the course and research requirements of each separate master, but only need to write one master thesis, worth 20 ECTS, to fulfil the thesis requirements of both programs. Hence, in practice students only need to gain 100 ECTS, rather than the 120 that they would if they had to do the two master programs independently, to graduate from the double degree program and obtain the two master degrees.

Candidates can apply and start the Double Degree program both in UPF or in Trento.

Students spending their first year at UPF:

The first two trimesters of the first year of registration in the program (from late September to mid of March) are spent in Barcelona, at UPF, doing the coursework corresponding to UPF's Master of Research in Sociology and Demography. In the third term of the first year, students start working on their master thesis and are still registered as UPF students but are not required to be physically present in Barcelona. Students spend their second year in Trento, from late September to the end of May. The thesis can be defended either at UPF or at UNITN. The program will be as follows:

For detailed information on UPF first year course, contents, and syllabi click here.

UNITN second year course: a description in English of each course can be found at this webpage.

Students spending their first year at UNITN:

The first year of registration in the program (from late September to end of May) is spent in Trento, doing the coursework corresponding to the Master in Sociology and Social Research. Students spend their second year at UPF in Barcelona, from late September to mid-May. The thesis can be defended either at UPF or at UNITN. The program will be as follows:

UNITN first year course: a description in English of each course can be found at this webpage. 

For detailed information on UPF second year course, contents and syllabi click here.

Academic progression

In order to proceed to the second year of study, a student must have passed at least 5 courses in their first year in the sending institution: at least one of them must be methodological, statistical or quantitative analysis. 

Students who fail to pass a course in their first year at UPF or UNITN will have the opportunity to resubmit the failed coursework or resit the failed exam once in the first academic year. UPF students who fail to pass the courses also in these extra opportunities will be required to register (and pay) again in the failed courses in the immediately following academic year. If authorized by the master coordinators, the student will be allowed to take the course on a distant learning basis.

Students who fail to pass a course in the second year at UPF or UNITN will have the opportunity to resubmit the failed coursework or resit the failed exam once during the next semester.

Master Thesis

The Double Degree Program leads to the award of two Diplomas, one by each University, on the basis of successful completion of the study plan and of the successful defence of the Master's dissertation. The Master's Thesis of 20 ECTS will be recognized at both UPF and UNITN.

Thesis Supervision
Supervisory decisions will be made jointly by the two universities. Students will be assigned two preliminary supervisors, one from each university in mid-March to mid-April of their first year of registration, after a joint tutorial meeting is held with the coordinators of the double degree from each university. The first supervisor will have main supervisory duties; the second will act as an advisor and second marker. The assignment of supervisors to students will be based on students' preferences and interests, but also on supervisors' availability and skills. Balance will be pursued among students regarding first and second supervisor from either UNITN or UPF. Final decisions on the assignment of supervisors to students will be made at the end of December of the second year of registration.

Thesis presentation / defence

Students will present or defend their thesis in English at the university where their first supervisor is hosted. Students can choose whether they travel (back) to the university that hosts the supervisor or hold the meetings online. Final examination shall be carried out according to the degree course regulations of the place of defence.

Thesis assessment
Assessment of the Master Thesis will be based on the same criteria for both institutions.

Requirements

To apply to the program students must:

• hold a university degree (undergraduate and/or graduate) in a relevant discipline, e.g. the field of social sciences, law, humanities or health sciences.
• have an adequate knowledge of research methods and techniques (students must have taken and passed one statistical course during their previous studies);
• have demonstrated their English language proficiency by submitting the results of either TOEFL (100 IBT), IELTS (minimum 6.5 overall, no part less than 6.0), or Cambridge Proficiency or Cambridge Advanced (A-B-C) or any other certificate equivalent to B.2.

Deadline for applications is:

• EU/EEA students: 15th July 2016
• Non-EU/EEA students: 15th July 2016 (Non-EU students are recommended to apply before 16 May but they should keep in mind earlier deadlines from funding agencies)

Non EU/EEA students must be aware that they will need to request a visa for the appropriate time of student residency in each country. Obtaining a visa from one country does not guarantee obtaining a visa from the other.

Contact at UPF:

Department of Political and Social Sciences

[email protected]

Contact at Trento:

Valentina Marchegiani

Staff for International. Activities Teaching. International Activities and Student Services Division

University of Trento

[email protected]

Maximum number of students

The maximum number of students to enrol in the double degree program will be two (2) from UNITN and two (2) from UPF in each academic year.

Application procedure

All applications will be looked at by both institutions. If accepted, students will receive one joint admission letter. Double Degree students are not admitted to the separate master programs offered within the double degree, but to the complete double program only. To graduate, they must pass all the requirements of the double degree program.

Students who wish to apply for admission to the double degree through the UPF need to follow the procedure set up for all students who request admission into UPF's Research Master in Sociology and Demography. In the required letter of motivation for admission, please indicate CLEARLY your interest to apply for the double degree (International MA in Sociology, Social Research and Demography).

To apply to the double degree through the UPF, click here.

Year 1 - Home University:

Students starting at UPF shall pay UPF tuition fees and can request any of the scholarships available to regular students registered in the one-year Research Master in Sociology and Demography (click here for information on these scholarships and how to request them).

Students starting at UNITN shall pay UNITN tuition fees (2,827€) and can request UNITN scholarships.

Year 2 - Host University:

UNITN students going to UPF for the second year will pay UPF tuition fees through the UNITN's Department of Sociology and Social Research and can obtain a UNITN scholarship for the period they spend at UPF.

UPF students going to UNITN will pay UNITN tuition fees, corresponding to 2,827€.

Health insurance, travel and living costs are the responsibility of the student.