The International Master in Social 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 Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the University of Groningen (UG), in the Netherlands. After the successful completion of the program students end up with two official diplomas:

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. The program emphasizes the study of both advanced and developing societies from a dynamic perspective, using analytical and methodological tools from two disciplines - sociology and demography. This double approach provides the student with a unique tool for understanding how individuals' life events both influence and are influenced by the social context where they live. 

The program is entirely offered in English and taught by top active researchers and scholars from the two participating universities during two academic years, both in Barcelona (first year) and in Groningen (second year).

Description

The international Master in Social 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 UPF and of the Master of Science in Population Studies offered by UG. Each of these masters carries 60 ECTS. Teaching at UPF is mostly geared towards training in quantitative research methods, discussion of state of the art literature, oral presentation and academic writing. Teaching at UG is also geared towards systematic knowledge of statistical and demographic techniques, but it also includes exam-taking. Students are expected to demonstrate the attainment of the knowledge related to different courses at an exam or with an essay at the end of the course

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.

The first two trimesters of the first year of registration in the program (from late September to late 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 Groningen. Academic year at the University of Groningen is structured in four periods, merged in two semesters. During Semesters 1a, 1b, and 2a (from early September to mid-April), students do the coursework corresponding to UG's MSc in Population Studies. Students dedicate 1/3 of semester 2a and all of semester 2b to completing their master thesis. In semester 2b they are registered as Groningen students but are not required to be physically present at Groningen.

The thesis must be completed and defended in June/early July either at UPF or UG.

 

Course structure

Details on course and master work are as follows:

FIRST YEAR: UPF

(late September to mid-March)

 

COMPULSORY (30 ECTS)

  • Demographic Changes and Social Dynamics (5 ECTS)
  • Social Policies and the Welfare State (5 ECTS)
  • Statistical Analysis Techniques I (5 ECTS)
  • Statistical Analysis Techniques II (5 ECTS)
  • Gender, Family and Society (5 ECTS)
  • Analysis of Social Inequalities (5 ECTS)

 

ELECTIVES (10 ECTS):

Choose one among:

  • Foundations of Political and Social Research (5 ECTS)

Choose one among:

  • Migrations and Society (5 ECTS)
  • Health and Inequality (5 ECTS)
  • Employment Policies and Labour Markets (5 ECTS)

ELECTIVE INTERNSHIP (5 ECTS)

SECOND YEAR: GRONINGEN

(early September to mid-April)

 

COMPULSORY (30 ECTS):

  • Population, Health & Place (5 ECTS)
  • Demographic Data and Analysis (5 ECTS)
  • Qualitative Research for Policy & Practice (5 ECTS)
  • Migration, Families & Households (5 ECTS)
  • Population Projections & Sustainability (5 ECTS)
  • Advanced Statistical Analysis (5 ECTS)

 

ELECTIVES (10 ECTS):

Choose two among:

See the following website for an overview of elective courses and their course descriptions. Options include: 

  • Master Internship  (5 ECTS)
  • Population Research Training (5 or 10 ECTS)

THESIS (20 ECTS): defense either at UPF or at UG

 

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

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

 

Academic progression

Students who fail to pass a course in their first year at UPF will have the opportunity to resubmit the failed coursework or retake the failed exam once during April or May of the first academic year.

Students who fail to pass the courses also in these extra opportunities will be required to register again the failed courses in the immediately following academic year, and pay the corresponding fees with extra charge. If authorized by the master coordinators the student will be allowed to take the course on a distant learning basis.

Students must pass at least 6 courses (30 ECTS) in their first year at UPF to be allowed to register at UG in their second year. At least one of the six courses to be passed (5 ECTS) must be in Techniques of Statistical Analysis.

Students who fail to pass a course in the second year at UG will have the opportunity to resubmit the failed coursework or retake the failed exam once during the next subsemester. See as well the article on 'Frequency and Examination Periods' of the teaching and examination regulations of the Master of Science in Population Studies.

 

Master Thesis

The Master's Thesis of 20 ECTS will be exempted at UPF, based on the credits gained at UG, or exempted at UG, based on the credits gained at UPF.

Thesis Supervision

Supervisory decisions will be made jointly by the two universities. Students will be assigned two preliminary supervisors, one from each university, during the second year, 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. A balance will be pursued among students regarding first and second supervisor from either UG or UPF. Final decisions on the assignment of supervisors to students will be made at the end of RUG's semester 2a (March of second academic year).

 

Thesis presentation / defence

Students will present or defend their thesis 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. The thesis defence / presentation and graduation will be at the end of June - beginning of July of the second academic year.

 

Thesis assessment

Assessment of the Master Thesis will be based on the same criteria for both institutions, and guided by the criteria applied within the Master Population Studies at UG.

1st year Double Degree Master in Social Demography

(based on schedule for 2022-2023)

  

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Techniques of statistical analysis I (5 ECTS)

Techniques of statistical analysis II (5 ECTS)

Elective Internship (5 ECTS)

Demographic changes and social dynamics (5 ECTS)

Social policy and the welfare state (5 ECTS)

 

Analysis of social inequalities (5 ECTS)

Family, gender, and society (5 ECTS)

 

Optional course  (5 ECTS)

Optional course (5 ECTS)

 

20 ECTS

20 ECTS

 

 

Term  1                                September 26 - December 20

Term  2                                January 8 - March 22

Term 3                                 April 2 - June 20                    

  

2nd year Double Degree Master in Social Demography

(based on schedule for 2022-2023)

  

Semester 1a

Semester 1b

Semester 2a

Semester 2b

Working with Data in Population Research 

(5 ECTS)

Life Tables and Population Projections 

(5 ECTS)

Advanced survey analysis

(5 ECTS)

Master thesis

(5 ECTS)

Population, Health & Place

(5 ECTS)

Migration, Families & Households

(5 ECTS)

Contemporary Population Issues

(5 ECTS)

Master thesis

(5 ECTS)

 

Optional course

(5 ECTS)

Optional course

(5 ECTS)

Master thesis

(5 ECTS)

Master thesis

(5 ECTS)

 

15 ECTS

15 ECTS

15 ECTS

15 ECTS

 

Semester 1 a                    September 3 - November 9

Semester 1 b                    November 12 - February 1

Semester 2 a                    February 4 - April 12

Semester 2 b                    April 15 - July 12

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, and have a graduation date no later than 1 September of the year the double degree starts;
  • 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 First Certificate or any other certificate equivalent to B.2.2.

Deadline for applications is:

  • EU/EEA students: Applications dates
  • Non-EU/EEA students: Applications dates (Non-EU students are recommended to apply 2 months in advance 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.

 

Maximum number of students

The maximum number of students to enrol in the double degree program will be ten (10) in each academic year.

 

Application procedure

Students can apply through either institution. 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 joint 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 standard admission, please indicate CLEARLY your interest to apply for the double degree (Master in Social Demography with UPF and the University of Groningen).

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

Registration and tuition fees start academic year 2021-2022

 

Nationality

Year 1: 2021-2022

Year 2: 2022-2023

UPF

UG

UPF

UG

EU/EEA

Total Registration Amount**

Students are registered as UPF students.

Students pay UPF tuition fee:

€ 1.800 (this includes a 10 credit, or 1/6 reduction in fees. UPF reserves the right to discontinue the discount in future academic years)

Students do not need to be registered at UG

Students do not pay UG tuition fee.

Students are not registered at UPF.

Students do not pay UPF tuition fee.

Students are registered as UG degree students.

Students pay UG tuition fee*:

€ 2.209

Non-EU/EEA

Total Registration Amount** 

Students are registered as UPF students.

Students pay UPF tuition fee:

€ 5.749,8 (this includes a 10 credit, or 1/6 reduction in fees. UPF reserves the right to discontinue the discount in future academic years)

Students do not need to be registered at UG

Students do not pay UG tuition fee.

Students are not registered at UPF.

Students do not pay UPF tuition fee.

Students are registered as UG degree students.

Students pay UG tuition fee*:

€ 16.201

 

 


Total tuition fee DD program

Total Registration Amount** 

 

EU/EEA

Non-EU/EEA

 

€ 4.009

 

 

€ 21.950,8

* Students who are European Union citizens or residents in Spain.

** Administrative taxes included: academic transcript administration (69,80 €) and specific teaching services (70 €) .

Students with a degree issued by an university outside the European Higher Education Area that has not received homologation must pay 218,15 € during the enrolment period.

The cost of the master diploma is 218,15 €

Students 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). For information on scholarships for the second year of studies, please contact the University of Groningen.