"When I was about to complete the Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology at the University of Alicante, my thesis supervisor, Daniel La Parra, showed me how exciting quantitative research was, and made me realise that I only needed time and patience to understand statistics. The idea of doing a PhD had always been around in my head. Soon, I realised that if I wanted to develop my career in a growing international context, I would have to continue my studies in English. The Research Master in Sociology and Demography at UPF seemed to offer all what I wanted: an international environment, a focus on quantitative methods, an empirical approach to a wide range of sociological issues. Although I feared starting such a demanding challenge, my fears immediately vanished. The professors showed great passion for their work and empathy towards the students, and our cohort soon became a supportive and collaborative group. Those ten months were particularly intense, but our analytical skills improved much quicker than I could have imagined. Now I am at the third year of my PhD at the University of Lausanne, in Switzerland. Getting this position was easier than I expected, as scholars appreciate the variety of topics that we become familiar with at the master’s program. I believe that the skills that I acquired during those months in Barcelona are helping me to navigate through my PhD with relative serenity and confidence, enjoying the process of writing my thesis and doing research." Iván Canzio - Spain

 

"When I was finishing my BA degree in Journalism I realized that I wanted to get extensive training in social science research and pursue a Ph.D. in Sociology later on. This was the moment when I came across the Research Master in Sociology and Demography at UPF. I enrolled in this master’s program due to its combination of substantive lectures on social issues (social inequality, demographic dynamics, labour economics, migration…) and extensive hands-on training in quantitative methods. At UPF, I found a very stimulating environment with highly-motivated classmates from all over the world who were keen to help each other out and get together after the lectures. I particularly enjoyed the discussion format of the lectures in which students and professors were very engaged, as well as the evaluation procedure that consists of writing applied research papers. Of course, the possibility of living in Barcelona was unique and I made very good friends from the program who I still keep in touch with. I also enrolled in the double degree program linking the UPF master with another one in Tilburg University in the Netherlands. This double degree provided me with further academic skills and social experiences. In a nutshell, participating in this master’s program provided me with a rich set of skills to become a good social researcher and apply to very competitive Ph.D. programs in Europe. After graduating from the master’s program, I received fully-funded scholarships from the University of Oxford and the European University Institute in Florence, where I am currently finishing my Ph.D. on intergenerational educational inequality." Carlos J. Gil Hernández - Spain

 

"The program in Spain gave me both theoretical knowledge regarding demography and sociology, and also hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative research (conducting interviews, focus groups and analyzing data). Pompeu Fabra has an impressive group of professors and lecturers that are passionate about their fields of study and want to share their knowledge with the students. Currently I am working as a Media Analyst in the biggest Media Agency in my country and I believe that my MA from Pompeu Fabra played a crucial role in landing me this job. I would recommend the program to anyone who is willing to step out of their comfort zone, work hard but at the same time desires to explore and experience the beautiful city of Barcelona. The program will definitely give you invaluable knowledge and skills, and also unforgettable memories with new friends." Maarja Sau - Estonia


"The Sociology and Demography program at UPF allowed me to study social and political science through a diverse lens. Students and faculty from different parts of the world made classroom discussions and engagement fascinating and informative. All of the students in my program became incredibly close, and we remain in touch. Living and studying in Barcelona was also amazing. I recommend the program to students interested in continuing their education and broadening their perspective.  Current position: Research Coordinator, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans at University of Pennsylvania  Previous position: Research Associate, Center for Community College Student Engagement at University of Texas at Austin".  Meagan Cusack - USA


"The Master programme was amazing. It gave me a lot of theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills of presenting my opinion and working in groups. All subjects were very interesting and I was attending all of them looking forward to get to know something new. The English level was very high and it also helped me improve mine! I enjoyed the whole year a lot, it was pretty intensive, however, I've learned a lot, I discovered what I'm interested! Now I'm still in Barcelona, doing an internship in online marketing, PR and fashion. Without the academic background I couldn't apply for it... I strongly recommend the MA Programme in Sociology and Demography at UPF if you're looking for a strong theoretical and practical background at one of the best universities in Spain." Ewelina Łokas - Poland



"Thanks to Master in Sociology and Demography at UPF I was able to apply a new academic approach to my work in Social Sciences, which has helped me to understand better the current research done in the field. I really enjoyed this experience, and I feel that not only I have learnt a lot but also I have gained access to different career paths in the future. I am currently working in Market Research in the company based in Barcelona, and completing a second master at UB (in Historia y Comunicacion Cultural) and plan to apply for a PhD position next year."  Kinga H. Wiśniewska - Poland



"The Master in Sociology and Demography was a great challenge that gets you going towards many discoveries. Positive experience at Pompeu was enhanced by friendly atmosphere among students and also professors. Intellectually satisfying and inspiring course. Currently I live in Malta. I work for online gaming company, which is not very related to the studies, but I also work as a volunteer (because they don't pay) at the organization which is a part of a Foundation for Social Welfare Services." Magdalena Jarzyna - Russia



"The MA in Sociology and Demography provided me with the possibility of acquiring a solid and diversified background in Sociology. I had several reasons for choosing the program, being the most important the quality of the teaching and research staff, the wide array of theoretical courses (social stratification, labor market economics, demography and family sociology, immigration) and a solid range of methodological courses. Finally, the fact that the program is also highly valued and recognized amongst top European institutions, has allowed me to obtain a research position at the University of Mannheim, where I am currently teaching and working on my PhD thesis." Jan Guijarro - Spain



"My experience in the Master in Sociology and Demography could be summarised in two features: its international character, and its comprehensiveness in covering the current state of art in the political science, sociology and demography.  Most of the students in the programme came from other countries, within and outside the European Union, and this made my experience in the Pompeu Fabra University much more interesting than I expected. Taking part in a Master programme with such variety of national, linguistic and cultural backgrounds is an enriching experience, to which any internationally-driven student should look for. Secondly, content-wise the programme offered a comprehensive view of some of the most relevant issues in political science, sociology and demography. This included the analysis of the welfare state, the drivers of socioeconomic inequality, the relationship between demographic changes and social policy, and migration dynamics. In order to provide the tools to conduct research in these areas, the Master programme offered training on quantitative and qualitative methods, with an emphasis on the former. Taking part in the Master programme in Sociology and Demography provides the theoretical and methodological skills to pursue a career in social research. I would suggest this programme to any student with an interest in understanding the interaction between the welfare state and the current trends in social inequality and demographic changes; and to those who have a clear interest in pursue a career in social research." David Fernández - Spain