FAQs

What kinds of master’s and postgraduate degrees does UIC Barcelona offer and what is the difference between them?

UIC Barcelona offers three types of third-cycle studies: university master’s degrees (official), lifelong learning master’s degrees (UIC Barcelona-specific) and postgraduate degrees.

University master’s degrees

University master’s degrees are denominated “University Master’s Degree in...” and are governed by Royal Decree 822/2021, of 28 September, establishing the structure and quality assurance procedure for official university studies.
These programmes are official in nature, have been verified by the Catalan University System Quality Assurance Agency (AQU Catalunya) and the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA) – both members of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) – and provide access to doctoral programmes.
The degree certificates are issued by the Government of Spain’s Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports.

Lifelong learning master’s and postgraduate degrees

Lifelong learning master’s degrees are denominated “Lifelong Learning Master’s Degree in…” and, together with the postgraduate degrees, constitute the institution’s range of university-specific studies, also governed by Royal Decree 822/2021, of 28 September.
These programmes are designed to promote professional development and specialisation, in response to the needs of the job market and for updated knowledge. They do not provide access to doctoral programmes.
The degree certificates are issued by UIC Barcelona and are backed by the University’s academic and professional prestige.

What qualification will I obtain when I finish my master’s or postgraduate degree at UIC Barcelona?

With university master’s degrees, the diplomas are issued by the Government of Spain’s Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports. To receive it, students must pay the relevant degree issuance fees. It takes approximately one year to receive the degree once the fees have been paid.

In the case of lifelong learning master’s and postgraduate degrees, the diplomas are issued by UIC Barcelona. They carry no additional cost for students and are stamped and signed by the rector of UIC Barcelona and the dean of the corresponding faculty. The time it takes to receive the degree may vary anywhere from two months to one year.

It is important that students visit their faculty’s secretary’s office several months before the end of their programme’s classes to ask about the degree issuance procedure, deadlines and any other questions they may have.

Students are responsible for processing any other legalisation or additional seals that may be required by their country of origin and which are not expressly referred to in this document.