Program Overview

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Introduction to the International MA in Sociology, Social Research and Demography

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. This 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.

Program Description

The program 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 fulfill the thesis requirements of both programs.

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.

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 defense of the Master's dissertation. The Master's Thesis of 20 ECTS will be recognized at both UPF and UNITN. Supervisory decisions will be made jointly by the two universities. Students will be assigned two preliminary supervisors, one from each university, after a joint tutorial meeting is held with the coordinators of the double degree from each university.

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.

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.

Tuition Fees

• Year 1 - Home University: Students starting at UPF shall pay UPF tuition fees. Students starting at UNITN shall pay UNITN tuition fees (2,827€).
• 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. UPF students going to UNITN will pay UNITN tuition fees, corresponding to 2,827€.

Maximum Number of Students

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

Program Structure

The program structure varies depending on whether the student starts at UPF or UNITN. For detailed information on the program structure, including courses and ECTS, please refer to the specific sections for students starting at UPF or UNITN.

Students Spending Their First Year at UPF

The first two trimesters of the first year of registration in the program 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.

Students Spending Their First Year at UNITN

The first year of registration in the program 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.

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 defense.

Thesis Assessment

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

Deadline for Applications

• EU/EEA students: 15th July
• Non-EU/EEA students: 15th July (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.