Program Overview

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Introduction to the Double Degree Master in Social Demography

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:

• Master of Research in Sociology and Demography, issued by the University Pompeu Fabra
• Master of Science in Population Studies, issued by the University of Groningen

Description of the Program

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.

Structure of the Program

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).

First Year: UPF

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.

Second Year: Groningen

Students spend their second year in Groningen. The 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.

Course Structure

Details on course and master work are as follows:

First Year: UPF

• 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

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

Thesis

• Thesis (20 ECTS): Defense either at UPF or at UG

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.

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.

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.

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

• 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)

Maximum Number of Students

The maximum number of students to enroll 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.

Registration and Tuition Fees

• Year 1:
  • UPF: 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)
  • UG: Students do not need to be registered at UG. Students do not pay UG tuition fee.
• Year 2:
  • UPF: Students are not registered at UPF. Students do not pay UPF tuition fee.
  • UG: Students are registered as UG degree students. Students pay UG tuition fee: € 2,209
• Total Tuition Fee DD Program:
  • EU/EEA: € 4,009
  • Non-EU/EEA: € 21,950.8

Scholarships

Students can request any of the scholarships available to regular students registered in the one-year Research Master in Sociology and Demography. For information on scholarships for the second year of studies, please note that details are available through the University of Groningen.