Presentation

The Master's Degree in Biotechnology at the University of Granada is primarily focused on training researchers. Our main objective for the Master's student in Biotechnology is to acquire advanced, specialized, and multidisciplinary training in research tasks within the field of Biotechnology.

The Master is organized, coordinated, and taught mainly by members of the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Granada, members with a high scientific and technical production and a marked trajectory of transferring their research activity to society. Staff from the UGR outside the Institute of Biotechnology, staff from the Spanish National Research Council, and other institutions also participate in our Master's degree.

When the Master's Degree in Biotechnology was first implemented at the University of Granada, the training period of the Biotechnology Doctorate Program, from which it originated, was incorporated and extinguished. Once this transformation was completed, currently, no other teaching will be extinguished with the implementation of this title, which is a continuation of the one with the same name and structure that began to be taught in the academic year 2009/2010.

  • Publication date of the title in the BOE: 02/24/2011
  • Academic year of implementation of the title: 2010/2011
  • Number of courses in the implementation phase: 1
  • Field of knowledge: Sciences
  • Program duration (credits/years): 60
  • Type of teaching: Face-to-face
  • Languages used in the teaching of the title: Spanish
  • Level of supply/demand for places/registration: 40 / 108 / 40

Objectives

In the Master's Degree in Biotechnology at the University of Granada, we aim to achieve the following objectives:

  1. To train students for experimental design, critical scientific thinking, teamwork, good scientific communication, and practical research skills in the field of Biotechnology.
  2. To give students the possibility to access PhD studies in any Spanish or International University.
  3. To provide useful competencies for the incorporation of students in Biotechnology Companies with R&D activity.
  4. To open up new professional perspectives in the field of research and development in the biotechnology sector.

Competences

The competencies that student will acquire when studying the Master's Degree in Biotechnology at the University of Granada respond to the objective of achieving advanced, specialized, and multidisciplinary training, with a focus mainly on research tasks related to their area of study.

    Basic and general-basic competencies

    The students will:

    • CB6 - Acquire and understand knowledge that provides the basis and chance to be original in the development and/or implementation of ideas, mainly in a research context.
    • CB7 - Learn how to apply the acquired knowledge and be able to solve problems in the new or unfamiliar environments of broader or multidisciplinary contexts related to their area of study.
    • CB8 - Be able to integrate knowledge and deal with the complexity of making judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the implementation of their knowledge and judgments.
    • CB9 - Learn how to communicate their final conclusions and the ultimate knowledge and reasons that support them in front of specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous way.
    • CB10 - Have the learning skills that allow them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-guided or autonomous.

    Specific competencies

    The students will:

    • CE1 - Identify, design, implement, and interpret biotechnological methods.
    • CE2 - Organize and design activities in the field of experimentation in Biotechnology.
    • CE3 - Handle information technologies for obtaining, processing and spreading research results.
    • CE4 - Make judgments based on criteria and critical reasoning and learn to recognize quality parameters in research.
    • CE5 - Acquire the skills of creativity, initiative, entrepreneurship and leadership in decision-making.
    • CE6 - Work as a team and tackle problems in an interdisciplinary way.
    • CE7 - Produce adequately and with a degree of originality written compositions, work projects or scientific articles in the area of Biotechnology.
    • CE8 - Publicly present research ideas, procedures or reports on Biotechnology to advise people and organizations.
    • CE9 - Recognize and adapt to diversity and multiculturalism.

    Subject-specific competencies

    The students will:

    • CE10 - Acquire knowledge in the field of anhydrobiosis.
    • CE11 - Acquire advanced knowledge on the analysis of protein-protein interactions.
    • CE12 - Study in depth the biogenetic routes of terpenoids, steroids and polyphenols and their biotechnological applications.
    • CE13 - Learn the origin of the free radicals of oxygen and nitrogen, their genesis and endogenous regulatory mechanisms and their interest to biomedicine.
    • CE14 - Acquire an overview of the methods of food preservation and the application of bacteriocins.
    • CE15 - Handle computer tools for the molecular analysis of DNA and proteins, and the analysis of gene expression.
    • CE16 - Acquire advanced knowledge of the ethical implications of biotechnological evolution and techniques.
    • CE17 - Acquire advanced knowledge of Plant Biotechnology.
    • CE18 - Acquire an overview of recalcitrant compounds and the use of fungi for environmental preservation.
    • CE19 - Study in depth the mechanisms of degradation by different types of microorganisms of the main components of plant residues.
    • CE20 - Acquire advanced knowledge of the biochemistry of parasitic protozoans.
    • CE21 - Understand the main study methods of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions.
    • CE22 - Know the main tools and databases to carry out studies in patentability, futurology, and technological surveillance, as well as the development of a business plan.
    • CE23 - Understand the particular characteristics of biological macromolecules (proteins and nucleic acids) from the perspective of crystallography.
    • CE24 - Learn the main applications of the use of antibodies for analyte diagnosis, purification and detection.
    • CE25 - Acquire an overview of the use of the NMR to determine protein structure.
    • CE26 - Acquire knowledge about the scientific method, the different techniques and methodologies of scientific communication, and the systems for quality evaluation in science.
    • CE27 - Learn the molecular techniques (metagenomics, functional and structural genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) for the study of the genomes of rhizobacteria and the bacterial communities associated with plants of interest in agroforestry.
    • CE28 - Become familiar with the concept of ecological insecticides and with the classic and leading examples of biological control, specifically the use of Bacillus thuringiensis.
    • CE29 - Acquire advanced knowledge of the existing types of bio-catalyzers used in the biotransformation processes.
    • CE30 - Acquire advanced knowledge about the embryogenesis and organogenesis of the central nervous system.
    • CE31 - Learn the main strategies developed by bacteria to examine the environmental conditions and the mechanisms of bacterial adaptation to the environment to ensure its survival.
    • CE32 - Acquire an overview of the interactions of bacteria with heavy metals.
    • CE33 - Be able to understand the steps in the construction of a transgenic organism, whether plant or food.
    • CE34 - Learn the basics of supramolecular chemistry.
    • CE35 - Acquire advanced knowledge about chemical synthesis and analysis and the use of instrumental techniques for the elucidation, identification and determination of chemical compounds.
    • CE36 - Acquire knowledge about the mathematical model of a biotechnological process, and formulate the equations of a dynamic model based on the relevant mass and energy balances.
    • CE37 - Learn the uses of microorganisms as tools for the decontamination of soil and water.
    • CE38 - Model microalgae-culture systems.
    • CE39 - Understand the scope and impact of bio-immobilization, and know the processes based on immobilized enzymes and cells.
    • CE40 - Learn the thermodynamic concepts and relations of the macromolecule-ligand interaction obtained by calorimetric techniques.
    • CE41 - Know the main biosynthetic pathways of natural products as well as their isolation, identification and purification.
    • CE42 - Understand the necessary methodology for obtaining transgenic organisms and animal cloning techniques and learn the potential uses of these technologies and the ethical and social implications derived from their application.
    • CE43 - Understand and learn the techniques for the study of channels and primary and secondary transporters, and obtain an overview of intracellular calcium homeostasis and the imaging techniques for its real-time in vivo monitoring.

    Advantages

    The Master's degree in Biotechnology at the University of Granada is organized, coordinated, and taught mainly by members of the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Granada. These members have a high level of scientific and technical production and a notable trajectory of transferring their research activities to society, which is a clear advantage compared to other programs.

    It is one of the master’s degrees that has more ECTS credits dedicated to the Master's Thesis, which is of an experimental nature. This represents a clear advantage compared to other Master's degrees, as it fosters the development of research-oriented competencies.

    The "Faculty" section shows the Orcid/Scopus/Research ID code and/or link to the research group's webpage where the scientific production of the Master's professors can be consulted.

    Facilities

    The Master's Degree in Biotechnology is highly multidisciplinary and is taught by professionals from different areas of knowledge. The Master's Degree is taught in the facilities of the University of Granada's participating Departments, located in the three University Campuses that the University of Granada has in the province:

    • Fuentenueva Campus
    • Cartuja Campus
    • Health Campus

    The lectures of the Master's Degree in Biotechnology belong to the following departments:

    • Department of Microbiology
    • Department of Parasitology
    • Department of Organic Chemistry
    • Department of Physical Chemistry
    • Institute of Water Research
    • Department of Plant Physiology
    • Department of Cell Biology
    • Department of Chemical Engineering
    • Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatment
    • Biomedical Research Center
    • Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I
    • Department of Physiology
    • Department of Genetics
    • Department of Mineralogy and Petrology
    • Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry
    • Zaidín Experimental Station
    • Fibao
    • Medina Foundation
    • Biotechnology Institute
    • GenYo

    Each subject is taught in the facilities where the responsible professor works, ensuring the students have adequate infrastructure, which is available in this list of facilities (pdf).

    Research

    The lectures involved in the Master's Degree in Biotechnology are grouped into 21 research groups. Most of them belong to the University of Granada, although we collaborate with research groups from other Universities and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

    You can obtain information about the research lines of the groups of the University of Granada (pdf) and other institutions that participate in the Master in Biotechnology as well as the research lines offered to the students of the Master.

    FAQS

    • The Master's Degree in Biotechnology at the University of Granada is primarily aimed at training researchers. Our main objective is to provide Master's students with advanced, specialized, and multidisciplinary training in research tasks within the field of Biotechnology.

    • To be in possession of an official Spanish university degree or another issued by a higher education institution in the European Higher Education Area that qualifies for access to Master's level studies in the country issuing the degree.

      Likewise, graduates from educational systems outside the European Higher Education Area may also be admitted without the need to have their degrees recognised, after verification by the University that they accredit a level of education equivalent to the corresponding official Spanish university degrees and that they are recognised in the country issuing the degree for access to Master's degree courses. Access by this route does not imply, in any case, the homologation of the previous degree held by the interested party, nor its recognition for purposes other than that of studying for the Master's degree.

      It is not necessary to take a prior entrance exam.

      You can see the access requirements for the Master's degree program in Biotechnology.

    • The Master's Degree in Biotechnology offers 40 places.

    • Spanish will be the vehicular language throughout the training process. However, English-language bibliographies may be used.

    • It is recommended to provide evidence of at least a B1 level of proficiency in a foreign language (English) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, in accordance with Recommendation No. R (98)6 of the Committee of Ministers of Member States of 17 October 2000. Higher levels than B1 are valued during the admission process.

    • The foreign language level can be accredited by certifications granted by various organizations.

    • All access requirements must be met once the pre-registration period is open. Every academic year, the Andalusian District Commission publishes an Agreement establishing the procedure for admission to Master's degree programs offered by Andalusian universities.

      There are three phases of pre-registration. Phase I is exclusively for foreign students. Phases II and III are open to all students. Relevant calendars can be consulted on the Andalusian District Commission's website.

      It is advisable to upload to the application all the documentation that you consider of interest for its later evaluation (degrees, courses, publications, internships, conference presentations, work experience, language certificates, etc.).

    • No. In order to be admitted to the Master's Degree in Biotechnology, it is necessary to hold an official university degree. If you complete your degree after the deadline for enrolment, you may apply for admission after the deadline, if there are vacancies, by submitting a request to the Master's Coordination.

    • No. In order to be admitted to the Master's program, it is necessary to apply for pre-registration through the online application that the Andalusian Regional Government has set up for this purpose on the website of the Andalusian University District.

    • In such situations, it is recommended to enroll in a reasonable number of subjects according to your personal, work, or family situation. Part-time student status will be considered a student who is enrolled in a number of credits greater than or equal to 24 and not exceeding 42 credits. In these situations, the student may enroll in the teaching module during one academic year and complete (enroll in) the research module (TFM) during another academic year.

    • Only those applications that are eligible for admission to the Master's Degree in Biotechnology or the waiting list will be reviewed based on their score and the number of available places. The results of the different admissions will be published on the website of the Andalusian University District where the pre-registration was made.

    • The prices per credit are established by Decree of the Junta de Andalucía. Public prices can be consulted on our website.

      Students can choose to pay the public fees in one or two installments.

      Students may have access to various scholarship applications from the Ministry of Education.

      • General information:
        • On the Master's website.
        • Through the Master's email.
      • Administrative information:
        • For all matters related to academic management and administration, students can contact the Master's email.
        • In addition, you can contact the International Postgraduate School of the University of Granada through the institution's email.
      • Personal inquiries:
        • Avenida de Madrid, 13, 18071 – Granada
        • Phone numbers: (+34) 958249681 - (+34) 958248900 – (+34) 958249688
        • Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Structure

      Each module is evaluated and must be passed independently. In addition, there is complementary training: a series of specialized conferences organized by the Institute of Biotechnology and the Master's program itself. All subjects in the teaching module are optional and the student designs their own curriculum itinerary.

      Master's program itself. All subjects in the teaching module are optional and the student designs their own curriculum itinerary.

       

    • The Master's Thesis (TFM) is a mandatory practical module of 30 ECTS credits that the student carries out under the supervision of one of the tutors offered (PDF) in the Biotechnology Master's program. The choice of the TFM will be made according to the published guidelines.

      1. Having passed all the subjects of the Master's Degree (minimum of 30 ECTS credits).
      2. Completion of a scientific report on the research work.
      3. Having a report from the student's TFM tutor.
      4. Attending the evaluation committee on the scheduled date and time, presenting and defending their work.

       

      For more information about the presentation process of the Master's Thesis, students can consult the relevant documentation (PDF).

      Students are entitled to two annual examinations in each academic year. July (between 1-15), September (15-28).

    • Research laboratories of the Departments of the University of Granada, Research Centers of the UGR, Research Institutes, Other associated centers (CSIC), GENYO, CIB, University Hospital, companies, etc.

    • With the first course of your enrolment. Each student has a different Schedule depending on the chosen courses.

    • Passing all the courses independently according to the criteria of each professor. It is important to consult the teaching guides of each subject. Students may request credit validation for some subjects from the Academic Committee.

    • evaluation and supervision system

      This image shows the Master's organizational structure. The Master's Academic Committee is the responsible body for this task. However, this body is supported by the Internal Quality Assurance Committee and the International Postgraduate School through the Postgraduate Advisory Council.