Master's Degree in Citizenship and Human Rights: Ethics and Politics
Barcelona, Spain
Master degree
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
Spanish, English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 19 / per credit *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* 19.37 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2025-2026
Key Summary
The master's degree in Citizenship and Human Rights: Ethics and Politics offers specific training in ethics, politics and philosophy of law to provide students with the skills to understand and to take decisions regarding human rights and democratic policies, problems related to coexistence in today's multicultural contexts, subjectivity and identity, and the dilemmas encountered in bioethics and biopolitics.
The degree is intended for graduates from a wide range of disciplines in humanities, law and social sciences, as well as those with a background in medicine and health sciences, and enables students to complete their education in one of the program's areas of specialization and conduct preliminary research with a view to continuing to the doctoral program. This multidisciplinary approach has proved highly successful in allowing students to meet their academic and research goals.
The languages of instruction for this program are Spanish 40%; Catalan 40%; English 20%.
Recommended applicant profile
Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate degree in one of the disciplines listed in the Specific Requirements section below. These degrees provide the basic content needed to pursue this master's degree. The course also caters for applicants who are interested in pursuing advanced studies or research and hold a degree in another specialization from a Spanish, Latin American, EU or Eastern European university.
Some of the specializations offered are particularly suitable for those with professional experience in social services, institutions and associations involved in political activity, or in jobs related to cultural diversity and bioethics consulting.
Students who choose the specialitzation in English must provide evidence of English-language competence at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The University of Barcelona consistently ranks among the top institutions nationally, in Europe, and worldwide. Its performance in the most prestigious international rankings reflects excellence in teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and global engagement.
- Ranked 1st nationally in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
- Ranked 1st nationally in the THE (Times Higher Education) World University Rankings
- Ranked 1st nationally and 68th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings
- Ranked 1st nationally and 27th in Europe in the Best Global Universities Rankings
Studying at the University of Barcelona means joining a world-class academic community recognized for its innovation and impact.
The general objective of this master's degree is to provide specialized training in ethics, politics and philosophy of law, giving students the skills to understand and to take decisions regarding human rights and democratic policies, problems related to coexistence in today's multicultural contexts, subjectivity and identity, and the dilemmas encountered in bioethics and biopolitics.
The program has a dual focus: the primary and basic focus is research, while the supplementary optional focus is professional. There are three reasons for the emphasis on research: the need to gain greater insight into the major problems of coexistence and social and political organization in the contemporary world from an academic viewpoint; the applicability of this research to the life of institutions and associations active in this area in Western countries today, and the benefits to be gained from training students to enter professional practice and, particularly, to work in academia.
In addition, the master's degree recognizes the desire of most students to carry out placements or pursue training to become educators. As such, students have the opportunity to enrol in optional subjects entailing placements in institutions or specific preparation as educators.
What can you work on ?
The master's degree prepares students for a range of professional areas:
- Research.
- Philosophy teaching in secondary and university education.
- Advanced training to other professionals in the education sector.
- Advanced training to law professionals (judges, prosecutors, lawyers).
- Political tasks within institutions or political parties.
- Professions linked to culture and social work: assessors and cultural activity programming, publishing, intercultural communication or mediation, social work, street education, activities in NGOs.
- Assessors and educators in bioethics and professional ethics in a variety of areas: health centres and educational institutions run by municipal and national authorities.
These career opportunities include new professions or specializations with a demand that will increase in the coming years, in Spain and around the world. In increasing numbers, many individuals are coming from Latin America to gain European higher education qualifications in disciplines related to the socio-political issues noted above as well as the issue of human rights.
Possible roles:
- Member of ethics committee.
- Political office and work within the public administration.
- Researcher.
- Educator.
- Cultural manager.
- Social manager.
- Assessor (in areas addressed by the master's degree).