Frequently asked questions about the MUBC
o Is the MUBC adapted to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)?
o What is the duration of the MUCB?
o In what languages is the MUBC taught?
o How much does the MUBC costs?
o Is the MUBC a face-to-face master?
o What is the regulation for the permanence in the MUBC?
o What kind of equipment is required for the classes in the MUBC?
FAQs about the admission and access
o What is the pre-registration period of the MUBC?
o Can I enter to the MUBC in the second semester?
o What kind of degrees/bachelors are required for entering the MUBC?
o What criteria are used for selection and admission of students in the MUBC?
o What are the formative complements?
o Is there a limited number of new students?
FAQs about the MUBC structure
o Can courses be taken in the second semester?
o All the courses and seminars of the MUBC are optional?
o How can I attend to the seminars?
o Are internships offered in the MUBC?
o What is the Master´s Dissertation Project?
FAQs for the students coming from abroad Madrid
o How much does live in Madrid costs?
o Where can I find accommodation in Madrid?
o What documentation do I need for obtain the student´s visa in Spain?
Is the MUBC adapted to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)?
The MUBC was positively verified by ANECA (Spanish Agency for Quality and Verification of New University Degrees) and for the General Directorate of the Universities Council in 2017.
What is the duration of the MUCB?
The MUBC duration is of two semesters, that is one academic year. The first semester is occupied by courses and the second is dedicated to seminars (both scientific and for professional development), to the internships in companies/research institutes and to the Master´s Thesis.
In what languages is the MUBC taught?
The languages used in the MUBC are English and Spanish, but the MUBC can be entirely studied in English, as all courses are offered in English. The seminars are also in English.
Courses that are offered in English, will be taught in English as long as there is one student that does not speak/understand Spanish. If all the students have Spanish as the mother tongue, the course can be taught in Spanish. .
The total cost of the MUBC is regulated by the public prices. It could be consulted in this link.
What kind of equipment is required for the classes in the MUBC?
In the framework of the MUBC, plenty of signatures make use of a Virtual Machine, which includes all necessary software packages. To run the Virtual Machine in an efficient manner it is recommended to possess a computer with at least 8 GB RAM. A more detailled description of the requirements can be found here: 2021-04-06_README_VM_MBC.pdf
Is the MUBC oriented to have a professional development or is it exclusively aimed at obtaining a doctoral degree?
The main purpose of the MUBC is to given to their students the necessary formation for a successful career in different working environments. This includes both positions in private companies and scientific research in public centres or universities. Proof of this double vocation of the master, is that both professional and scientific development seminars are offered, and that the MUBC also offers internships in both companies and research laboratories.
Is the MUBC a presential master?
The MUBC is a presential master, but in the second semester, corresponding to Scientifc seminars, Practices and Master´s Thesis, it can be developed through videoconference.
What is the regulation of the permanence in the MUBC?
Students who have spent three academic years and want to continue with their master studies must submit a request to the Master in Computational Biology Academic Committee. This committee will analyse the request of the student and will raise the request to the ETSIAAB Commission for Academic Organization.
In any case, the rules of permanence in the Master will be subjected to the regulations established by the UPM regime for permanence in Master programmes.
What is the pre-registration period of the MUBC?
The MUBC´s pre-registration period and the process can be checked here.
Can I enter to the MUBC in the second semester?
New students are not allowed to enter the MUBC in the second semester (February).
What kind of degrees/bachelors are required for entering the MUBC?
Applicants to the MUBC should have a graduate or degree preferably in Biotechnology, Biology, Genetics, Biomedicine, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Pharmacy. Disciplines related to biosciences and sciences such as Mathematics and Statistics, applicants in possession of a technical degree, bachelor's degree, graduate or equivalent, in Computer Engineering, and graduates in engineering: Agricultural, Food, Biomedical, of Biological Systems and Chemistry, will also be considered for the MUBC.
What criteria are used for selection and admission of students in the MUBC?
The reference elements that the MUBC Academic Committee will consider in the selection process of the applicants will be:
- Academic record (40/100)
- Adequacy of the training profile (20/100)
- Personal interview (20/100)
- Curriculum vitae (10/100)
- Letters of recommendation (5/100)
- Letter of motivation (5/100)
The documentation that will be requested to the student will be the following: photocopy of the identification document (ID), academic certificate, motivation letter and curriculum vitae, and when appropriate letters of recommendation.
What are the formative complements?
The MUBC Academic Committee will evaluate the profile of new students and will establish the need for assisting to additional courses to complement their formation prior to joining the MUBC. These formative complements will serve to level the knowledge of all students who access the master. These formative complements will generally involve 6 additional ECTS in intensive 1-month courses (September) before the start of the master.
Is there a limited number of new students?
The MUBC will accept 30 new students every academic year.
Can courses be taken in the second semester?
Yes. Courses on the Professional Development block and the Scientific seminars are taken in the second semester. Every other course is offered in the first semester.
All the courses and seminars of the MUBC are optional?
All the MUBC courses are optional, although is mandatory to take the Genomics Data Analysis and Visulization course. Also, one of the two courses in the Professional Development block and the Scientific seminars are compulsory.
How can I attend to the seminars?
The seminars are offered as a 3 ECTS course.
Are internships offered in the MUBC?
Yes. Biotechnology, Plant Breeding and Computer Sciences companies, which offer internships to MUBC students are involved in the Master. The MUBC also offers internships in internationally recognized research laboratories of areas such as medicine, plant biology, biophysics and bioinformatics.
The Master´s Thesis will consist of a 15-minutes oral presentation by the student, followed by a questionning time by the members of the evaluation commission (three members) for a maximum of 15 minutes.
How much does live in Madrid costs?
As a guide, it is possible to find shared rooms in flats from about 400 euros per month. The cost of renting an apartment (one flat with a single room) starts at 700 euros per month. All these prices depend, of course, on the area, and to this price is necessary to add the costs (proportional, if any) of water, electricity, internet, community expenses, etc. Note for foreign students: Spanish government requires livelihoods to grant the student visa that allows residence in Spanish territory. This can be demonstrated by holding an amount of money in a bank account, or by demonstrating awarding a scholarship. We suggest consulting the nearest embassy or consulate.
Where can I find accommodation in Madrid?
UPM does not have residences for students. Madrid is an expensive city for accommodation, so the student must calculate an approximate price of € 400-550 per room per month in shared apartments (without other expenses), plus a similar amount for the deposit. This price varies depending on the area.
What documentation do I need for obtain the student´s visa in Spain?
It depends on the country of origin but, in general, the required documentation is:
- Admission letter of the Master.
- Health insurance. It can be done with any company (it does not have to be Spanish) but it must have a branch in Spain and meet the Schengen requirements.
- Document accrediting accommodation in Spain. If the student is going to live in the home of a family member, the family member must notify it in a Police Station and send the corresponding documentation to the candidate student.
- Certificate of the structure of the master.