Frequently Asked Questions

Applications for the 6th edition (2026–2027) are open until the 30th of June 2026. We recommend applying early, especially if you're applying for a scholarship or need time for visa arrangements.

The course is great for people who want to learn part-time or full-time about the causes and solutions to our current ecological and economic crises. The course is ideal for those who want to learn more about degrowth, political ecology and enviornmental justice either after their bachelor’s degree, after they got a master’s degree on a different topic or even if they have started a PhD. We welcome professionals from all walks of life!

You'll find the full list and submission instructions on our application page. Generally you'll need: your university degree certificate, academic transcripts, a CV with two reference contacts, a motivation letter (max 2 pages), and proof of English proficiency if applicable. All documents should be uploaded through the UAB application platform.

The programme is taught entirely in English. You should be comfortable reading academic texts, participating in discussion, and writing essays. If your first language isn't English, we may ask for evidence of proficiency. Assignments can be submitted in English, Spanish or Catalan.

If English is not your first language, we may ask for evidence of proficiency. We accept the EF SET self-assessment test, IELTS, TOEFL, or any university certificate confirming your level. If you're a native speaker, a school or university certificate is sufficient. See the language requirements above for more detail.

Full-time students can pay in up to two instalments before the programme starts in October. Part-time students pay for each module separately.

Yes, every year we strive to offer up to two full scholarships (or 4 half scholarships) covering the tuition fee. The criteria to assign the scholarships are the following. Absolute priority is given to low-income candidates from the Global South.

In order to apply for a scholarship you must mention this in your motivation letter and send us a separate email with a letter explaining the need for a scholarship (you can do this via the contact form). 

This is a self-financed master's, so enrolment fees fund the programme and the scholarships.

Once you've submitted through the UAB platform, you'll receive a confirmation of receipt. The coordination team reviews applications on a rolling basis and will notify you via email with the outcome and further instructions if accepted.

For technical issues with the UAB platform itself, write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For questions about the programme or the application process, reach us through our contact form.

At the moment, enrolment in individual modules is not available. You enrol in the full programme, either full-time or part-time.

Yes. This is an indispensable document. Please read the formal requirements of the bachelor’s degree here.

Classes begin on the 14th of September 2026. The exact start date may change and is confirmed closer to the start of the academic year and communicated to accepted students.

Weekdays, 14:00–16:30 Barcelona time (CET/CEST), with occasional adjustments for lecturers in different time zones. All sessions are recorded and available afterwards. No campus attendance is required at any point.

Classes are held on weekday afternoons (14:00–16:30 Barcelona time), typically four to five sessions per week. Sessions combine lecture-style input, structured discussion, and group work. Outside class you'll have weekly readings and assignments.

~25 hours per ECTS including class, reading, and assignments. For a full-time load, that's roughly 35–40 hours/week of academic work. We strongly advise against working full-time while doing the full-time programme, and caution that even the part-time track is demanding alongside a job and/or care responsibilities.

Year one: three 6-ECTS modules (18 ECTS). Year two: two 12-ECTS modules plus one 3-ECTS module (27 ECTS). You can choose to start working on your thesis during either year.

Only in exceptional circumstances (medical reasons, which are at UAB's discretion). Please choose carefully at enrolment as switching mid-course is not guaranteed, is complicated and can involve additional costs.

Yes, a final master's thesis or project is required. These can range from academic research to creative outputs. The deadline is 4 months after the last taught class but can be extended to 8 months. Tutoring sessions run throughout the academic year to support you.

The type of evaluation will depend on each module and lecturer. It can range from essays, book reports, creative outputs, group presentations, etc.

The programme combines lecture-style input with structured discussion, collaborative group work, and peer learning. You'll engage with academic texts, participate in debates, and produce both written and creative outputs. The emphasis is on co-learning: you'll learn as much from your peers as from the faculty.

A stable internet connection, a computer with a camera and microphone, and basic familiarity with videoconferencing platforms and office suite. No proprietary software is required.

Yes. UAB's Fundació Autònoma Solidària works to ensure equal access and full participation for students with disabilities or specific educational needs. You can contact them directly, or speak to us and we'll help connect you.

It's a university-specific master's degree under the Spanish system. Fully recognised, but structured differently from an official master's and does not allow you to pursue a PhD in Spain. More details can be found here.

Admissions for the 2026-2027 academic year are now closed.

Yes. This is an indispensable document. Please read the formal requirements of the bachelor’s degree here.

No. The official Bachelor's degree is an indispensable document to get accepted into the master's by UAB.

You can apply to the program through the UAB platform (more information here). You will be required to attach the following documents in PDF format:

Currículum Vitae - CV with 2 contacts for references
University Degree Title (1) - Official Bachelor's certificate
Letter of motivation- Including your personal, professional and activist experience in PE, Degrowth & EJ (max 2 pages)
Certificate (2) - English proficiency certificate, this self-assessment is sufficient, as a native speaker any university certificate works
DNI / Passport/ NIE - Photo of the front and back of the first page of your passport/ national document
Academic Transcript - Official Bacherlor's transcript

Optionally, you can add Master's certificates, certificates of other qualifications etc.

English proficiency is required because all classes are taught in English and students must be able to participate in the lectures and activities in this language.

For non-native speakers there will be proof of English required. Please take this self assesment test and include the result in your application. 

For native speakers, please upload any school or university certificate to proof your English proficiency.

All backgrounds are welcome to apply.

Every year we strive to offer up to two full scholarships (or 4 half scholarships) covering the tuition fee. The criteria to assign the scholarships are the following:

Be an activist
Affected by a socio-environmental conflict
People from low-middle income countries will be prioritized

In order to apply for a scholarship, you must mention this in your motivation letter and send us a separate email via our contact form including:

A letter explaining the need for a scholarship and 2 references confirming you meet one or all the requirements referred to above.

The regular tuition fee is €3960.

There are no discounts or differences attending to nationality.

Only people that are certified as Alumni UAB Premium (people that have studied before at UAB and that have done the process to become Alumni Premium) have a discount on the total fee and can pay €3564.

Once you graduate, there is an additional fee of 191€ for your Master's Certificate and 27,27€ for your Academic Transcript. 

This is not an option at the moment.

Yes, at the moment of enrollment you have to chose between Professional Skills and Research Skills. It will also be possible to enroll for the second module as an extracurricular. 

Make sure your documents have been uploaded correctly to UAB and you have received notice of receipt from the university. If you haven't received it, it is possible that your documents were not uploaded in the correct format, or you may have missed a step.

Acceptance will be communicated from our email address, along with payment instructions. Once you have received your acceptance, and completed payment you should perform final enrolment via UAB.

Please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for all forms, platforms and processes that go through UAB websites. They will be able to refer you to the adequate UAB department. This includes issues with registration through the UAB platform.

You can contact us via our contact form. 

We plan to run the master 100% in-person in Barcelona. We do not provide help with accommodation. For the visa procedure, we provide a letter of admission/enrollment once you have been accepted into the program.

Here you can find the program of the current edition of the master.

An updated program for the 2026-2027 academic year will be made available in the summer of 2026.

The official starting date of the master’s is Oct 1st, 2026.

Taught classes end in June.

In order to finish the master’s in one year , you have to present your final master’s work. There are two calls. The first call is in September which means you do your final project over summer.

There is also the option to ask for an extension which runs till March of the following year, which most students choose. In that case, the master runs for 1,5 years until March of the following year. 

There is no problem with doing another master at the same time. Just be aware that you have to attend classes and have enough time to perform well in both courses. Also, note that there will be no concessions or exceptions made due to the fact that you are studying for two master’s degrees.

Also we do not encourage full-time working and studying at the same time, although everyone's needs will be different.

Normally, classes are scheduled in the morning, between 10:30 and 13:30h, and afternoon between 15:00 and 18:00h. Weekly there are up to five classes, two or three hours long. Additionally, there are optional seminars.

Our pedagogy is based on a combination of lecture-style, cooperative learning and hands-on experience. You will be asked to read and write academic texts and learn through field visits and engagement with grassroots initiatives focused on ecologically sound and socially fair transformative practices. Group work is meant to hone your teamwork skills and peer-to-peer competencies. therefore, students will be asked to develop most of their assignments collaboratively.

This page answers the question in detail.

Our Master does not lead to a PhD.

It is a life-long learning program, a “Master Propio”, meaning a Master granted by our University. Within Spain (and most of Europe), “Master Propios” are recognized by the private sector, but do not make you eligible for entering a PhD program in Spain.

This might not be the case in other countries though where a master’s is not requirement for entering a PhD program.

You can learn more about the difference here.

Yes, you can contact Fundació Autònoma Solidària. The fundation is there to support that every person, independent of their disability or specific educational needs can access higher education with equality of opportunity and enjoy a full academic and social life and autonomy at university.

You can read more about political ecology here. 

You can read more about degrowth here or here. 

You can read more about environmental justice here.