Environmental Engineering (2024)

Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering

The Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering s an interdisciplinary program that delves into the fundamental concepts and criteria for understanding the relationships between human action and the environment. It provides advanced knowledge in technologies for identifying, preventing, managing, and remedying pollution in different environmental vectors, as well as fundamental tools for ensuring quality, environmental management, and sustainable development.

This master's program offers the possibility to specialize in three optional tracks:

  • Environmental Technologies
  • Hydrology and Water Resources
  • Sustainability and Energy

Díptic del Màster en Enginyeria Ambiental

Academic year starts in

Fall semester (Q1): September
Spring semester (Q2): February

Duration

1.5 years

Study load

90 ECTS (including 30 ECTS of the Master's Thesis)

Minimum academic progress

The minimum academic progress for first year students is 30 ECTS.

Delivery

On-campus

Enrolment

  • Full-time
    At least 30 ECTS enrolled on the first year, and up to 72 ECTS the rest of the years
  • Partial-times
    At least 30 ECTS (and up to 60 ETCS) enrolled on the first year, and up to 72 ECTS the rest of the years

Language

Spanish

Places

40

Official degree

Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (recorded in the Spanish Ministry of Education's degree register)

Fees

More information about fees and payment options
More information about grants and loans

Academic coordinator

Daniel Fernández García

Specific admission requirements

In order to gain admission to the Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering, you must be a:

  • Holder of a bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering in the areas of civil engineering, industrial engineering, chemistry, the environment, forestry, mining, physics, biology or agriculture.
  • Holder of a bachelor's degree in environmental, chemical, physical, biological or geological sciences.
  • Holder of a pre-EHEA Spanish degree in architecture or engineering in the areas of civil engineering, industrial engineering, chemistry, the environment, forestry, mining, physics, biology or agriculture.
  • Holder of a pre-EHEA Spanish diploma in environmental, chemical, physical, biological or geological sciences.
  • Holder of a pre-EHEA Spanish degree in environmental, chemical, physical, biological or geological sciences.

Candidates seeking admission who have qualifications other than those mentioned above will be reviewed by the master's degree committee with the aim of establishing the bridging courses they must take.

Students pending obtaining the degree that gives access to the master's degree

UPC undergraduate students who, despite not having obtained the bachelor’s degree, have pending the TFG and, at most, up to 9 ECTS (including credits pending recognition or transfer) or who have completed their studies, but are waiting to achieve, if possible, transversal competence in a third language. Under no circumstances will students who access this route be able to obtain a master's degree if they have not previously obtained a bachelor's degree.

Candidates from other universities who are enrolled in all the credits to complete the studies that give access to the master's degree can apply for access. Acceptance will be conditioned to the fulfillment of the general and specific access and admission requirements at the time of formalizing the registration.

You will find all the information about the general Access requirements to UPC master's programs here.

Admission criteria

The following factors or parameters are considered for admission to the Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering:

The relationship between prior formation and the academic and professional competencies established for this master's degree will also be taken into account in the final weighting score.

You can check the results of the evaluation and selection of the applications for the current academic year here.

Pre-enrolment and enrolment

Check here the general admission requirements for UPC masters and information on pre-enrolment: calendar, how to apply for admission, how to reserve a place if the resolution is favourable, etc.

Starting from the 2024-2025 academic year, the Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering (2014 plan) will be discontinued and will not accept new enrollments. Those enrolled in these study plans can choose to:

Discontinuation schedule

YEAR2024-20252025-20262026-2027
First11111-
Second222222
Implementation of the Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering (2024) in the indicated course.
Ordinary teaching of the Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering (2014) in extinction.
The course of the curriculum in extinction is taught in an extraordinary manner and counts as two exam calls. Extraordinary exams.
Course of the curriculum in extinction is not taught. Extraordinary exams.
Teaching of the curriculum in extinction is not taught and there are no extraordinary exams.

Adaptation table

20242014
AMPLIACIÓ DE FORMACIÓ CIENTÍFICA I TECNOLÒGICA
Modeling of biogeochemical processesOBLGeochemical processesOBL
Energy efficiency & decarbonizationOBLEnergy & environmentOBL
Ecological engineeringOBLEnvironmental systemsOBL
Climate change & global warmingOBLClimate & climate changeOBL
Life cycle analysis & sustainabilityOBLLife-cycle analysis & sustainability assessmentOBL
Pollutants in the natural environmentOBLCharacterization, management & treatment of soil & groundwater contaminationOBL
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES
Management of water & waste treatment plantsOPTCharacterization, management & treatment of wasteOPT
Environmental engineering laboratoryOPTLaboratory of environmental engineeringOPT
Recovery of bioproducts & bioenergyOPTBiogas and biofuelOPT
Nature-based solutionsOPTIntroduction to environmental biotechnologyOBL
HYDROLOGY & WATER RESOURCES
Environmental oceanographyOPTEnvironmental oceanographyOPT
Urban hydrology & flood riskOPTCharacterization, management & treatment of water pollutionOBL
Water resources & comprehensive managementOPTWater of provisionOPT
Pollutant transport modelingOPTModeling of environmental systemsOBL
ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
Geomechanics for energy & environmentOPTEnvironmental geologyOPT
Digitalization & artificial intelligenceOPTSocio-environmental statistics & decision-makingOPT
Ecomaterials, recycling, & reuseOPTEcomaterials & sustainable constructionOPT
Environmental project managementOPTManagement of environmental projectsOBL

Objectius formatius

El Màster Universitari en Enginyeria Ambiental és un màster interdisciplinari que aprofundeix en els conceptes i criteris fonamentals per comprendre les relacions entre l'acció humana i el medi ambient. Proporciona coneixements avançats en tecnologies d'identificació, prevenció, gestió i sanejament de la contaminació dels diferents vectors ambientals, així com de les eines fonamentals per garantir la qualitat, la gestió mediambiental i el desenvolupament sostenible.

Sortides professionals

El Màster Universitari en Enginyeria Ambiental de la UPC és un màster estratègic i de molt alt nivell l'objectiu del qual és formar enginyers ambientals preparats per a la presa de decisions i direcció d'equips, amb coneixements científics i tècnics per a la identificació, mesura, prevenció i correcció de problemes ambientals, i amb capacitat de definició, selecció i desenvolupament de les solucions i tecnologies apropiades, d'eines tecnològiques, de gestió i de programes d'actuació per als mateixos. En conseqüència, combina de manera equilibrada matèries científiques avançades i coneixements d'enginyeria aplicats que donen com a resultat professionals capaços de resoldre problemes complexos d'enginyeria ambiental en els seus diferents vessants, o afrontar amb èxit programes de doctorat en aquests àmbits. Les empreses que contracten estudiants d'aquest màster són enginyeries i consultories ambientals, empreses constructores, administracions públiques (locals, provincials, autonòmiques, estatals) i universitats (docència doctorat) i instituts d'investigació.

Resultats de la formació i l'aprenentage

Coneixements o continguts
  • Identificar, definir i proposar la solució tecnològica i de gestió apropiada per a un problema ambiental.
  • Analitzar sistemes, problemes ambientals i la seva solució mitjançant models, així com avaluar-los.
Habilitats o destreses
  • Aplicar conceptes científics a problemes ambientals i correlacionar-los amb conceptes tecnològics.
  • Dimensionar solucions convencionals i no convencionals per resoldre problemes ambientals i plantejar-ne el balanç de massa i energia.
  • Adquirir habilitats bàsiques de treball pròpies de l'enginyeria ambiental (capacitat d'organització, dots d'observació, capacitat d'interpretar la informació) al laboratori i al camp, i identificar els mètodes i la instrumentació per a la determinació de paràmetres de qualitat ambiental.
Competències
  • Plantejar de manera pràctica, amb una perspectiva econòmica i segons la legislació ambiental aplicable, els instruments de gestió ambiental i d'avaluació d'impactes ambientals.
  • Planificar intervencions en el medi ambient atenent paràmetres d'avaluació de projectes, desenvolupar i organitzar la documentació bàsica i analitzar-ne la viabilitat tècnica, econòmica i ambiental.
  • Dimensionar solucions convencionals i no convencionals avançades a problemes ambientals i plantejar-ne el balanç de massa i d'energia.
  • Realitzar, presentar i defensar, davant d'un tribunal universitari, un exercici original, realitzat individualment, consistent en un estudi o projecte integral en el camp de l'Enginyeria Ambiental, en què se sintetitzin les competències adquirides als ensenyaments, adoptant els avenços i novetats en aquest camp i aportant idees noves.

For more information on course groups, coordinators and codes check the printer version of the curriculum.

To obtain the degree, students must pass 6 elective courses (30 ECTS).

If you wish to obtain a track (optional), you must pass the 4 elective courses specific to the desired track.

COURSES

ECTS

First year
Fall semester
Mandatory
250MEA003 Modeling of biogeochemical processes5
250MEA005 Energy efficiency & decarbonization5
250MEA002 Ecological engineering5
250MEA004 Climate change & global warming5
250MEA000 Life cycle analysis & sustainability5
250MEA001 Pollutants in the natural environment5
Spring semester
Environmental Technologies Track optatives
250MEA006 Management of water & waste treatment plants5
250MEA007 Environmental engineering laboratory5
250MEA008 Recovery of bioproducts & bioenergy5
250MEA009 Nature-based solutions5
Hydrology and Water Resources track optatives
250MEA012 Environmental oceanography5
250MEA010 Urban hydrology & flood risk5
250MEA013 Water resources & comprehensive management5
250MEA011 Pollutant transport modeling5
Energy and Natural Resources track optatives
250MEA016 Geomechanics for energy & environment5
250MEA014 Digitalization & artificial intelligence5
250MEA015 Ecomaterials, recycling, & reuse5
250MEA017 Environmental project management5
Second year
Fall semester
Mandatory
Master's Thesis30

Choose the subjects you want to study and simulate how your schedule will be with the UPC Timetable Viewer:

Wednesdays from 12:00 to 14:00 there are no classes and these periods can be used for cultural activities (culture period).

The Master's Thesis is an original exercise to be done individually and presented and defended before a university panel consisting in a project in the sphere of the specific civil engineering technologies synthesising and integrating the competences acquired on the course.

Defenses

These are the master's theses currently scheduled for public presentation: