Social inequalities permeate many aspects of everyday life and give rise to some of the most pressing challenges facing our societies. Which groups were hardest hit by the jobs crisis during the Great Recession of 2008? Did the COVID-19 pandemic have the same impact on everyone’s health? Do all young people have equal opportunities to go to university? Is there a link between social background and early school leaving? How has the extension of paternity leave affected gender inequality in childcare? Does being born abroad make it harder to access certain jobs?

The Master’s Degree in the Analysis of Social Inequalities (MADS) has been created to train those who wish to research, understand and transform these realities from a critical, empirical and multidisciplinary perspective. This programme provides the theoretical and analytical tools necessary to address the main forms of inequality affecting our society, which are intertwined with highly topical issues such as the current housing crisis, concerns about immigration, high rates of child poverty, young people’s performance in PISA tests, and political participation in an increasingly polarised context.

The MADS programme aims to address, through rigorous analysis, the causes and consequences of these types of inequalities, which is essential for taking action against them and, ultimately, designing effective public policies. Students will study the main dimensions of inequality within the stratification systems of advanced societies — such as economic, political, demographic, territorial, educational and health gaps, amongst others — and the intersectionality that arises between gender, social class, country of origin and birth cohort.

One of the strengths of the MADS lies in the fact that it draws on national and international R&D&I projects developed by the programme’s teaching staff, ensuring that the latest and ongoing research is directly incorporated into the modules. Furthermore, the involvement of lecturers from the fields of Sociology, Economics and Demography gives the Master’s programme a multidisciplinary character.

For more information about the Master’s programme, to ask questions and to keep up to date with news, visit the MADS Blog.

The main objective of the Master’s Degree in the Analysis of Social Inequalities (MADS) is to provide students with the theoretical and analytical tools necessary to address the main forms of inequality affecting our society and which are intertwined with highly topical issues. To achieve this objective, the master’s programme combines four key areas of study:

• The theoretical and intersectional approach to the main dimensions of inequality, such as social class, gender, migrant background and generation.
• The review and discussion of recent empirical evidence, supported by ongoing national and international research.
• A strong methodological focus, with the aim of applying theoretical knowledge to real-world cases.
• A holistic perspective on inequality, studying areas such as the education system, the labour market, welfare and health, the family and political participation.

The various modules comprising the degree are designed to equip students with the following knowledge and skills:

• A critical understanding of the multiple dimensions of social inequality and their intersection.
• The formulation of relevant questions and the development of coherent research designs of both a quantitative and qualitative nature.
• The access, analysis and interpretation of statistical data.
• The rigorous presentation and exposition of findings.

Interest in studying the various forms that social inequality takes in contemporary societies, and in policies aimed at reducing it, remains as relevant as ever, not only in the academic sphere but also in other areas, such as research carried out by organisations in the third sector.

This master’s degree is particularly suitable for those who wish to:

• Conduct advanced research in the academic sphere (doctoral thesis).
• Specialise in professional fields, such as public administration, consultancy or social organisations.
• Explore the intersectional perspective on inequalities in greater depth.

The MADS falls within the field of Social Sciences and is primarily aimed at graduates in disciplines such as Sociology, Economics or Demography. However, admission may also be considered for students from other branches of the Social Sciences (such as Political Science or Psychology) or even from the Health Sciences, technical disciplines and the Humanities.

Students who lack the necessary sociological knowledge, provided they meet the mandatory entry requirements for the Master’s programme (see the following section, Admission Criteria), must complete 12 ECTS credits of supplementary modules in sociological subjects. To this end, students may enrol in two of the following three modules offered on the UNED Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology: ‘Social Stratification in Contemporary Societies’, ‘Social Structure of Spain’, and ‘Analysis of Social Inequalities’.

Applicants with non-Spanish or non-European qualifications that are equivalent under the EHEA must, in all other respects, meet the same academic standards of excellence as all other students.

Applications for admission will be assessed according to a scoring system that takes the following elements into account:

E1. Curriculum vitae.

E2. Academic grades from the degree programme on the basis of which the applicant is seeking entry to the postgraduate course.

E3. Spoken and written knowledge of English (at least equivalent to Level B2).

E4. Basic knowledge of statistical data analysis and research methodology.

The application must include a statement of purpose, of no more than 500 words, setting out the reasons for wishing to undertake this course. This letter must also demonstrate that you possess the English language skills required above (through qualifications, extended stays abroad, etc.) and knowledge of methodology/analysis (having studied subjects in this field during your undergraduate degree or on specialised courses).

Depending on the applications received, the possibility of conducting an online interview with candidates will be considered.

The Master’s programme is designed according to fairly strict criteria of specialisation in the central research topic: social inequalities. For this reason, quality has been prioritised over quantity in all areas, both in terms of the number of modules offered—which focus on the various dimensions of inequality—and in terms of the teaching staff, all of whom are specialists in their respective fields. This same rationale underpins the decision to limit the number of students (to around 30), thereby enabling a participatory learning process in which theory and practice are closely intertwined, as well as ensuring adequate supervision of their Master’s dissertations.

The MADS curriculum comprises 60 ECTS. It consists of 7 compulsory modules (35 ECTS), 3 optional modules (15 ECTS) and a Master’s Thesis (10 ECTS).

In addition, the MADS includes 3 face-to-face workshops focused on statistical data analysis, all of which form part of two compulsory modules. Each workshop will take place over a Friday and a Saturday at the UNED’s main campus in Madrid (two in the first semester, one in the second).

FIRST SEMESTER

• Demographic dynamics
• Mobility and social reproduction
• Inequalities and the labour market
• Gender inequalities and the life course
• Inequalities in socio-political participation
• Research designs for social inequalities + Workshops 1 and 2
• Master’s Thesis (TFM)

SECOND SEMESTER

• Advanced data analysis + Workshop 3
• Elective 1
• Elective 2
• Elective 3
• Master’s Thesis (TFM)

[Elective modules]

• Educational inequalities
• Regional inequalities
• Migration and ethnic inequalities
• Market, family and state in Europe
• Public policies for gender equality
• Income distribution and redistributive policies
• Inequalities in health and well-being

• RD 822/2021, de 28 de septiembre, Organización de las Enseñanzas Universitariasundefined
• Normas y criterios generales de reconocimiento y transferencia de créditos para los másteres.undefined
• Normas de permanencia en estudios conducentes a títulos oficiales de la Universidad Nacional de Educación A Distancia.
• Regulación de los trabajos de fin de master en las enseñanzas conducente al título oficial de master de la UNED.

De acuerdo con la legislación vigente, todas las Universidades han de someter sus títulos oficiales a un proceso de verificación, seguimiento y acreditación.

En el caso de la UNED, el Consejo de Universidades recibe la memoria del título y la remite a la ANECA para su evaluación y emisión del Informe de verificación. Si el informe es favorable, el Consejo de Universidades dicta la Resolución de verificación, y el Ministerio de Educación eleva al Gobierno la propuesta de carácter oficial del título, ordena su inclusión en el Registro de Universidades, Centros y Títulos (RUCT) y su posterior publicación en el Boletín Oficial del Estado.

Los títulos oficiales de Máster han de renovar su acreditación antes de los seis años desde la fecha de inicio de impartición del título o de renovación de la acreditación anterior, con el objetivo de comprobar si los resultados obtenidos son adecuados para garantizar la continuidad de su impartición. Si son adecuados, el Consejo de Universidades emite una Resolución de la acreditación del título.

Estas resoluciones e informes quedan recogidos en el Registro de Universidades, Centros y Títulos (RUCT).

VERIFICACIÓN / MODIFICACIÓN

Este Máster no cuenta con prácticas profesionales.

La UNED dispone de un Sistema de Garantía Interna de Calidad (SGIC-U) que alcanza a todos sus títulos oficiales de grado, máster y doctorado, así como a los servicios que ofrece, cuyo diseño fue certificado por la ANECA.

El SGIC-U contempla todos los procesos necesarios para asegurar la calidad de su profesorado, de los recursos y de los servicios destinados a los estudiantes: el acceso, la admisión y la acogida, las prácticas externas, los programas de movilidad, la orientación académica e inserción laboral, el seguimiento y evaluación de los resultados de la formación, la atención de las sugerencias y reclamaciones y la adecuación del personal de apoyo, entre otros.

Los responsables del SGIC son:

• La Comisión Coordinadora del Título
• La Comisión de Garantía de Calidad del Centro
• El Equipo Decanal o de Dirección
• La Comisión de Garantía de Calidad de la UNED

A través del Portal estadístico, la UNED aporta información a toda la comunidad universitaria tanto de los resultados de la formación como de los resultados de satisfacción de los distintos colectivos implicados.

Documentos del SGIC del título:

• Principales resultados de rendimiento
• Resultados de satisfacción de los diferentes colectivos
• Calidad en el Centro

Comisión coordinadora del título

No es aplicable en el presente máster.

The MADS comprises a teaching team of 21 lecturers specialising in the fields of sociology, economics and demography. Coordinated by the Department of Sociology II of the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology at the UNED, it involves lecturers from the Department of Sociology III, the Faculties of Economics and Law at the UNED, the IEGD-CSIC, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IEF), the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and the University of Vienna.

All teaching staff are involved in competitive research projects at national and international level, with results published in high-impact scientific journals. Their research projects address issues such as poverty, social mobility, gender gaps and gender roles, educational success, immigration, health and political participation.

For more information on the MADS teaching staff, visit the Master’s Blog.

Visit the MADS Blog.