New Master's Degree in Drug Addiction Prevention in Vigo and Santiago: 90 ECTS and Career Opportunities in 2026

Key data

Healthcare professionals, social workers, and educators working with people in situations of addiction now have, as of October 29, 2026, a path to specialization with official recognition. The Resolution of October 16, 2026 from the University of Vigo publishes the curriculum of the new Master's Degree in Prevention and Multidisciplinary Approach to Drug Addiction and Addictive Behaviors, taught jointly with the University of Santiago de Compostela.

The degree was approved by the Council of Ministers on September 15, 2026, verified by the Council of Universities, and has a favorable report from the Agency for Quality of the University System of Galicia (ACSUG). Its assignment to the Health Sciences branch places it on the map of official healthcare qualifications in the Spanish university system.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the official curriculum of the Master's degree, detailing its credit structure and the subjects that compose it. The program is structured around a multidisciplinary approach that combines knowledge from different disciplines to address addictions from multiple perspectives.

The distribution of the 90 ECTS is as follows:

The subjects that make up the program cover a broad disciplinary spectrum:

• Pharmacology applied to drug addiction
• Psychology of addictive behaviors
• Social work in addiction contexts
• Gender perspective in addressing addictions
• School and family prevention
• Legal aspects related to drug addiction

The degree is official in nature, assigned to the Health Sciences branch, and is taught jointly by the University of Vigo and the University of Santiago de Compostela, which expands teaching resources and external internship opportunities for students.

Economic and operational impact

For organizations in the healthcare, social, and educational sectors, the existence of this official Master's degree has direct implications for human resource management and the quality of services provided:

• Hiring and selection: Entities working in addiction prevention and intervention (NGOs, drug addiction treatment centers, municipal social services, educational institutions) will be able to require or value this degree as official accreditation in their selection processes.
• Continuous training of staff: Companies and organizations with workplace wellness programs or psychosocial risk prevention can finance this Master's degree for their professionals as an investment in recognized specialization.
• Public tenders and bids: The official qualification can be a valuation criterion in social and healthcare service bids called by public administrations.
• Accreditation for funding programs: Professionals with this degree can access project calls and grants that require specific accreditation in the field of addictions.

Who does it affect?

• University graduates from any discipline interested in specializing in addiction prevention and intervention
• Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists) who work or want to work in addictive behavior units
• Social workers and social educators who work with people in situations of dependency
• Teachers and counselors in the education system with school prevention functions
• Non-governmental organizations and third-sector entities that manage addiction prevention and treatment programs in Galicia and throughout Spain
• Municipal and regional social services that require specialized professionals
• Drug addiction treatment centers (CAD) and hospital detoxification units

Practical example

A social worker with a degree in Social Work who has been working for three years at a drug addiction treatment center in Galicia wants to consolidate her career and pursue coordination positions. Until now, her postgraduate training lacked specific official recognition in addictions.

With the new Master's degree, she can enroll at the University of Vigo or USC and obtain, after completing the 90 ECTS (49 mandatory + 20 elective + 13 external internships + 8 thesis), an official Master's degree title assigned to Health Sciences. This degree, approved by the Council of Ministers on September 15, 2026, will allow her to accredit her specialization in public and private selection processes and access project calls that require specific qualifications in the field of drug addiction.

Similarly, an NGO managing a school prevention program in Galicia can include this Master's degree as a requirement or valuable merit in hiring its prevention technicians, thus ensuring that its team has officially recognized training at the national level.

What should professionals do now?

1. Verify access requirements: Check whether your undergraduate degree provides direct access to the Master's or if additional training is required, by consulting directly with the University of Vigo or USC.
2. Check the enrollment calendar: The curriculum has been published since October 29, 2026. Contact the registrars of both universities to learn about pre-registration and enrollment deadlines for the next academic year.
3. Evaluate financing: Explore scholarships from the Ministry of Education, grants from the Xunta de Galicia, and financing possibilities through your employer (especially if you work in the public sector or in a third-sector entity).
4. Review internship agreements: The 13 ECTS of external internships require a position at a collaborating center. Find out in advance about available centers and assignment processes.
5. Update your resume and professional profiles: Once you obtain the degree, register it with the corresponding professional associations and update your profiles on healthcare and social sector employment platforms.

Official source

View complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-22700