Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of October 21, 2026, from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, publishing the study plan for the Master's Degree in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology |
|---|---|
| Publication | November 2, 2026 |
| Entry into force | November 2, 2026 |
| Title code | 3501027 |
| Total credits | 60 ECTS |
| Knowledge branch | Health Sciences |
| Universities Council verification | May 5, 2026 |
| Council of Ministers authorization | October 13, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Graduates in health sciences, engineering or biology interested in neuroscience |
| Category | Education |
| Year | 2026 |
The Universidad Autónoma de Madrid launches the Master's Degree in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, an official degree of 60 ECTS credits that combines training in health sciences with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence applied to the brain or brain-computer interfaces. The rectoral Resolution of October 21, 2026 publishes the study plan following a process that includes verification by the Universities Council on May 5, 2026 and authorization by the Council of Ministers on October 13, 2026.
For graduates, research centers and companies in the biotechnology and technology sectors, this degree represents the existence of a formally trained pool of professionals in profiles that have been difficult to find with homologated qualifications until now.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution publishes the study plan for the Master's Degree in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (code 3501027), assigned to the Health Sciences branch. The academic structure is organized into three differentiated blocks:
| Block | Type | ECTS | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module I | Mandatory | 30 | Common subjects for all specialties |
| Module II | Elective — Neuroscience Specialty | 18 | Specific training in Neuroscience |
| Module III | Elective — Neurotechnology Specialty | 18 | Specific training in Neurotechnology |
| TFM | Mandatory | 12 | Master's Final Project |
To obtain the mention in a specific specialty, the student must complete the 18 ECTS of the corresponding module (Module II for Neuroscience or Module III for Neurotechnology).
The program integrates subjects with a clearly interdisciplinary profile, including:
- Brain-computer interfaces
- Neurorobotics
- Artificial intelligence for neuroscience
- Neuroethics
As an official verified degree, it enables access to doctoral programs and participation in public research competitions that require an official master's degree qualification.
Economic and operational impact
For organizations that hire or fund talent in biomedical research and technology, the creation of this degree has direct practical consequences:
- Guaranteed access to doctoral programs: graduates of this master's degree will be able to directly access doctoral programs, expanding the pool of qualified candidates for R&D+i projects with public funding.
- Validity in public research competitions: the official nature of the degree makes it computable in merit scores for research positions in public organizations (CSIC, university hospitals, research agencies).
- Immediate interdisciplinary profile: the combination of AI, neurorobotics and brain-computer interfaces in a single official degree reduces the need for complementary training for technology profiles in neuroscience.
- Opportunity for neurotechnology companies: startups and companies in the sector will be able to recruit profiles with homologated official qualifications, facilitating the justification of personnel expenses in subsidized projects.
From the perspective of training supply, this master's degree covers a niche that until now lacked specific official qualification at the UAM, competing with similar programs from other universities but with the advantage of the institutional backing of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and its research ecosystem in health sciences.
Who does it affect?
- Graduates in health sciences (medicine, pharmacy, biology, psychology) seeking specialization with official validity for research.
- Graduates in engineering (biomedical, computer science, telecommunications) interested in technological applications to the nervous system.
- Graduates in biology with orientation toward molecular or computational neuroscience.
- Research centers and university hospitals that hire research personnel and value official qualifications for competitions and projects.
- Neurotechnology, biotechnology and AI applied to health companies that need to justify qualified profiles in projects with public funding.
- HR departments of public research organizations (CSIC, CIBERNED, health institutes) that manage calls for positions with official master's degree requirements.
Practical example
A neurotechnology company developing brain-computer interfaces for neurological rehabilitation wants to hire a junior research profile for a project funded by the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI). The project requires that research personnel hold an official master's degree qualification in a related area.
Until now, a graduate in biomedical engineering with training in neuroscience had to hold a master's degree from another area or one in engineering without specific mention of neurotechnology. With the new Master's Degree in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (code 3501027) from the UAM, that same profile can hold 60 official ECTS with the Neurotechnology specialty (Module III, 18 ECTS), including specific subjects in brain-computer interfaces and AI for neuroscience, directly meeting the project requirement and facilitating the justification of personnel expenses to the funding organization.
What should companies do now?
- Update research position profiles: include the Master's Degree in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (UAM, code 3501027) as a valid qualification in R&D position descriptions that require an official master's degree in neuroscience or related areas.
- Review requirements for projects with public funding: if you have CDTI, AEI or European projects with research personnel, verify whether this degree covers the qualification requirements demanded in the justification of personnel expenses.
- Contact the UAM for collaboration agreements: the interdisciplinary profile of the program (AI, neurorobotics, brain-computer interfaces) makes it ideal for internships and master's final projects in companies in the sector.
- Inform selection departments: HR managers should know that this degree is official and computable in merit scores for public research positions from November 2, 2026.
- Explore the Neurotechnology specialty (Module III): if your company works in brain-computer interfaces, AI applied to neuroscience or neurorobotics, graduates with this mention are the profiles most aligned with the sector's technological needs.
Frequently asked questions
How many credits does the Master's in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology at the UAM have?
The master's degree has 60 ECTS in total, distributed as 30 mandatory ECTS (Module I), 18 elective ECTS corresponding to the chosen specialty (Module II for Neuroscience or Module III for Neurotechnology) and 12 ECTS for the Master's Final Project.
What is the difference between the Neuroscience specialty and the Neurotechnology specialty?
The Neuroscience specialty is completed through Module II (18 ECTS) and the Neurotechnology specialty through Module III (18 ECTS). Both share the mandatory Module I of 30 ECTS. To obtain the mention in a specific specialty, the student must complete the 18 ECTS of the corresponding module.
Does this UAM master's degree allow access to doctoral programs?
Yes. As an official degree verified by the Universities Council (verification of May 5, 2026) and authorized by the Council of Ministers (October 13, 2026), it directly enables access to doctoral programs and public research competitions.
What subjects does the Master's in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology at the UAM include?
The program integrates subjects such as brain-computer interfaces, neurorobotics, artificial intelligence for neuroscience and neuroethics, reflecting an interdisciplinary profile that combines health sciences with emerging technologies.
When did the study plan for the UAM Master's in Neuroscience come into force?
The study plan came into force on November 2, 2026, the date of publication of the UAM rectoral Resolution in the BOE. The official code of the degree is 3501027.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source
Disclaimer: This article is purely informational in nature 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-2026-23009
