Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the degree final project compulsory? Yes. It is a compulsory subject worth 12 ECTS credits in the curriculum of all Bachelor’s Degrees offered by the Faculty of Communication Studies.

2. What are the requirements to register for the degree final project? Students must have passed all first-year subjects and two-thirds of the total credits in the curriculum, i.e., 160 ECTS. Please note that each academic year may include 6-credit subjects and year-long 12-credit subjects, for a total of 60 credits per year. Two full years passed = 120 credits; three full years passed = 180 credits.

3. If, before my current degree, I took other official studies and had already passed a degree final project, can I request recognition of the degree final project in the Bachelor’s Degrees of the Faculty of Communication Studies? No. The UAB Academic Regulations, applicable to official university studies regulated under Royal Decree (RD) 822/2021, of 28 September, Article 226.4, state: “Final projects are not recognised under any circumstances.”

4. Can the degree final project be assessed by means of a compensation assessment? No. Curricular assessment consists of compensating grades between subjects in a Bachelor’s Degree and is regulated by the UAB Academic Regulations.

However, the degree final project and the work placement (Pràcticum) are excluded from the compensation assessment mechanism, as specified in Article 273.2 of the UAB Academic Regulations applicable to official university studies regulated under RD 822/2021, of 28 September.

5. How does degree final project registration work?

Through self-registration (automatrícula), in order of grade in the academic record.

6. Who proposes the topic, the student or the lecturer? The student may propose a topic, but it is the lecturer who must assess its feasibility and relevance. If the student has no clear topic in mind, they may also ask the lecturer to suggest ideas.

7. How is the final topic decided?

Once the supervisor has been assigned, the student must arrange an initial meeting promptly in order to jointly define the research/project topic and its feasibility. At this meeting, the student must submit to the supervisor the proposal form for a research-based degree final project or practice-based degree final project, as appropriate, with all sections completed. Once agreement is reached on the terms of the project, both supervisor and student must sign the final version of the form and submit it by 30 November 2025 to the Academic Management Office, either in paper form in person or signed electronically and sent to tfg.fcc@uab.cat together with the authorisation document for depositing the degree final project in the UAB and CBUC digital repositories, signed by the student.

8. Can I change the title and/or topic of the degree final project?

The degree final project title can be changed during the supervision process, provided the supervisor approves. There is no need to inform the Academic Management Office, as at the time of submitting the degree final project the summary sheet must also be submitted, in which the title must be final. 

As for the research topic, this may not be changed once the second semester has started, since there would not be enough time to redirect the project.

9. How is a change to the project title reported?

There is no need to inform the Academic Management Office. The definitive title must be agreed with the supervisor and will appear on the degree final project summary sheet that must be attached at the time of submission.

10. Can projects be done in groups?

Yes. However, the UAB Academic Regulations state in Article 270.4.b of RD 822/2021, of 28 September, that “the assessment of the project is always individual, even if it has been produced collectively.” Therefore, although group projects are allowed, the defence and grade will always be individual. The presentation may be made in a group, but questions may be directed to specific individuals, meaning the final grade may not be the same for everyone.Group work will be accepted for all five Bachelor’s Degrees: in research degree final projects, a maximum of 2 members; in practice-type degree final projects, a maximum of 8 members. In both cases, acceptance is conditional on adequate justification, sufficient scope, and ensuring 300 hours of independent work per student. These degree final projects may be supervised by 2 or 3 lecturers.

11. Can journalistic pieces, audiovisual works, or multimedia projects be submitted?

Yes — these are so-called practice-type degree final projects. However, they are projects. That means the Faculty does not require the final audiovisual, advertising, or journalistic piece itself, although no objections will raised if it is produced and submitted. A practice-based degree final project must include everything necessary to launch the project: journalistic planning, background, style guide, advertising or PR briefing, budget, shooting schedule, storyboard, script, production plan, market and audience analysis, analysis of the competition, technology planning, etc. If the project itself, a fragment, or a pilot has been produced, it must evidently be attached to the project and will be assessed; however, it is important to be aware that assessment focuses equally on the ability to plan, design and substantiate a professional project in full detail to university level, demonstrating acquisition of degree competences, including in particular rigorous application of scientific thinking and the knowledge and skills needed to carry out scientifically-grounded practical or theoretical work.

12. Can Faculty equipment or spaces be used for the degree final project?

No. Each academic year there may be over 400 degree final project registration. The high number of students makes it impossible to supply Faculty equipment for degree final projects for logistical reasons, and as explained above, practice-based degree final projects do not require physical production of the audiovisual, journalistic, or advertising product. As for spaces, those that are freely accessible may be used.

13. Can a degree final project be theoretical? 

Yes. This is a so-called research-based project, consisting of the study of a specific topic related to any of the five Bachelor’s Degrees offered by the Faculty. Within this modality, degree final projects may be carried out with institutions and companies that have agreements with the Faculty on topics they wish to research and that have sufficient scientific scope. In such degree final projects there will be one supervisor from the company in addition to the Faculty supervisor, and the student must carry out part of the research at the institution. All other conditions and deadlines are identical to those for other degree final projects.

14. How long is a theoretical research-based project? And a practice-based project? 

A research-based degree final project should be of a recommended length of between 12,000–15,000 and a maximum of 30,000 words. The word count includes footnotes (if any) and the final list of references. 

The length of a practice-based degree final project will depend on the written format of each project, according to its characteristics. Therefore, there is no set limit on the length of the text, as each practice-based project has its own specific features that will determine its length.

Degree final projects may be written in Catalan, Spanish or English, and in any other language if authorised by the TFG Assessment Committee.

The formal requirements for the degree final project are as follows:

• 1.5 line spacing
• A4 portrait format, with numbered pages
• Times, Garamond, Arial or Helvetica, 12 pt
• Margins: top 3.5 cm, bottom 3 cm, left and right 2.5 cm
• Harvard or APA citation system
• Bibliographical references must follow APA (7th edition) or another professional system agreed with the supervisor that is compatible with social science conventions.

15. Is there a model for the structure of a research-based final project?

The formal structure of a research-based degree final project should follow the presentation guidelines below, although the supervisor may modify certain parts depending on the specific needs of each project:

16. Is there a model of how the project TFG should be structured?

In the case of practice-based degree final projects, the format will be that corresponding to each project depending on its characteristics. However, the formal presentation of the final report must follow at least the minimum presentation guidelines as set out below:

17. What is the deadline for submission of the degree final project in the 2024–2025 academic year?

For students who deliver the TFG in June:

• 16 May 2025 is the deadline for sending the cover page and the declaration of original work to the project supervisor by email.
• 26–30 May 2025 at 11.59 pm is the deadline for submitting the degree final project to the Virtual Campus.

Students submitting their degree final project in July (only those who have participated in an exchange programme):

• 27 June 2025 is the deadline for sending the cover page and the declaration of original work to the project supervisor by email.
• 25 July 2025 at 11.59 pm is the deadline for submitting the degree final project to the Virtual Campus.

Submission of the degree final project via the Virtual Campus is compulsory. The submission must be made within the established period. If it is submitted later than the indicated date and time, the degree final project will be classed as “No Show”.

TFG calendar link

 18. In what format must the degree final project be submitted? 

The degree final project must be submitted as a single file using the following system: In PDF, MP3, or MP4 format. Maximum size 100 MB. If the file exceeds this limit, it must be divided into two or more parts.

• The file name must be written as follows: TFG_FirstSurname_SecondSurname_Name_Year

The names of supervisors and reviewers will be posted on the Faculty (website). The supervisor may decide whether additional paper copies of the degree final project are required. Exceptionally, the supervisor may accept an alternative submission method if technical means or the nature of the degree final project so require.

19. Is there a model or template for the degree final project cover page? Is it compulsory?

Yes. The Faculty has prepared a 3-page PDF template containing the cover page and the bibliographic record form for cataloguing the degree final project in the UAB Digital Document Repository (DDD). All Faculty works, whether research-based or practice-based, must use this template.

20. What work will be published in the UAB’s Digital Document Repository (DDD)?

All degree final projects with a grade of 8 or higher will be published in the DDD, provided the student has not requested an embargo.

21. Why must degree final projects be published in the Digital Document Repository?

Once the work has been assessed and if it meets the grade threshold set by the Dean’s Office, it must be published in the DDD to comply with the UAB’s Institutional Open Access Policy (approved by the Governing Council on 25 April 2012).

22. Can a temporary or permanent embargo be requested to prevent publication of the degree final project in the Digital Document Repository? 

Yes. For reasons such as data confidentiality, intending to publish the degree final project in a scientific journal, or any other reason, the student may request a temporary embargo (12 or 24 months) or permanent embargo of the degree final project, stating this in the document granting public communication rights to the UAB, which is submitted along with the degree final project proposal at the start of the academic year. This embargo may also be requested at a later date by email to bib.comunicacio@uab.cat whereupon the student must make the request directly. The deadline to request an embargo is 11 July 2024.

Should this be the case, if you wish to guarantee the confidentiality of interviewees in a degree final project, you are advised to look at this link to the Communication Library: https://blogs.uab.cat/dretsautor/2022/05/20/com-es-pot-garantir-la-confidencialitat-de-les-dades-personals-de-les-persones-entrevistades-en-lelaboracio-dun-treball-de-fi-destudis/

23. Are there any other sessions?

No. There is a single ordinary session in June. Exceptionally, students who go on an exchange during the same academic year in which they do their degree final project may submit the project either in June or in July.

24. Who assesses the degree final project?

The degree final project will be assessed by the person who supervised the work and another member of the teaching staff from the same department in which the project was registered, in accordance with the weighting set out in the course handbook: 60% of the grade from the supervisor and 40% from the reviewer. An average grade of at least 5 is required to pass the project. In the case of institutional projects, the reviewer will be the professional supervisor from the institution where the project is carried out.

25. How can I find out who my reviewer is?

At the end of February, the list will be published on the Faculty website in the section TFG → Assessment Criteria and List of Reviewers. 

26. Is there a resit for the degree final project?

No. In none of the sessions for the degree final project is there a resit, by agreement of the Faculty Board of 28 February 2014.

27. Is a defence of the project compulsory?

Yes. Article 271.1 of Royal Decree 822/2021, of 28 September, states that for the assessment of the degree final project, there must be a written report and a public presentation.

Article 271.2 of Royal Decree 822/2021, of 28 September, states that the Faculty, through its Assessment Committee, may establish specific criteria on the assessment of the degree final project, which, depending on available resources, may regulate the possibility of appointing examining boards and any other aspect related to the development and assessment of these projects.

28. Why is a defence before the supervisor compulsory?

Article 271.2 of Royal Decree 822/2021, of 28 September, states that the Faculty, through its Assessment Committee, may establish specific criteria on the assessment of the degree final project, which, depending on available resources, may regulate the possibility of appointing examining boards and any other aspect related to the development and assessment of these projects.

29. When and where must the project be defended before the supervisor?

The Faculty will set the place and time for the public defence.

As the defence of the work is one of the conditions established by the regulations for the assessment of the degree final project, failure to appear for the defence before the supervisor will result in a grade of No Show.

30. Can the oral defence be postponed or brought forward?

If there are serious reasons and the supervisor agrees, the presentation may be brought forward or postponed to any date between 2 June and 20 June 2025. A request must be made to the Academic Administration Office.

31. How does the oral defence work?

The defence of the degree final project is public.

It is an oral presentation, with graphic and audiovisual elements if required, lasting no more than about 15 minutes and, in the case of a professional project, may include the presentation of a fragment or part of the project or pilot.

32. When and how must the reviewer deliver the grades to the project supervisor?

The deadline for sending grades to the supervisor is 20 June 2025. Please note that the reviewer must sign the reviewer’s assessment report, available on the Faculty website, and must provide sufficient justification for their grade so that there is enough information in the event of ordinary and extraordinary grade reviews.

33. When will the grades for the degree final project be published?

Supervisors must make the final grades for the degree final project public before 25 June 2025. The supervisor will send the supervisor’s and reviewer’s reports to the student.

34. How is a degree final project assessed?

The assessment criteria for the degree final project can be found on the Faculty website. They differ depending on whether it is a research-based project or a practice-based project, and the projects for each degree assess specific competences. Importantly, not only is knowledge assessed, but also more general competences such as the student’s planning of the work, completion of assigned tasks, ability to reason and argue their own ideas, communication and written expression, etc.

35. Are tutorials compulsory?

Yes. For a student to be able to defend a degree final project, they must complete a minimum of four compulsory tutorials, starting from when the project proposal is agreed upon. The student and supervisor must sign the tutorial monitoring sheet. Both will keep a copy. If a lecturer finds that the student has not completed the four compulsory tutorials because the corresponding signatures are missing from the document, the student must be given a grade of No Show and will not be able to submit or defend the project. In addition, by 25 April 2025, three tutorials must already have been held; otherwise, the project cannot continue.

36. Is it possible to obtain an Honours Distinction for a degree final project?

Yes. All projects with a grade of 9 or above may be eligible for a Distinction, bearing in mind that the UAB sets a limit on the number of Distinctions based on the number of students registered. As the supervisor does not know this figure, it is the TFG Assessment Committee that awards them. The supervisor must therefore make a request to that committee by sending the supervisor’s and reviewer’s assessment forms and a detailed report justifying the grade to tfg.fcc@uab.cat before 27 June 2025. The Committee will meet during the week of 2–4 July 2025 to award any Distinctions.

37. When does the grading process for the degree final project officially close?

The grading process closes on 10 July 2025. Therefore, this is the deadline for entering the final grades.

44. How many tutorials and/or hours are planned?

The project will be developed around tutorial sessions with work guidelines set by the supervisor and assigned to each student at the start of the academic year. However, as explained in point 35, for the student to be able to defend the project, they must complete at least four compulsory tutorials. The minimum time a lecturer must devote to supervising a student’s project, including assessment, reviewing other projects and the oral defence, is 15 hours.

45. Who can be a supervisor or reviewer for a degree final project?

Any full-time or associate lecturer in the relevant area of knowledge.

46. What is the teaching load for each supervised project?

According to the teaching hours model approved by the Governing Council, and based on the 12 credits allocated to the degree final project in our Faculty, the teaching load amounts to 22.8 hours of supervision, which includes tutorials, assessment and the oral presentation.

47. What are the supervisor's functions?

• Attend specific training sessions on the degree final project organised by the Dean’s Office. Help students to define their project, setting realistic objectives at the start of the process. Help students to establish a suitable schedule and working pace. Supervise students in achieving the established objectives.
• Facilitate students’ access to the resources necessary for developing the competences linked to their degree final project.
• Assess students in achieving the competences associated with their degree final project.
• Within the established deadlines, enter in SIGMA the grades obtained by the student for their degree final project.
• Act as reviewer for other degree final projects in a one-to-one ratio (1 reviewer for each supervised project).

48. Support

On the Communication Library website you will find support for preparing your degree final project: https://blogs.uab.cat/dretsautor/