Master's Programme in Molecular Techniques in Life Science, 120 credits

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall be based fundamentally on the knowledge acquired by students during first-cycle courses and study programmes, or its equivalent.

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall:

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge,
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

Outcomes of the Degree of Master according to the Higher Education Ordinance
Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Master students must

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both a broad command of the field and considerably deeper knowledge of certain parts of the field, together with insight into current research and development work; and
• demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge in their main field of study.

Skills and abilities
For a Degree of Master students must

• demonstrate an ability to integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available,
• demonstrate an ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits, thus contributing towards the development of knowledge, and to evaluate this work,
• demonstrate an ability in both national and international contexts to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing, and
• demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in other advanced contexts.

Judgment and approach
For a Degree of Master students must

• demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work,
• demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people's responsibility for how it is used, and
• demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

This is a cross-disciplinary programme that focuses on the latest techniques in the life sciences and how they can be applied in basic medical research, prevention, diagnostics and treatment.  The programme thus provides an in-depth specialist expertise in the theory and practice of translational medicine, molecular biology, biophysics, and bioinformatics; an in-depth understanding of scientific methods and solid practical training in written and oral presentation.

The three universities contribute state-of-the-art courses within the fields in which they conduct internationally distinguished research and education.

The core of the programme - the latest techniques in life sciences including high-throughput biology - is addressed in terms 1 to 3. The theory and practice are studied particularly in the courses Genetics, Bioinformatics, Comparative Genomics, Biophysical Chemistry, Identification of Biomarkers and Analysis of data from large-scale molecular biology experiments.

Knowledge and understanding of translational medicine is given particularly in the courses Frontiers in Translational Medicine and Drug Development.

Students have the possibility of acquiring individual in-depth knowledge of the main field of study and in-depth knowledge of methods and training in autonomy in the courses Project in molecular life science and in Degree project in molecular life sicence, advanced level.

Proficiency and ability to communicate both orally and in writing and to tackle a scientific issue with a correct methodological and ethical approach is trained in the courses Applied Communication and Frontiers in the Life Sciences 1, 2 and 3.

The specific eligibility requirements regarding mathematics was, for students admitted to the program in the fall of 2015 and 2016, 10 credits in mathematics. The rest of the specific eligibility requirements remain the same.

The courses are graded according to each institution's guidelines. The grading scale is detailed in the course syllabus.

The teaching language is English.

There are specific eligibility requirements for the courses within the programme. The eligibility requirements can be found in the syllabi. In cases where the requirements are connected to the admission to a later term, they are described on the programme website. There may also be specific eligibility requirements within a specific term if a course requires certain prior knowledge.

Applicable to students admitted from semester 2018 or later

Elective courses, two out of the three* following courses are to be chosen.

Applicable to students admitted autumn semester 2017

Applicable to students admitted from autumn semester 2016