Master's Programme in Molecular Biology, 120 Credits

Entry Requirements

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification comprising of at least 180 ECTS or a corresponding qualification from an internationally recognised university. Specific entry requirements are: a) 60 ECTS in the Bioscience area (including genetics, microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology, zoo physiology and plant biology) and also including a minimum of 7.5 ECTS in each of Genetics and Microbiology. b) 30 ECTS in Chemistry, with a minimum of 7,5 ECTS in Biochemistry. c) practical experience of laboratory work, corresponding to a minimum of 30 ECTS. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.

Degree

After completing the programme, a student who has applied for a degree can obtain a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) in accordance with the local qualification descriptor established by the Vice-Chancellor (see Umeå University's website).
In Swedish, Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) is called Naturvetenskaplig masterexamen. Degree is awarded in the main field of study (Molecular Biology). 

Description of the education for current education cycle

The education is at an advanced level (second cycle). The aims for second-cycle courses and study programmes are set out in the Higher Education Act, Chapter 1 Section 9.

National goals for current degree

The national aims for qualification are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance's Annex 2.

Local goals for current degree

Knowledge and understanding

• demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding within the main field of study, Molecular Biology. 

Competence and skills

• demonstrate good ability to plan, carry out, and evaluate scientific research and to interpret and evaluate achieved results,
• demonstrate good proficiencies in experimental work and a number of common experimental methods in the field of Molecular Biology,
• demonstrate good ability to clearly account for and discuss your conclusions and the underlying knowledge and arguments in English, orally and in writing,

Judgement and approach

• demonstrate the ability to identify their own need for additional knowledge and seek relevant information in international professional literature. 

Examination format

Each syllabus sets out the examination formats used in each individual course.

Grades

Each syllabus sets out the grades used in the course.

Transfer of Credits

A student who believes to have gained knowledge from previous relevant studies or professional experience that may be equivalent to a course or part of a course in the programme can apply for transfer of credits. Granting a transfer of credits means that the student will not have to study the parts of the programme included in the decision. Information on transfer of credits is available on Umeå University's website.
https://www.umu.se/en/student/my-studies/transfer-of-credits/

General

The education leads to a Degree of Master in Molecular Biology comprising a total of 120 credits. To obtain the degree, 30 credits shall be comprised of independent work (degree project(s)). In total, at least 90 credits of the courses in the degree must be at a second-cycle level, of which 60 credits within the main field of study.
 
The Master's programme includes compulsory courses and can include elective courses and/or free electives. In a compulsory course, anyone admitted to the programme is guaranteed admission, provided that the entry requirements for the course in question are met. In an elective course, you are guaranteed admission to a selection of courses that include full-time studies, though not necessarily your first choice. Free electives are applied for in competition with other applicants, without any priority. In order for a student to be qualified for a course, the entry requirements, which are set out in the course syllabus, must be met, and entry requirements can be more extensive than the entry requirements for the programme. A student who does not meet the entry requirements may be granted exemption.

Compulsory courses
Compulsory courses are courses that all students enrolled in the programme normally study. A student enrolled in the study programme is guaranteed a seat in all compulsory courses, provided that the entry requirements for the course in question are met. Entry requirements are set out in each respective course syllabus.

Advanced Molecular Biology, 15 credits (5MO105)
Molecular Genetics, 15 credits (5MO120)
Master Degree Thesis in Molecular Biology, 30 credits (5MO119)

Elective courses
Elective courses are a selection of courses that Umeå University offers within the scope of the programme and where the student chooses which courses to enrol in. The student is guaranteed a seat in one of these courses, provided that the entry requirements for the courses in question are met. However, the student is not guaranteed a seat in their first choice courses. Entry requirements are set out in each respective course syllabus. For current information on elective courses, see the programme website.

Elective courses: second cycle in Molecular Biology
Biochemistry: Protein Structure and Function, 15 credits (5KE170)
Pharmacology N/T, 15 credits (5MO122)
Functional Genomics Theory, 7.5 credits (5BI211)
Applied Functional Genomics, 7.5 credits (5BI212)
Techniques in Immunochemistry N/T, 7.5 credits (5MO108)
Transgene Technology N/T, 7.5 credits (5MO107)
Tumour Biology, 15 credits (5MO102)
Plant cell and molecular biology, 15 credits (5BI214)

Elective courses: second cycle Other
Biochemistry: Protein Separation Methods and Analytical Techniques, 15 credits (5KE171)
Theoretical Medicinal Chemistry, 7.5 credits (5KE168)

Elective courses: bachelor level in Molecular Biology
Bioinformatics and Genome Analysis, 7.5 credits (5MO115)
Genetics II, 7.5 credits (5MO099)
Immunology, 7.5 credits (5MO096)
Bacterial Physiology and Pathogenesis, 7.5 credits (5MO097)
Neurobiology, 7.5 credits (5MO098)
Structural Biology, 7.5 credits (5MO114)


Free electives
Free electives within the programme are applied for in open competition. Free electives can be studied at Umeå University or at other higher education institutions in Sweden or abroad.

Please contact study counsellor at the Department of Molecular Biology for information on other courses that can fit particularly well thematically, both at a second-cycle and bachelor level.

Plant Growth and Development, 15 credits (5BI210)
Plant biotechnology and molecular breeding, 15 credits (5BI213)
Molecular ecology and evolution, 15 credits (5BI244)
Advanced Biomedicine, 30 credits (3MB037)
Applied Virology, 7.5 credits (3IS011)
Molecular Epidemiology, 7.5 credits (3MD005)

Programme overview
To find out what compulsory, elective courses and free electives mean, please see the heading 'General' above.

Autumn admission

Year 1

Autumn		Spring
Advanced Molecular Biology, 15 credits	Optional, 15 credits	Molecular Genetics, 15 credits	Optional, 15 credits

Year 2

Autumn		Spring
Optional, 15 credits	Optional, 15 credits	Master Degree Thesis in Molecular Biology, 30 credits

Spring admission

Year 1

Spring		Autumn
Molecular Genetics, 15 credits	Optional, 15 credits	Advanced Molecular Biology, 15 credits	Optional, 15 credits

Year 2

Spring		Autumn
Optional, 15 credits	Optional, 15 credits	Master Degree Thesis in Molecular Biology, 30 credits

Optional means that the student takes an elective course or a free elective.

Start of the programme can take place either during the autumn term or spring term. The courses in the programme are full-time studies. The teaching consists of lectures, teaching sessions, group instruction and supervision in connection with laboratory work, group assignments or project work. Laboratory work is compulsory and other components may become compulsory. The studies are presumed to be full-time studies. A working week normally includes approximately 25 hours of scheduled teaching, while 15 hours are devoted to individual studies. The course literature is in English, and the teaching is essentially in English. For current scheduling of courses, please see the programme website.


Degree Project/independent project
Degree of Master (120 credits), shall include independent work, a Master Degree Thesis in Molecular Biology comprising 30 credits. Each independent project shall include topic-specific specialisation, and you shall apply the knowledge acquired in Molecular Biology during the studies for a Degree of Master. The independent work may be conducted within or outside the country, at an academic institution, independent research institute, authority, or in the business world once the project plan has been approved by the course coordinator. For admission to the independent project, the entry requirements in the course syllabus shall be met. Results are presented in English in the form of a written report and orally, normally at a poster presentation. The degree project is completed individually.

Deferment of studies

Information on deferment of studies is available on Umeå University's website.

Approved leave from studies

Information on approved leave from studies is available on Umeå University's website.

Discontinuation

Information on discontinuation is available on Umeå University's website.

Other

For more information, see Umeå University's Code of rules and procedures for first-cycle and second-cycle education
https://www.umu.se/en/legal-framework/