Master's Programme in Plant and Forest Biotechnology, 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: 60 ECTS biology, 30 of which should be plant biology and cell and molecular biology. Chemistry 15 ECTS. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.

Description of the education for current education cycle

Chapter 1 , Section 9 of the Higher Education Act: Advanced university education shall be based principally on the knowledge the students have acquired during their basic university education or on equivalent knowledge.

Advanced university education shall further develop a student's knowledge, skills and abilities acquired at the basic university education level and shall also,

• further develop the students' ability to independently integrate and use knowledge,
• develop the students' ability to handle complex phenomena, problems and situations, and
• develop students' abilities for professional activity which makes great demands on independence, or for research and development work. 

National goals for current degree

Knowledge and understanding
To be granted a Master's degree, the student must

• exhibit knowledge and understanding within the main field of study, including a broad knowledge of the area and significantly advanced knowledge within certain parts of the area of study as well as in-depth insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge of the main field of study for the education.

Proficiency and aptitude
To be granted a Master's degree, the student must

• demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, evaluate and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even when limited information is available,
• demonstrate the ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate questions, to plan and with adequate methods, carry out qualified tasks within given time frames and thereby contribute to the development of knowledge and to evaluate this work
• demonstrate the ability to account clearly for and discuss conclusions and the knowledge and arguments that form the basis of these in dialogue form with different groups in both a national and international context, verbally and in writing, and
• exhibit such skills that are required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in other qualified areas.

Ability to assess and approach
To be granted a Master's degree, the student must

• within the main field of study for the education, exhibit the ability to make assessments by taking into consideration relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects and exhibit an awareness of ethical aspects with regard to research and development work,
• show insight as to the opportunities and the limitations that science has, its role in society and man's responsibility as to how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and to assume responsibility for the development of personal knowledge.

Local goals for current degree

Knowledge and understanding
To be granted a Master's degree in the main field of study Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, the student, in addition to the national goals shall;

• demonstrate in-depth knowledge and skills within the area of molecular biology. For a Master's degree in molecular biology with specialization in plant and forest biotechnology the student must show in depth knowledge and skills within the field of specialization

Proficiency and aptitude
To be granted a Master's degree in the main field of study Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, the student, in addition to the national goals shall;

• demonstrate a good ability to plan, carry out and evaluate scientific investigations in the laboratory and interpret and evaluate the results obtained,
• demonstrate proficiency in experimental work and experimental methods,
• exhibit proficiency in working independently and in cooperation with others,
• exhibit proficiency in accounting for knowledge and achieved results, verbally and in writing in English

Ability to assess and approach
To be granted a Master's degree in the main field of study Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, the student, in addition to the national goals shall; 

• demonstrate the ability to identify the need of further knowledge and show proficiency in searching and analyzing information in relevant databases for the field of study as well as to seek information in international literature

For the specialisation in Plant and Forest Biotechnology, the student shall also;

• exhibit experience of an experimental work method and experimental methods in plant and forest biotechnology,
• exhibit insight regarding the use of plant and forest biotechnology, including transgenic plants.

Examination format

Examination normally takes place at the end of each course, is verbal and/or written. It can totally or partly be replaced by continuous knowledge assessment within the context of the education, for example in the form of discussion seminars, verbal and/or written reports etc.

Students that have been failed in an examination will be given the opportunity to participate in further examinations in accordance with the regulations specified in the course syllabus. Students that have failed twice in an examination have the right to take the examination once again via the department board requesting that another teacher is selected to determine the grade in a new examination.

Grades

Grades are awarded for each course and if applicable are assessed also for parts of a course. Grading takes place when all examinations and all compulsory elements, for example field trips, project reports and written assignments have been looked at. Unless otherwise specified in the course syllabus, the grades Pass or Pass with Credit are awarded. If you have already achieved a Pass grade, it is not permitted to resit an examination to acquire a higher grade. 

Transfer of Credits

The student has the right of assessment to find out whether a previous education or activity can be accepted in the form of an academic credit transfer. For further information, see the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Sections 6-8 and:

http://www.umu.se/english/education/student-support/getting-a-degree-from-umea-university/transfer-of-credits?languageId=1

A negative decision regarding academic credit transfer is possible to appeal against to the Higher Education Appeals Board. A negative decision must also be motivated in writing.

General

The Master's programme comprises 120 university credits and includes basic courses, elective courses and optional courses. The education is located in Umeå.

Throughout the entire programme, theoretical teaching is combined with laboratory exercises. The teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, lessons, group instruction and supervision in connection with laboratory experiments, group work or project work. The laboratory experiments are normally compulsory. It is expected that the studies will be conducted on a full-time basis. A working week comprises approximately 40 hours normally, including own studies and exercises. The course literature is in English and the teaching normally takes place in English.

Basic courses
For the basic courses, the student has guaranteed admission.

Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, 15 university credits
Growth and Development of Plants, 15 university credits
Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Breeding, 15 university credits
Genetics and Biotechnology in Forest Production Systems, 15 university credits
Master degree thesis work in plant biology/plant molecular biology, 30 or 60 university credits

Elective courses
On an elective course, the student has a guaranteed place from a selection of courses which are the equivalent of full-time studies, but there is no guarantee of first choice.

Functional Genomics Theory, 7,5 university credits
Applied Functional Genomics, 7,5 university credits
Project course in Plant Molecular Biology/Plant Biology, 15 university credits
Biomaterial and bioenergy, 15 university credits

Optional courses
In the Master's Programme in Plant and Forest Biotechnology, the student can choose 30 university credits of optional courses.
Optional courses are applied for in open competition.

Programme overview
 

Degree project
The degree project in the Master's Programme in Plant and Forest Biotechnology concludes the education, and may be started when the entry requirements for the course syllabus are met. The degree project comprises 30 or 60 university credits in which the student under supervision applies the knowledge acquired during the study period and at a seminar and via a written report/paper expresses the results of his/her work. The work should include some form of subject-related in-depth study within the area. The concluding degree project can be carried out at the university, but it can also be carried out at a company or at an authority.
The report must be written in English. The seminar is given in English.

Deferment of studies

Deferral of commencement of study may be granted if there are special reasons for doing so:
Examples of special reasons are illness, pregnancy, care of children or other responsibility for nursing etc. Your application should be sent in writing to StudentCentrum (the Student Centre).

A negative decision on deferral of commencement of study may be appealed to the Higher Education Appeals Board.

Approved leave from studies

A negative decision on being allowed to resume studies after a break in study may be appealed to the Higher Education Appeals Board. 

Discontinuation

Students who leave the study programme must notify the programme study guidance officer of the interruption of studies. 

Other

Admission to the programme takes place once a year, starting in the autumn term.