Master's Programme in Molecular Biology, 120 credits

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. The 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.

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.

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 must be 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. For a student to be qualified for a course, the entry requirements of the course, which are set out in the course syllabus, must be met, and entry requirements of a course can be more extensive than the entry requirements for the programme. A student who does not meet the entry requirements may be granted an exemption.

Compulsory courses
Compulsory courses are courses that all students enrolled in the programme normally take. 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.

5MO105 Advanced Molecular Biology, 15 credits
5MO00B Microbial Genetics, 7.5 credits
5MO00A Genome Engineering, 7.5 credits

5MO00Q Master’s Degree Thesis in Molecular Biology, 30 credits or
5MO00O Magister Degree Thesis in Molecular Biology, 15 credits and
5MO00P Master Degree Thesis in Molecular Biology, 15 credits

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 on 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
5MO122 Pharmacology N/T, 15 credits
5BI214 Plant cell and molecular biology, 15 credits
5KE170 Biochemistry: Protein Structure and Function, 15 credits
5MO102 Tumour Biology, 15 credits
5MO108 Techniques in Immunochemistry N/T, 7.5 credits
5BI211 Functional Genomics Theory, 7.5 credits
5BI212 Applied Functional Genomics, 7.5 credits

Elective courses: Second-cycle in Other
5KE171 Biochemistry: Protein Separation Methods and Analytical Techniques, 15 credits
5KE168 Theoretical Medicinal Chemistry, 7.5 credits

Elective courses: Bachelor level in Molecular Biology
5MO096 Immunology, 7.5 credits
5MO097 Bacterial Physiology and Pathogenesis, 7.5 credits
5MO098 Neurobiology, 7.5 credits
5MO114 Structural Biology, 7.5 credits
5MO115 Bioinformatics and Genome Analysis, 7.5 credits
5MO140 Introduction to Bioinformatics, 7.5 credits

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

Please contact the 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.

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

Autumn admission

Year 1

Autumn

Advanced Molecular Biology, 15 credits

Optional*, 15 credits

Spring

Microbial Genetics, 7.5 credits

Genome Engineering, 7.5 credits

Optional*, 15 credits

Year 2

Autumn

Optional*, 15 credits

Optional*, 15 credits

Spring

Master Degree Thesis in Molecular Biology, 30 credits

Spring admission

Year 1

Spring

Microbial Genetics, 7.5 credits

Genome Engineering, 7.5 credits

Optional*, 15 credits

Autumn

Advanced Molecular Biology, 15 credits

Optional*, 15 credits

Year 2

Spring

Optional*, 15 credits

Optional*, 15 credits

Autumn

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. Most courses in the program are studied full-time.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 be compulsory as well. 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’s Degree Thesis in Molecular Biology comprising 30 credits. Each independent project shall include topic-specific specialization, and you shall apply the knowledge in molecular biology acquired during the studies for the 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/