Biomedicine - master

The Master's programme in Biomedicine will shed light on contemporary problems and methods in biomedicine. The students will be trained in experimental work as well as written and oral presentations of independents scientific papers.

During the first semester, you are required to attend a laboratory course (MBI-3010), which includes relevant techniques for biomedical research. You will be trained in cell culturing, detection and expression of DNA, RNA and proteins, imaging, electron microscopy, histological analysis and immunohistochemistry. You will also be trained in health and safety procedures in laboratories.

During the second semester you will start specializing in various areas of biomedicine. You also have the option to get an early start on your Master's thesis, and take the last 10 ECTS of specialization electives in the third semester.

In the second year, you will mainly focus on your individual research project, and on the writing of your Master's thesis. Your project will be based on research performed by the Department of Medical Biology (IMB), and you will participate in one of these projects. The Master's thesis is expected to be an independent body of scientific work performed and presented by each student.

The result of the work must be submitted as a written thesis and, as part of your examination, you will give a presentation of your thesis followed by an oral examination. The thesis, presentation and oral examination together counts as the final exam, and will be graded as a whole. 


Academic specialization

The Master's degree Program of Biomedicine is two years in length, and a total of 120 ECTS (see Table 1). Approximately two-thirds of the program, 70 ECTS focus on academic specialization. The remaining 50 ECTS are used to specialize in various areas of biomedicine. 


Elective courses

There is room for 20 ECTS of elective courses in the program. You will choose elective courses depending on the theme of your master's thesis.

Elective courses taught in the autumn semester:

• MBI-3006 Biotechnology (10 ECTS)
• MBI-3005 Normal flora/infection/inflammation (10 ECTS)
• BIO-3008 Animal Physiology (20 ECTS)

Elective courses taught in the spring semester:

• MBI-3002 Pharmacology (10 ECTS)
• MBI-3003 Toxicology (10 ECTS)
• MBI-3004 The biology of cancer (10 ECTS)
• MBI-3007 Eukaryotic genes and genomics (10 ECTS)
• MBI-3103 Rettsgenetikk og medisinsk genetikk (10 ECTS) NB! language of instruction is Norwegian.

When graduating you shall be able to:

- define a scientific question within a biomedical research area

- give an overview of the scientific context

- understand and perform basic biomedical laboratory techniques

- complete a specified research task and analyze achieved results, discuss and draw conclusions

- communicate the research task both in an oral presentation and in writing 

With a Master's degree in biomedicine you will be prepared for a range of exciting assignments related to research and the development of methods in business, management and research-oriented institutions where the demands for qualified professionals are increasing.

Career options may include: molecular diagnostics, medical research, fisheries, food processing, public administration, educational institutions at all levels, the pharmaceutical industry, private research and innovation enterprises, technical positions at hospitals, universities and other laboratories.

Admission to the Master's program in Biomedicine requires a Bachelor's degree, of a minimum of three years in length with a concentration in biomedicine. An additional requirement is a specialization in biomedical topics worth a minimum of 80 ECTS. Students will also have completed practical laboratory courses in biochemistry, cell- and/or molecular biology, and are expected to have previous experience with laboratory work. A Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, Medicine or Dentistry does not fulfill the admission requirements.

Admittance to the Master's degree in Biomedicine also requires a minimum grade average of C (64% and above). Second Class Lower Division grades are not sufficient for admission, nor are applications sent via agents. Letters of recommendation and intent are not taken into consideration.

Applicants with the "Bioingeniør" Bachelor degree must have an extra 20 study points within the following courses:

MBI-2009 Cellebiologi, MBI-2003 Molekylær cellebiologi og genomikk, BIO-2002 Fysiologi ll (dyrefysiologi), BIO-2601 Generell mikrobiologi, MBI-2005 Gerneral pharmacology and toxicology, KJE-2004 Bioinformatics - an introduction.

Application deadline:

The application deadline for students with a Bachelor's degree from outside the Nordic countries is December 1st .

The application deadline for students with a Bachelor's degree from Norway or another Nordic country is April 15th.

With a Master's degree in biomedicine you will be prepared for a range of exciting assignments related to research and the development of methods in business, management and research-oriented institutions where the demands for qualified professionals are increasing.

Career options may include: molecular diagnostics, medical research, fisheries, food processing, public administration, educational institutions at all levels, the pharmaceutical industry, private research and innovation enterprises, technical positions at hospitals, universities and other laboratories.