Decisions and guidelines

The Master's programme in Molecular Medicine has been established by the Faculty of Medicine, following a decision by the Vice-Chancellor at Uppsala University.

The general objectives stated in the Higher Education Ordinance for advanced level education applies.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be medicine, pharmacy, physics, radiophysics, chemistry, biology, or a similar field of study.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Aims

Second-cycle studies should essentially build on the knowledge that students acquired in first-cycle studies or equivalent knowledge. Second-cycle studies should imply specialisation of knowledge, proficiencies and abilities in relation to education at first-cycle level and should in addition to what applies to education at first-cycle level further develop students' ability to independently integrate and use knowledge, develop students' ability to handle complex phenomena, issues and situations and develop students' preconditions for work that demand considerable independence or for research and development.

Based on the basic education in the subject area, the master's education should give additional understanding and advanced knowledge in the main subject medical nuclide technique. The student should acquire methodological proficiencies and in-depth knowledge in the subject and develop their abilities in independent critical thinking. The education should give deep knowledge and understanding of experimental and clinical use of radioactive nuclides. This includes knowledge of radiation biology, labelling chemistry, dosimetry, radiation detectors, quality assurance in production of drugs, imaging diagnostics and treatment with radionuclide-labelled substances and development of radioactive nuclides for experimental and clinical studies.

The education prepares for third-cycle courses and study programmes and work in research, teaching, public authorities and industry. The intended course learning outcomes for modules in the Master's (120 credits) programme are presented in the course syllabi.

Learning outcomes

In addition to what is required for passed first-cycle qualification, a student with passed second-cycle qualification should

• independently be able to carry out studies on a scientific basis of complicated contexts and be able to apply results of different fields to find solutions of complex problems also in situations when complete information is missing. Therefore, the student must have advanced knowledge to realise these limitations and be able to extend their knowledge field and have a large ability to independently carry out empirical studies
• critically and correctly be able to summarise the knowledge situation in medical nuclide techniques/molecular imaging, and adjacent fields, regarding methods, results and applications. The student must therefore have considerable expert knowledge, be well familiar with literature and databases, be able to balance result of different research traditions and be able to formulate their assessments
• have developed the ability to further educate themselves. The student should have extensive experience of group work and be able to lead group assignments
• have achieved a considerable intellectual maturity and education and have acquired a good overview over how their own knowledge and proficiencies, as well as research and application of results in the specialist area can contribute to solve different assignments in society.

Layout of the programme

The courses are based on prior knowledge from the undergraduate level and should give a specialisation and broadening of the subject area. Furthermore, the student is expected to work with a high grade of independence and take responsibility for their own learning. The first year consists mainly of compulsory courses. Semester one provides an understanding of radionuclides and effects of ionising radiation and advanced knowledge of advanced radionuclide-based technologies that are used in research and healthcare. Important components during the semester also include production of radiopharmaceutical substances and how one ensures quality and patient security in drug manufacturing. During semester two, this knowledge is used as a starting point for more applied issues concerning imaging diagnostics and treatment with radionuclide-labelled substances. Focus is on current research that intends to identify new targets for radionuclide-based detection and treatment of tumours. The semester is concluded with a project work that gives possibility to specialisation in a research-oriented environment. During both semester one and two theoretical teaching will be combined with practical components. There is possibility to complete the first year with a Degree of Master (60 credits).

Semester three will develop the student's advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of chemical, biological and medical aspects on use of radioactive nuclides. Teaching is conducted in a research-oriented environment, and focus is on radionuclides for PET within experimental and clinical studies. The programme is concluded with an individual assignment during semester four. The subject should be within medical nuclide techniques and can be carried out at academic institutes, the industry or within the public sector.

The programme includes 120 credits. The courses are based on prior knowledge from the undergraduate level and should give a specialisation and broadening of the subject area. Furthermore, the student is expected to work with a high grade of independence and take responsibility for their own learning. The first year consists mainly of compulsory courses. Semester one provides an understanding of radionuclides and effects of ionising radiation and advanced knowledge of advanced radionuclide-based technologies that are used in research and healthcare. Important components during the semester also include production of radiopharmaceutical substances and how one ensures quality and patient security in drug manufacturing. During semester two, this knowledge is used as a starting point for more applied issues concerning imaging diagnostics and treatment with radionuclide-labelled substances. Focus is on current research that intends to identify new targets for radionuclide-based detection and treatment of tumours. The semester is concluded with a project work that gives possibility to specialisation in a research-oriented environment. During both semester one and two theoretical teaching will be combined with practical components. There is possibility to complete the first year with a Degree of Master (60 credits).

Semester three will develop the student's advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of chemical, biological and medical aspects on use of radioactive nuclides. Teaching is conducted in a research-oriented environment, and focus is on radionuclides for PET within experimental and clinical studies. The programme is concluded with an individual assignment during semester four. The subject should be within medical nuclide techniques and can be carried out at academic institutes, the industry or within the public sector.

The programme includes 120 credits.

  

Semester 1

Radiation Protection and Medical Effects, 6.0 credits

Nuclide Production and Radiochemistry, 9.0 credits

Detection Techniques and dosimetry, 12.0 credits

Good Manufacturing Practice, 3.0 credits (6.0 credits)

Semester 2

Good Manufacturing Practice, cont 3.0 credits (6.0 credits)

Nuclide Diagnostics and Therapy, 12.0 credits

Project Work, 15.0 credits

Semester 3

Labelling Chemistry and Compound Development, 30 credits

Semester 4

Degree Project, 30 credits.

Instruction

Teaching includes lectures, laboratory sessions, group tuition, demonstrations and study visits. Parts of the teaching will be given via interactive web-based material. The medium of instruction is English.

Attendance is compulsory on the following components:

1. lectures that contain demonstrations or whose contents supplement compulsory reading list 
2. group tuition 
3. seminars 
4. laboratory sessions 
5. study visits.

Degree

The programme leads to a Degree of Master of Medical Science (120 credits) (Degree of Master of Medical Science, 120 credits) with medical nuclide techniques as the main field of study.

Other directives

A pass for all compulsory elements of the course and a passed written examination is required for a pass for the course as a whole.

A chance to complete a failed laboratory course can be given only at the next occasion at which the course is given and only in case of a vacancy.

Grades are received according to the two-graded scale Fail, Pass.