International Master's Programme in Innovative Medicine
Academic year 2023/2024
- 120 credits
- Autumn 2023, Uppsala, Heidelberg, Groningen, 100%, Campus
- Programme syllabus and outline
Translational medicine strives toward bridging the gap from the research bench to the patient's bedside by the development of novel diagnostics and treatments. This is the core of the Erasmus+ International Master's Programme in Innovative Medicine (IMIM) - a two-year programme aiming to provide knowledge, skills and competencies for your future careers in interdisciplinary and internationally competitive academic research or the private sector.
Depending on a student's prior knowledge, the first year's studies are located in either Heidelberg, Groningen or Uppsala. In the second year, students must change university to either Groningen or Uppsala.
Why this programme?
IMIM is a two-year international joint Master's programme focusing on translational medical research, modern molecular techniques, innovation and entrepreneurship. The programme is a European collaboration between the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Heidelberg University in Germany, and Uppsala University in Sweden. Several international Life Sciences companies are associated with the programme and other universities in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.
The IMIM programme trains you for research in both academia and industry, for example through a multidisciplinary group project - "Bench to Bedside and Back" (BBB), focused on translational medicine and the innovation process with business and entrepreneurship. The programme courses cover various topics on disease processes, diagnostics, therapies and methods, allowing you to further develop your interest during several research projects, undertaken either at a university or at a company. The IMIM programme has received EIT Health´s quality label.
You apply for the IMIM programme directly through the programme office in Groningen.
Student profile
As an applicant for the programme, you want to gain skills and competencies in translational medicine to work in international and interdisciplinary settings as a scientist or professional in academia or industry. You have completed a Bachelor's degree in biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical sciences, genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology, medicine, dentistry, or similar with an excellent record. You have gained extra-curricular experiences in research and/or work in the private sector and can provide strong recommendation letters from your previous education, internships or employment.
You have excellent English skills and enjoy interacting with people from all over the world. You are curious and enjoy problem-solving in creative and innovative ways. You are highly motivated to pursue a career in academic research or work with innovation and entrepreneurship in the industry or your own startup company.
Degree
The programme leads to a Master of Medical Science (120 credits) with Medical Science as the main field of study and, in addition, an equivalent degree from one of the partner universities.
Programme
In the IMIM programme, you will study at two of the three European partner universities and have further opportunities to carry out research projects in industry, at affiliated universities in South America or other universities. Depending on your prior knowledge and admission, you will study your first year at either of the universities in Uppsala, Heidelberg or Groningen, and in part together with existing Master's programmes.
If you start your first year at Uppsala University, you will during semester 1, gain in-depth knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that cause genetic diseases and cancer as well as current methods and techniques used in diagnostics and treatment. You will perform a short research project, write a scientific article, and evaluate and present current research. You will also follow a seminar series in bioinformatics, research- and bioethics. In semester 2, you will undertake a longer individual research project of 30 credits in a research group.
If you start your second year at Uppsala University, you will during semester 3 gain additional research experiences during a research practice either at a university or in a company. In the last semester, the programme is concluded with an individual degree project (30 credits) in the form of a research or development project carried out in a research group or a company, nationally or internationally.
To stimulate innovative and translational thinking, the programme integrates in all four semesters, a multidisciplinary group project - "Bench to Bedside and Back" (BBB) - focused on translational medicine, the innovation process with business leadership and entrepreneurship. Within BBB you will analyse the concepts for the success of different research groups, design a research application, prepare a business plan which you develop into a product, and during the last semester compile a PhD proposal or initiate a "start-up" company.
You will further train your skills in leadership, and written and oral communication at the IMIM Spring School as well as build your professional network by meeting international companies at a fair. During the Summer School IPIM - Industry Perspectives on Innovative Medicine, you will acquire knowledge in entrepreneurship, intellectual property and research funding.
Courses within the programme
See outline for courses within the programme.
Learning experience
The teaching consists of lectures, seminars, assignments, laboratory exercises and project work, individually and in groups. Lecturers are researchers and experts in their fields from academia and companies.
Seminars, labs and project work train you to critically review your own and others' results, compile and present data orally and in writing, and also plan and conduct research projects.
The programme is given entirely in English.
Career
The IMIM programme prepares you for a career in the global job market within academic research, in the Life Science or Pharma industry, as well as for starting your own company.
The majority of our IMIM graduates have started their PhD studies at different international universities or in global Pharma companies after their degree work. Several are working in the Life Science industry for example research associates, project managers or specialists.
You can read more about our alumni on the IMIM programme's international website.
Career support
During your time as a student, UU Careers offers support and guidance. You have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and events that will prepare you for your future career. Learn more about UU Careers.
Admissions
Read more about the application procedure and apply for the programme at the IMIM programme's international website. Please note that the deadline for submitting applications to the programme is 25 January 2023.
All the students who study the programme (including students from Sweden and other EU or EFTA countries) are required to pay the participation fees to the IMIM Coordination Office.
International Master's Programme in Innovative Medicine
120 credits
Autumn 2023, 100%, Campus
Location: Uppsala, Heidelberg, Groningen
Application deadline: 25 January 2023
Language of instruction: English
Requirements: The International Master's Programme in Innovative Medicine (IMIM) is a collaboration between Uppsala University (Sweden), the University of Groningen (the Netherlands) and Heidelberg University (Germany), where admitted students study year 1 at any partner university and year 2 at either Groningen or Uppsala. This means that there are three different study plans where special eligibility for IMIM and the separate partner universities must be fulfilled.
Starting at Uppsala University:
A Bachelor's degree of at least 180 ECTS from education programmes in biochemistry, biology, biomedicine/medicine, biotechnology, cell- and molecular biology, genetics, or a similar field of study that includes relevant knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics and molecular biology/genetics. Previous experience of related laboratory work.
Starting at the University of Groningen:
A Bachelor's degree in the fields of biology, pharmacy, life science and technology or (bio)medical sciences.
Starting at Heidelberg University:
A Bachelor's degree at least equivalent to a European undergraduate degree of 180 ECTS with above-average grades. The degree needs to be in medicine or the life sciences (e.g. biology, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical sciences, genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology or closely related fields). Bioscientific and/or medical content must make up at least 60% of the curriculum studied. Proven record of academic and extra-curricular excellence as well as research experience. Strong motivation to pursue a career that incorporates translational, biomedical sciences and research.
Eligibility for IMIM and all three partner universities requires documented knowledge of English with results from an internationally accepted test.
The minimum test scores are:
IELTS (Academic) with an overall score of 6.5 and no less than 6.0 on each section, TOEFL iBT (internet-based test) with an overall score of 92 - no less than 21 on each section, TOEFL CBT (computer-based test) with an overall score of 237 and no less than 21 on each section, TOEFL PBT (paper-based test) with an overall score of 580 and no less than 55 on each section or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)/ Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE).
Selection: See the IMIM website for information about the selection procedure.
Contact and further resources
Is this programme right for you?
Contact
For enquiries and questions about IMIM, please contact:
For information about the programme modules at Uppsala University, please contact:
UMCG - Graduate School of Medical Sciences
HPC FA33, Hanzeplein 1
9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
www.uu.se/education