Decisions and guidelines

The program is established by the faculty of medicine, following decision by the vice chancellor at Uppsala University July 1, 2008.

The program must fulfil the general goals for advanced university education stipulated in the Higher Education Act.

This advanced level program is available to students with a BSc in e g, biology, (bio)medicine, biotechnology, pharmacy, pharmaceutical biosciences, pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, medical sciences, agricultural sciences, animal sciences or veterinary medicine.

The programme is provided in English.

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 in biology, (bio)medicine, biotechnology, pharmacy, pharmaceutical bioscience, (pharmaceutical) chemistry, medical science, agriculture, animal science, veterinary medicine or education giving knowledge in cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, immunology and molecular biology. Knowledge and previous experience of laboratory work.

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

Based on a basic knowledge of biological mechanisms regulating infectious processes, the programme will provide a deeper understanding of the field of infection biology. Initial courses provide a strong anchorage to the research conducted at participating universities and authorities. After the education the student should, beyond theoretical knowledge on molecular-, cellular-, system-, organism- and ecosystem-level, have aquired methodological skills and profound knowledge in infection biology and an understanding of how infectious biological events link people's, animal's and ecosystems health. With these skills and abilities, the student should be able to work with research, development and investigation work, alternatively advanced occupational activities in the business sector, authority, own entrepreneurship or further education at the postgraduate level.

Learning outcomes

To obtain an approved Master's Degree at an advanced level the student must have deep and broad theoretical knowledge in the of field infection biology. In addition, the student must possess advanced knowledge and practical experience of experimental systems and techniques of relevance for the subject area. With this knowledge the student should be able to:

• follow the development of knowledge, acquire knowledge and critically evaluate scientific results and models to define and analyze problems and independently formulate strategies and practical approaches to scientific research and projects.

• evaluate both local and global infectious biological issues based on ethical, economic and sustainability perspectives.

• cooperate in national as well as international groups to act as responsible for research projects, investigations and development work, as well as summarize and present conclusions orally and in writing, both internally and through communication to third parties.

Layout of the programme

All courses are at an advanced level and the programme comprises of 120 higher education credits.

The first year of study will provide a deep understanding of the molecular processes controlling the interactions between viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi and their hosts. The processes that regulate the course of infection are described based on the immunological defense, but also on the infecting organism's strategies to escape this defense. Diagnosis and the clinical picture of symptoms are discussed from different organs perspective, mechanism of action for antimicrobial drugs is treated at system and molecular levels, and factors that control resistance development and resistance spread are treated from an evolutionary perspective. Bioinformatic tools are used to study and explain evolution processes. Basic epidemiology provides knowledge of methodology to describe the frequency and propagation of disease and health in populations and to evaluate causal relationship.

The first part of the second year provides knowledge of infectious diseases from a global perspective through applied questions about infectious spread between animals and humans (zoonotic infections and epizootic infections) and foodborne infections. Monitoring, control and prevention tools are discussed at local and global level. In the global perspective special focus is given to the developing countries' problems. In addition, microbial diversity is discussed through occurrence of pathogens in different ecosystems. Research methodology and knowledge-based choices of advanced infectious biological analysis methods are discussed and are applied to future independent work.

The programme is completed with an independent project work of 30 or 45 credits. The chosen subject shall be within the field of infectious biology and may be performed at academic units, companies or in the public sector, in Sweden or abroad.

First semester mandatory course:

Microbiology and Immunology, 30 credits

Second semester courses:

Parasitology, Mycology and Clinical Infection Biology, 15 credits

Antimicrobials, Resistance, Epidemiology and Evolution, 15 credits

Third semester courses:

Infection Biology in a Global Perspective, 15 credits

Advanced Scientific Research and Methodology, 15 credits

Fourth semester mandatory course:

Master's Degree Project in Infection Biology, 30 credits or 45 credits (including the latter part of the third semester)

Course(s) during the second and third semester may be exchanged for other courses of choice, for example practical laboratory training course(s) or project course(s) performed in a research group.

Instruction

The teaching at the Master's Programme in Infection Biology consists of lectures, seminars, laboratory excercises and project work. The lectures are strongly linked to the ongoing research in the field of infectious biology. The aim of the seminars is to develop the ability to understand, interpret and critically assess scientific texts. The seminars also include training in critical evaluation of methods and results and to summarise facts and draw conclusions. Practical experience of experimental strategies and scientific issues constitutes integrated and mandatory elements during the first year of education. Practical exercises aim at highlighting ongoing research within their respective areas and are conducted in part at research laboratories as part of ongoing research projects. In order to train the ability to assess approaches, interpret results and solve problems, achieved results are regularly discussed at seminars.

Teaching is in English.

Degree

The Programme leads to a Master's Degree in Medical Science (120 higher education credits) with Infection Biology as the main field of study.

Other directives

Progression of Studies

The education follows a regulated progression, which means that the courses must be read in a fixed order.