Decisions and guidelines

According to a decision taken by the Vice Chancellor 2006-09-16, Uppsala University will offer Master programmes in biology, computer science, physics, earth science, sustainable development, chemistry, mathematics, computational science and applied biotechnology, all from 2007-07-01.

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 molecular biology, biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biotechnology, chemistry, medical technology/informatics, pharmacy or biophysics.

Also required is:

• knowledge and practical experience of laboratory experiments in biology, and molecular biology: cell biology, molecular biology and molecular genetics corresponding to approximately 20 weeks of full-time studies (30 credits);
• knowledge and practical experience of laboratory experiments in chemistry: general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry corresponding to approximately 20 weeks full-time studies (30 credits);
• knowledge of mathematics: algebra and analysis corresponding to approximately 10 weeks of full-time studies (15 credits);
• and knowledge of computer science: good proficiency in use of computer software for word and simple calculations.

Language requirements

All applicants need to verify English language proficiency that corresponds to English studies at upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden ("English 6"). This can be done in a number of ways, including through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or through previous upper secondary (high school) or university studies.

The minimum test scores are:

• IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5
• TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1–6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0–30) in written test and a total score of 90
• Cambridge: CAE, CPE

Aims

This is a multidisciplinary Master programme with the main aim to educate students within the field of Applied Biotechnology. Students in the programme will gain theoretical and practical competence within the broad field of Biotechnology, both in the molecular level as well as with its applications. Ethical aspects and the role of biotechnology in sustainable development will be discussed in respective courses. Furthermore, students will also get basic knowledge in business economics and project management.

Students from this programme will get a solid foundation for future work in both academia and industry, in Sweden or abroad. The students get the opportunity to work with research and development in several areas e.g. protein-based drugs, diagnostic tools and databases. The degree project can be done in the industry, university or at a governmental institution.

The students graduated from the Master programme in Applied Biotechnology should have knowledge and skills to execute qualified and advanced tasks within biotechnological companies, local, national and international organizations, own ventures or as PhD students. The students should be able to independently conduct research, development or application work within different fields.

Learning outcomes

According to the Higher Education Act, the following applies for second-cycle studies:

Second-cycle studies shall be based fundamentally on the knowledge acquired by students during first-cycle courses and study programmes, or its equivalent.

Second-cycle studies shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, aptitudes and accomplishments in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall:

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge,
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work. Ordinance (2006:173).

Objectives for a Degree of Master (120 credits) according to the Higher Education Ordinance, System of Qualifications.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both broad knowledge in the field and substantially deeper knowledge of certain parts of the field, together with deeper insight into current research and development work; and
• demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge in their main field of study.

For the Master Programme in Applied Biotechnology this means that the students must

• have deep knowledge within the field of Applied Biotechnology
• have extensive knowledge of biological macromolecules structure and function and be able to use this knowledge in research and development work
• have knowledge of business economics and project management
• have knowledge in synthetic biology and immunology related technique

Skills and abilities

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must

• demonstrate an ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available;
• demonstrate an ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits, so as to contribute to the development of knowledge and to evaluate this work;
• demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing, in national and international contexts; and - demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in other advanced contexts.

For the Master Programme in Applied Biotechnology this means that the students must

• have theoretical and practical knowledge of how biotechnological projects are planned, controlled and completed
• have knowledge in Molecular Biology/Biotechnology/Entrepreneurship.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must

• demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;
• demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people’s responsibility for how it is used; and
• demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

For the Master Programme in Applied Biotechnology this means that the students must

• be able to independently perform research, development and/or investigations
• be able to evaluate aspects of ethics and sustainable development in biotechnological projects

Layout of the programme

All students within the programme study the same courses in molecular biology / biotechnology during the first semester of the first year. During the second semester, the students study courses in innovation management, entrepreneurship and project management related directly to industry together with optional courses in synthetic biology or immunology technique. During the second year students choose among the suggested courses in the programme, which span broad areas of molecular and structural biology, molecular and applied biotechnology and synthetic biology, combined with a degree project of 30 credits or 45 credits.

Instruction

Education in the Masters programme builds upon upon the prior knowledge and experience of the students. Students are expected to participate actively in their education and take responsibility for personal learning outcomes as well as contributing to the learning of others. Academic staff in the programme have the primary responsibility for establishing foundations for active individual and collective learning. Continuos educational development builds on a respectful dialogue between students and staff, through which everyone is empowered to contribute to educational evolution and mutual learning.

Degree

Upon request, a student who has received a pass grade in a course is to receive a course certificate from the higher education institution. Upon request, a student who meets the requirements for a qualification is to receive a diploma from the higher education institution.

A Degree of Master is a so called general degree, which means that the student achieve the degree in its main subject according to the criteria below, regardless of the courses being part of the program or not, therefore there is a possibility also to include single subject courses in the degree.

Regulations according to Higher Education Ordinance

A Degree of Master (120 credits) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 120 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 60 higher education credits with in-depth studies in the main field of study. In addition, the student must hold a Degree of Bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in…, a professional degree worth at least 180 higher education credits or an equivalent foreign qualification.

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements. The independent project may comprise less than 30 higher education credits, but not less than 15 higher education credits, if the student has already completed an independent project at the second level worth at least 15 higher education credits in their main field of study, or an equivalent project in a foreign educational programme.

A Degree of Master (60 credits) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 60 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 30 higher education credits with in-depth studies in the main field of study. In addition, the student must hold a Degree of Bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in…, a professional degree worth at least 180 higher education credits or an equivalent foreign qualification.

For a Degree of Master (60 credits) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 15 higher education credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements.

Local regulations

A Degree of Master (60 credits) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 15 higher education credits. A degree of Master (120 credits) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 30 higher education credits. The course or the courses are meant to provide such additional competence as is needed for in-depth studies in the main field of study and cannot be included in the student’s basic degree.

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits.

Other directives

Students who, outside the programme, have acquired equivalent qualifications corresponding to at least 15 credits on advanced level in addition to the degree at Bachelor’s level, may apply to be accepted to a later part of the programme. The application deadline is for the autumn term May 1 and for the spring term December 1.