General provisions

The course is offered as part of the Master's programmes in the Faculty of Medicine to students admitted to the Master's Programme in Innovative Medicine (IMIM).

Entry requirements

Undergraduate education of 180 credits within biochemistry/chemistry, biology, biomedicine/medicine, biotechnology, cell-/molecular biology, genetics, life sciences, medical sciences or a similar field of study, including courses in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology/-genetics totalling at least 30 credits. Prerequisites in the form of completed 20 credits from the courses included in the first semester studies of the Master's Programme in Innovative Medicine.

Documented knowledge of English with results from an internationally accepted test is required. The minimum test scores are:

IELTS (Academic) with an overall score of 6.5 and no less than 6.0 on each section, or

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)/ Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with an overall score of 180, or

TOEFL IBT (internet-based test) with an overall score of 90, with no less than 18 on reading and listening, no less than 20 on spreaking, and no less than 21 on writing.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

On completing the course, the student shall demonstrate:

• knowledge in medical sciences and specialised knowledge and understanding in the area of the project,
• insight into current research and development work in the area of the project, and
• specialised methodological knowledge in the area of the project.

Competence and Skills

On completing the course, the student shall demonstrate the ability to:

• summarise, analyse and assess knowledge, phenomena and questions at issue in the area of the project,
• autonomously identify and formulate own research questions in the area of the project,
• plan and carry out tasks using for the project appropriate methods and within predetermined time frames,
• in speech and writing clearly report and discuss their conclusions from the project and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based, in an international context and for the audience adapted way, and
• participate in and contribute to research and development work in the area of the project as well as medical sciences in a broader perspective.

Judgement and Approach

On completing the course, the student shall demonstrate:

• the ability to evaluate relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects of research and development work in the area of the project as well as medical sciences in a broader perspective,
• insights into the scientific possibilities and limitations in the area of the project, its impact and risks for the society and the individual, and
• the ability to identify need for, as well as an approach how to gain, further knowledge in the area of the project.

Content

The course aims to provide a scientifically anchored theoretical and practical knowledge in the area of the project through:

• obtaining and understanding of knowledge,
• application and implementation of relevant methods,
• analysis and critical assessment of results,
• evaluation of results and their significance
• reflection over societal and ethical aspects
• scientific and popular scientific presentations, and
• discussions over needs of further knowledge.

A part of the Bench to Bedside and Beyond (BBB) learning line curriculum of interdisciplinary project work is carried out in groups of IMIM-students from all partner universities. 

Instruction

Teaching is mainly assigned to a research group where the individual project is carried out under supervision and with participation in the research group's activities. Other compulsory course elements are, among others, presentation and evaluation of one's own and other students' project work.

Assessment

To pass the course, it is necessary to pass all compulsory elements, such as:

• oral and written presentations according to specific instructions,
• peer response to fellow students' presentations, and
• project assessed according to given criteria and learning outcomes.

Assessment of the included elements is made by the supervisor, subject reviewer(s) and teachers. The final course grade is based on the examiner's weighted evaluation of the course elements. Students who fail at individual parts of the course may complete these at the next course occasion.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.