Programme structure
The Master's programme Bioscience is a two-year full time study consisting of 120 ECTS credits.
The programme has the following structure:
- Mandatory and elective courses, 60 ECTS credits
- Master's thesis, 60 ECTS credits
Course of study
| 4. semester | Master's thesis | Master's thesis | Master's thesis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3. semester | Master's thesis | Master's course | Master's course |
| 2. semester | Master's thesis | Master's course | Master's course |
| 1. semester | Master's thesis/ HSE-courses | Master's course | Master's course |
| 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits |
The programme has 7 programme options
- Biodiversity and systematics
- Cell biology, physiology and neuroscience
- Ecology and evolution
- Genetics and developmental biology
- Marine biology and limnology
- Molecular biology and biochemistry
- Toxicology and enviromental science
Mandatory courses
There are different requirements for mandatory courses within each programme option. Please see the programme structure for each programme option for more information. Common to all programme options are mandatory courses in Health, safety and environment (HSE) at the beginning of the first semester:
- HMS0501 - Safety and Physical Environment
- HMS0502 - Positive Learning Environment
- HMS0507 - Fire Safety
- HMS0503 - Laboratory Safety
HSE-courses do not give credits. If you have previously passed equivalent courses at the University of Oslo, you will not need to re-apply these.
Elective courses
The elective courses may be chosen among master courses within bioscience and other relevant disciplines. The recommended procedure is to pick the required courses in cooperation with your supervisor, when the topic of your Master’s thesis has been chosen.
You may also obtain 2-10 ECTS credits by studying and passing the exam in a special syllabus. Please contact the study section at Department of Biosciences for further information.
Every year, a competition in synthetic biology iGEM is organized . See the course MBV4910IGEM – International Genetically Engineered Machine (continued) for information and sign-up.
Master’s thesis
All available master projects are posted on the web domain of each programme option for specialisation. At the beginning of the first semester, a seminar is held with posterpresentations of available projects. New master students are encouraged to approach the supervisors of projects of which they take interest.
If you wish to carry out your master project externally to the Department, where the project has not been presented on the Department web page, you will need an internal supervisor at the Department, and the project must be approved by the Educational committee of the Department.
Before a deadline given by the Department, an application form containing a description of the master project work and your complete study plan for the Master’s degree must be submitted. The plan describes the courses to be taken and their placement in time during the two years, the project plan, and a risk assessment of the practical work. If you apply for admission to the Master’s programme before you have completed your bachelor studies, the remaining bachelor courses must be included in the plan. The study section must be notified of deviations from the plan and changes must be applied for. If the study plan has not been submitted by the end of the first semester, admission to the programme will be withdrawn.
Honours certificate
Are you academically ambitious? It is possible to supplement your master's degree with an honours certificate worth 20 credits. You take the certificate concurrently with the master's programme.
Recognition of Master's courses from former education
If you are admitted to the Master's programme and you have completed master's courses outside the University of Oslo, you may apply to have these courses recognised as part of your degree. Please contact the Department of Biosciences for more information.
Diploma and degree
This programme leads to the following degree: Master of Science in Biosciences
The diploma is issued when you have completed the courses that meet the requirements for a degree. Read more about diplomas.