Master's Degree Programme in Biomedicine

The Master's Degree Programme in Biomedicine (BIOMED) is a unique combination of science education and medical competence offered by the UEF School of Medicine. The programme provides the student with strong theoretical background in biomedicine and hands-on expertise in biomedical research techniques. The students learn not only about the current developments but also near future challenges facing molecular biomedicine, especially genome-based diagnostics and personalized treatments.

Focus of the studies is on Molecular Medicine, and there is a good balance between the theoretical studies and practical training. In the advanced level courses, you will learn e.g. principles of disease development at the molecular and cellular level, cell and tissue imaging techniques, computer-aided data analysis as well as writing a scientific manuscript.

The education is based on top quality research conducted at the Institute of Biomedicine, the A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, and the School of Pharmacy.

The studies provide you with a capability to work as a team member in a biomedical research group or to continue with postgraduate studies.

Medium of instruction is English. BIOMED programme is also available for Finnish applicants fulfilling admission criteria.

Key information

Level of degree: Master's degree
Programme duration: 2 years / 120 ECTS credits
Language of instruction: English
Application period: 1.12.2020 - 20.1.2021
Programme start: September 2021
Tuition fee: EU/EEA nationals no tuition fee; non-EU/EEA nationals 10,000 €/academic year
Tuition waivers available for everyone
Study campus: Kuopio

Why study with us?

Study the molecular mechanisms of disease.
Discover Molecular & Cellular therapies.
Master bio-computational data processing.
Take a step to international biomedical research community.

Studies

The studies leading to Master's degree in biomedicine give the student a strong expertise in independently planning and executing a scientific research project in the field of molecular medicine, as well as in analyzing and reporting biomedical research data. Advanced level studies in biomedicine provide the student with good theoretical and methodological tools and skills to work in biomedical research laboratory, as well as the ability to retrieve and review scientific literature.

MSc graduates possess a firm knowledge of the molecular mechanisms within human body, understand the molecular processes behind the pathological changes in human tissues, are capable of interpreting and making computer-assisted analyses of biomedical information, as well as of scientific reporting to both the research community and the general public. This all gives the capability to work as a researcher in research institutes or pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as healthcare consulting professionals or officials in government and national, as well as international agencies. The Master's degree in biomedicine also gives an excellent basis for postgraduate studies.

Structure of studies

The master level studies focus on Molecular Medicine, i.e. on the principles of disease development and diagnostics at the molecular and cellular level. The teaching is given at an advanced level by research professors from Institute of Biomedicine, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, and School of Pharmacy. Final project, the Master´s thesis, is based on independent experimental research work made under the guidance of a supervisor (usually a senior member of a research group). It is also possible to do the research project in bio-pharma companies. Master´s thesis report will be written based on the research project and relevant literature and it should be written in the style of scientific journals.

The first study year starts with orientation to help our international students to familiarize themselves to the Finnish study environment. The orientation is followed by courses that take 2 to 4 weeks each. A course may include lectures, seminars and even lab works. You may have several courses going on at the same time, but there is a remade timetable ensuring that there will be no overlaps. There is no special exam period as every course has its own exam at the end of the course. The second year has only few courses as the majority of the year is dedicated for the MSc thesis research project and for writing the thesis.

Counselling and guidance

The Master's Degree Programme in Biomedicine is a two-year full-time study programme. The Master's degree consists of 120 ECTS credits of studies in one main subject, Molecular Medicine. The studies consist of mandatory major subject studies, including the Masters thesis project, optional studies and studies on communication and presentation skills. The ready-made schedules for each class provide a base for the studies. In addition, the tutor teacher provides the students with study guidance throughout their studies. The studies follow a personal study plan, which the student builds with the help from the tutor teacher.

How to apply?

Admission requirements

Degree certificate

All applicants should have at least Bachelor's or equivalent degree in an applicable field (e.g., biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, biomedicine) corresponding to at least 3 years' of full‐time academic studies (equivalent of 180 ECTS credit units in the Finnish university system) obtained at an internationally recognized and accredited university or higher education institution (Students with Finnish University of Applied Sciences degree are not electable). The country‐specific regulations are described in University of Eastern Finland webpage http://www.uef.fi/en/web/admissions/country-specific-requirements.

Note that biological, environmental, medical, veterinarian or pharmacy studies, as such, do not give adequate knowledge base to BIOMED MSc studies. For successful study performance, a more comprehensive foundation about biochemistry and gene regulation/function is needed.

Conditional admission

The admission is conditional if the degree is not completed by 20th January 2021. The applicant informs the estimated graduation date in the application form. The final deadline to submit the officially certified copy of the Bachelor´s degree certificate (in original language and as translations, if applicable) to the University of Eastern Finland is 6th August 2021. The proof of the completed degree can be submitted together with the confirmation on accepting the offered study placement. If the copy of the official degree certificate does not reach the University of Eastern Finland by the deadline, admission to the Master’s programme will be cancelled. The country‐specific regulations are described in https://www.uef.fi/en/country-specific-requirements

Temporary (provisional) degree certificate

A temporary (provisional) degree certificate is a document issued by an institution to a student who has successfully completed all studies included in the degree and the student has graduated. The temporary degree certificate should include the name of the institution awarding the degree, the date of issue, and the name of the person to whom the degree certificate has been issued and which title/degree the person has been awarded. The country‐specific regulations are described in https://www.uef.fi/en/country-specific-requirements

Official translations

All application documents should be submitted in Finnish, Swedish or English. Also the copies of the original documents have to be submitted. Translations of educational documents must be 1) issued by the awarding institution or 2) officially certified copy of a translation issued by the awarding institution or 3) translated by an official translator or 4) officially certified copy of a translation made by an official translator. Each page of an official translation must bear the translator’s stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be exact translations of the original documents. Translations done by the applicant him‐ or herself are not accepted. The country‐specific regulations are described in https://www.uef.fi/en/country-specific-requirements

Language requirements

Applicants must demonstrate excellent skills of English language. English language proficiency can be proven with official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing Service (IELTS), CAE/CPE (Cambridge Advanced/Proficiency Examination) Pearson Test of English (PTE) test score report or National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) -test:

IELTS (academic): overall 6.5 (min. 6.0 in writing)
TOEFL iBT: 92 (min. 22 in writing)
PTE (Pearson Test of English, academic): 62
Cambridge English Qualification:
C1 Advanced (Certificate of Advanced English) overall score of 180 with min 162 in writing)
C2 Proficiency (Certificate of Proficiency in English) overall score of 180 with min 162 in writing)
National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) -test: level 5 in the reading comprehension, writing and speaking subtests; website https://www.oph.fi/en/national-certificates-language-proficiency-yki

Applicants will be exempt from submitting the official language proficiency test if: 

Passed English exam in Matriculation Examination in Finland 
English as A1 language as part of International Baccalaureate examination 
Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degree was conducted in English language in EU/EEA country* or  Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom or United States  
Exchange studies (at least 20 ECTS) completed in English in University of Eastern Finland

* EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. 

TOEFL code of the University of Eastern Finland is 9779.

Application process

Student selection will be based on the application documents and evaluation how the applicant's skills and competences gained by the previous academic studies correspond to the Master´s studies applied. Also the success in earlier studies, possible earlier research experience, the Motivation letter and the performance in the interview will be taken into account in the selection process. Note, that a previous MSc degree (or higher), or present study place in University of Eastern Finland, are not necessarily considered to be beneficial. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the programme.

Applications are evaluated by the admission committee of the Master's Degree Programme. The admission committee also interviews maximum number of 20 applicants. The interview invitations will be sent by e-mail. If the applicant is not reached for the interview, the application will not be processed further

Student selection

The admission committee scores the selected applicants by following application components:

Compatibility of the background studies 0-3p (0p = insufficient, 1p = sufficient relevance to Biomed programme curriculum, 2p = good relevance to Biomed programme curriculum, 3p = excellent relevance to Biomed programme curriculum)
Previous academic success and study history 0-3p (0p = insufficient/not suitable, 1p = sufficient, 2p = good, 3p = excellent.
Laboratory working experience 0-3p (0p = no experience, 1p = laboratory course work as part of previous studies, 2p or 3p = additional experience which is not directly included in the previous studies, e.g. internships, summer projects, other working experience)
Motivation letter 0-3p (0p = insufficient, 1p = somewhat motivated, 2p = sufficient and well-justified motivation, 3 p = excellent motivation)
The interview performance, including English skills, is scored on scale 0-3p (0 = insufficient, 1p = satisfactory, 2p = good, 3p = excellent)

If the applicant scores 0 p in any of the components, the application will not be processed further. 10 best scoring applicants will be selected in the programme.

Tuition fees and waivers

There is a yearly tuition fee of 10,000 euros for non EU/EEA citizens. The tuition fee covers the studies included in the degree (personal study plan), studies-related supervision and counselling, and studies-related supporting services offered by the university. In addition, students are entitled to the services of the Finnish Student Health Service by paying the mandatory membership fee of the Student Union. By paying the Student Union membership fee, students are also entitled to university sports services (Sykettä).

New students admitted in 2021 are eligible to receive a partial tuition waiver. In the Master's Degree Programme in Biomedicine, the tuition waiver is 70 % (7,000 euros) of the annual tuition fee. For the second year of study, tuition waivers are available to students who have completed a minimum of 55 ECTS of studies included in their degree, during their first year of study. An exception to this rule can be made if a student has been granted approved leave from studies (e.g. due to serious illness).

There is no separate application for scholarship. All applicants need to complete the Student Application Form. Those applicants who are applying for scholarship need to additionally complete the Application for Scholarship, which can be found at the end of the Student Application Form.

The Scholarship does not cover living costs. Students are expected to cover all living expenses (app. 800 euros per month) and other study related costs from their own financial resources.