The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences offers three Master’s Degree programmes that are conducted fully in English. In 2016 it is possible to apply to the following International Master’s Degree programmes through the international admission process of the Faculty:
Master's Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT), Master's Degree Programme in Neuroscience (MNEURO).
Master's Degree Programme in Multidisciplinary Studies on Urban Environmental Issues (MURE) is not open for applications in 2016.
Also, most other Master’s Degree programmes offer a number of courses in English and therefore can also accept international students although the main language of tuition may be Finnish.
The degree programmes that are open for applications to pursue a Master’s degree in English are:
Degree Programme in Biology Possible majors are:
General Microbiology Genetics
Physiology and Neuroscience Plant Biology
Degree Programme in Molecular Biosciences Possible majors are:
Biochemistry
General Microbiology Genetics
Degree Programme in Environmental Sciences Possible major:
Environmental Ecology in the city of Lahti
General information on applying (all programmes)
International applicants can apply to three different University of Helsinki Master’s degree programmes in the same application round.
The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences can admit the right to pursue Master’s degree studies to a maximum of 50 students in the 2016 application round. This number includes the student intake both in the international admission process for Master’s degree studies in English and the student intake in the separate admission for Master’s degree studies in Finnish/Swedish at the Faculty. Students selected to MBIOT and MNEURO programmes are not included in this quota.
The application period begins on 1.12.2015 and ends on 27.1.2016 (15.00 / 3 p.m. local time in Finland). All applicants must submit the application as instructed in the application instructions. The required application enclosures should be sent to University Admissions Finland (UAF) by post or by courier service by the deadline. All copies of obligatory enclosures must be legalised either by the institution that has issued the original document or by a notary public unless otherwise specified by UAF.
Detailed information on application documents, language requirements and how to submit the application will be published on the University of Helsinki website before the application for 2016 entry begins (https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/how-to-apply/masters-studies).
MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN BIOTECHNOLOGY (MBIOT)
The aim of the Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT) is to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need for modern biotechnology research. Topics of instruction range from the latest developments in recombinant DNA technology to non-technical issues such as business and bioethics.
The tuition language of the programme is English.
Up to 15 students will be admitted to the MBIOT-programme to the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences.
The student selection is based on the application documents.
Acceptance letters will be sent to 17 applicants (15 + 2 applicants). Applicants on the reserve list will be considered if less than 15 of the 17 applicants accept the study place, in order to keep the maximum number of accepted students at 15.
New students are also selected to the Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. For their admission criteria consult the information under Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.
Eligibility
Applicants, who have at least a Bachelor’s degree or another same level degree in a relevant field from Finland or abroad, can apply to the MBIOT-programme. Applicants, who will graduate after the application deadline, can be accepted conditionally. Conditionally accepted applicants must graduate and submit a certificate of the degree by the deadline given in the application instructions.
All applicants need to submit a certification of their English language skills as defined by the University of Helsinki.
The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences also approves as adequate proof of proficiency in English an applicant’s degree completed in a Finnish university or a Finnish university of applied sciences which includes foreign language studies in English as defined by the Government Decree on University Degrees.
Student admission to study programme
The application will be processed in the faculty’s student selection procedure only if 1) the applicant submits an application in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki, 2) the applicant submits the application enclosures in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki, 3) the applicant’s previous education gives eligibility for a programme leading to a Master’s degree, and 4) the applicant’s language proficiency satisfies the requirements set by the University of Helsinki.
The student selection is based on the application documents. Incomplete applications will not be processed. In addition to the required application documents, optional documentation on other relevant university or tertiary level studies may be evaluated as part of the admissions process of the Faculty, provided that the applicant submits the documentation along with the other application documents by the given application deadline and in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki (original documents or certified, official copies only).
Only applicants who have completed the undergraduate degree with one of the following grades can be considered:
First Class
A minimum of 65% of total points
Other equal level grade (needs to be certified)
Relevant work experience and academic letters of recommendation will be considered if the applicants cannot be distinguished on the basis of degree certificates.
Furthermore, the academic relevance of the student’s motivations for applying may be considered in the evaluation of the applications. Applicants who already have a higher university level degree within the same field of studies will be considered in the student selection process of the Faculty only if there are special reasons supporting the application and only if the target degree applied to differs sufficiently from the previous higher level degree.
Applicants who have earned a higher university level degree are encouraged to apply directly for doctoral studies.
Students admitted to the Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology might be required to supplement the knowledge in biotechnology with one year of studies at the maximum (60 credits at the maximum). Therefore completing the Master’s Degree might take up to 3 years. Possible supplementary studies are agreed upon with students individually.
All accepted applicants must submit the confirmation form of accepting the study place and the enrolment documents
MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN NEUROSCIENCE (MNEURO)
The aim of the programme is to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need for being experts in research, industry and health care. The programme is based on the internationally known strong neuroscience research at the University of Helsinki.
The tuition language of the programme is English.
Up to 10 students will be admitted to the MNEURO-programme. Acceptance letters will be sent to 15 applicants (10 + 5 applicants).
Eligibility
Applicants, who have at least a Bachelor’s degree or another same level degree in a relevant field from Finland or abroad, can apply to the MNEURO-programme. Applicants, who will graduate after the application deadline, can be accepted conditionally. Conditionally accepted applicants must graduate and submit a certificate of the degree by the deadline given in the application instructions. Only applicants who have succeeded well in their prior studies can be considered.
All applicants need to submit a certification of their English language skills as defined by the University of Helsinki.
The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences also approves as adequate proof of proficiency in English an applicant’s degree completed in a Finnish university or a Finnish university of applied sciences which includes foreign language studies in English as defined by the Government Decree on University Degrees.
Student admission to study program
The application will be processed in the faculty’s student selection procedure only if 1) the applicant submits an application in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki, 2) the applicant submits the application enclosures in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki, 3) the applicant’s previous education gives eligibility for a programme leading to a Master’s degree, and 4) the applicant’s language proficiency satisfies the requirements set by the University of Helsinki.
In addition to the required application documents, optional documentation on other relevant university or tertiary level studies may be evaluated as part of the admissions process of the Faculty, provided that the applicant submits the documentation along with the other application documents by the given application deadline and in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki (original documents or certified, official copies only).
Only applicants who have succeeded well in their prior studies can be considered. Motivation, relevant work experience and other merits should be described in the application form. In addition, an applicant may provide testimonials of relevant work experience and letters of recommendation.
Furthermore, the academic relevance of the student’s motivations for applying may be considered in the evaluation of the applications. Applicants who already have a higher university level degree within the same field of studies will be considered in the student selection process of the Faculty only if there are special reasons supporting the application and only if the target degree applied to differs sufficiently from the previous higher level degree.
Applicants who have earned a higher university level degree are encouraged to apply directly for doctoral studies.
The student selection is based on the application documents. All eligible applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
− the content and the suitability of the Bachelor's degree and/or other relevant tertiary level studies, including the grades (50%)
− the motivation letter by the applicant, possible letter or letters of recommendation, relevant work experience and other merits (50%)
Students admitted to the Master’s Degree Programme in Neuroscience might be required to supplement the knowledge in the field with one year of studies at the maximum (60 credits at the maximum). Therefore completing the Master’s Degree might take up to 3 years. Possible supplementary studies are agreed upon with students individually.
All accepted applicants must submit the confirmation form of accepting the study place and the enrolment documents by the deadline given in the application instructions or they will forfeit the study place.
OTHER MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES OF THE FACULTY
In addition to MBIOT and MNEURO, applicants wishing to pursue a Master’s Degree at the Faculty in English can apply to the following programmes: Biology, Molecular Biosciences, Environmental Sciences. In Biology and Molecular Biosciences applicants need to choose the major already at the application stage. There is only one major option in English in the Master’s Programme in Environmental Sciences. Possible majors are listed in the beginning of chapter 6.
The programmes offer a number of courses in English and therefore can also accept international students although the main language of tuition may be Finnish.
The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences can admit the right to pursue Master’s degree studies to a maximum of 50 students in the 2016 application round. This number includes the student intake both in the international admission process for Master’s degree studies in English and the student intake in the separate admission for Master’s degree studies in Finnish/Swedish at the Faculty. Students selected to MBIOT and MNEURO programmes are not included in this quota.
Eligibility
Applicants, who have at least a Bachelor’s degree or another same level degree in a relevant field from Finland or abroad, can apply to Master’s Degree Programmes at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences.
Applicants, who will graduate after the application deadline, can be accepted conditionally. Conditionally accepted applicants must graduate and submit a certificate of the degree by the deadline given in the application instructions.
Only applicants who have succeeded well in their prior studies can be considered.
All applicants need to submit a certification of their English language skills as defined by the University of Helsinki.
In addition the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences approves as adequate proof of proficiency in English an applicant’s degree completed in a Finnish university or a Finnish university of applied sciences which includes foreign language studies in English as defined by the Government Decree on University Degrees.
Student admission to study programmes
The application will be processed in the faculty’s student selection procedure only if 1) the applicant submits an application in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki, 2) the applicant submits the application enclosures in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki, 3) the applicant’s previous education gives eligibility for a programme leading to a Master’s degree, and 4) the applicant’s language proficiency satisfies the requirements set by the University of Helsinki.
In addition to the required application documents, optional documentation on other relevant university or tertiary level studies may be evaluated as part of the admissions process of the Faculty, provided that the applicant submits the documentation along with the other application documents by the given application deadline and in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki (original documents or certified, official copies only).
The student selection is based on the application documents. Incomplete applications will not be processed. The student selections are based on the applicant’s previous studies, study success, and the teaching resources available at the department. Only applicants who have succeeded well in their prior studies can be considered. Motivation, relevant work experience and other merits should be described in the application form. Applicants are also requested to send copies of possible testimonials if they have relevant work experience and possible letters of recommendation.
Furthermore, the academic relevance of the student’s motivations for applying may be considered in the evaluation of the applications. Applicants who already have a higher university level degree within the same field of studies will be considered in the student selection process of the Faculty only if there are special reasons supporting the application and only if the target degree applied to differs sufficiently from the previous higher level degree. Applicants who have earned a higher university level degree are encouraged to apply directly for doctoral studies.
Students admitted to the Master’s Degree Programme might be required to supplement the knowledge in the field with one year of studies at the maximum (60 credits at the maximum). Therefore completing the Master’s Degree might take up to 3 years. Possible supplementary studies are agreed upon with students individually.
All accepted applicants must submit the confirmation form of accepting the study place and the enrolment documents by the deadline given in the application instructions or they will forfeit the study place.
RESULTS AND ACCEPTING THE OFFERED STUDY PLACE (ALL PROGRAMMES)
The results of the student selection will become available in April-May 2016. All applicants who submit a complete application by the deadline will be notified of the results by post or by email.
Accepted students will be sent a letter containing detailed information on study place acceptance and university enrolment procedures. All accepted applicants must submit the confirmation form of accepting the study place by June 10, 2016 (15.00 / 3 p.m. local time in Finland) or they will forfeit the study place.
All conditionally accepted applicants must graduate and submit the final degree certificate (including the possible translations and supporting documents, as stated in the applicant’s information provided by the UAF) to the Faculty office by July 29, 2016 (15.00 / 3 p.m. local time in Finland) or they will forfeit the study place.
All accepted applicants must submit all enrolment documents at the Faculty office by July 29, 2016 (15.00 / 3 p.m.
local time in Finland) or they will forfeit the study place.
7 REFORMER AV UTBILDNINGSPROGRAMMEN OCH MÖJLIGHETERNA ATT ÖVERGÅ FRÅN