Programme Structure 

The MSc Programme in Biology gives you the freedom to choose one of the programme's five specialisations. You can also study Biology with a minor subject. You can read about each specialisation at the bottom of the page.

No matter which specialisation you choose, you’ll meet three types of courses:

  • Compulsory courses – these are mandatory and cover the basic elements of the specialisation during your first year of study.
  • Restricted elective courses – you choose these from a selection of courses.
  • Elective courses that you are free to choose. These comprise 15 ECTS.

All courses, written assignments and exams are in English.

Do a Project in Practice or Study Abroad

During the programme you may choose to do a Project in Practice in collaboration with a company or an organization. You can also study abroad.

Master's Thesis

Your MSc programme concludes with a thesis project. The thesis is 45 or 60 ECTS in all 5 specialisations. Examples of thesis subjects include inquiries into:

  • Genes and mechanisms of programmed cell death
  • The effect of water pollution upon water fleas
  • Spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria
  • Effects of global warming on ecosystems

Specialisations

 

This specialisation teaches you about the genetic and epigenetic basis for cell functioning, regulation, and differentiation, including immune systems and genetically modified organisms. You learn about genomic structure, organisation, and function, as well as causes, diagnosis, and inheritance of human genetic diseases.

When you graduate, you’ll have the competencies to:

  • integrate genetic, epigenetic, and molecular mechanisms with a general understanding of cellular functions.
  • apply molecular and genetic knowledge to understand human diseases. 

Furthermore, you’ll have the skills to:

  • Set up, perform, and evaluate genetic and genomic screens.
  • Design and construct genetically modified cells for biotechnological and biopharmaceutical purposes.
  • Apply bioinformatical methods and databases to analyse DNA, RNA, and protein sequences.

See the full description of the knowledge, competencies and skills you obtain with this specialization in the curriculum for Biology.

 

The specialisation can be structured in four different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS and whether you start in September or February:

Programme Overview, Study Start September, Thesis 45 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 45 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1

Theoretical Molecular Genetics Experimental Higher Model Organisms Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2

Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start September, Thesis 60 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1

Theoretical Molecular Genetics Experimental Higher Model Organisms Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start February, Thesis 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 45 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1

Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Theoretical Molecular Genetics Experimental Higher Model Organisms
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2

Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start February, Thesis 60 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1

Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Theoretical Molecular Genetics Experimental Higher Model Organisms
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Restricted Elective Courses

Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.

*Only one of the courses can be included in the programme

 

You specialise in biology at the cellular level and integrate this understanding with research of physiological responses in humans and other fauna. You’ll get a deep understanding of the structure, organisation, and function of cells – including the subcellular level where you learn about organelles, membrane systems, and cytoskeletons. Furthermore, you’ll get an understanding of the signal transduction systems used to regulate cell development, differentiation, motility, and death.

As a graduate you are able to summarise the function of eukaryotic cells and cellular homeostasis, and you can relate the overall construction of the cell and the organ to a holistic understanding of multi-cellular animals, including humans.

You are also able to conduct and analyze data from experimental studies within cell biology and physiology, and you can apply the relevant methods specific to physiological evaluation.

See the full description of the knowledge, competencies and skills you obtain with this specialization in the curriculum for Biology.

 

The specialisation can be structured in four different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS and whether you start in September or February:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Thesis 45 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 22.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 37.5 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Advanced Cell Biology Restricted elective course Cellular and Integrative Physiology Elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course
Year 2

Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Thesis 60 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Advanced Cell Biology Restricted elective course Cellular and Integrative Physiology Elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Thesis 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 22.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 37.5 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1

Cellular and Integrative Physiology Restricted elective course Advanced Cell Biology Restricted elective course
Elective course Elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Year 2

Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Thesis 60 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1

Cellular and Integrative Physiology Restricted elective course Advanced Cell Biology Restricted elective course
Elective course Elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Restricted Elective Courses

Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.

*Only one of the courses can be included in the programme.

 

 

In this specialisation you will focus on bacteria and fungi, molecular biology, and environmental adaptability, and you learn how bacteria and micro fungi can be biotechnologically exploited. You get an understanding of their symbiosis with animals and humans, as well as their pathogenicity.

Among other things this enables you to work with bacterial resistance to antibiotics and microorganisms as a source of new industrial enzymes and other bioactive substances.

Furthermore, you can cultivate and isolate microorganisms and use state-of-the-art molecular techniques e.g., to study their occurrences, physiology, and interactions.

See the full description of the knowledge, competencies and skills you obtain with this specialization in the curriculum for Biology.

 

The specialisation can be structured in four different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS and whether you start in September or February:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Thesis 45 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 45 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Advanced Bacteriology 1 Advanced Bacteriology 2 Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Thesis 60 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Advanced Bacteriology 1 Advanced Bacteriology 2 Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Thesis 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 45 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Advanced Bacteriology 1 Advanced Bacteriology 2
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Thesis 60 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Advanced Bacteriology 1 Advanced Bacteriology 2
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Restricted Elective Courses

Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.

*Only one of the courses can be included in the programme.

 

 

If you choose this specialisation, you work with ecological and evolutionary processes and their importance for organisms, effects of climate change, interactions between living organisms, conservation, and animal behaviour. 

This provides you with a deep understanding of complex ecosystems that enables you to explain and discuss the distribution and density of species at local and global scales, and on both an ecological and evolutionary timescale.

You will be able to give advice on nature management issues, environmental protection, biodiversity, and animal welfare. You can also collect, identify, and isolate selected groups of organisms and use genetic methods in species identification and typing.

See the full description of the knowledge, competencies and skills you obtain with this specialisation in the curriculum for Biology.

 

The specialisation can be structured in four different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS and whether you start in September or February:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, 45 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 7.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 52.5 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Advanced Ecology Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Thesis 60 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 7.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 37.5 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Advanced Ecology Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Thesis 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 7.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 37.5 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Elective course Elective course Advanced Ecology Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Year 2 Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Thesis 60 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 7.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 37.5 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Elective course Elective course Advanced Ecology Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Restricted Elective Courses

Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.

*Only one of the courses can be included in the programme.

 

 

In this specialisation you’ll get expert knowledge of the structure and function of marine ecosystems, as well as the ecology of marine organisms, and their physiology, interactions, and adaptation to the marine environment.

You’ll get the competences to explain the fluxes of energy, as well as organic and inorganic matter in marine systems. Furthermore, you learn about marine microorganisms, animal groups, and habitat types – and you’ll get an overview of the complexity of ecosystems and biodiversity.

You learn to collect, identify, and categorise marine organisms into overall groups. You are also able to use genetic methods in species identification and typing.

See the full description of the knowledge, competencies, and skills you obtain with this specialization in the curriculum for Biology.

 

The specialisation can be structured in four different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS and whether you start in September or February:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Thesis 45 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 45 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3  Block 4
Year 1 Marine Biology Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course
Experimental Marine Biology Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course
Year 2

Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Thesis 60 ECTS

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3  Block 4
Year 1 Marine Biology Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course
Experimental Marine Biology Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Thesis 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 45 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Marine Biology Elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course
Year 2

Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Thesis 60 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Marine Biology Elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Experimental Marine Biology Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Restricted Elective Courses

Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.

*Only one of the courses can be included in the programme.

 

 

Please note: The MSc in Biology with a minor subject is only for applicants with a Danish Bachelor’s degree in Biology including the required courses from the minor subject. The minor subject consists of courses taught in Danish, where the first part is compulsory in the Bachelor’s degree, and the remaining is part of the MSc.

You can study biology with a minor subject if you want to acquire the competences to teach or disseminate both subjects. This enables you to teach in Danish upper secondary schools or university colleges. You will also get the competences to work in e.g., biotech-, phamaceutical and related industries, NGOs, private consultancies, public administration, or the publishing industry.

See the full description of the knowledge, competences, and skills you obtain in the curriculum for Biology with a Minor Subject.

The programme can be structured in different ways depending on whether your minor subject is within or outside the field of science, and whether you start in September or February. The tables below show the recommended academic progression in all cases:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Minor Subject Within the Field of Science

Compulsory courses: 7.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 37.5 ECTS
Minor subject: 45 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Minor subject Minor subject Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Year 2 Restricted elective course Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag Thesis
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Minor Subject Outside the Field of Science

Compulsory courses: 7.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 37.5 ECTS
Minor subject: 75 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Year 2 Minor subject Minor subject Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Year 3 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Minor Subject Within the Field of Science

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 7.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 37.5 ECTS
Minor subject: 45 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Minor subject Minor subject Restricted elective course Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag
Year 2 Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Minor Subject Outside the Field of Science

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 7.5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 37.5 ECTS
Minor subject: 75 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Year 2 Minor subject Minor subject Restricted elective course Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Year 3 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Restricted Elective Courses

Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description. P