Master in Molecular Biology

The MSc in Molecular Biology at Aarhus University is a two-year, full-time programme taught in English. It has both an applied and a research-oriented perspective, shaped by what business and industry, research institutions and the public sector need. You can specialise while you build a general mastery of molecular biology.

What you study

You choose a specialisation within five branches of molecular biology that Aarhus University is particularly strong in:

• Molecular cell biology
• Protein science with a focus on structural biology
• Molecular plant biology and quantitative genetics
• Molecular nutrition
• Bioinformatics

Teaching is influenced by the research carried out at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, and your lecturers are active researchers. You gain insight into on-going research projects across the spectrum of molecular biology, from microorganisms over plants to humans. The understanding of biochemistry and molecular biology starts at the atomic level, moves through molecules, and reaches tissues and organisms.

How the programme is organised

The programme counts 120 ECTS. In your first year you follow an individually planned course programme. Shortly after enrolment you start structuring your own study plan with the head of programme, choosing courses from a catalogue that covers the specialisations and a broader range of life science subjects. The Board of Studies must approve the plan before you can enrol for examinations.

The second year is reserved for your thesis project under the supervision of a scientist. That gives you close collaboration within the supervisor's research group, and a chance to take part in the group's research projects, academic discussions and publication activities.

Teaching focuses on independence, critical thinking and teamwork. Lectures introduce new angles to material from textbooks and original literature. Theoretical and practical exercises take place in small groups where you study relevant issues in depth. Most students also spend considerable time on experimental work in the laboratory or on a computer. The teaching is divided into two semesters per year.

Who it suits

This programme suits you if you want to shape your own course profile and spend a full year on a research project. It fits students who are curious about how things work at the molecular level and who are comfortable with laboratory or computational work. The programme makes heavy demands on your academic skills and your ability to structure your studies. In return you get close contact with researchers, an analytical mindset and presentation skills.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a bachelor's degree comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in level and duration (180 ECTS). Your degree must include 80 ECTS in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology and bioinformatics or programming, including at least 10 ECTS of practical laboratory work in molecular biology or molecular medicine. It must also include 30 ECTS in basic mathematics, probability calculus, statistics and chemistry. The total is 110 ECTS.

Holders of the Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology from Aarhus University have a legal right of admission if they apply within three years of completing the bachelor's degree. Certain other Danish bachelor's degrees meet the direct admission requirements. If you hold a non-Danish bachelor's degree, you must complete an appendix and upload it to the application portal.

Intake is limited, so meeting the entry requirements does not guarantee a place. Applicants are ranked on grades from the qualifying degree, grades in relevant subject fields, and the proportion of relevant ECTS on the diploma. Grades achieved after the application deadline are not included. You must meet the university's English language requirements. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee set by the institution. Applications from international applicants go directly to the institution.

Master’s applications go straight to Aarhus University, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.