Master in Human Biology

Master in Human Biology is one of 4 English-taught Biomedical Science programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 2 institutions. 4 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 8,700 to EUR 17,300; this programme lists EUR 8,700 a year. 4 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

The MSc in Human Biology at the University of Copenhagen is a two-year, English-taught research programme about the biological processes that affect people in health and disease. It is disease-oriented and built around experimental work. The programme has about 40 students per year and a substantial workload.

What you study

The first year gives a broad introduction to human biology. You take courses in molecular biology and genetics, bioinformatics and systems biology, advanced cell biology, human anatomy and physiology, immunology and microbiology, pharmacology and toxicology, human pathophysiology, clinical rotation, laboratory animal science, and statistics and data analysis for human biologists. The teaching includes lectures, problem-solving exercises, laboratory work, and patient demonstrations. Laboratory Animal Science is mandatory and gives you a legal licence to perform independent research that includes handling of research animals.

In the second year you specialise through your thesis and electives. The programme is roughly 50% mandatory courses, 10% electives, and 40% thesis. You have 10 ECTS for electives, which can be taken in Denmark or abroad, including summer schools. In-house electives include Neuronal Signaling, Recombinant DNA and next generation sequencing, CRISPR Tsunami, Bacterial biofilms, and Translational Pharmacology. There is also a 10 ECTS internship of your choice.

How the programme is organised

The thesis is 50 ECTS and takes almost a full study year. You can carry it out at the university or combine it with a research placement at pre-clinical or clinical laboratories, hospitals, clinical departments, large pharmaceutical companies, or biotech firms in Denmark or internationally. Some students write their thesis in research departments abroad. You plan the placement with your host institution and your main supervisor at the University of Copenhagen. The programme uses small focused teams, and students come from a variety of academic backgrounds.

Who it suits

This programme suits students who want to do research and are willing to put in the work. It is interdisciplinary and research-oriented, with a strong international student profile. You should be comfortable with laboratory work and interested in how basic biological mechanisms relate to disease. The programme prepares you for independent research and for complex problem-solving in human health.

Admission, language and next steps

You apply through the application portal. To be eligible, you must have a qualifying bachelor's degree or another relevant Danish or foreign degree that the admission board assesses as meeting the academic requirements. Degrees that automatically meet the academic requirements include a BSc in Molecular Biology and Chemistry, a BSc in Medicinal Chemistry, or a Bachelor in preventive medicine from another Danish university. If you hold another Danish or international degree, your programme must be within medicine, odontology, biochemistry, biology, pharmaceutics, or exercise and sport sciences, and you must have at least 5 ECTS in biology, biochemistry, or pharmacology. You must also meet the English B language requirement.

Your bachelor's degree must be no more than five years old at the start of the programme. In exceptional circumstances the Admissions Committee may waive this. If your degree is older, you can apply for an exemption with a letter explaining how you have maintained your academic qualifications and relevant documentation.

Application deadlines: 1 March at 23:59 CET for Danish applicants and applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland; 15 January at 23:59 CET for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. The programme starts in September. If there are more qualified applicants than places, applicants are prioritised by grade point average from the bachelor's degree, then relevant internships, work, and stays abroad. The number of places is capped. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee set by the institution. The University of Copenhagen does not offer pre-assessment of your educational background.

Master’s applications go straight to University of Copenhagen, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. The register shows 15 January 2027 as the next deadline for this programme. Intake, as the register states it: Starts 1 September 2027 (apply by 15 January 2027). 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.