Master of Science (MSc) in Biology

About the programme

The MSc programme in Biology allows you to work responsibly with nature management, to do genetic research in the laboratory, or to do field work on the structure of ecosystems. The academic scope is wide – thus, you can choose between five specialisations, or study Biology with a minor subject. The many elective courses allow you to customise the programme according to your interests. The programme is offered in English.

Admission and application

To apply for admission to this master's degree programme, you must have completed, or expect to complete, a qualifying bachelor’s degree or a similar Danish or international degree programme which is assessed to be relevant. Apply for admission via the application portal.

Below, you can read more about admission requirements and which documents to upload in the application portal. 

Academic admission requirements

Here you'll find the different academic requirements depending on which qualifying degree you hold.

With a Bachelor's degree in

  • Biology (biologi) from University of Copenhagen

you are granted legal right of admission and guaranteed a place on the Master’s programme in Biology if you apply in time to begin within 3 years of the completion of your Bachelor’s degree.

Learn about when and how to apply

You meet all academic requirements if you hold one of the degrees listed below. Learn about when and how to apply. Note, however, that you still need to document that you meet the programme's language requirements.

  • Biology (biologi) from University of Copenhagen (note, that if you apply in time to begin within 3 years of the completion of your Bachelor’s degree, you have legal right of admission to the Master's programme)

Check which master’s programmes at UCPH your bachelor programme is pre-approved for admission - only available in Danish

If you have a Bachelor’s degree other than those listed above, you must submit additional documentation along with your application so we can evaluate whether or not you meet the admission requirements. Learn about when and how to apply.

If you have a Bachelor’s degree, Professional Bachelor's degree or equivalent from Danish or international universities you are qualified for admission if your programme includes the following:

  1. A minimum of 5 ECTS credits within each of the following areas:
    • Organismal biology
    • Ecology
    • Evolution biology
    • Cell biology
    • Physiology
    • Molecular biology
    • Microbiology
    • Statistics
    • Data science and programming e.g., R and Python
    • Chemistry
    • Biochemistry
  2. Practical skills within laboratory and field work within the main areas of biology corresponding to a total of 30 ECTS credits.

We may also admit applicants who, after an individual academic assessment, are deemed to possess educational qualifications equivalent to those required above.

Qualifying degree and other courses/projects

When we assess whether you meet the admission requirements for the Master's degree program, Danish legislation only allows us to assess your Bachelor's degree. Consequently, you cannot study supplementary courses between Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in order to meet the admission requirements.

If you have passed courses/projects before you complete the qualifying Bachelor's degree, these can be included in the assessment, even though they are not part of the Bachelor's degree program.

  • It applies to courses/projects you have taken as single subjects and courses/projects you have taken as part of another study program.
  • A maximum of 30 ECTS credits of these courses/projects may be included.

International Bachelor’s degree

You can only get an answer to whether or not your degree meets the admission requirement by applying for admission to the MSc Programme. Only the admission committee can evaluate whether you are qualified or not and they only do this once they have received your application.

Bachelor’s degree from Denmark

You are entitled to 1 pre-assessment for 1 study programme, where, based on an assessment of the documentation you have submitted, we will inform you whether you meet the admission requirements.

This is a service offered by SCIENCE, but it is not a service you have to make use of in order for you to apply for admission.

Read about pre-assessment

Language requirements

Unless you have a legal right of admission to the programme you are applying for, you are required to document proficiency in English.

See language requirements

Application deadlines

Study start in September

1 March at 23:59

Application deadline for Danish applicants and applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 16 January. You will receive a reply by 10 June.

15 January at 23:59

Application deadline for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 15 November. You will receive a reply by 1 May.

Study start in February (legal right of admission only)

15 October at 23:59

Application deadline for Danish applicants and applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 15 August. You will receive a reply by 10 December.

1 September at 23:59

Application deadline for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 15 July. You will receive a reply by 1 December. 

How to apply

Choose the category below that fits you and read more about how to apply for admission. You will also find information about application deadlines and documentation on the websites.

Citizen in Denmark, EU EEA og Switzerland

Bachelor's degree with legal right of admission

Bachelor’s degree from Denmark

International bachelor’s degree

Citizen in a country outside EU, EEA or Switzerland

Bachelor’s degree from Denmark

International bachelor’s degree

Prioritisation of applicants

If the number of qualified applicants to the programme exceeds the number of places available, applicants will be prioritised according to the following criteria:

  • Total number of ECTS credits achieved within the following areas:
    • Organismal biology
    • Ecology
    • Evolutionary biology
    • Cell biology
    • Physiology
    • Molecular biology
    • Microbiology
    • Statistics
    • Data science and programming e.g., R and Python
    • Chemistry
    • Biochemistry
    • Practical skills within laboratory and field work within the main areas of biology

Limitation on second degrees

If you have already completed a Master's degree, please check out the rules concerning a second degree.

Admission statistics Biology 2023
Admitted 102
Admission distribution (legal right/other) 72% / 28%
Applicants 372
Age average 25
Legal gender distribution (cpr. - m/f) 40% / 60%
Nationality (dk/international) 63% / 37%
Available spots No

Programme structure

The 2-year 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 (only for applicants with a Danish Bachelor’s degree in Biology). You can read about each specialisation further down this 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. You'll find a list of these in the description of each specialisation further down this page.
  • Elective courses that you are free to choose. These comprise 15 ECTS.

All courses, written assignments and exams are in English.

Master's Thesis

Your MSc programme concludes with a thesis project. The thesis is 45 or 60 ECTS in all five 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

Do a Project in Practice or Study Abroad

You can use some of your elective courses to do a Project in Practice in collaboration with a company or an organisation. You can also choose to study abroad as part of your programme. Read more here:

Specialisations

When you enroll in the Biology programme, you must choose the particular field of study you wish to focus on. You can read about the programme's five specialisations below. You can also read about studying Biology with a minor subject (only for applicants with a Danish Bachelor’s degree in Biology):

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.

Programme Overview

The specialisation can be structured in different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS, and whether you start in September or February. Below, you will find course tables showing the study structure if you start in September or February with a thesis worth 45 ECTS.

See the full programme overview, and a description of the competencies and skills you obtain with this specialisation in the curriculum for Biology >>

Example 1: Study Start September, Thesis 45 ECTS
Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 45 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Theoretical Molecular GeneticsExperimental Higher Model OrganismsRestricted elective courseRestricted elective course
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseElective courseElective course

Year 2

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

Example 2: Study Start February, Thesis 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission.

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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseTheoretical Molecular GeneticsExperimental Higher Model Organisms
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseElective courseElective course

Year 2

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

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.

Programme Overview

The specialisation can be structured in different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS and whether you start in September or February. Below, you will find course tables showing the study structure if you start in September or February with a thesis worth 45 ECTS.

See the full programme overview, and a description of the competencies and skills you obtain with this specialisation in the curriculum for Biology >>

Example 1: Study Start September, Thesis 45 ECTS

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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Advanced Cell BiologyRestricted elective courseCellular and Integrative PhysiologyElective course
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseRestricted elective courseElective course

Year 2

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

Example 2: Study Start February, Thesis 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission.

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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Cellular and Integrative PhysiologyRestricted elective courseAdvanced Cell BiologyRestricted elective course
Elective courseElective courseRestricted elective courseRestricted elective course

Year 2

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

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.

Programme Overview

The specialisation can be structured in different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS and whether you start in September or February. Below, you will find course tables showing the study structure if you start in September or February with a thesis worth 45 ECTS.

See the full programme overview, and a description of the competencies and skills you obtain with this specialisation in the curriculum for Biology >>

Example 1: 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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Advanced Bacteriology 1Advanced Bacteriology 2Restricted elective courseRestricted elective course
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseElective courseElective course

Year 2

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

Example 2: Study Start in February, Thesis 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission.

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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseAdvanced Bacteriology 1Advanced Bacteriology 2
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseElective courseElective course

Year 2

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

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.

Programme Overview

The specialisation can be structured in different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS and whether you start in September or February. Below, you will find course tables showing the study structure if you start in September or February with a thesis worth 45 ECTS.

See the full programme overview, and a description of the competencies and skills you obtain with this specialisation in the curriculum for Biology >>

Example 1: 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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Advanced EcologyRestricted elective courseRestricted elective courseRestricted elective course
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseElective courseElective course

Year 2

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

Example 2: Study Start in February, 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission.

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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Elective courseElective courseAdvanced EcologyRestricted elective course
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseRestricted elective courseRestricted elective course

Year 2

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

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.

Programme Overview

The specialisation can be structured in different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS and whether you start in September or February. Below, you will find course tables showing the study structure if you start in September or February with a thesis worth 45 ECTS.

See the full programme overview, and a description of the competencies and skills you obtain with this specialisation in the curriculum for Biology >>

Example 1: 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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Marine BiologyRestricted elective courseRestricted elective courseElective course
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseElective course

Year 2

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

Example 2: Study Start in February, Thesis 45 ECTS

Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission.


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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseMarine BiologyElective course
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseElective course

Year 2

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Restricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective course

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.

Programme Overview

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. Below, you will find course tables showing the study structure if the minor subject is within the field of science with study start in September or February.

See the full programme overview, and a description of the competencies and skills you obtain in the Curriculum for Biology With a Minor Subject >>

Example 1: Study Start 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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Minor subjectMinor subjectMinor subjectMinor subject
Minor subjectMinor subjectRestricted elective courseRestricted elective course

Year 2

Block 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Restricted elective courseVideregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fagThesis
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective course

Example 2: Study Start February, Minor Subject Within the Field of Science

Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission.


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

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.

Year 1

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Minor subjectMinor subjectMinor subjectMinor subject
Minor subjectMinor subjectRestricted elective courseVideregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag

Year 2

Block 3Block 4Block 1Block 2
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective courseThesis
Restricted elective courseRestricted elective course

Restricted Elective Courses

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

Please note: The programme curriculum is for the current academic year. A revised curriculum for the coming academic year will follow.

Video: Bernhard and Tessa talk about the study programme in Biology

Career opportunities

You should pursue studies in Biology if you are into biological phenomena like DNA, have an interest in nature management, or would like to investigate the issues that life itself confronts us with every day.

It is a programme where theory alternate with practical work in the field, in the lab, or both. The wide range of courses in the programme offers you the opportunity to specialise in one of the many disciplines in the field of biology and thereby tailor your education to your interests and dreams for the future.

Competence Description

A graduate degree in Biology offers you a strong foundation for mastering important scientific techniques. You will leave the graduate programme equipped with skills applicable in nature, as well as in the lab. 

Regardless of your specialisation, you will be able to:

  • Apply the most recent and most advanced experimental techniques, measuring methods, and equipment in the field and/or in the laboratory.
  • Analyse, interpret, and critically evaluate experimental complex stratified biological data from a range of methods.
  • Summarise a research subject based on original scientific literature.

Furthermore, you'll have the competences to:

  • Manage, advice on, and conduct research into biological systems, based on in-depth biological knowledge of the systems.
  • Hypothesise, independently formulate and conduct experiments, in the field and/or in the laboratory.
  • Explain, communicate, and put into perspective a scientific problem, both orally and in writing.
  • Combine and further develop advanced methods and techniques, including the competencies required to evaluate the complexity of the data collected, sources of error, and methodological uncertainties.
  • Disseminate knowledge about the subject area in both academic and non-academic contexts.

Employment

Biologists work in a variety of fields. The MSc programme in Biology covers a broad set of skills, so immediate job prospects are good. Also, your education and training can easily be targeted to suit specific career aims. Often, biologists get jobs in:

  • biotech or pharmaceutical companies
  • government ministries
  • municipalities
  • universities
  • upper secondary schools
  • intellectual property consultancies
  • environmental organisations
  • the media

Student life

High quality education in English, a flexible study structure, excellent facilities, an international study environment, attractive and green campus areas, and the opportunity to experience life in Copenhagen, the cool capital of Denmark. These are some of the qualities about studying at Faculty of Science (SCIENCE) at University of Copenhagen that you can expect.

Throughout the year, various social activities are arranged for all SCIENCE students and for international students specifically. These activities include:

  • Introduction Days for new students 
  • A welcome programme for international students
  • International dinners, courses, and lectures
  • Sports activities such as fun runs or bicycle races
  • Career workshops

Students live in residence halls outside campus or share a flat in the Copenhagen area. You will find that the relatively small size of Copenhagen makes it easy to get around, even by bike.

Where Will I be Studying?

The Biology programme is primarily based at North Campus.

The University’s North Campus is centrally located. It is home to scientific, pharmaceutical and health science research, and neighbour to the Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Metropolitan University College, and Fælledparken.

Many exciting building activities are going on at the campus areas at the moment, including the construction of a new Natural History Museum and the Niels Bohr Building. Furthermore, North Campus is part of a coherent district of science, health and interdisciplinarity – Innovation District Copenhagen – which is being developed these years.

You can read more about campus life at the university here:

Here you will find some useful links and videos about student life and housing in Copenhagen, and the welcome programme for international students at Faculty of Science.

Video: Study Science at University of Copenhagen

Meet Elizabeth and Alex who study at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. See what it is like to live and study in Denmark.

Video: SCIENCE Welcome Programme

The SCIENCE Welcome Programme is a great way for international students to be introduced to the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen.

Contact student guidance

Contact SCIENCE Student Service

Do you have questions about the programme structure, study or career opportunities, admission requirements or application procedure, please feel free to contact SCIENCE Student Services.

Contact SCIENCE Student Services

Location

  • Faculty of Science, North Campus, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 København N.

Similar programmes