Master of Science (MSc) in Biosolutions

Citizen in Denmark, EU EEA og Switzerland

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 in relevant courses
• Grades in relevant courses

Relevant courses include courses in biological system (microorganisms or plants), biochemistry/organic chemistry, biotechnology methods and statistics/mathematics.

Limitation on second degrees

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

Biosolutions is a two-year Master’s degree programme. The degree programme is taught in Kalundborg, and most of the courses you follow involve real-life cases and collaboration with the biotech industry. Furthermore, you will have every chance of doing a Project in Practice or writing your Master’s thesis in collaboration with a relevant company.

In the first year of the degree programme, you take compulsory courses that provide you with the knowledge needed to be able to work with and improve the process of developing bio-based solutions in industrial contexts. You will also follow courses in data analysis and use this to optimise bio-based production as well as in the design and development of new bio-based products.

For the remainder of the first year and the beginning of the second year, you can choose between restricted elective and elective courses. You can focus on topics such as sustainable production, development of new biosolutions, regulation and legislation in production, quality control or project management.

You can also study abroad as part of your degree programme. The University of Copenhagen has exchange agreements with many universities worldwide.

Master’s thesis

You will spend most of your second year of study writing your Master’s thesis, which is equal to 45 ECTS. This is a chance to immerse yourself in a topic that you have chosen together with your supervisor and – in most cases – a relevant company. You can work on your Master’s thesis at the company or at the university.

Programme Overview

Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
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.

Restricted Elective Courses

Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. A detailed description of each course will follow later when the curriculum has been finalised.

• Quality Assessment and Legislation – From Idea to Product
• Applying Biosolutions
• Introduction to Project Management
• Advanced Production Systems
• Sustainable Processing and Production Systems
• Project Outside Course Scope (7.5 or 15 ECTS)
• Project in Practice
• Thesis Preparation Project

Biosolutions gives you an academic profile tailored for jobs in companies working with bio-based solutions. The degree programme is designed to provide you with the competences needed to build bridges between science and manufacturing companies.

Job prospects are good as Biosolutions graduates are in great demand in Kalundborg, in the rest of Denmark, and internationally.

During your studies, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with leading biotech companies, thus gaining an in-depth understanding of the development potential and business models of the biotech industry. Most of your courses combine real-life cases with the latest research in the field of biosolutions from the University of Copenhagen.

The programme is based in Kalundborg, which is a rapidly developing biotech city. A large number of biotech companies such as Novo Nordisk, Novozymes, Chr. Hansen, UniBio, 21stBio and a number of small start-ups have established themselves in Kalundborg. The city is also reknown for SYMBIOSIS, a collaboration on circular resource recycling between companies based in the city.

Competence description

As a graduate, you will have acquired skills and competences that are in high demand:

• You have acquired knowledge of the entire process behind industrial production of bio-based products such as biologicals, biomaterials, or foods.
• You are qualified to work with fermentation and refining of biological raw materials using, for example, production organisms and enzymes.
• You have the skills required to control and optimise the different steps in the process such as pH value, temperatures, enzyme concentrations, water, and energy consumption.
• You can test and evaluate the different steps in the manufacturing processes to optimise quality and sustainability in production and in the finished product.
• You have the digital skills and competences needed, for example, to use data from sensors for quality control and to optimise and design new processes and products.
• You can design and develop new bio-based products – from choice of raw materials and process, to finished product.
• You have knowledge of quality assessments and all relevant legislation in the biotech field. 

Depending on your choice of courses, you may also acquire competences and in-depth knowledge of legislation (including GMO) and quality control, sustainable production systems (e.g., life cycle analyses and upcycling) and project management.

Employment

Your expertise in bio-based solutions is in demand among manufacturers of e.g., ingredients, foods, probiotics, and bio-based chemicals. Job opportunities also include organisations and companies working with environmental technologies, sustainability, legislation, supervision, food safety, and plant breeding.

You can, for example, be employed to work with improving and optimising the utilisation of raw materials and other resources, product quality, circular processes and the development of new biological products and technologies.

As a student enrolled in a new degree programme in Kalundborg, you will help shape a budding study environment that is also characterised by many international students. You will meet students from existing and new degree programmes at:

• Helix lab
• University College Absalon
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
• The Royal Danish Academy for Architecture, Design and Conservation
• Copenhagen School of Marine Engineering and Technology Management (Danish only)

Kalundborg as a University City

It is easy to get around by bicycle, and there is a train station close to the new campus that connects Kalundborg with Copenhagen and the rest of Zealand.

Kalundborg has many associations, and campus is located close to swimming and sports facilities, the city centre and library. Being near the sea, water sports activities such as rowing, windsurfing and sailing are also on offer. At the harbour, you will find beach volleyball courts, a giant outdoor screen and summer events.  

In addition, you can participate in a wide range of activities right from community kitchen, city walks, reading clubs and creative meetings in SYMB, which is Kalundborg’s modern and innovative community and entrepreneurial centre at Kalundborg Station.  

Accommodation

Housing prices are relatively low in Kalundborg, and it is possible to live close to both the campus area and the city centre. Read more about Kalundborg and student accommodation here:

• Go to Kalundborg
• Kalundborg dormitory
• Mobile house

New student housing units are being built to cater for a growing number of students.