Master's Programme in Life Science Technologies

Bioinformatics and Digital Health covers a wide range of topics in bioinformatics and computational systems biology. To better understand the methodological basis commonly used in the field, the major provides students with a comprehensive background in probabilistic modelling, machine learning, and data science.

The major is designed to give strong competences in:

• computational and data science,
• skills for developing new computational methods and models, and
• applying them to real-world biomolecular data.

Examples of research questions studied include:

• predicting drug-target interactions
• reconstructing biological networks
• finding associations between genotypes and diseases, and
• modelling dynamical behaviour of complex biological pathways.

The major in Bioinformatics and Digital Health also offers a competitive doctoral track where a limited number of top students can be admitted. Students selected for the doctoral track can have their studies tailored towards pursuing PhD studies and can start working towards a PhD in one of the department’s research groups already during their master studies. Applicants are asked to indicate their interest for the doctoral track in their motivation letter. Read more >>

Biomedical Engineering builds on a solid basis of physics and technology to characterise, monitor, image and influence biological systems. This major introduces the student to physics of biological systems and to key concepts of related imaging and signal analysis. In addition, the major provides knowledge and skills for developing novel engineering solutions for diagnostic and treatment needs in healthcare. The Biomedical Engineering major offers excellent foundations for pursuing a career in the medical technology industry or in academia.

After completing the major, the student will be able to:

• characterise biophysical systems by conceptual and quantitative models
• explain how the laws of physics enable and constrain the operation of biological systems
• follow the progress of biomedical engineering
• deepen their knowledge and skills on specific topics within biomedical engineering
• apply existing scientific knowledge in the field to research and development in the industry
• start translating new research results into product development in biomedical technology.

The Biosensing and Bioelectronics major educates engineering experts who have versatile comprehension of detection, processing and analyses of biosignals from various sources. To accomplish this, the student is introduced to nanoscale phenomena, microfabrication techniques, biomaterials science, biochemical recognition of biomolecules, physical transducers, sensor technologies and to various clinical equipment. The basic knowledge needed in the development of innovations in the field of biosensors and bioelectronics is provided. Students are also strongly encouraged to consider practical aspects and possible applications of their knowhow throughout their studies.

Students of the Biosensing and Bioelectronics major are introduced to:

• nanoscale phenomena,
• microfabrication techniques,
• biomaterials science,
• biochemical recognition of biomolecules,
• physical transducers,
• sensor technologies, and
• clinical equipment like medical imaging.

Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering provides a solid understanding of biological phenomena, biomaterials and small organic molecules important to the field of life science. At the core of the teaching are:

• the understanding of molecular and cellular level phenomena,
• reprogramming of cells,
• molecular design and characterisation of small pharmaceutically active molecules, and
• the synthesis and characterisation of biomaterials.

Specialisation during the major allows acquiring in-depth understanding in one of the selected fields or studying at the interface of the different fields.

The major in Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering is strongly research-driven and is tightly linked to research activities related to the fields of biotechnology, organic chemistry, chemical and biological microdevices, and polymer science at the School of Chemical Engineering. Employment sectors for graduates are within the broad context of engineering combined with chemistry and biotechnology within the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries.

Complex Systems is a transdisciplinary research area that builds upon statistical physics, computer science, data science, and applied mathematics. The major in Complex Systems provides the students with tools to understand systems with large numbers of interacting elements from the human brain to social networks and from living to technological systems.

Studies in Complex Systems focus on system-level understanding and giving students hands-on experience in data-intensive research. The set of tools in the curriculum includes:

• network science,
• nonlinear dynamics,
• statistics and stochastics, and
• machine learning, together with
• the fundamentals of dealing with empirical data and computational data analysis.

This interdisciplinary major is suitable for students from different backgrounds (e.g. physics, bioinformatics, computer science), and students can choose to emphasise computational data analysis, theory or application areas as per their own wishes and interests.

The major in Complex Systems also offers a competitive doctoral track where a limited number of top students can be admitted. Students selected for the doctoral track can have their studies tailored towards pursuing PhD studies, and can start working towards a PhD in one of the department’s research groups already during their master studies. Applicants are asked to indicate their interest for the doctoral track in their motivation letter. Read more >>

Human Neuroscience and Technology draws from the world-class research conducted at the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering. The biggest challenges in brain research are in better understanding the function of the human brain in health and disease as studied in well-controlled and increasingly complex experimental settings, including during social interactions.

The aim of the major is to provide students with:

• a profound understanding of the structure and functions of human brain,
• brain research methods and instrumentation, and
• Neurotechnologies.

The teaching faculty consists of recognised scientists in their research fields studying functions of sensory systems and cognitive functions and developing brain research technologies. The curriculum reflects the research interests of the teaching faculty.

The curriculum of the Human Neuroscience and Technology major is a carefully tailored combination of:

• modern systems-level research methodology of the brain, mind, and human cognition,
• signal and computational analysis, and
• modelling methods.

The emphasis of the curriculum is experimental. Although regular lecture and course work is also required, part of the studies will take place in small groups under the guidance of a senior scientist.

The applications to Master’s Programme in Life Science Technologies (LifeTech) are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Academic performance

Relevance of previous studies

Recognition and quality of institution

Suitability

Other areas of competence

Suitability

The selection process for those Life Science Technologies applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria for master's studies comprises two phases.

Phase I
In Phase I, the applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of previous studies
• Academic performance
• Recognition and quality of institution
• Suitability (motivation letter)
• Other areas of competence

Only the applications which are ranked highest in this evaluation stage will be invited to Phase II.

Phase II
In Phase II, the evaluation is based on the following criterium:

• Suitability (interview)

After the evaluation conducted in Phase II, the best applicants will be selected based on the joint assessment of Phase I and II.

The programme does not have a minimum quota to be filled, and not all eligible applicants will necessarily be admitted.

In addition to obligatory application documents, LifeTech applicants are requested to provide the following programme-specific documents:

• Self-evaluation form
  • The online form will be open during the application period. A link to it will be added to this page.
• Motivation letter
  • The motivation letter should be written in English. Its maximum length is 4000 characters.
  • The motivation letter should indicate how the previous degree together with the planned studies align with and support the future career development and goals of the LifeTech applicant.
  • Bioinformatics and Digital Health and Complex Systems applicants interested in doctoral track should indicate this in their motivation letter.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Note that only those items mentioned in the CV that are separately confirmed by other documents (recommendation letter, transcripts, certificates, test results) will be taken into account in the evaluation. Mentioning competence in the CV is not sufficient alone
• At least one academic recommendation letter
  • The recommendation letter should preferably be from a university professor, lecturer or a thesis instructor who has supervised applicant’s studies. There are no specific instructions for the format or content of the recommendation letter. The letter should comment on the applicant’s suitability and aptitude for the programme applied to. Recommendation letters written by work supervisors are accepted also in case that some time has already passed since graduation.
• Official transcript of records for other university studies which are not included in the mandatory part of the application (e.g. relevant incomplete degrees, exchange studies, non‐degree studies)
• Copies of relevant certificates of other activities such as patents, publications, work certificates
• GRE/GMAT test results, if taken (please include a scanned copy of the result).