Biomedical Technology
Hands-on skills in the crossroads of molecular biology, cell technology and bioinformatics
Our target group are students with a Bachelor’s degree in biological, computational or mathematical sciences who want to attain in-depth knowledge and hands-on skills in the crossroads of molecular biology, cell technology and bioinformatics, with a special emphasis on areas that have the potential to enhance human health. The courses are firmly grounded on international research and focus on transferring this knowledge into practice.
Biomedical technology is a multidisciplinary field that builds on understanding biological systems on the molecular level and develops new approaches to advance medical and biotechnological applications. The programme brings together expertise and methods in a large number of natural, medical, and engineering sciences: biology, chemistry, medicine, genetics, statistics, and computational and data sciences. There are three specialisation options:
- Bioinformatics
- Cell technology
- Molecular biology.
The programme offers you a unique learning environment that combines biosciences and technology with a specific focus on health. The study options are flexible and the teaching groups small. During the studies, you will build networks and interact with our world-class research teams that provide many practical training opportunities. As our graduate, you may work as an academic specialist within scientific research or teaching, or in research and development. Welcome to join our multidisciplinary, multinational expert community of biomedical sciences!
Tampere University - Biomedical Technology
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Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens
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The aim of the programme is to equip students with capabilities for expert tasks in the various fields of application of biotechnology (research, teaching, administration, product development, marketing) in both the public and private sectors, in Finland and abroad. The education implements a multidisciplinary approach. Multi-modal teaching methods support the achievement of the content objectives of the degree.
On completion of the Master’s degree, students will have:
- a profound understanding of the field of biomedical technology
- expertise in the scientific methods and their application in their field of specialisation
- the capability to apply scientific knowledge in the field of biosciences
- good written and oral communication skills and an ability for multidisciplinary scientific interaction
- the ability to work as an academic expert in one’s own field of expertise
- the capability to undertake scientific postgraduate and research training
The Master's Degree Programme in Biomedical Technology is taught entirely in English.
The Master’s Degree Programme (MDP) in Biomedical Technology is intended for students with a Bachelor’s degree in biological, computational or mathematical sciences who want to attain in-depth knowledge and hands-on skills in the crossroads of molecular biology, cell technology and bioinformatics with a focus on human health. The programme is open for applications from both Finnish and international applicants.
Biomedical technology is a multidisciplinary field that builds on molecule-level understanding of biological systems with a goal to develop new approaches to advance medical and biotechnological applications. The Master’s Degree Programme in Biomedical Technology provides multi-disciplinary education that combines natural sciences with technology, with a specific focus on methods that have potential to enhance human health. The programme brings together the expertise and methods of a wide range of natural, medical, and engineering sciences, including biology, chemistry, medicine, genetics, as well as statistics, computational, and data sciences. There are three options for specialisation:
- bioinformatics
- cell technology
- molecular biology.
Bioinformatics enables you to analyse the secrets of the human genome and to develop computational methods for understanding the origins of disease. In molecular biology, you focus on the functions of genes and proteins, developing your skills as an academic or research expert. In cell technology, you study tissue technology and the wonderful world of stem cells, and you can be involved, for example, in developing new human spare parts and tissue models as a research tool.
The degree program provides excellent preparation for future working life, where the ability to collaborate with experts in various fields is a key success factor. This is where you become a truly international player.
In the MDP in Biomedical Technology, students choose one of three specialisation options: bioinformatics, molecular biology and cell technology. The student's educational background may limit the available options. At the beginning of the studies, each student makes an individual study plan and the specialisation option is chosen as part of this personal study planning (PSP) process. The teaching staff and the administrative personnel assist in the PSP process.
The tuition fee of the programme is 12 000 euros per academic year for non-EU/EEA students with a scholarship system for fee-paying students. For more information, please see Tuition Fees and Scholarships.
The two-year MDP in Biomedical Technology is taught entirely in English and comprises 120 ECTS credits. The curriculum consists of general studies, advanced studies and elective studies. All three specialisation options include a module of methodological studies focusing on the specific methods and applications of the field. For the master’s thesis, every student completes an individual research project of 40 ECTS credits.
For more information, please see the Curriculum.
Every student completes a master's thesis of 40 ECTS credits. The thesis is based on individual experimental or computational research that is completed under the guidance of an appointed supervisor. The thesis seminar of 2 ECTS credits supports the thesis work process.
The programme provides students with broad knowledge and skills necessary for pursuing a successful career in the field of biomedical technology both in Finland and abroad. The employment opportunities are diverse. Our graduates have found work as experts in research and development in academic institutions as well as in private companies. Some work in sales and marketing and there is also a growing need for talented experts in the public sector and governmental institutions. Our graduates are also able to pursue a career in academia and continue their studies towards a PhD degree.
In addition to studies in one’s own degree programme, students may take full advantage of the teaching offered by the Tampere higher education community ranging from technical to vocational studies in various fields.
Our Faculty brings together research expertise in medicine, biosciences and technology and is committed to generating new knowledge and solutions that promote health and wellbeing and benefit both individuals and the broader society. Our research interests focus on biomaterials, biosensors, immunology, clinical medicine, tissue engineering, computational systems, imaging, and cell and molecular biology. The teaching staff is actively involved in research and thereby able to introduce the latest scientific achievements to the students.
Practical research training is a vital part of the studies and is typically carried out in one of the research groups at the Faculty or in companies. During the MSc thesis work, at the latest, each student will undertake original research.
The MSc degree completed at the end of the programme qualifies for doctoral studies in the field of the specialisation both in Finland and abroad. Upon graduation research-oriented students are able to apply for a PhD position in one of the many research groups at the Faculty.
Carefully read through the general eligibility criteria and the programme-specific eligibility criteria and see whether you meet them. For additional questions on applying, application documents and application process, please contact our Admissions office. For questions regarding the content of the programme, please contact Ms. Catarina Ståhle-Nieminen, catarina.stahle-nieminen [at] tuni.fi.
Click to see the admission criteria
Tampere University master's programme application period 2021
9 December 2020 - 13 January 2021 3:00 p.m. (GMT+2)
Eligibility criteria in the Master's degree programmes consist of two parts: Tampere University's general eligibility criteria, and programme-specific eligibility criteria, which specify and/or add information to the general criteria. You must meet both to be considered eligible. Applicants who do not meet both the general eligibility and the programme-specific eligibility criteria will not be selected as students in Tampere University.
General eligibility
To be eligible to apply to a Master’s degree programme at Tampere University, you must have:
- Bachelor’s degree - nationally recognized first cycle degree*
- which corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits) or to three years of full-time study
- from a relevant field for the Master’s degree programme that you’re applying to
- from an recognised institution of higher education
- The Bachelor’s degree completed in a university outside Finland must provide eligibility for university-level master’s degree studies in the country in which it was awarded.
- AND a good command of the English language for academic purposes. For more information, please see Language requirements.
*Please see detailed information on the General eligibility criteria web page.
Applicants in their final year of the Bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply if the degree will be completed by 31 July 2021. In this case, they would be accepted conditionally. Please see special instructions for applicants in the final year of the Bachelor's degree.
Admission to studies leading directly to a master's degree will be based on the applicant’s bachelor's degree conferred by a university or a university of applied sciences. Depending on programme-specific admission requirements, the programme may take into account skills previously acquired by applicants when considering applications.
A previously completed master’s degree will not make applicants ineligible for admission. However, applicants who are applying for admission to pursue a second master’s degree will only be admitted for particularly weighty reasons.
Programme specific eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply to the Master’s degree programme in Biomedical Technology, you must have a successfully completed Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in biosciences or information technology, or in a closely related field. If the degree is from a different field, it must include a sufficient amount of studies in biosciences or information technology.
When applying to a Master’s programme at Tampere University, you must submit evidence of your good command of the English language for academic purposes. You have two options of demonstrating your English language proficiency: language tests or previous studies.
In both cases you must submit a document as a proof of language skills. Please see detailed instructions and additional information on the language requirements web page.
English language tests and the minimum result requirements
| Test name | Minimum test result |
| TOEFL iBT / TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition |
92 overall with no section below 20 |
| IELTS (academic) / IELTS Indicator |
6.5 overall with no section below 5.5 |
| PTE (academic) | 62 overall with no section in Communicative Skills below 42 |
| C1 Advanced | C |
| C2 Proficiency | C1 |
| Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency (English) | Proficiency level 5 |
*The previous CAE and CPE have been renamed as C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
Previous studies
It is possible to be exempted from submitting a language test score if you have completed particular studies listed by Tampere University that demonstrate your good command of English for academic purposes. Only studies that fulfill the criteria will be accepted so if you apply without a valid language test result, carefully examine the exemptions listed by Tampere University and how to submit documents.
20 students are admitted into the Biomedical Technology programme.
Students are selected to the programme from those applicants who submit a complete application (application and sufficient application documents) by the deadline and fulfil the official eligibility criteria.
Applicants indicate the preferred specialisation option (bioinformatics, cell technology or molecular biology) in their application. The applicant’s educational background must provide sufficient knowledge and skills to undertake studies in the chosen option.
The student selection is made by an admissions committee based on the academic qualifications and merits shown in the application documents. Please note that not all applicants fulfilling the requirements can be admitted.
Students admitted to a Master’s degree programme may be required to complement their earlier degree with complementary studies. The complementary studies will be decided at the faculty case by case (maximum 60 ECTS credits).
The number of eligible applicants annually exceeds the number of students that can be accepted. The student selection is made by an admissions committee based on the academic qualifications and merits shown in the application documents.
In this programme, applicants are ranked based on the admission points they receive for previous qualifications, English language skills and other relevant factors that support the application.
Admission points (maximum 100 points) are given in the following categories:
- Previous qualifications maximum 60 points
- English language skills maximum 10 points
- Other relevant factors that support the application maximum 30 points
- CV/Résumé and the motivation letter submitted with the application constitute the basis of admission points given in this category.
Admissions step-by-step checklist
- Check the general eligibility and programme-specific eligibility criteria of the programme/s you wish to apply. You are allowed to apply to three programmes at the same time.
- Read through the instructions on how to apply and start preparing your application documents as early as possible!
- Take a language test if required, please see the language requirements.
- When the application period opens, fill in the online application at Studyinfo.fi during the application period and upload required enclosures to the application. The application period is 9 December 2020 at 8.00 GMT+2 - 13 January 2021 at 15.00 GMT+2.
- Upload all required enclosures and send the educational documents by post to Tampere University Admissions Office within two weeks, by 27 January 2021 at 15.00 GMT+2. The documents must reach the University by the given deadline and they must be delivered according to the country-specific requirements, if applicable.
- You can apply for a scholarship on the application form, if applicable.
- Wait for the admission results to be announced at the end of March 2021.
- If you are offered a study place, remember to accept it by the given deadline. Pay the tuition fee if required.
- Start preparing for your arrival in Finland well in advance.
- Register as a student and join the Tampere University community when the studies start in August 2021!
Additional information on application process in detail.
Online application form
The online application form will be available only during the application period only at Studyinfo.fi. The application period starts on 9 December 2020 at 8 am (GMT+2) and ends on 13 January 2021 at 3 pm (GMT+2).
You will need to upload copies of all required documents as enclosures on the application form. In addition to the general application enclosures, some programmes have listed additional programme-specific enclosures that are needed when applying to these programmes.
You will need to upload all required enclosures on your application form online at Studyinfo.fi. In addition to uploading, you must submit officially certified copies of your educational documents to Tampere University Admissions Office by post. Applicants whose degrees have been awarded in certain countries need to pay special attention to the documentation and documents from these countries must be submitted in a particular way. These country-specific requirements must always be followed first and foremost, prior to the regular requirements.
Applicants must post the educational documents to Tampere University Admissions Office so that they arrive by 27 January 2021 at 15.00 GMT+2. You can find the list of the required general application enclosures and further instructions on the Application documents webpage.
There are no programme-specific enclosures when applying to this programme.
However there is a programme-specific question on the application form and you will be asked to indicate the preferred specialisation option: bioinformatics, cell technology or molecular biology.
Admissions results will be announced at the end of March 2021. All applicants will be informed about the admissions results.
Please see additional information regarding the results of student selection and Tampere University's rectification procedure.