Medical Biology

The Master of Science in Medical Biology degree is intended for students who are interested in biological research in the medical field.

Teaching focuses on the acquisition of key areas of expertise necessary for the development of new pre-clinical and clinical medical applications. This training gives students an in-depth knowledge of basic cellular functions, systems that transmit signals inside and among cells, human biology, and the normal and pathological functioning of the most important systems of the human organism. Considerable attention is also paid to learning and applying techniques used in medical biology, as well as to personal research work.

The first semester provides an introduction to human biology in the broad sense. Teaching cov-ers the basic cellular functions and the transmis-sion systems of signals inside and among cells, as well as the normal and pathological func-tioning of the most important systems of the human organism. Students may obtain animal experimentation certification or follow a clinical research module.The second semester is dedicated to speciali-sation and students choose a study path from among the four options available: Immunology and Cancer, Metabolism, Neurosciences, and Pharmacological Sciences. They begin their personal research work in the chosen study path.The third semester is dedicated to the com-pletion of personal research work.

Examinations

Examinations are held once every semester. For subjects included in the common study programme of the first semester and courses of the second semester there are both written and oral examinations. Examination questions are often comprehen-sive and refer to the subject matter of several courses. The successful completion of personal work carried out for the Master’s degree is worth 45 credits (of the 90 necessary to obtain the Master’s degree).MobilityStudents registered for a Master’s degree cycle may complete part of their studies in a partner institution recognised by UNIL.If the mobility study programme is accepted by the School of Biology and confirmed by examination passes, the credits earned will be recognised and validated in the student’s degree course.

SYLLABUS

1st semester

Common study programmeCourses, seminars and practical work in:

• Cell Biology
• Intracellular Signalling
• Microbiology
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Neurological Diseases
• Metabolic Diseases
• Immunology and Cancer
• Impact of a Patent on your

Research

Optional Modules:

• Animal Experimentation Certificate or
• Clinical Research

Module Personal Research Work (Introduction)

30 ECTS credits

2nd semester

Choice of study pathCourses and practical work in clinical medicineOptions:

• Immunology and Cancer
• Metabolism
• Neurosciences
• Pharmacological Sciences In each study path, start of Personal Research Work

30 ECTS credits
3rd semester
Personal Research Work

• Continuation and Conclusion of Research Work

30 ECTS credits

Candidates must be holders of a Bachelor of Science in Biology or in a field considered to be equivalent awarded by a Swiss university. Another degree or academic title may be judged equivalent and give access to the Master’s degree course, with or without further conditions. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 580 TOEFL iBT® test: 90