Tumor Biology

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We offer a two-year Master´s programme in Tumor biology that includes several advanced courses designed to afford you with an in-depth theoretical knowledge as well as advanced laboratory and methodological skills in the field. The programme is intended to prepare the participants for a professional career in basic and applied cancer research in academia or in pharmaceutical industry.

What will you study
The studies will provide you with a good understanding of the molecular and cellular processes involved in normal and disease conditions in the human body, with a special emphasis on systems biology of tumor biology and cancer genetics.

Individual laboratory work and computer-based analysis of experimental biological data are important parts of the study programme. During the first semester you will study advanced courses in tumor biology, experimental biomedicine, biostatistics and bioinformatics as well as their applications in tumor biology. During the second semester, the main focus will be given on the analysis of experimental biological data and includes advanced courses in systems biology, analysis of gene expression and molecular markers for diseases, as well as a project work in tumor biology. During the programme, advanced laboratory facilities are employed for DNA and protein analyses such as PCR amplification, qPCR, site-directed mutagenesis, cloning, and protein expression. Computational resources for experimental data analysis and database searching are available and regularly used.

The programme ends with a master degree thesis project (60 ECTS credits) during the last year. Throughout the project work, you will expand your theoretical and laboratory knowledge to solve a relevant research problem with a systems biology approach within the tumor biology area. The thesis work is performed individually under the direction of a qualified cancer researcher as your supervisor at the University of Skövde or after approval of your programme director can be performed externally at other universities or companies.

After completed studies
After successfully completing the programme, you will receive a Master´s degree in Systems Biology, which will provide you with the necessary qualifications to seek for job opportunities in pharmaceutical and biotech companies, research positions at governmental and private research laboratories as well as PhD study positions.

During the first semester you will study advanced courses in tumor biology, experimental biomedicine, biostatistics and bioinformatics as well as their applications in tumor biology. During the second semester, the main focus will be given on the analysis of experimental biological data and includes advanced courses in systems biology, analysis of gene expression and molecular markers for diseases, as well as a project work in tumor biology. During the programme, advanced laboratory facilities are employed for DNA and protein analyses such as PCR amplification, qPCR, site-directed mutagenesis, cloning, and protein expression. Computational resources for experimental data analysis and database searching are available and regularly used.

The programme ends with a master degree thesis project (60 ECTS credits) during the last year. Throughout the project work, you will expand your theoretical and laboratory knowledge to solve a relevant research problem with a systems biology approach within the tumor biology area. The thesis work is performed individually under the direction of a qualified cancer researcher as your supervisor at the University of Skövde or after approval of your programme director can be performed externally at other universities or companies.

To be eligible for the program a Bachelors Degree, e.g. at least 180 ECTS, with a major in the biological or medical area is required. The biological area is here defined as: Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or Physiology. The medical area is here defined as Biomedicine but also include Pharmacology. A further requirement is proof of skills in English equivalent of studies at upper secondary level in Sweden, known as English course 6 / English course B. This is normally demonstrated by means of an internationally recognized test, e g IELTS or TOEFL or the equivalent. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 575 TOEFL iBT® test: 90

Scholarships
The University of Skövde offers a small number of scholarships to students who are attending a Master's programme at the University and who are liable for tuition fees. If you are an exchange student, please contact your home university for information about thescholarships they provide.

1. UHR Scholarships
The University of Skövde administrates some scholarships funded by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) to students liable to pay tuition fees attending a master's programme at the University. The scholarships are tuition fee waivers of 31,250 SEK per semester (50% of the tuition fee), and the amount is automatically deducted from the tuition fee when you receive your invoice. The scholarships are granted for one academic semester.

2. HS Scholarships
The University of Skövde offers a small number of scholarships to students attending a master's programme at the University who are liable for tuition fees. The scholarships consist of tuition fee waivers of 25,000 SEK per semester, and the amount is automatically deducted from the tuition fee. The scholarships are granted for one academic semester.

Conditions: Both UHR and HS Scholarships can be extended to a subsequent academic semester provided that the students study results are satisfactory. The scholarship granting criterion is academic merit. The scholarships can only be awarded to tuition-paying students. Please note that you have to be able to finance the remainder of the tuition fee yourself, and to cover all the living expenses during your stay in Sweden.

How to apply for a scholarship at the University of Skövde
First apply for one of studies at the University via University Admissions. You must apply for one of our masters programmes at the Swedish official online application service University Admissions.

Then apply for a scholarship at the University of Skövde by filling in the online scholarship application form available on this webpage. Please note that you will need to provide us with the application number you received from the University Admissions website.

3. Other types of scholarships for international students
* Scholarships offered by the Swedish Institute
* Scholarships for exchange students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
* Ciência sem Fronteiras - Science without Borders
* Erasmus Mundus Lamenitec Network