Infectious Diseases Vaccinology and Drug Discovery

Specialized Master’s degree program of the University of Basel and the University of Singapore (Joint Degree)
Research-based training on novel approaches to tackle major communicable and emerging disease problems at national and global level emphasizing the science of R&D for drugs and vaccines.

Focal area of teaching and research

• Infection biology with a focus on drug and vaccine development focussing on R&D approaches as well as target identification and biomarkers for protection and/or cure
• Immunology focussing on clinical immunology
• Clinical epidemiology

The Master of Science degree is a postgraduate degree that requires a successfully completed Bachelor’s program. The Specialized Master’s degree program Infectious Diseases, Vaccinology and Drug Discovery awards 90 ECTS credits and is a so called mono-course consisting of only one core subject. Supervised practical work over the course of one year constitutes the core of the studies. One ECTS credit point roughly equals 30 hours of studying.

The language of instruction is English. The Master’s thesis is written in English. 

The program comprises 18 months of formal teaching and research work, of which students will spend the first 4 months (September to December) in Basel, Switzerland, attached to the Swiss TPH and the UoB-Biozentrum, before moving to Singapore for the research work and their selected course modules. 

The following degrees allow for direct admission to the Specialized Master's degree program Infection Biology: Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology or BSc in Biochemistry or BSc in Medicine or BSc in Veterinary Medicine or BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences; minimum average mark of 5.0 for all BSc degrees and basic knowledge in infection biology/microbiology of at least 4 CP are required.

Students with a BSc degree but insufficient mark can alternatively pass the GRE® subject test in “Quantitative Reasoning” or pass the GRE® subject test «Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology» or pass the GRE® subject test «Biology» with a score in the top 35 % (GRE = Graduate Record Examinations®).

Students with a BSc in a different branch will be assessed individually. Other Swiss university degrees have to be approved by the respective teaching committee. Foreign degrees have to be approved by the examination commission of the Faculty of Science.

The University of Basel currently collects CHF 850 in tuition fees per semester, along with CHF 10 for the student body.

Please note that there are also costs for books and, of course, your personal living expenses. The following list provides a general indication of monthly living expenses if you are not living at home with your family.

Rent (room, shared living space, student dormitory)
Minimum: CHF 400; Average: CHF 600

Food, household, clothing
Minimum: CHF 450; Average: CHF 600

Insurance/healthcare
Minimum: CHF 200; Average: CHF 300

Transportation
Minimum: CHF 60; Average: CHF 90

Learning materials
Minimum: CHF 100; Average: CHF 150

Tuition Fees
CHF 140

Recreation/culture
Minimum: CHF 150; Average: CHF 220

Total
Minimum: CHF 1500; Average: CHF 2100