Molecular Biology

This Master’s degree program is offered by the Biozentrum of the University of Basel. It provides a direct access to contemporary molecular biology research. The Biozentrum conducts research and teaching at the highest international level and creates a working atmosphere which equally promotes professional and personal development. The core activity of the program is a supervised practical research work lasting one year. In parallel, the students also attend lectures to strengthen their knowledge in their chosen specialist subjects. These include Biochemistry, Biophysics, Computational Biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Infection Biology, Microbiology, Neurobiology, Pharmacology, Structural Biology and Cell Biology. Towards their Master’s degree, the students demonstrate their capacity to conduct a scientific research project by presenting the results of their work in both written and oral form.

Research at the Biozentrum Basel embraces a wide range of topics and techniques, while following an overarching intent to understand the molecular organization of living organisms. The research is thus concerned with structure and function of macromolecules, the wiring of regulatory circuits, and the general principles underlying complex biological systems and their dynamic interactions. Currently, the research groups of the Biozentrum comprise five focal areas of investigation: Growth & Development, Infection Biology, Neurobiology, Structural Biology & Biophysics and Computational & Systems Biology. These research areas share concepts and technologies and act in a synergic and collaborative manner. New relevant questions often arise at the overlap between the research areas, while innovative solutions arise from the individual technical. The Master’s degree program has been increasingly designed to meet the requirements of modern biological research.

The Master of Science is a postgraduate degree that requires a successfully completed Bachelor’s program. The Master’s program awards 90 ECTS credits in total. The Master’s degree program Molecular Biology is a “mono-course” consisting of one core subject. One ECTS credit point roughly equals 30 hours of studying.

Combination of subjects

The degree programs at the Faculty of Science are generally mono-courses with the possible addition of an in-depth subject and an elective subject. The Master’s degree program Molecular Biology does include an elective subject; however, no other subjects are required.

Career opportunities

After successfully completing their Master degree the graduates can study further for a doctoral qualification or follow a profession in all fields of life sciences. Biology is a subject that covers many disciplines and the career opportunities include research and related activities in the fields of medicine, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The practical advantages of the subject are found not only in basic research but also, increasingly, in business, society and politics. Numerous jobs are on offer to biology graduates, within the university and also in private industry, government service, schools and organizations, be it as researchers, communicators, teachers or advisors. For these reasons, biology can rightly be considered as this century's key science.

The following degrees allow for direct admission to the Master's degree program Molecular Biology: Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Major in Molecular Biology or a Bachelor of Science in Computational Sciences with a Major in Computational Biology from the University of Basel. Other Swiss university degrees require approval by the respective teaching committee. Foreign degrees require approval by the examination commission of the Faculty of Science. 

Application under http://www.unibas.ch/application; the application fee amounts to CHF 100.-. Application deadlines are April 30 for the fall semester and November 30 for the spring semester. 

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