Biology - master

Our Master’s program provides opportunities to explore an array of pressing questions within modern biology and emphasize some of society`s challenges with regard to management of natural resources and biodiversity.

Here are some of the training opportunities provided by UiT:

• You will have access to laboratories, field stations and research vessels providing great facilities for field and experimental work in northern and Arctic regions for your master project and courses.
• You will learn cutting-edge technologies and scientific methods.
• You will be engaged in one of our on-going research projects with the possibility to study a wide range of species spanning from single cell organisms to polar bears.
• You will receive the help and support from highly qualified and enthusiastic supervisors to solve research questions using either field observations, field or laboratory experimentation, theoretical biology and quantitative models or any combination of these and other methods.
• You will learn to work according to the principles of scientific integrity and best practices from planning the project to publication.
• You will receive comprehensive training in writing skills and scientific presentation.
• You may be part of a wide collaboration network across the institute and beyond faculty borders, including institutions involved in nature management, consultancy services and biotechnological research.
• You will have teachers and supervisors that are experienced and established nationally and internationally within their research specializations.

Each of the disciplines is strongly linked to ongoing research in our research groups, providing the relevant theoretical background, training in state-of-the-art laboratory and field methods, thesis and publication writing as well as training of presentation and knowledge transfer proficiency.

The program has seven disciplines (click on the link for a more detailed descriptions):

• Arctic animal physiology
• Freshwater ecology
• Arctic marine ecology
• Molecular environmental biology
• Northern populations and ecosystem
• Arctic marine ecotoxicology
• Ecology and sustainability

Course component

The program has a number of compulsory courses for all students (safety courses, academic skills BIO-3529, data analysis BIO-3012) as well as discipline-specific compulsory components (see the specific discipline for details). For all students undertaking experiments on live animals (vertebrates and decapods), BIO-3503 or HEL-6320 is compulsory. There is the opportunity to apply for courses at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) during the second and third semesters (see a list of relevant courses under each discipline description).

The number of compulsory and elective courses varies depending on the master’s discipline and the sum of courses taken by the student must be at least worth 60 ECTS. The course portfolio taken by individual students will be decided upon consultation with thesis supervisors (see below for details related to the master thesis).

Master students are allowed to take up to 20 ECTS of 2000 level courses. In particular cases, also 10 ECTS of 1000 level courses. Contact the study administration for further information.

It is recommended for students to consider an individual special curriculum (BIO-3805/3810 - 5/10ECTS) with their supervisor on a relevant topic to their master thesis project. It is also recommended for students to consider the course BED-2054 Innovasjon i praksis (10 ECTS, in Norwegian only).

Obligatory Master Thesis component (BIO-3950)

The selection of a master project is done during the first or second semester. You are encouraged to contact teachers and research group members within your discipline as soon as possible to discuss available projects and opportunities and find a master project and supervisor during the first two semesters of the MSc. Information on available MSc projects can also be found through internal communication channels for program students once admitted to the program.

You may start working on a 60 ECTS thesis already in the first, second or (latest) third semester, depending on your own availability and the character of the project.

It is possible to conduct part or the entire master project work in collaboration with external organizations such as Fram Centre Institutes, the University Centre In Svalbard (UNIS), or other organizations in Norway and abroad. In this case, you will need to have an external supervisor at the host Institution, as well as an internal supervisor at our department of Arctic and Marine Biology. For stays abroad, please contact the study administration.

Many master’s students in Biology are connected to research projects at the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) and other institutes in Tromsø that carry out biological research and consultation work. You are welcome to contact potential external supervisors at these institutions to discuss potential master projects. For instance at the Norwegian Polar Institute, Institute of Marine Research, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Akvaplan-niva and Nofima.