master thesis human biology

Master of Science (MSc) in Human Biology

About the programme

What makes the programme at ucph unique, what specialisations does the field of study offer, online open house, admission and application.

To apply for admission to this master's degree programme, you must have completed a qualifying bachelor’s degree or a similar Danish or international degree programme which is assessed to be relevant. Apply for admission via the application portal.

Below, you can read more about admission requirements and which documents to upload in the application portal.

Click here to submit your application

Academic admission requirements.

Here you'll find the different academic requirements depending on which qualifying degree you hold.

Study programmes with legal right of admission

There are no bachelor’s degrees that give legal right of admission to the MSc in Human Biology.

Study programmes that meet the admission requirements

There are no bachelor’s degrees that automatically fulfil the academic admission requirements for the master’s programme in Human Biology.

Other Danish or international degrees

If you have a bachelor’s degree, professional bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a Danish or international university you are qualified for admission if your programme is within the following areas:

biochemistry
pharmaceutics
exercise and sport sciences

Furthermore, you must have obtained at least 5 ECTS within biology, biochemistry or pharmacology.

Note, that having a bachelor’s degree that automatically fulfil the admission requirements does not guarantee you admission to the programme.

Graduation year requirement

You must have earned your bachelor’s degree within a maximum of 5 years prior to the start of the first semester of the master’s programme, e.g. for the intake in the autumn of 2025, you must have graduated by September 2021 or thereafter. In exceptional circumstances the Admissions Committee may waive the graduation year requirement.

If your bachelor’s degree is too old, you can apply for an exemption from the graduation year requirement. If you choose to apply for an exemption, you must submit the following documents along with your application for admission:

A letter explaining how you have maintained your academic qualifications since graduation (e.g. relevant work, internships, further studies)
Relevant documentation (e.g work contracts, diplomas etc).

Limitation on second degrees

If you already have a master's degree from Denmark or another country, you can, in principle, only be admitted to a new degree programme if there are places available on the programme for which you are applying for admission.

Please read more about limitation on second degrees

Supplementary courses to fulfil the admission requirements

When we assess whether you meet the admission requirements for the master's degree program, Danish legislation only allows us to assess your bachelor's degree. Consequently, you cannot study supplementary courses between bachelor's and master's degree programs in order to meet the admission requirements.

If you have passed courses/projects before you complete the qualifying bachelor's degree, these can be included in the assessment, even though they are not part of the bachelor's degree program.

It applies to courses/projects you have taken as single subjects and courses/projects you have taken as part of another study program.
A maximum of 30 ECTS credits of these courses/projects may be included.

Language requirements

Applicants to a master’s programme taught in English must document their English language proficiency in accordance with the language requirements for admission.

Applicants with legal right of admission

If you have legal right of admission to the programme that you are applying for, you are not required to document your proficiency in English.

Applicants with a Danish upper secondary education

If you have completed your upper secondary education in Denmark, you must upload a copy of your upper secondary education diploma as documentation for your English proficiency.

All other applicants

All other applicants must document qualifications equivalent to the Danish upper secondary school ‘English level B’ or ‘English level A’.

Your documentation must be valid at the application deadline that applies to you.

Citizens from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland: 15 January
Citizens from Denmark, EU, EEA or Switzerland: 1 March

We accept the following ways of documenting English qualifications equivalent to the Danish upper secondary school ‘English level B’ or ‘English level A’:

1. Upper secondary school degree, bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in English

You have completed an upper secondary school degree, bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in English in one of the following countries

Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, or USA

You must upload a copy or scan of your official school diploma as documentation.

The degree must be a minimum of 2 years of studies. A student exchange semester/year is not sufficient documentation for English proficiency.

2. Upper secondary school diploma from Denmark or one of the Nordic countries

You have studied an upper secondary school diploma in Denmark or one of the Nordic countries.

You must upload a copy or scan of your transcript from a Danish upper secondary school to document that you have passed English level B or higher.

If you have passed a Nordic entrance examination with an English level comparable to the Danish level B or higher, you must upload your transcript that documents the subjects you have passed.

3. International Baccalaureate (IB) upper secondary school diploma

You must upload a copy or scan of your transcript to document that you have passed one of the following levels:

English A1, A2 or B, higher level (HL),
English A1 or A2 standard level (SL)
English A Literature or English A Language and Literature, higher Level (HL) (from 2013)
English A Literature or English A Language and Literature, standard Level (SL) (from 2013)
English B, standard level (SL)

4. European Baccalaureate (EB) upper secondary school diploma

You must upload a copy or scan of your transcript to document that you have passed the course:

English language 1 (LI), English language 2 (LII) or English language 3 (LIII) with a minimum score of 50%

The EB must be passed at one of the European Schools placed in Copenhagen, Bruxelles, Luxembourg, Mol, München, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Varese or Alicante.

5. English B or English A as Single Subject Course in Denmark – e.g., VUC

You must upload your transcript from the educational institution as documentation that you have passed:

Danish upper secondary school 'English level B' (Engelsk B) or
Danish upper secondary school ‘English level A’ (Engelsk A).

6. You hold Abiturzeugnis from Germany

English Leistungsfach (LF) OR
Erhöhtes Anforderungsniveau (eA) OR
Kernfach (KF) OR
Profilfach/Profilgebendes Fach (PgF)

All with a maximum score of 4 (Ausreichend).

7. All other applicants

You must document that you have passed one of the following accepted tests:

IELTS Academic (taken at an IELTS test centre, online, or Home Edition)
TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT paper edition or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
Cambridge Advanced English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Deadlines for sending your documentation

Your test must be valid at the application deadline that applies to you:

Deadline for citizens from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland: 15 January
Deadline for citizens from Denmark, EU, EEA or Switzerland: 1 March

Your application will be rejected if you have not provided sufficient documentation for English proficiency by your application deadline.

The IELTS and TOEFL results are only valid if they are not older than 2 years counted from the application deadline. There is no limitation for validity for the Cambridge tests.

Documentation by passed English proficiency test

Application deadlines

Study start in september, 1 march at 23:59.

Application deadline for Danish applicants and applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Open for applications from 16 January. You will receive a reply by 10 June.

15 January at 23:59

Application deadline for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Open for applications from 15 November. You will receive a reply by 1 May.

Submit your application

How to apply

Choose your category and read how you apply for admission. You can also find information about deadlines and documentation requirements.

Please note that you must also select according to your citizenship:

Citizen from Denmark, EU, EEA or Switzerland (EU)
Citizen from countries outside EU, EEA or Switzerland (NON-EU)

International bachelor's degree - EU

Danish bachelor's degree - eu, international bachelor's degree - non-eu, danish bachelor's degree - non-eu, apply as a current- or former student.

How we assess your application

The programme accepts a maximum of 40 students. One third of the seats may be reserved for students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

If the number of qualified applicants to the programme exceeds the number of places available, qualified applicants will be prioritized according to the following criteria:

Grade point average from the bachelor's degree
Relevant internships and/or work and relevant stays abroad

Admission rules

Important dates, application help, have you submitted your application, programme structure.

The MSc in Human Biology is a 2-year programme taught in English. The programme is well-established and well-funded, there are many courses and lectures, and the workload is substantial.

There are approximately 40 students in a year, and the programme consists of approximately:

50 % mandatory courses
10 % elective courses
40 % thesis

During the first year, you take several courses which provide a comprehensive basic introduction to key areas of study. The classes include scientific theory, problem-solving exercises, laboratory work, and patient demonstrations. In the second year, you will join research groups and specialise in your area of interest while taking elective courses and finalise by writing an extensive thesis.

The teaching consists of lectures, project work, and laboratory exercises, including a course granting experimental handling of research animals (mandatory).

Elective courses

You have 10 ECTS, which can be used for elective courses. These can be found domestically or abroad. The courses offered in house include Neuronal Signaling, Stem Cells and Advanced Methods for the Analysis of Proteins. Your elective credits can also be used for summer courses both at the University of Copenhagen and abroad.

You will write an extensive thesis founded on your experimental work. The thesis is almost a full-time study year (50 ECTS), enabling you to start research early on.

The thesis can be carried out at the university or combined with a research placement at pre-clinical or clinical laboratories, at private or public institutions, such as hospitals, clinical departments, large pharmaceutical companies, or leading biotech firms in Denmark and internationally. The master's project gives the student substantial experience in individual experimental work.

Some students write their thesis in research departments abroad. The research placement is planned by the student in cooperation with their chosen host institution and their main supervisor at the University of Copenhagen.

Read the programme curriculum

Career opportunities

Graduates will be able to conduct independent research, as well as to evaluate and consult on complex problems relating to human health.

The close connection between the programme and research groups at the university, the hospitals and in the industry gives you a great network and springboard in the transition from student to graduate.

With a degree in Human Biology, you are prepared for a wide range of careers within research, development, and consulting. Additionally, it is an excellent foundation for further PhD research as more than 50% graduates continue as PhD students.

Why study Human Biology?

Training at the highest academic level.

It is an ambitious study programme that provides advanced theoretical and experimental training within the fields of molecular biology and the natural sciences. The aim is to provide students with the necessary skills and qualifications to start an independent research career.

Focus on research

As a student, you will develop skills in research methodology and laboratory techniques. As part of your thesis, you have the opportunity to spend the 2nd year of your degree conducting independent research in hospitals, clinical departments, large pharmaceutical companies, or leading biotech firms in Denmark and internationally. The degree is an excellent basis for entering a PhD within biomedical research.

Interdisciplinary study

During the programme, students are exposed to several disciplines and can connect and integrate different areas of study and scientific approaches. Students come from a variety of academic backgrounds which enhances the interdisciplinary element of the programme.

A fully international programme

The programme is taught entirely in English and is an international research-oriented masters degree. The student body is very internationally diverse.

Flexibility and small teams

You have the opportunity to influence course content and help shape your degree so that topics you find relevant are represented. Students also benefit from the opportunity to work in small focused teams.

Competence description

The programme focuses on the study of the biological processes affecting human beings in health and disease. The broad study of human biology combined with substantial research and experimentation work gives students a unique set of biomedical and research skills.

As a graduate you will be able to conduct independent research, as well as to evaluate and consult on complex problems relating to human health.

After completing the course Laboratory Animal Science, you obtain a legal license to perform independent research which includes handling of research animals.

Graduates are employed in both the public and private sector, for instance, in:

• the biomedical industry • research institutions in the environment sector or other sectors • biotech companies • food technology firms • research centers • hospitals • academic institutions

There is close to no unemployment for graduates. More than half of graduates continue with a Ph.D. and pursue a career in research.

Student life

Many students are engaged in various extracurricular activities, for example, sports, social events and the university’s yearly music festival. You have your own quarter for organizing social activities.

You will primarily be studying at the University of Copenhagen’s North Campus, joining students from many other disciplines within the field of health and medical sciences.

The North Campus includes state of the art facilities for research and education and a view of the city form the top of a 15- floor tower, which below houses a light dining hall, auditoriums, classrooms and laboratories.

Studying at the University of Copenhagen

Diversity and inclusion at the university of copenhagen, finding accommodation.

Contact student guidance

Sund study information.

If you have questions about

the MSc programme
the study environment
your career opportunities

Do you have questions about digital application?

Read quick guides, instructions and FAQ in our user guide to the application portal.

In case of technical problems, please contact the IT Helpdesk by

Mail: [email protected]
Tel: +45 35 32 27 00
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, North Campus, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 København N.

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