More about master in biology
The master's program in biology gives you the opportunity to tailor your education based on your own needs and wishes. Or you can follow one of our recommended courses of study.
The master’s programme in Biology offers five main profiles, based on the five degree project courses Evolutionary & behavioural ecology, Physiology & cell biology, Conservation biology, Biodiversity & systematics and Marine ecology. But there are many ways to get there, and you have great freedom to pick the courses you want to be included in your degree.
Here we describe a number of recommended study routes, depending on what your future plans are and hopes for the education.
Do you want to focus on the ecological reasons behind selection and evolution, and the consequences this may have for populations, species and ecosystems? Then you should probably choose the degree project course Evolutionary & behavioural ecology. Depending on the combination of courses you take year 1, you can have a profile aimed either at more basic research or a practical application.
First year
Autumn period 1
BIO426 Evolutionary ecology
Autumn period 2
BIO418 Conservation and the genetics of populations
Spring period 1
BIO560 Animal ecophysiology from a climate perspective
Depending on previous courses you can also choose between the following courses (basic level):
BIO209 Behavioral biology
BIO210 Bioinformatics and functional genomics
Spring period 2
You may choose between the following courses:
BIO442 Evolutionary genomics
BIO451 Experimental marine ecology
BIO566 Stream ecology and fish conservation
BIO503 Plant ecology in a global change perspective
Second year
During year 2 you will focus on your degree project (60 hp). You can also take more elective courses of totally 30 hp (and do a shorter project):
BIO715-BIO717 Degree project in Evolutionary and behavioral ecology
Examples of future workplaces
- Municipalities and county administrative boards
- Zoos and museums
- Research at universities
- Government agencies such as the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Board of Agriculture
Conservation biology aims at convey knowledge about how biologically valuable habitats arise, why they change and not least how they are best managed. The courses within the profile area also address how biological values can be preserved and created in human-exploited nature and urban environments.
First year
Autumn period 1
BIO499 Nature conservation management more about BIO499 in Swedish
Autumn period 2
BIO418 Conservation and the genetics of populations
Alternatively (basic level):
ES1401 Environmental impact assessment more about ES1401 in Swedish
Spring period 1
You may chose between the following courses:
ES2610 Applied environmental law more about ES2610 in Swedish
BIO560 Animal ecophysiology from a climate perspective
BIO506 Plant ecophysiology in a global change perspective
Depending on previous courses you can also choose between the following courses (basic level):
BIO281 Conservation biology in terrestrial habitats - more about BIO281 in Swedish
BIO209 Behavioural biology
Spring period 2
One of the following courses:
BIO472 Nature conservation and communication in a changing world - more about BIO472 in Swedish Cancelled Spring 2024
BIO566 Stream ecology and fish conservation
BIO503 Plant ecology in a global change perspective
Second year
During year 2 you will focus on your degree project (60 hp). You can also take more elective courses of totally 30 hp (and do a shorter project):
BIO795-BIO797 Degree project in Conservation biology
Examples of future workplaces
- Municipalities and county administrative boards
- Government agencies such as the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Board of Agriculture
- Consulting companies in, for example, environmental monitoring
- Research at universities
The degree project course Physiology & cell biology suits you that want to understand how cells and organisms function. Questions include everything from how overall physiological processes in both plants and animals are affected by environmental factors like toxins, temperature, pH, salinity or oxygen availability, to detailed studies at cellular or organelle level, involving for example cell signalling, enzyme activity and membrane transport.
Recommended courses
Four main tracks can be distinguished within the profile area Physiology & Cell Biology - ecophysiology, zoophysiology, plant physiology and human physiology. This means we find students who have done their degree project in one of these areas in a wide range of workplaces.
First year
Autumn period 1
BIO426 Evolutionary ecology
Autumn period 2
BIO484 Comparative physiology of marine animals including applications for aquaculture
Spring period 1
One of the following ecophysiology courses:
BIO560 Animal ecophysiology from a climate perspective
BIO506 Plant ecophysiology in a global change perspective
Spring period 2
Free choice from all our courses, for example:
BIO451 Experimental marine ecology
BIO566 Stream ecology and fish conservation
BIO503 Plant ecology in a global change perspective
BIO430 Ecological toxicology: Ecology
Second year
During year 2 you will focus on your degree project (60 hp). You can also take more elective courses of totally 30 hp (and do a shorter project):
BIO722-BIO727 Degree Project in Physiology and Cell Biology
First year
Autumn period 1
During the first period you may chose freely between al our courses, or e.g courses in chemistry or earth sciences.
Autumn period 2
BIO330 Genetically engineered foods (7.5 hp, 50%)
Spring period 1
BIO506 Plant ecophysiology in a global change perspective
You may also choose BIO350 Plant physiology in a dynamic environment (basic level)
Spring period 2
You may chose between the following two courses:
BIO531 Plant biotechnology - land and sea
BIO503 Plant ecology in a global change perspective
Second year
During year 2 you will focus on your degree project (60 hp). You can also take more elective courses of totally 30 hp (and do a shorter project):
BIO725-BIO727 Degree Project in Physiology and Cell Biology
First year
Autumn period 1
BIO426 Evolutionary ecology
Autumn period 2
BIO484 Comparative physiology of marine animals including applications for aquaculture
Spring period 1
BIO560 Animal ecophysiology from a climate perspective
Spring period 2
BIO566 Stream ecology and fish conservation
Second year
During year 2 you will focus on your degree project (60 hp). You can also take more elective courses of totally 30 hp (and do a shorter project):
BIO725-BIO727 Degree Project in Physiology and Cell Biology
First year
Autumn period 1
BIO232 Human physiology
If you have already taken a similar course in human physiology you may chose on of the following (basic level):
BIO213 Cell and developmental biology
BIO235 Immunology
Autumn period 2
BIO524 Drug discovery and development or BIO523 Drug Development (7.5 hp, 50%).
Spring period 1
BIO501 Neurobiology
Spring period 2
BIO467 Immunology and disease pathogenesis Cancelled spring 2024
Second year
During year 2 you will focus on your degree project (60 hp). You can also take more elective courses of totally 30 hp (and do a shorter project):
BIO725-BIO727 Degree Project in Physiology and Cell Biology
Examples of future workplaces
- Pharmaceutical company
- Plant breeding industry
- Other biotech companies
- Environmental analysis company
- Research at universities
Biodiversity & systematics deals with the multitude of organisms at our planet, and the evolutionary relationships between them. The degree course is part of the Nordic master's program in biodiversity and systematics (NABiS) but can also be taken within the master's program in biology at GU. You may then combine the courses given within NABiS with our other courses. Note that NABiS courses are often 5 or 10 hec.
First year
Autumn period 1
BIO401 Alphataxonomical principles (5 hp)
BIO402 Fungal identification (5 hp)
Autumn period 2
BIO404 Advanced phylogenetics (10 hp)
Spring period 1
Spring period 2
BIO468 International biodiversity resource management (5 hp)
BIO502 Ornithological identification methodology (5 hp)
Alternatively you can take BIO267 Marine Biodiversity(15 hp) Moved to Autumn
Second year
During year 2 you will focus on your degree project (60 hp). You can also take more elective courses of totally 30 hp (and do a shorter project):
BIO705-707 Degree Project in Biodiversity and Systematics
Future workplaces
- Municipalities and county administrative boards
- Museums
- Consulting companies
- Research at universities
The degree project course Marine Ecology is aimed at those who want to immerse themselves in different aspects of marine life. The university offers a wide range of courses with a marine connection, both in various biological subject areas and in related areas that can supplement your biology education. It is however, worth noting that you can have a marine profile within the four other courses as well.
First year
Autumn period 1
You may take ne of the following courses:
BIO426 Evolutionary ecology
BIO499 Naturvård, förvaltning och skötsel more about BIO499
Autumn period 2
BIO418 Conservation and the genetics of populations
BIO283 Naturvårdsbiologi i vattenmiljöer Mer om BIO283
BIO484 Comparative physiology of marine animals including applications for aquaculture
Spring period 1
You may choose one of the following courses:
BIO560 Animal ecophysiology from a climate perspective
BIO458 Primary producers of the sea
BIO435 Ecological toxicology: Physiology
Spring period 2
You may choose on of the following courses:
BIO451 Experimental marine ecology
BIO566 Stream ecology and fish conservation
BIO430 Ecological toxicology: Ecology
BIO468 International biodiversity resource management
BIO267 Marine biodiversity Moved to Autumn
You may also chose between the following courses in marine sciences:
MAR440 Marine project - From idea to action (Autumn period 1)
MAR462 Blue economy and sustainable use of marine resources (Autumn period 2)
MAR463 European marine directives and policies - an interdisciplinary perspective (Spring period 1)
MAR464 Seascape governance in times of global change (Spring period 2)
Second year
During year 2 you will focus on your degree project (60 hp). You can also take more elective courses of totally 30 hp (and do a shorter project):
BIO765-BIO767 Degree Project in Marine Ecology
Examples of future workplaces
Municipalities and county administrative boards
Government agencies such as HaV and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Consulting companies in, for example, marine environmental monitoring
Research at universities
During year 2 you will focus on your final degree project. We recommend that you do a work that covers a full year (60 credits), but you can also choose to do a shorter work (30 or 45 credits) and supplement with additional courses. When you apply for a course, it is always the 30 credit course that you apply for, the rest is arranged upon registration.
To find a project and supervisor, you need to contact suitable researchers well in advance. Take the opportunity to ask the teachers you meet at courses early in the first year. At the Student Portal, we have gathered more information about degree projects and what you need to think about.
University of Gothenburg has access to two marine research stations, Kristineberg (in Fiskebäckskil) and Tjärnö (outside Strömstad).