Master of Science in Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology

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1 Master of Science in Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Tracks: Biophysics Biochemistry and Biotechnology Faculty of Science Faculty of Medicine KU Leuven. Inspiring the outstanding.

2 Discover KU Leuven Situated in Belgium, in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven has been a centre of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium's largest and highest-ranked university and, founded in 1425, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. As a leading European research university and co-founder of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), KU Leuven offers a wide variety of international master s programmes, all supported by highquality, innovative, interdisciplinary research. Since its founding, KU Leuven has been based in the city that shares its name. Leuven is a pleasant, safe and bustling student town, where centuries-rich history meets cutting-edge science. The university also offers degree programmes at campuses in 11 Belgian cities, including Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp.

3 Master of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology The Master of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology is an international inter - disciplinary study programme offered by the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine in collaboration with the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, the Medical Imaging Centre, and the Physiology Research Group. This two-year Master's programme (120 ECTS) focuses on the phenomena related to the interaction and communication between living cells and their molecular constituents, drawing on research methods used within the fields of molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry and physics.

4 Admission requirements Holders of the following degrees are eligible for direct admission to the programme: Bachelor in de biochemie en de biotechnologie Bachelor in de chemie, met minor biochemie en biotechnologie of minor fysica Bachelor in de fysica, met minor biowetenschappen Bachelor in de biologie, met minor biofysica en bio-ingenieurswetenschappen of minor biochemie en biotechnologie Bachelor in de bio-ingenieurswetenschappen Other applications are evaluated on an individual basis. Good knowledge of the English language, both written and spoken, is essential. Non-native English speakers are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS certificate (TOEFL (Computer-based test 213 pt., Internet-based test pt., Paper-based test 550 pt.) or IELTS (6.5-7 pt.). All international students must meet the language requirements set by the International Admissions & Mobility Unit at KU Leuven. After having obtained the master's degree in Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology I started a PhD at KU Leuven. My PhD thesis is about high resolution mapping of DNA with fluorescent markers, a topic which touches many different areas of biophysics. For example, an important area for my research was how DNA of different sizes moves and diffuses in a system with flow. Another completely different question dealt with how we could detect as many photons as possible from a single fluorescent molecule. My graduate studies at KU Leuven gave me a very broad background to tackle these problems. (Jochem, PhD student at KU Leuven)

5 Programme The programme provides in-depth training in the multidisciplinary fields of biophysics and biochemistry, with particular emphasis on subfields in which KU Leuven's research expertise is internationally recognised: the determination of molecular structures, molecular and supramolecular modelling, the spectroscopy of biomolecules, the physical modelling of complex systems and the study of these models, the transport through ion channels in membranes, and the study of molecular interactions and physical principles in vitro, in complex biological machineries and in the living cell. Students may select one of two tracks - Biophysics or Biochemistry and Biotechnology. The track Biochemistry and Biotechnology has three orientations: Physiological, Molecular and Cellular. Alternatively, students who are not considering a research career can opt for Applied Biophysics. This is an initial Master's programme and can be followed on a full-time or part-time basis. MASTER OF BIOPHYSICS, BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY COURSE 120 ECTS ECTS INTRODUCTORY COURSES MAX. 18 Quantum Physics 3 Basic Concepts of Cell Biology 5 Introduction to Genetics 5 Microbiology 5 Statistical Mechanics 6 MASTER S THESIS 30 TRACKS Students take all courses in either the track Biophysics or the track Biochemistry and Biotechnology. TRACK: BIOPHYSICS Advanced Soft- and Biomatter Physics 6 Biophysics of Membranes 6 Transport Processes in Biological Systems 6 ELECTIVE students choose courses for at least 18 credits from this list: Computational Physics: Advanced Monte Carlo Methods 3 Computational Physics: Molecular Dynamics Simulations 3 Advanced Statistical Mechanics 6 Physical Modeling of Complex Systems 6 Polymer Physics 6 Physical Properties of Biomaterials 6 Radiation and Matter 6

6 COURSE ECTS ELECTIVE students choose courses for at least 18 credits from this list: Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems 6 Biomolecular Modelling 6 Determination of Biomolecular Structures 6 Biomolecular Interactions 6 Advanced Fluorescence and Fluorescence Microscopy. From Single Molecules to Biological Systems 6 TRACK: BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY: Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems 6 Determination of Biomolecular Structures 6 Biophysics of Membranes 6 Advanced Enzymology 6 In this track students select at least 24 credits from one orientation: MOLECULAR ORIENTATION Nanostructured Bio-Macromolecules 6 Chemistry and Characterisation of Surfaces and Thin Films 6 Chemistry at Nanometre Scale 6 Biomolecular Interactions 6 Biomolecular Modelling 6 CELLULAR ORIENTATION Radiation and Matter 6 Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology of Yeast 6 Advanced Fluorescence and Fluorescence Microscopy. From Single Molecules to Biological Systems 6 Mechanisms of Signal Transduction and Cell Regulation 6 Immunological Biotechnology 6 Molecular Cell Biology 6 PHYSIOLOGICAL ORIENTATION Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology of Yeast 6 Model Organisms in Functional Genomics 6 Comparative Endocrinology 6 Trends in Plant Physiology and Biotechnology 6 Molecular and Developmental Animal Physiology 6 APPLIED BIOPHYICS Medical Applications of Nuclear Physics 3 Physical Properties of Biomaterials 6 Biomolecular Principles of Medical Imaging 6 Radiation Protection 4 Engineering Properties and Principles of Food Machinery 7 For detailed descriptions of this programme s courses and for the course timetable, please consult

7 Elective Courses Students choose courses from this additional list, which are different from their research orientation. Students may select courses from the entire programme offered by the university if they have the approval of the programme director. Students have to make sure that the entire programme of the master contains at least 120 credits. Career outlook A range of career options is available in the pharmaceutical and bioscience industries, where structure determination, modelling and the direct study of molecular interactions in the living cell play a major role. Because of the growing importance of the bioscience industry in today's society and the increasing need for sophisticated high-tech instruments and research methods, the demand for biophysicists and biochemists is expected to exceed supply in the near future. Graduates may also pursue a career in medical sciences research or academic research. A considerable number of graduates, particularly those who choose for a research route, go on to undertake a PhD at one of our associated research laboratories.

8 KU LEUVEN Oude Markt 13 box LEUVEN, Belgium Learn more General information Publications Faculty of Science Kasteelpark Arenberg 11 box HEVERLEE This brochure provides the most complete and accurate information available concerning this master s programme offered at KU Leuven. However, amendments to the composition of this programme may be approved at any time. Consequently, KU Leuven is in no way legally bound by the information provided in this brochure. The most recent information on all our academic programmes can be consulted at Last updated: February 2015 v.u.: Isabelle Van Geet, Oude Markt 13, 3000 Leuven