Study guide: Master in Life Sciences 1
Contents Introduction 3 The master s programme 5 Structure of the study programme 8 The master s thesis 11 Major modules: Molecular Technologies, Therapeutic 12 Technologies, Environmental Technologies Overview of major modules 14 Advanced life science skills modules 16 Entrepreneurial skills modules 21 General information 22 Admission and enrolment 24 Fees and grants 27 FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts 28 Contact and student advisory service 32 2
The FHNW School of Life Sciences Introduction The FHNW School of Life Sciences (HLS) provides market-oriented applications for the fascinating world of life sciences. With a network of industry and research partners, HLS is a unique university centred around technology development in medical, natural, environmental and engineering sciences. The state-of-the-art infrastructure facilitates to translate cutting-edge research into practice. Benefits for patients, innovative products, intelligent solutions and environmentally friendly technologies are the ultimate goal. The master study programme combines lectures on applied life sciences with practical experiences conducted in a eight month long master thesis. The core of the life sciences study programme consists of scientific knowledge for research and development, coupled with practical experience. Students may assemble their own curriculum from available modules, with support by the school. In order to prepare optimally for a professional career, the study course also transmits aspects of management know-how. The graduates are ultimately expected to prove their abilities in a competitive and international life sciences environment. Studies are therefore complemented by English language skills and the option of a stay abroad at a partner institute. 2 3
Qualified experts for the growing life sciences market The master s programme The MSc (Master of Science) study programme gives graduates specialist knowledge enabling them to integrate quickly and effectively into the global industrial life sciences sector and related fields. MSc graduates have broad training and in-depth knowledge, combined with profound practical experience. During the eight months of their MSc thesis, they demonstrate that they can work independently on demanding projects. With these qualifications, graduates of the MSc programme are able to plan and carry out projects in the fields of applied research, development, translational research and production. They are also aware of entrepreneurial issues such as budgeting, personnel, deadlines, markets and products. Graduates are able to present and explain the results of their work in their native language and in English to other specialists as well as to colleagues with different backgrounds. They bring skills and knowledge to multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary teams. New career prospects MSc graduates typically hold positions in organisations where they manage and participate in projects that build upon their expertise. Such organisations are active in chemistry, biotechnology, environmental protection and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical and medical technology. The Master of Science degree is internationally recognised and allows students to continue their studies with a doctorate in most countries. 4 5
Where life sciences come alive The master s programme The international Master of Science in Life Sciences is conducted in collaboration with other Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences: Berner Fachhochschule, Haute Ecole Spécialisée de la Suisse Occidentale and Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. Programme structure The MSc study programme encompasses lectures (50 ECTS credits) and the thesis (40 ECTS credits). The major modules are offered by the School of Life Sciences FHNW and take place in Basel or Muttenz. The Entrepreneurial skills and the Advanced Life Science skills modules, which are organised in cooperation with the partner universities, are held in Zollikofen and Spiez. The modules are offered during the semesters (see pages 8 9). All modules usually take place at least once a year. The students are supported by an innovative e-learning platform. Study consultation After acceptance, the dean of the programme will consult each student regarding which modules shall be taken in which semester. Thus each student will have an individual study programme that best meets his/her interests. It is also possible to complete part of the course at a foreign institute of higher education: www.fhnw.ch/lifesciences/partner-universities. Teaching language The language of teaching is English. This requires that in addition to the technical and scientific skills applicants must be able to read scientific articles and books, follow the lectures, participate in discussions and be able to write the thesis in English on their own. Therefore, it must be emphasised that students who want to undertake the MSc programme need adequate skills in English (see also page 24). Educational concept The educational concept of «blended learning» combines independent learning with lessons on site. When preparing course contents, modern forms of teaching and learning such as e-learning and case studies are included. In seminars and workshops, students deal with challenging issues and differing points of view. Complex issues will be explained by the instructors in lessons. In the master s programme, great emphasis is put on «research learning», where traditional teaching is augmented by individual context-based knowledge generation. Start The studies start in the autumn semester (calendar week 38) or in the spring semester (calendar week 8). Completion Successful completion of the course leads to the award of the renowned title «Master of Science» which is recognised around the world. Learn more The School of Life Sciences FHNW offers information evenings that provide more details about the MSc study programme. Please consult www.fhnw.ch/lifesciences/master-of-science/info-events for more information and dates. 6 7
Structure of the study programme The master s programme Full-time students The MSc study programme takes 90 ECTS credits. Shown here is a full-time study plan starting in the autumn semester (1.5 years): Part-time students It is also possible to study part time. In this case, the studies take approximately six semesters depending on the individual study plan. Part-time students may work in parallel as a guideline 50 to 60 percent workload is appropriate. Other plans are possible; please consult the dean. Study plan Study plan Autumn semester Spring semester Autumn semester Spring semester Sep Feb Feb Jun Jun Sep Sep Feb Feb Jun Jun Sep Lectures (1 st sem.) Lectures (2 nd sem.) Thesis (8 months) Lectures (1 st sem.) Lectures (2 nd sem.) Thesis (3 rd sem., 8 months) Lectures (3 rd sem.) Lectures (4 th sem.) Thesis (8 or 12 months) Thesis (5 / 6 th sem., 8 or 12 months) Programme structure full-time students Programme structure part-time students Master s thesis 8 months from end of 2nd to 3rd semester 40 ECTS credits Master s thesis 8 months from end of 4th to 5th semester or 12 months from end of 4th to 6th semester 40 ECTS credits Entrepreneurial skills (see page 21) Advanced Life Science skills (see page 16) Major modules (see page 12) Entrepreneurial skills (see page 21) Advanced Life Science skills (see page 16) Major modules (see page 12) three modules à 4 ECTS are taken during the first two semester six modules à 3 ECTS are taken during the first two semester four modules à 5 ECTS are taken during the first two semester three modules à 4 ECTS are taken during the first four semester six modules à 3 ECTS are taken during the first four semester four modules à 5 ECTS are taken during the first four semester Note: It is possible that modules or final exams take place outside the semester. Note: It is possible that modules or final exams take place outside the semester. 8 9
The master s thesis The master s programme Amounting to 40 ECTS points, the thesis is the most important module of the MSc programme. It addresses a scientific or technical question of practical relevance and is carried out either at an institute of the School of Life Sciences FHNW, at the site of an industrial partner or at foreign university or research institute. In all cases, the student is supervised by a member of the school s faculty. The thesis has to be written in English and lasts eight months in fulltime study. 10 11
Major modules The master s programme The School of Life Sciences FHNW offers three MSc majors: Molecular Technologies Synthesis and analysis of active compounds and biological systems The major in Molecular Technologies is aimed at graduates in chemistry, bioanalysis and biotechnology. Students enrolled in the Molecular Technologies major will become experts in synthetic chemical and analytical issues. Subjects covered range from the analysis and structure elucidation of substances to the design and application of molecular and cellular assays in high throughput settings. Students will also acquire skills in the designing and optimising of synthetic routes and in the scaling-up of organic synthesis using chemical engineering approaches. Therapeutic Technologies Pharmaceutical technologies and medical engineering for disease treatment The major in Therapeutic Technologies offers an innovative engineering-based training in pharma technology, medical technology and biomedical IT. Environmental Technologies Applied environmental science and technology The major in Environmental Technologies is aimed at graduates in environmental sciences. The major in Environmental Technologies deals with applied technologies and strategies in the areas of water and waste management. This includes the optimisation of process, material and energy flows with the aim of minimising harmful emissions into the environment. The technologies covered are based inter alia on biotechnological processes and on membrane technology in water treatment and environmental remediation. The principles of developing sustainable water use cycles as well as the assessment of treatment effectiveness and efficiency of chemical and biological methods are part of the programme. In the context of environmental protection in industry, the concepts of clean technologies and integrated product policy are studied, including the eco-efficiency of processes and utilisation of waste streams as secondary resources. Students will also learn to perform technology-related environmental risk assessments and mitigation measure planning. Students will learn to design and develop engineering-based solutions. In pharma technology, the formulation of active compounds, their distribution in the human body as well as drug targeting is taught. Students also learn how drugs are manufactured in an industrial setting. In the field of medical engineering, the main subjects covered are medical data analysis, the development of medical systems, medical imaging, implant development and the use and surface characterisation of biomaterials. 12 13
Overview of major modules The master s programme Your options Bioanalytics / diagnostics Chemistry Process technology Clean technologies Pharma technology Medical technology Molecular Technologies Applied organic chemistry: Organic synthesis; Selected topics in medicinal chemistry; Special methods in NMR spectroscopy Chemical engineering: Reaction processes and technology; Process control and analytics; Production of semi-solid materials Instrumental analytics: Hyphenated mass spectrometric methods; Advanced spectroscopy and imaging Profiling of bioactive compounds: Target identification; Target validation; Molecular toxicology, Molecular Pharmacology Applied bioanalytics: Analytical assessment of biolological drugs; Radioanalytics; Systems biology Therapeutic Technologies Drug formulation and delivery: Controlled release technologies; Biopharmaceutical modelling and simulation; Oral formulations of poorly water soluble drugs; Routes of drug delivery and drug targeting Drug manufacturing: Advanced pharmaceutical production units; System dynamics of production processes; Processing of biologics Medical systems: Interactive systems; Distributed medical systems; Surgical robots Implant development: Medical device development process; Advanced biosignal processing; Data and energy transfer; Patient specific implant design and manufacturing Medical Data analysis: Medical imaging & image processing; Radiation protection in diagnostics of radiation safety Environmental Technologies Water management and treatment technologies: Water resources management; Water purification and supply; Sustainable water use; Wastewater treatment and reuse; Water quality and health Environmental remediation: Management and monitoring of contaminated sites; Physico-chemical remediation technologies; Advanced environmental biotechnologies Environmental risk assessment: Exposure assessment; Fate of pollutants; Environmental and health impact of pollutants Common modules Sustainable production and clean technologies: Concepts of sustainable production; Process integrated preventive environmental protection; Industrial environmental technologies Bio/nanotechnology: Advanced sensing technologies; Surface technology; Advanced (bio-)materials Materials recovery technologies: Materials and mass flow analysis; Separation and conversion technologies; Management of recovered materials Students have to choose four modules (5 ECTS points each). The table shows possible combinations that may correspond to students specific fields of interest. Other combinations are possible. In general, three of the modules have to be from the major chosen but the fourth module can be chosen freely among the modules offered. The interdisciplinary modules Bio-nanotechnology, Sustainable production and clean technologies production and Materials recovery technologies belong to all three majors. First choice modules Second choice modules 14 15
Advanced life sciences skills modules The master s programme Your options The Advanced Life Science skills modules support the subject specialisation in the MSc programme by expanding the scope of knowledge. The catalogue of 14 modules covers various in-depth fields of specialisation and allows the students to make individual choices. Students select six modules, worth three ECTS points each, from the following modules, relating to their field of specialisation. Bioanalytics / diagnostics Chemistry Process technology Clean technologies Pharma technology Medical technology Generic modules Quality excellence: Current concepts in quality management; Improvement process (plan-do-check-act) Applied statistics and mathematics: Basics of statistical inference; Analysis of variance, Linear regression; Categorical data analysis; statistical software package R Data management and visualisation: Data structuring; Querying from databases; Processing Data in R; data visualisation and special plots in R; Exploration of multi-dimensional data Modelling of complex systems: Introduction into system theory; Introduction into tools and methods used for system analysis and modelling; Detailed case studies of systems and their modelling Management of R&D projects: Requirements and concepts of R&D projects; Planning and controlling of research projects; Context management and problem solving in research projects Life cycle assessment: Seminal examples of LCA; Overview of environmental management methods and impact indicators; Steps of the LCA procedure; Case study (group work) Industrial life sciences Cellular and molecular physiology: Cellular models with 3D-construction of human cartilage and bones; Models with co-cultures of blood immune cells, stem cells and microorganisms; Engineered molecular models using specific gene-deficient animals; Pathogens-to-host communication Natural substances: Anabolic and catabolic processes in natural product research; Techniques for the isolation and identification of natural compounds; Diversity of natural compounds of secondary metabolism; Screening systems applied to test the bioactivity; Production and application of biofuels; Natural raw materials; Bioraffination Materials science: Crystallographic and electronic structure of solid materials; Surface of materials as an interface to the environment and biology; Macroscopic and microscopic structure and properties of metallic and ceramic materials; Creation, microscopic and spectroscopic characterisation of nanoscopic structures Polymers and applications: Synthesis of polymers and polymeric materials; Analysis of polymers and polymeric materials; Polymer processing & engineering; Inorganic & conductive polymers; Biopolymers; Supramolecular chemistry Applied environmental and natural sciences Biodiversity: Concepts and theoretical framework of biodiversity; Global change, species loss, status and trends of biodiversity; Management for biodiversity maintenance; Ecological applications in natural resources management; Linking ecological principles and sustainable resource use Sustainable development in natural resource management: Rio +20, Actors and stakeholders; Human behaviour, Institutions, rules and property rights; Governance and policy Food & consumer health and oenology Nutrition and nutrition related diseases: Micro nutrition deficiencies and diet related diseases; Global shifts in eating patterns; Key role of obesity as a risk factor; Nutritional recommendations Sustainable sourcing, processing and tracing of food: Analysis of the whole value chain (cradle-to-cradle design); Sustainability performance; Footprints; Principles of a sustainable diet First choice modules 16 17 Second choice modules
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Entrepreneurial skills modules The master s programme The Entrepreneurial skills modules teach students to understand and apply interfaces between their technical-scientific core areas and economic and social fields. From the following five modules, worth four ECTS points each, students select three modules relating to their area of specialisation and their subject interests: Entrepreneurial skills Innovation and knowledge management Innovation and knowledge management foundations; Intellectual property management; Information acquisition and information collaboration; Copyright and the internet; Problem solving and decision making Leadership Leadership theories and principles; Ethical and sustainable leadership; Basics of communication psychology; Negotiations methods and techniques Business management Entrepreneurial thinking and acting; Strategic management; Financial accounting and capital budgeting; Business plan Communication and market Introduction to marketing & marketing research; Marketing strategy; Integrated marketing communication; Markets Society, legislation and politics Relationship between society and politics; Processes involved in doing politics 20 21
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Admission and enrolment General information Terms of admission As a rule, outstanding bachelor s degree qualifications are accepted for the MSc programme. Candidates will be admitted without an entry examination if they have gained an University of Applied Sciences-BSc in a related subject and graduated with grade A, B or 5 or demonstrated an equivalent qualification adequate English skills Motivated students who do not fulfil the entry requirements entirely can take an entrance examination. Adequate English competency has to be proven with one of these certificates: Application Deadline for applications is end of April for the autumn semester (start in calendar week 38) and end of November for the spring semester (start in calendar week 8). Application form Please send the application form with copies of your certificates to the following address: School of Life Sciences FHNW Student Administration Gründenstrasse 40 CH-4132 Muttenz Switzerland Type of certificate Required level FCE (First Certificate English) FCE-A/B IELTS (English Language Testing System) 5.5 TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) ibt 71 Intermediate English (module of the Bachelor programme at 5.0 the School of Life Sciences FHNW) In the case of a lower English level, the applicants are admitted but have the obligation to improve their English during the master s course. They may attend the Advanced English course offered by the School of Life Sciences or may attend other courses. At the end of the studies, students have to prove that they have attained the required English level (see table above). 24 25
Fees and grants General information Fees and expenses Tuition fees per semester for students domiciled in a Swiss canton, the Principality of Liechtenstein or an EU member state* CHF 700 Tuition fees per semester for all other students CHF 5 000 Materials per semester CHF 100 Enrolment fee CHF 200 Meals (CHF 79) and accomodation (CHF 304 384) for each Entrepreneurial skills module in Spiez (optional) CHF 0 463 It is expected that students own a notebook PC. Grants In Switzerland, grants are regulated on a cantonal basis. The canton of your place of residence decides on grants or interest-free loans. In addition to public grants, there are also private institutions that award scholarships. * Fees of CHF 700 are payable by those students whose parents or guardians are in Switzerland, Liechtenstein or the EU; who are citizens of Switzerland, Liechtenstein or the EU; who for the previous two years were financially independent due to being employed in Switzerland, Liechtenstein or the EU and who did not undertake any higher or further education in this time. 26 27
FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland General information The FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland is an education and research institution that enjoys strong regional ties. It has established itself as one of Switzerland's leading and most innovative universities of applied sciences. The FHNW is composed of nine Schools covering Applied Psychology, Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Art and Design, Life Sciences, Music, Teacher Education, Social Work, and Engineering and Business. The FHNW campus occupies a number of sites in its four sponsor cantons, Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Solothurn. The FHNW provides education to more than 11,000 students. Taking the form of 29 bachelor's and 18 master's degree programmes, as well as numerous continuing education courses, the practical education and training provided by its 800 or so lecturers is geared to the market. The FHNW's graduates are in demand as professionals. Aside from the education and training offered by the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, a high priority is placed on applied research and development. The FHNW participates in research projects alongside national and international partners from industry, business, culture, administration and institutions and is involved in European research programmes. The University promotes the transfer of knowledge and technology to industry and institutions. In 2014 its applied research and development activities encompassed 1128 research projects and 258 service provision projects. 28 29
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We are at your service Contact and student advisory service Address FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland School of Life Sciences Gründenstrasse 40 CH-4132 Muttenz Switzerland Contact Director of Studies Prof. Dr. Frank Pude T +41 61 467 42 84 E lehre.lifesciences@fhnw.ch Dean, student advisory service Prof. Dr. Georg Lipps T +41 61 467 43 01 E georg.lipps@fhnw.ch Design: Büro für Kommunikationsdesign FHNW Photography: Marc Huber September 2016 Print run: 1000 FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences Content published within this prospectus is correct at the time of publication. University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW reserves the right to change details at any time. 32 33
The FHNW incorporates nine faculties: FHNW School of Applied Psychology FHNW School of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geomatics FHNW Academy of Art and Design FHNW School of Business FHNW School of Engineering FHNW School of Life Sciences FHNW Academy of Music FHNW School of Social Work FHNW School of Education FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland School of Life Sciences Gründenstrasse 40 CH-4132 Muttenz Switzerland T +41 61 467 42 42 F +41 61 467 44 60 master.lifesciences@fhnw.ch www.fhnw.ch/lifesciences 34