MSc in Biology
Aarhus, Denmark
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 17,300 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EU/EEA students only | EU/EEA/Swiss citizen students study for free
Key Summary
The deadline to apply for our Master's programmes for EU/EEA is coming up! Apply before 1 March.
The MSc program in Biology provides you with the opportunity to specialize in one or more of the areas of biology that you find most interesting. Because all students begin with a basic knowledge of biology, the teaching is at a high level right from the start. The Department of Biology at Aarhus University is popular among students and researchers from abroad. It is an active and international research environment.
Individual Study Plan
When you commence your MSc program in Biology, you compose your own individual study plan in collaboration with a lecturer. The degree program counts as 120 ECTS and consists of elective courses and a thesis. The considerable freedom of choice is an excellent opportunity for in-depth studies in one of the many disciplines within biology – such as genetics, evolution and ecology, ecophysiology, aquatic biology, microbiology, and ecosystem function and management.
The MSc thesis is often based on a major fieldwork and/or laboratory project. Under the supervision of a researcher, students are personally responsible for a project description as well as for preparing and completing their thesis. The practical element must be substantiated by theory and the project is placed in a wider context, so students will normally spend a full year working on their thesis. The thesis may be combined with fieldwork abroad, if this is deemed relevant for the project.
Welcome to the Research Group
Teaching is carried out by researchers who are specialists in their subject and who keep up-to-date with the latest developments in their field.
For students in the program, the door to your lecturer’s office is always open if you need clarification of the study material, and you are encouraged to ask questions during lectures and during exercises. The program requires high-level academic skills and independent study, but in return, students gain considerable benefits in the form of academic challenges, practical competencies, and scientific knowledge.
When you write your thesis, you become associated with a group of researchers where you participate in a journal club and attend guest lectures, in addition to taking part in academic discussions and dialogue.
With a Master’s degree in Biology, you have the following competencies:
- You have general knowledge of biology and detailed knowledge of key disciplines, methodologies, theories, and concepts within biology
- You can independently plan, manage, and implement projects and apply the results in scientifically relevant decision processes
- You can assess the applicability and appropriateness of theoretical, experimental, and practical methodologies for the analysis and solution of scientific questions and issues
- You can structure your own competence development independently and critically
- You are able to systematically and critically familiarise yourself with new subject areas
- You can communicate academic questions and issues to both a scientific and a general audience
- You can collaborate constructively on a scientific basis to solve subject-related issues.
Graduates from the Department of Biology find work in a wide range of dynamic fields, including research and development, administration, and consultancy, as well as teaching and communication. With a MSc in Biology from Aarhus University you will have excellent opportunities to continue your career with a PhD at a Danish or international university.
Job Profile
Aarhus University educates Biology graduates for the regional, national, and international job markets. Graduates from the Department of Biology find work in many different fields and institutions. Most jobs are within research, administration, and consultancy as well as teaching and communication in the private or public sectors.
Biologists are employed in positions within a wide range of biology areas ranging from biotechnology, nature, and the environment to biological production within agriculture and the fishing industry. Many biologists also work as consultants or environmental officers within environmental administration and management.
If you have a burning desire to communicate about biology, you can choose to teach at upper secondary school or at laboratory technicians’ or teachers’ training colleges, or in connection with different forms of adult education. Finally, some biologists work with communicating biological knowledge in the media and publishing worlds or as nature consultants. A Biology degree is the key to many different types of jobs throughout society.