Course Content

The master of Biochemistry and Biotechnology offers scientists not only a thorough knowledge of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology and physiology but also the ability to use biochemical and biotechnological techniques in a creative and inventive manner on plants, animals or humans. The students are also initiated in the interesting world of bioinformatics.

The training in biochemistry and biotechnology also has a social dimension: to apply research and knowledge in favour of humanity and society. This social involvement is reflected in research on the origin and treatment of all kinds of illnesses (such as cancer, chronic inflammation and metabolic diseases), research on the improvement of plants (sustainable food production, production of food with improved nutritional quality, production of bio-fuels) and research on the use of micro-organisms in certain chemical processes (detoxification of contaminants).

There is a close interaction between education and research in the biochemistry and biotechnology programme, based on a strong and world-famous research tradition of the three departments involved.

Course Structure

The master programme of biochemistry and biotechnology offers courses in English and Dutch. It is possible to choose a complete curriculum of English courses.

The two-year master programme (120 credits) consists of four modules of 30 ECTS credits each:
– common general courses (30 ECTS, general, broadening);
– major course package (30 ECTS, specialising);
– minor course package (30 ECTS, broadening);
– master dissertation (30 ECTS, practical training).

The master programme offers five specialising majors:
– Bio-informatics and system biology is based on the recent need for bio-computing and computational biology for the processing of the vast amount of data generated from the biological information flow on different levels (genome, transcriptome, proteome, interactome, signalosome);
– Biochemistry and structural biology focuses on the determination of protein structures and the study of the functioning of molecular `machines';
– Biomedical biotechnology studies the relation between basic cell biological processes and pathological processes (inflammation, cancer, metabolic illnesses) and pays also attention to biomedical applications such as the development of new vaccines and new therapies;
– Microbial biotechnology studies microbial diversity and functionality and applies the fundamental knowledge of the molecular genetics of micro organisms such as bacteria, yeast, moulds and viruses in a broad variety of biotechnological applications;
– Plant biotechnology aims at the development of biotechnological applications of plants in agriculture (e.g. disease resistance or drought tolerance), production of bio fuels and the biosynthesis of products with medical applications.

The major is supported by a training period (6 ECTS) in the first master and a master test (30 ECTS) in the second semester of the second master.

The master programme offers four broadening minors:
– The minor Research offers the students an extra speciality, chosen from the remaining majors and offers an extra training period (this minor is particularly interesting for English speaking students);
– The minor Interdisciplinary combination permits to combine a major with a coherent package of courses from a different field (informatics, chemistry, engineering sciences,...);
– The minor Education offers a part of the secondary teacher training;
– The minor Economics and Business Administration offers an introduction to different aspects of business life.

Career Perspectives

A very large number of the current graduates in biochemistry and biotechnology (between 40-60% in the past 5 years), start doctoral studies and most of them graduate successfully. Ghent University has a strong research tradition in the domain of biochemistry and biotechnology, which leads to highly qualified
PhDs in an internationally competitive research environment. Later, these doctors find their way to national and international universities, research institutions and a growing number of young biotechnological companies.

The use of biochemical and biotechnological methods and production strategies increases in health care, the environmental sector, food industry, the agricultural industry, the chemical industry. This implies that there is and will be a demand for academically educated, but also practically trained biochemists and biotechnologists. Given the broad scientific basic education, the combination of chemistry and biology, the practical and researchoriented aspects of the study programme, the biochemist and the biotechnologist are well trained for the jobmarket.

The fields of employment are scientific research at universities, research centers, R&D in companies, the pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics companies, laboratories for medical analysis, the food industry, fermentation industry, agricultural industry, petrochemical industry, chemical industry, biotechnological companies, companies in environmental technology, public services for water treatment, the environmental sector.

Finally, graduates in biochemistry and biotechnology often end up in education, both at the level of the secondary schools (for masters) and at the level of the colleges of higher education (for doctors).

Master Dissertation

In the second year, a research project (master dissertation) of 30 ECTS is scheduled. The master dissertation is a requirement for every student to obtain a masters' degree. The master dissertation is an original piece of research work. It aims to develop and strengthen the research capacity skills of the students. The student selects a topic and is given guidance by a promoter or supervisor. The master dissertation consists of a literature review part, practical research and an original analysis of the topic.

Admission Requirements

For non-Flemish degrees
The course is open to students with at least a Bachelor degree in the field of biochemistry and biotechnology with minimum 180 credits.

For Flemish degrees
The exhaustive list of degrees giving access to this master can be consulted in the course catalogue.

Language
At enrolment for an English study programme you must give evidence of a good command of English by submitting one of the following:
– a TOEFL-TEST, maximum two years old, with a score of 510-559 (paper-based), or van 87-109 (internet-based) or higher (the UGent TOEFL code is 2643);
– an original ‘test report form’ (TRF) from IELTS, maximum two years old, with a minimum score of 6.0;
– a certificate awarded by the UCT confirming proficiency in English (minimum CEF-level B2);
– certificate of practical English 5, Upper-intermediate Academic English, or Preparing for an English Test, awarded by the UCT (University Language Centre).

Under no circumstances will a student be enrolled, if they cannot demonstrate English proficiency by one of the above.

The following students are exempted from the language requirement:
– holders of a diploma of secondary education or higher education, awarded by an (recognised) institution in the Flemish Community;
– students who have successfully completed a minimum of 1 year (60 credits), be it secondary or higher education, where the medium of instruction was English (an official certificate must be submitted);
– students who have successfully completed a predoctoral training programme at Ghent University, provided that the majority of the programme were course units in English.

Practical Information

Application deadline
– for students who need a visa: 1st of March
– for students who do not need a visa: 1st of June

Enrolling institution
Ghent University.

Tuition fee
– standard tuition fee for full-time programme (60 ECTS credits): € 564,30
– reduced tuition fee for students from developing countries: € 80
(this fee does not include expenses such as course books, excursions, travel expenses, etc.)

Scholarships
– offered by Ghent University for master studies: a limited number of scholarships awarded on a competitive basis
www.UGent.be > EN > education and study > study support > study related costs > scholarship
– other financing possibilities:
www.highereducation.be > Studying in Flanders
www.studyinflanders.be > Funding opportunities

Start /end of the programme
Two year programme.
Start academic year: middle of September.