Study tracks

In the Master’s Programme in Neuroscience, you choose from two study tracks: (1) Neuroscience study track and (2) Cell and Systems Physiology study track. Your selection is not binding until you work on your thesis.

Students studying for qualification as Biology teachers specialise in either Neuroscience or Cell and Systems Physiology.

Neuroscience Study Track

Why the Neuroscience study track?

In this article, our students tell about their experiences in Neuroscience study track.

We are conscious, we sense, we feel and we act because of our brains. The brain coordinates and is affected by bodily functions, and it integrates the information about the outside world conveyed by our senses – it is the most central player in the physiology of the whole body.

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that studies the brain and the entire nervous system at different levels of organisation, from genes and molecules to nerve cells and networks; and beyond. The focus of a neuroscientist’s research may lie in understanding the neurobiological bases of behaviour, analysing the functional roles of a single molecule, or developing new treatments for neurological disorders or sensory deficits.

Content and structure

The Neuroscience study track provides you with an understanding of both fundamental and ​cutting-edge neuroscience, and its modules allow you to gain theoretical knowledge and methodological skills in areas that are of specific interest to you.​

Students undertake modules to the value of 120 credits (cr; ECTS) according to their personal study plan. The Master’s Degree consists of:

  • 60 cr of compulsory advanced studies (NEU-100 NEUROSCIENCE study module):
    NEU-101 Cellular physiology (5 cr)
    NEU-102 Cellular neurobiology (5 cr)
    NEU-103 Systems neuroscience (5 cr)
    NEU-104 Integrative neurobiology (5 cr)
    NEU-105 Methods and trends in neuroscience (5 cp)
    NEU-106 Master’s seminar in neuroscience (5 cp)
    NEU-110 Master’s thesis in neuroscience (30 cr)
  • 60 cr of elective studies chosen from the Programme (courses from both topical study tracks are available) or from other Programmes (e.g. Genetics and Molecular Biosciences, Translational Medicine, or Psychology)

The curriculum of the programme enables you to complete 90 credits in 12 months of full-time studying and utilising study opportunities during the summer months, but not including your Master’s thesis research project. However, we recommend that you complete the programme in two years as this will give you more flexibility for your optional studies.

With optional study modules, you can refine your specialisation within the field of neuroscience and broaden your knowledge in other disciplines.  You can also include career planning or extracurricular activities in your personal study plan. Discussing the options with your teachers and study advisors during the first months of your studies will help you to identify the various opportunities and prepare your personal study plan. You can revise your plan, if necessary, as your studies progress.

Cell and Systems Physiology Study Track

Why Cell and Systems Physiology study track?

In this article, our students tell about their experiences in the Cell and Systems Physiology study track.

Understanding the emergence of life from complexity is key to making the right choices. To take care of life, we need to understand how it works. While the functions of your body are highly complex, they also share many principles with the functions of organisms that belong to the phyla that appeared first and have few cells, or just one.

When studying Cell and Systems Physiology, you will: 

  • get updated knowledge on what is required to maintain the life and health of individuals, regarding all species equally important.
  • get to know factors favouring large diversity in the design of animal life but at the same time realize where the limits for adaptation in the rapidly changing Earth are drawn.
  • learn systems biology approaches and new analytical techniques that allow you to collect information on the state of the system when our cells, and we as systems, develop and age.
  • combine deep philosophy of the emergence of life from complexity with skills in modern omics techniques that help you to find new research questions that you want to answer, or if you prefer the career of a teacher, questions you hope your students will one day answer.

Content and structure of the study track

The Cell and Systems Physiology study track provides you with a holistic view of the integrated mechanisms that govern the functions of organisms, from cells to functional systems. In addition to addressing the complexity of the metabolic design of organisms, one special focus is on understanding the processes of cell development, regeneration and ageing, the key determinants between life and death. Training in modern omics techniques, included in the studies, helps in finding novel research questions. 

Students undertake modules to the value of 120 credits (cr; ECTS) according to their personal study plan. The Master’s Degree consists of:

  • 65 cr of compulsory advanced studies (NEU-201 CELL AND SYSTEMS PHYSIOLOGY):
    NEU-101 Cellular physiology (5 cr)
    NEU-203 Systems physiology (5 cr)
    NEU-205 Methods and trends in physiology and neuroscience (5 cr)
    NEU-207 Regulatory networks in metabolism (5 cr)
    NEU-561 Principles of bioscience omics (10 cr)
    NEU-206 Master’s seminar in cell and systems physiology (5 cr)
    NEU-220 Master’s thesis in cell and systems physiology (30 cr)
  • 55 cr of elective studies chosen from the Programme (courses from both topical study tracks are available) or from other Programmes (e.g. Genetics and Molecular Biosciences, Translational Medicine, or Psychology)

The curriculum of the programme enables you to complete 90 credits in 12 months of full-time studying and utilising study opportunities during the summer months, but not including your Master’s thesis research project. However, we recommend that you complete the programme in two years as this will give you more flexibility for your optional studies.

With optional study modules you can refine your specialisation within the field of neuroscience and broaden your knowledge in other disciplines.  You can also include career planning or extracurricular activities in your personal study plan. Discussing the options with your teachers and study advisors during the first months of your studies will help you to identify the various opportunities and prepare your personal study plan. You can revise your plan, if necessary, as your studies progress.

Biology Teacher Study Track

Students studying for qualification as Biology teachers can specialise in either Cell and Systems Physiology or Neuroscience. They will have 60 cr of pedagogical studies in their degree. Please note that this applies only to Finnish or Swedish speaking students who have been accepted to the Biology Teacher study track during their bachelor studies.