Biotechnology (300 credits)
Job opportunities and the future
The biotechnology sector in Sweden encompasses intensive research operations and extremely active business/industries covering everything from small biotechnology companies to major commercial conglomerates specialising in the biotechnical production of services or products. Masters of Science in Biotechnology have many possible career paths and a recent career report shows that students gain well-qualified jobs within the biotechnology sector. Master’s programmes supply companies who work with pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical analyses, biotechnical equipment, industrial bioprocesses, water purification and environmental technology, foodstuffs, timber and paper and much more. Students may also use their knowledge within biotechnology for work with patents, finance, research policies, journalism or within the consultancy field. Many Masters of Science in Biotechnology work with research, development and refining, and in many cases they lead operations as manager or project managers. Many also choose to take their PhDs in biotechnology.
The programme
The Master of Science in Biotechnology is a broad educational programme that provides a good foundation for future professional operations. The programme is arranged so as to provide both practical and theoretical experience. Students are trained to search for knowledge in order to solve problems. During the course of the first three years, students gain a thorough basic biotechnical knowledge foundation which consists of biotechnology, chemistry, maths and physics. Later in the programme students specialise more within biotechnology. As early as Year1 students learn about the chemistry and functions of living cells as well as introductory knowledge on biotechnical methods. In Year 2, students take microbiology and biochemistry and in Year 3 they begin to study courses focussed on applications. Students will also take a project course at the end of Year 3 in which they utilise their knowledge to solve a biotechnical problem. For Years 4-5, students select a Master’s programme in which they go deeper into a specific competence area. During the course of these final two years students also have the opportunity to elect biotechnology-related courses and also totally elective courses such as languages, ethics, research methodology or project management.
Year 1
Year 1 is dominated by maths and chemistry, while a smaller element consists of basic biotechnology. At the beginning of Year 1, around half the subjects are mathematical in some form. During the first two weeks of term, voluntary courses in chemistry and maths are given in which upper secondary school/high school knowledge is refreshed.
Chemistry
Introductory chemistry is the first course that students meet providing exciting examples from the various branches of chemical sciences. The objective is a general orientation on the various components of chemistry and basic knowledge of elements, chemical reactions and chemical analysis methods. The chemical equilibrium course deals with equilibrium theory. Organic chemistry 1 is an introduction in which students learn about such matter as “when does a reaction occur and when does it not?” In the laboratory elements of chemistry courses, theory is turned into practice and students learn to carry out simpler syntheses and analyses in order to develop laboratory skills to use in other courses and in their future professional lives..
Biotechnology
Introduction to biotechnology provides students with an orientation in the basics of biotechnology and in the tasks of a biotechnologist. Students learn how proteins are produced in cells using DNA as a map. The course provides basic knowledge of biochemistry, cell biology and an introduction to biotechnology and its important role in industrial applications. Students study the structure and function of proteins and how enzymes can be used as catalysts, as well as how technical genetic tools can be utilised in the service of humankind. In cell biology, students learn more about the structure of cells and of the chemical composition of living organisms. What elements does a cell consist of? What is its function? How does it communicate with its surroundings?.
Mathematics
The Master of Science in Biotechnology does not only need courses in chemistry and biotechnology. Tools are necessary to be able to solve technical problems, tools that students obtain from their maths courses, for example linear equation systems, vectors, matrix calculations, derivation and integration of both one and multi- variables.
Mechanics
The mechanics course provides knowledge of the basic laws of classical mechanics and clarifies the interface between natural sciences and engineering. Why do bodies move as they do? What is necessary for them to be in equilibrium? This course is important to, for example, applications within structural biology.
Year 2
Year 2 is still dominated by basic courses in chemistry and biochemistry together with mathematical and scientific subjects. Students take chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, maths and physics.
Chemistry
The first chemistry course is chemical thermodynamics which provides basic knowledge in thermodynamics and its applications within chemical and biological systems. In molecular structure, experimental and theoretical methods are used to determine the structure and characteristics of molecules. Chemical dynamics explains time-dependent phenomena within chemistry. Students will find much of what is studied in these three courses extremely useful later on. Organic chemistry 2 is a direct continuation of the organic chemistry course in Year 1.
Biochemistry
In biochemistry students learn a lot about the structure and function of proteins. Students find out more about the chemistry inside the cells, the metabolism and energy turnover in biochemical reactions in living organisms. In laboratory courses in Year 3, students learn different techniques for biochemical laboratory operations including purifying of proteins and studies of the characteristics of enzymes.
Microbiology
The microbiology course provides knowledge of micro-organisms, their occurrence in nature, their reproduction and physiology, how they participate in the various processes in nature, their collaboration and the damage they do to other living organisms and their importance to science and industry.
Mathematcis
Maths includes different methods of solving differential equations that are used in all technical calculations, including the calculation of the speed of biochemical reactions.
Physics
The physics course is called electromagnetism and wave movements and deals with electrical and magnetic fields, waves and optics. This knowledge is extremely important in order to be able to understand instruments and analysis methods within biotechnology.
Immunology
Immunology deals with how the immune defence system works, for example how the body defends itself against infections.
Year 3
In Year 3 courses are aimed more at applications than in previous years. This year is dominated by courses within biotechnology.
Biotechnology
Genetic engineering and molecular biology link back to the biotechnology courses students previously studied. Here tools are presented that enable molecular biological biotechnology. Students will learn methods of synthesising DNA/RNA, DNA sequencing and how a gene library can be created. Also technical applications such as diagnostics are described. Analysis and purification of biomolecules are the focus of a course of the same name. The cultivation technology course provides the basics as concerns how live cells can be used for industrial production and includes examples of mathematical simulation of the cultivation processes. A degree project of 15 credits will take the form of a biotechnology project with a written thesis and a professional orientation element.
Measurement Techniques and Programming
Chemical measurement techniques integrate analytical-chemical measurement methods with statistical methods for processing of data. This course teaches students to plan experiments in order to be able to interpret the results in the correct manner. The numerical methods and basic programming course aims to provide students with computer skills so that use of computers and an understanding of programming becomes a natural part of their skills arsenal. Students also gain knowledge on how computers can be used to solve various calculation problems.
Bachelor of Science Degree
In all KTH Master of Science in Engineering programmes there is an opportunity to be awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree of 180 credits after a period of thee years. Irrespective of whether students take out their Bachelor’s degree, they may continue their studies towards the Master of Science in Engineering degree of 300 credits. A Bachelor’s degree enables students to enter further studies on a one or two-year Master’s programme in Sweden or abroad.
Years 4-5
Students studying the first level will, during their third year of study, select one of the following:
Medicinsk bioteknology / Medical Biotechnology
This programme is intended to provide in-depth studies within biotechnology with special emphasis on medical applications. Students acquire unique competence within technology, chemistry, biology and medicine which will give them a strong competitive edge on the Swedish and international labour markets within pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
Industriell och miljöinriktad bioteknologi / Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology
This programme provides knowledge on how to design, use and regulate processes based on life sciences and engineering skills, in which processes are optimised in a well-balanced economic manner and secure, economical products of high quality levels are manufactured. This programme also provides good underlying information on which to base qualified decisions aimed at the achievement of a sustainable society.
Molekylär vetenskap och teknik / Molecular Science and Engineering
Here students learn to design, calculate, characterise and synthesise molecular material and “smart” molecules. Applications can be found among molecular electronics, renewable energy, catalyst and pharmaceutical design. Students may, for example, specialise in analysis, calculations or synthesis.
Makromolekylära material / Macromolecular Materials
In this programme students learn to design, synthesise and manufacture macromolecular material. Making a mobile phone? The coating of a penicillin tablet? Robust paper? The right material is decisive to success. Students are able to specialise within, for example, polymer or fibre-based materials.
Read more about the KTH Master programmes and the Erasmus Mundus Programme
Master programmes and the Erasmus Mundus
Degree project (Master)
The programme is completed with a degree project. This project works as proof positive that the student has fulfilled the requirements of the Master course. Students will apply all the knowledge they have acquired during their period of study at KTH. The degree project is carried out in connection to the Master Programme, most often during Year 5 and is aimed at providing experience of, under realistic conditions, independently planning, implementation and documentation of a task according to good engineering practice. This project may be carried out at KTH, at a company or abroad. Select your degree project carefully – it may be extremely useful when you are applying for your first job!
Please note! Certain changes may be made to the range of courses.
