Master´s Programme in Health and Technology - Specialisation in Biomedicine Programme description

The master's programme was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. The scope of the programme is 120 credits and is offered both as a two-year full-time course of study and as a three-year part-time course of study.

Candidates who pass the programme will be awarded the degree Master of Biomedicine (Norwegian: Master i biomedisin) in accordance with Section 3 of the Regulations concerning Requirements for the Master's Degrees.

The biomedical field is undergoing rapid development. New knowledge in the discipline of molecular biology and technological development in laboratory work, imaging and radiotherapy creates new challenges in diagnostics and treatment. DNA technology in particular has opened up new possibilities in diagnostic and therapeutic principles. The implementation of new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that result from the development in biomedical analysis methods and radiation-based technology is more demanding in terms of validation, critical thinking and analysis founded on evidence-based knowledge. Choices of analyses, technology and procedures are crucial to ensure correct diagnosis and treatment.

The programme deals with basic biomedical sciences that are necessary for research, method development, and quality assurance in biomedical disciplines and laboratories. The study programme consists of courses that allow students to specialise in different areas. Depending on which programme option students choose, they will specialise in quality development and quality assurance of methods and procedures used in biomedical laboratories or in diagnostic imaging or radiotherapy departments.

The purpose of the programme is to educate second cycle degree candidates to cover the growing need for advanced knowledge resulting from the professional and technological development in biomedical laboratories, radiology and radiotherapy. Students will acquire the expertise required to establish and develop analysis methods, interpret their results and choose suitable methods in their work on different issues.

Professional opportunities and further education

Possible fields of work and careers after completing the programme include:

• biomedical research and development
• development and advisory functions in operational and quality-development matters in laboratories and radiotherapy
• development and advisory functions in guidance, administration and dissemination of knowledge in the health professions
• teaching, academic supervision and development functions at institutions responsible for biomedical education

A completed master's degree qualifies candidates to apply for admission to PhD programmes.

The programme description is specified in teaching plans that provide more specific information and rules for each course.

The target group is people with a minimum of three years' education in biomedical subjects. The programme is particularly relevant for applicants with an education in medical laboratory sciences, pharmacy and radiography, and for chemical engineers who have studied biotechnology.

Reference is made to the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at OsloMet.

The minimum requirement for admission is a bachelor's degree, cand.mag. degree or vocational education with a scope of at least three years. To be admitted to the master's degree programme, the average grade for applicants' academic basis for admission must be C or better. The following also applies:

Candidates must have studied biomedical or natural sciences with at least 80 credits' specialisation in a course group that covers knowledge of chemistry, biology, physics and laboratory technology.

Additional points (education points) can be awarded for relevant education over and above the academic qualifications, see Section 12 (1) of the Regulations. By relevant education is meant education in medical, natural science or technology disciplines.

Additional points are also awarded for relevant work experience, see Section 12 (2) of the Regulations. By relevant work experience is meant all biomedicine-related work experience. This could be tasks relating to laboratory diagnostics or medical research and treatment.

Sixty-five per cent of places in the programme are reserved for students who compete for admission on the basis of their grade point average alone.

The programme will only run if there are enough students.

Admission to individual courses

All courses in the programme are also taught as individual courses, with the exception of the Master’s Thesis. The grade C requirement does not apply to admission to individual courses. More information about admission to individual courses can be found on the programme’s website: https://www.oslomet.no/studier/hv/biomedisin

After completing the programme, the candidate is expected to have achieved the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has advanced knowledge about biomedicine and specialised insight into the topic of his/her master's degree thesis
• has advanced knowledge about normal and pathological conditions and cell biological mechanisms
• has advanced knowledge about biomedical analysis methods
• applying his/her knowledge and skills to new fields to carry out advanced tasks and projects
• has in-depth knowledge about philosophy of science traditions.

Skills

The candidate is capable of

• analysing a biomedical problem and choosing the correct method
• quality-assuring biomedical analysis and/or treatment methods within his/her chosen area of specialisation
• conducting research work affiliated to a research group under supervision in an independent and ethically aware manner
• writing academic texts and presenting research results in accordance with the applicable conventions in the field of biomedicine.

Competence

The candidate is capable of

• analysing and discussing ethical issues in biomedical research
• analysing and presenting research results orally and in writing
• participating in discussions with colleagues and the general public about biomedical research and developments in the field
• contributing to new ideas and innovation in biomedicine, medical technology and other health science areas.

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

Throughout the programme, work and teaching methods are used that emphasise the students' independence and responsibility for their own learning process. Lectures, seminars, laboratory courses and skills training, group work, written work, tours and web-based teaching are among the methods used. Some areas will not be covered by lectures or scheduled teaching activities, and students are expected to acquire this knowledge through self-study. Students are expected to spend 40 hours per week on their studies.

Lectures

Lectures are primarily used to introduce new subject matter, give an overview and highlight main elements and links within different topics, and also to communicate relevant issues.

Seminars

Seminars emphasise dialogue and discussion between the subject teacher(s) and students in order to stimulate the student's academic development. Verbal presentations by students and discussions are emphasised.

In connection with the master's thesis, three or four seminars are held where the master's theses are presented and discussed. The students receive feedback from their fellow students and teachers. This enables students to learn from each other. Research-related issues, methods and academic supervision are among the topics discussed in the seminars. Innovation, entrepreneurship and work opportunities after completing the programme are also relevant topics.

Laboratory courses/skills training

Several courses include laboratory courses or skills training as important learning methods.

In laboratory courses, students learn the theoretical and practical aspects of modern biomedical research methods. Through practical laboratory assignments, students learn how to carry out analyses and master certain skills, such as aseptic technique. The students are trained in choosing the right analysis method/statistical tool for the biomedical problem at hand.

Group work

Work on issues and assignments together with other students is intended to promote cooperation between students and support learning of subject matter.

Written assignments and academic supervision

Through written assignments and the master's thesis, students will formulate research questions for assignments and work on them over time, either individually or in cooperation with other students. They will learn theory and develop skills in using and referencing sources, analysis, discussion and written and oral communication. The primary purpose of this is to develop their ability to reflect critically, see elements in context and develop a deeper understanding of a subject.

Developing academic writing skills is a key aspect of all parts of the programme.

Individual academic supervision is an important component of the work on the master's thesis. The supervision is intended to ensure that the project complies with research ethics principles and help students to formulate the research question and ensure quality in the collection and analysis of data.

Guided tours

Several of the topics include tours of relevant hospital units and research laboratories.

Web-based teaching

The course MABIO5000 Computed Tomography (CT) is web-based, and requires independent activity on the part of the students. The work and teaching methods comprise digital lectures, participation in digital discussion forums, skills training, seminar(s) and written and practical assignments. We refer to the course description for a more detailed description of the work and teaching methods used in the course.

Self-study

Not all topics are covered by organised teaching activities, and students are expected to acquire knowledge of the remaining topics through self-study. Study groups have no teacher participation, and serve as a forum where students can support each other's learning. Students are encouraged to cooperate online by posting assignments, notes and issues for discussion via the university's electronic learning support system in addition to cooperating in more traditional ways.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student is expected to:

• understand the principles of using programs to address technical problems
• be familiar with the accuracy of computers
• be familiar with the programming language MATLAB
• know about the construction of loops and conditions
• master simple MATLAB programming for implementation of calculation models
• understand the conservation equations for flow, heat and mass transfer
• be familiar with the principles for solving a heat and fluid mechanics problem numerically
• know and understand the finite volume method, which is used for discretisation of equations describing diffusion and advection
• be familiar with the use of staggered and non-staggered grids/meshes
• be familiar with how continuity equations and speed equations can be linked to produce a pressure equation (SIMPLE and SIMPLER algorithms)
• be familiar with the use of source terms to calculate flow and temperature fields
• be familiar with the principles for calculating thermal radiation between solid surfaces
• be familiar with various algorithms for solving system of equations and pertaining stability and convergence requirements
• be familiar with and able to use the commercial simulation programme STAR CCM+

Skills:

The student

• is capable of carrying out necessary numerical calculations for engineering analyses of problems relating to fluid mechanics and heat transfer in real-life structures, including buildings and heat exchangers, and elsewhere
• is capable of defining an adequate range and defining necessary boundary conditions and initial conditions for addressing heat and fluid mechanics problems
• is capable of developing his/her own simple calculation models for implementation in MATLAB
• is capable of using the CFD tool (Computational Fluid Dynamics) STAR-CCM+
• is capable of using numerical methods for heat conduction calculations (one, two or three dimensional, transient), by means of the finite volume (control volume) method
• is capable of describing a transient problem explicitly and implicitly
• is able to calculate external and internal forced and natural convection, deal with boundary layers and draw heat and temperature profiles
• is capable of analysing parallel-flow and counterflow heat exchangers by using logarithmic mean temperature differences.
• is capable of giving an efficient and easily understood presentation of the calculations
• is capable of assessing the quality of the results, i.e. the reasonableness of the data results and program

General competence:

The student has competence in 

• contributing to the work on developing new technology on the basis of an understanding of mathematical modelling and solutions to physical problems
• solving interconnected problems linked to heat transfer, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. This will form a basis for calculating the electrical output and energy needs of a building etc.
• assessing whether calculation results are reasonable
• acquiring  skills in methods of relevance to the engineers of the future

Lectures, work on computer exercises individually and in groups.

The assessments are carried out in accordance with Sections 3-9, 4-7, 5-2 and 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.

All courses conclude in an exam, see the table below. The conditions for taking the exams are described in the course descriptions.

Most of the courses have an individual written exam because the learning outcomes are factual knowledge about and understanding of natural science. A broad range of the outcomes must be tested to quality assure the students' competence, and this testing must take place without any aids. Two courses have learning outcomes that are suitable for oral testing, and therefore have oral exams.

The A–F grade scale, where A–E are pass grades and F is fail, are used for all exams. All grades will be shown on the diploma.

The course descriptions state which examiner arrangement will be used for each exam.

All master's theses will be assessed by an external as well as an internal examiner.

Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description.

The grade awarded for a written exam can be appealed, cf. Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and Section 7-3 (2) of the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams.

All individual exams can be written in Norwegian or English. Students can choose to take the oral master’s thesis exam in Norwegian or in English, regardless of which language the thesis is written in.

The following required coursework must be approved before a student can take the exam:

• 6 computer exercises
• 2 simulation projects

The purpose of the coursework requirements is to encourage consistent efforts throughout the semester and help the students meet the skills and competence requirements