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.

The study programme consists of courses that enable students to specialise in different areas. One programme option is suitable for medical laboratory technicians/engineers/pharmacists who want to specialise in biomedical research and development. There are two options for radiographers who want to specialise in CT or radiotherapy, respectively. The fourth option is for medical laboratory technicians and radiographers who want to specialise in nuclear medicine. Students can choose other course combinations than those recommended.

A student's academic/professional background and desired area of specialisation or the topic of his/her master's thesis will be decisive to his/her choice of programme option. The programme management provides advice and guidance.

The scope of the master's thesis is 60 credits, and it ensures in-depth specialisation in an area in the form of an independent scholarly work. Students are offered master's thesis topics related to hospitals, research institutions or the university's research environments. A thesis normally includes practical research work, but it could also be a theoretical work based on empirical data. Students are usually included in a research group. The thesis could also be based on independent development work carried out at the student's own place of work.

Students receive information about the programme options and the different courses during the first week of study, and must submit their choice of programme option in writing 3–4 weeks after the programme begins at the latest. Normally, at least ten registered students are required for a course to be taught.

Students will be offered alternative courses if an insufficient number of students register for their first choice. On the other hand, they are guaranteed a place on the courses offered. The ten-student limit could mean that students will have to choose another recommended programme option or an alternative combination of courses to complete the programme within the nominal length of study.

Study progress

Students must have passed all their exams for the first year before they can be given access to laboratories and academic supervision to work on their master's thesis.

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.

The master's degree can include courses taken at educational institutions abroad. The most relevant way of doing this is to write the master's thesis, in whole or in part, at educational institutions or research institutions that OsloMet has established cooperation with. The university has agreements with educational institutions and research institutes in several countries. The Master's Programme in Biomedicine has special cooperation agreements with the University of Salford, England, and Technische Universität Dresden in Germany.

During the master's thesis year, the student group will include international students if students from the university's partner institutions choose to write their master's thesis here. The master's degree seminars will be held in English if foreign students take part.

Coursework requirements are all types of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for being permitted to take the exam. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the relevant course description.

The primary purpose of coursework requirements is to promote students' progress and academic development and to encourage students to acquire new knowledge. The programme has coursework requirements in the form of compulsory attendance, lab reports, written assignments and practical tests.

Compulsory attendance

Attendance is compulsory in areas where the student cannot acquire knowledge and skills simply by studying literature. Therefore, compulsory attendance requirements may apply to laboratory courses and skills training, scheduled group work, seminars and presentations of different types of work. Students are themselves responsible for ensuring that they meet the attendance requirements. If a student does not take part in a group presentation, he/she must give an individual presentation to the lecturer.

If a student exceeds the maximum limit for absence stated in the course plan, the subject teacher will consider whether it is possible to compensate for absence by meeting alternative requirements, for example individual written assignments. If it is not possible to compensate for the absence, the student must take the course the next time it is taught. Whether or not it is possible to compensate for absence depends on the extent of the student’s absence and which activities he/she has missed.

Written assignments

Several courses have compulsory written assignments or reports as part of their coursework requirements. Written work that is not approved must be improved before re-submission. If the work is not approved on re-submission, the student cannot take the ordinary exam/assessment.

The students are entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If an assignment is not approved the third time it is submitted, the student must re-take the course with the next class.

Practical test

The course MABIO4500 Nuclear Medicine includes a practical test in aseptic work technique. If a student fails the test, he/she will be given another attempt before the ordinary exam. The student cannot sit the ordinary exam if the test is not approved after two attempts. The students are entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If the test is not approved after three attempts, the student must take the course with the next class.

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.

Programme description:

Approved by the Academic Affairs Committee at HiOA on 29 March 2012

Last amendments approved by the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences on 5 February 2019

The programme description applies to the academic year 2019-20.