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 as a two-year full-time course of study.

Candidates who pass the programme will be awarded the degree Master of Health and Technology (Norwegian: Master i helse og teknologi) in accordance with Section 3 of the Regulations concerning Requirements for the Master's Degrees.;

The biomedical field is undergoing continuous technological development. The technological development in laboratory work, imaging and radiotherapy creates new challenges in diagnostics and treatment. 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.

In this programme the students will obtain knowledge about the biomedical subject areas that lay the foundation for research, method development, and quality assurance in the natural and the health sciences. Development and use of new technology within the subject areas is also included as an important topic in the study, where the importance of technology and its impact on the health service is emphasised. 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 master degree candidates to cover the growing need for advanced knowledge needed as a result of the technological development in biomedical laboratories, radiology and radiotherapy. ;The students will recognise the importance of interdisciplinary interaction between disciplines of health and technology, and they will acquire the expertise required to establish and develop analysis methods, interpret results and choose suitable methods for different research questions.

Professional opportunities and further education

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

• research and professional development within health services and private and public enterprises
• 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 educational institutions;

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

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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 biomedical subject areas and specialised insight into the topic of his/her master's degree thesis
• has insight into the technological development within biomedical subject areas and its significance for the health service
• has advanced knowledge about normal and pathological conditions and cell biological mechanisms
• has in-depth knowledge about the traditions in theory of science, research methods and ethics
• has insight into the importance of user involvement and responsible research and innovation (RRI) in the development and implementation of research and new technology

Skills

The candidate is capable of

• analysing a research question and choosing the correct method
• performing quality assessment of analysis or treatment methods within the chosen area of specialisation
• conducting research work under supervision in an independent and ethically aware manner
• writing academic texts and presenting research results in accordance with the applicable conventions in his/her own field of study
• applying his/her knowledge and skills to new fields to carry out advanced tasks and projects

Competence

The candidate is capable of

• analysing and discussing ethical issues in research
• analysing and presenting research results orally and in writing
• participating in discussions about biomedical research and disseminating research results to colleagues and the general public
• contributing to development and innovation in biomedicine and other health science areas
• contributing to the development and implementation of new technology at the intersection of health and technology

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 50 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 often 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.

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 Health and Technology 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.

MABIO4300 Medical use of radiation is a web-based course in English. The course will facilitate collaboration between Norwegian and non-Norwegian students.

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.

The grades used are either pass/fail or letter grades on a scale from A to F, with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade. The grade F means that the student has failed the exam. 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.