The MSc programme in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences of the Department of Biological Sciences aims at providing students with high quality education of international standing, so that they can develop a deep understanding of their science and versatile thinking, something critical for their professional career in the modern environment. The programme entails theoretical, statistics and computational biology coursework and practicals, as well as a literature-based or laboratory-based dissertation. Graduates may continue their studies in postgraduate programmes in Cyprus or abroad, or find employment in education, clinical and diagnostic labs, the pharmaceutical industry, biomedical research, the biotechnology sector and similar.

The Master Programme in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences has a minimum duration of 3 semesters and a maximum duration of 8 semesters. Students are only admitted to the programme in the winter semester. For the completion of the programme, 90 ECTS are required.

The MSc in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences offers two types of dissertations:

Option I (Table A): Laboratory-based thesis, whereby the student performs original research in a departmental laboratory and prepares a thesis on the findings (BIO 830 Master Research Dissertation in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, 30 ECTS). If the dissertation is not completed within one semester, students may continue their research by enrolling in BIO 600 Continuation of Master Research Dissertation in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences.

Option II (Table B): Literature-based thesis, whereby the student prepares a scientific review on a specific subject through literature research (BIO 680 Experimental Methodology in Life Sciences, 15 ECTS).

The student must decide the type of dissertation by the end of the second semester.

The elective BIO 623-625 Laboratory Modules allow the student to acquire research experience that will facilitate thesis supervisor selection.

The optional BIO 898 Work Placement allows the student to network with the local job market and future employers. The ECTS of this course count additionally to the 90 ECTS that are required for the fulfillment of the programme.

All students are required to attend the postgraduate seminar series (BIO 806 and BIO 807) in two separate semesters.

The course offerings are shown in Tables A and B (compulsory for Option I and II, respectively) and Table C (restricted elective for all students).

PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS

TABLE A – Compulsory courses (Option I)

• BIO 770 Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Core – 10 ECTS
• BIO 616 Biological Data Analysis – 10 ECTS
• BIO 615 Soft Skills – 2.5 ECTS
• BIO 621* Computational and Systems Biology I – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 806 Postgraduate Seminar Series I – 0 ECTS
• BIO 807 Postgraduate Seminar Series II – 0 ECTS
• BIO 830 Master Research Dissertation in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences – 30 ECTS

TABLE B – Compulsory courses (Option II)

• BIO 770 Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Core – 10 ECTS
• BIO 616 Biological Data Analysis – 10 ECTS
• BIO 615 Soft Skills – 2.5 ECTS
• BIO 806 Postgraduate Seminar Series I – 0 ECTS
• BIO 807 Postgraduate Seminar Series II – 0 ECTS
• BIO 680 Experimental Methodology in Life Sciences – 15 ECTS

TABLE C – Restricted Elective courses (for Option I and II)

• BIO 600 Continuation of Master Research Dissertation in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences – 0 ECTS
• BIO 618 Plant Cell Molecular Biology and Biotechnology – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 621 Computational and Systems Biology I – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 622 Computational and Systems Biology II – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 623 Laboratory Module I – 2.5 ECTS
• BIO 624 Laboratory Module II – 2.5 ECTS
• BIO 625 Laboratory Module III – 2.5 ECTS
• BIO 630 Nucleic Acids – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 650 Special Topics in Bioinformatics – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 660 Developmental Biology and Stem Cells: Specific Themes – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 670 Imaging in Biological Sciences – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 690 Current Topics in Life Sciences I – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 691 Current Topics in Life Sciences II – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 740 Cellular Communication – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 750 Cancer Biology – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 760 Topics from Genomics to Proteomics – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 769 Conferences and Workshops I – 2.5 ECTS
• BIO 771 Conferences and Workshops II – 2.5 ECTS
• BIO 780 Independent Study I – 10 ECTS
• BIO 790 Independent Study II – 10 ECTS
• BIO 860 Molecular Biology of Viruses – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 869 Drosophila as a Model in Biomedicine – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 870 Molecular Biotechnology – 7.5 ECTS
• BIO 898 Work Placement* – 10 ECTS

* BIO 898 is optional and its ECTS do not count for graduation purposes.