Master's Degree Programme in Biomedical Imaging
Turku, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
22 Jan 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 12,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* free for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries €12,000/academic year
Introduction
Discover all degree programs at the University of Turku
Biomedical Imaging – more than you can Imagine!
The Master's Degree Programme in Biomedical Imaging trains professionals with a thorough theoretical understanding and practical skills in diverse imaging methods and technologies.
The programme in Biomedical Imaging will provide you with strong knowledge of either cellular biology, anatomy and physiology, nanomedicine, or biophysics, depending on the area of your specialization. You will study in a highly international environment and gain excellent theoretical and practical skills in a wide range of imaging techniques and applications as well as in image analysis.
You will have the possibility to continue your studies as a doctoral candidate and pursue a career in academia, industry or science administration, or in an imaging core facility or a hospital research laboratory.
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Academic Excellence & Experience
The strong imaging expertise of Turku universities is a great environment for studying Biomedical Imaging. Imaging is one of the strongholds of the two universities in Turku, Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku. Both universities also maintain the Turku BioImaging, which is a broad-based, interdisciplinary science and infrastructure umbrella that unites bioimaging expertise in Turku and elsewhere in Finland. Turku is especially known for its PET Centre and the development of super-resolution microscopy.
Winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Stefan Hell did his original discoveries on STED microscopy at the University of Turku. Turku is also a leader of the Euro-BioImaging infrastructure network which provides imaging services for European researchers.
Research facilities include a wide array of state-of-the-art imaging technologies ranging from atomic-level molecular and cellular imaging to whole animal imaging, clinical imaging (e.g. PET), and image analysis.
The Biomedical Imaging programme is very interdisciplinary with a unique atmosphere where people from different countries and educational backgrounds interact and co-operate. Students are motivated to join courses, workshops, and internship projects also elsewhere in Finland, in Europe, and all around the world. The programme has Erasmus+ exchange agreements with the University of Pecs in Hungary, L’Institut Supérieur de BioSciences in Paris, France and Université de Rouen Normandie in Rouen, France.
Biomedical Sciences At Turku Universities
Turku has longstanding research traditions in the field of biomedicine. Especially the fields of drug discovery, diagnostics, and biological and medical imaging represent the top-level expertise of the University of Turku.
The Biomedical Imaging programme is a collaboration of two universities, the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University. The close cooperation forms a unique educational combination of biomedical sciences in Finland and worldwide.
You will make a personal study plan, which helps you select the courses that best suit your personal interests and background.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarship Opportunities
The University of Turku supports merited and motivated students with generous scholarships. The university offers these scholarships to students pursuing Master's level studies who are subject to tuition fees.
Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, and you can apply for a scholarship by simply answering “yes” to the corresponding question in the online application form when you apply for the program.
One type of scholarship covers the whole tuition fee for two years for Master’s degree programs. In addition to that, there is a scholarship for the best applicants that covers tuition fees and includes an additional grant of €5,000.
Approximately 30 % of the admitted students are awarded a scholarship by the University of Turku.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The courses cover light microscopy, advanced fluorescence techniques, super-resolution imaging techniques, PET, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. An understanding of the use of multimedia in a scientific context and excellent academic writing skills are emphasised. The interdisciplinary curriculum provides you with a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art knowledge in biomedical imaging related to many different areas in cell biology and biomedicine.
The programme has the following overall structure:
- Major subject studies, 45 ECTS
- Master´s thesis, 40 ECTS
Plan and Seminar, 20 ECTS and Written Thesis, 20 ECTS - Elective Studies, 35 ECTS
Selectable major subject studies and language studies
Master's Thesis & Topics
Master's thesis in biomedical imaging consists of an experimental laboratory project, thesis plan, seminar presentation, and a written thesis work.
The aim of the thesis is to demonstrate that you master your field of science, understand the research methodology as well as the relevant literature, and are capable of scientific thinking and presenting the obtained data to the scientific community.
Usually, the master’s thesis is conducted in a research group as an independent sub-project among the group’s research projects. Experimental research work will be conducted under the guidance of a supervisor.
Examples of thesis topics:
- Exercise and brown adipose tissue activation in humans (EXEBAT)
- Stimulated emission depletion microscopy of sub-diffraction polymerized structures
- Optimization of immunofluorescence protocols for the detection of biomarkers in cancer tissues
- Exploring the feasibility of a new PET tracer for assessment of atherosclerotic plaques in mice
- Morphology of the inner mitochondrial membrane
- Accuracy and precision of advanced T2 mapping in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
- Prevalence of perfusion-diffusion mismatch in acute stroke patients
Program Outcome
Competence Description
After completing the studies, you will:
- have strong basic knowledge in either cellular biology, anatomy, and physiology, or biophysics depending on your interests and area of specialisation;
- have excellent theoretical and practical skills in a wide range of imaging techniques and applications as well as in image analysis;
- have a degree from a highly international learning environment where students from all around the world have a chance to interact and collaborate with each other;
- understand the use of multimedia in scientific contexts and see it as a powerful tool of popularising science;
- master scientific writing in English;
- have excellent readiness for postgraduate studies.
Career Opportunities
Job Options
The Biomedical Imaging specialisation track aims to train future imaging and image analysis experts to meet the increasing needs in the fields of basic and medical research as well as the high demand for imaging core facility personnel.
The programme provides excellent possibilities for a career in life sciences. For example, you can:
- continue as postgraduate students to pursue a career as a scientist,
- work in core facility management,
- work in science administration nationally or internationally,
- work in hospital research laboratories,
- work in the industry and industrial research,
- work in imaging network or project management.
Career in Research
Master of Science degree provides you with eligibility for scientific postgraduate degree studies.
You will be able to apply for a position at the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS). The Graduate School consists of 16 doctoral programmes covering all disciplines and doctoral candidates of the University.
Together with the doctoral programmes, the Graduate School provides systematic and high-quality doctoral training. UTUGS aims to train highly qualified experts with the skills required for both professional careers in research and other positions of expertise.
Several doctoral programmes at the University of Turku are available for graduates: