Master's Thesis in Biomedical Sciences
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 60
- Teaching semesters
- Autumn
- Course code
- BMED395
- Number of semesters
- 2
- Teaching language
- Norwegian and English
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
Fulfilment of the master thesis is aimed at teaching the students to plan, carry out and present an independent research project. Furthermore, the student is expected to gain substantial theoretical knowledge within the research field of the topic for the thesis, through accessing original scientific literature and academic discussions. The student participates in an active scientific community through daily contact with researchers and peer students.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The use of AI tools in academic work must be guided by the principles of honesty, transparency, and academic integrity. Students are expected to follow the Faculty of Medicine’s classification system for AI use (Levels A–D), and to clearly document their level of AI involvement in their thesis work.
Student Responsibilities
- Self-assessment: Students must assess and declare the level of AI use in their thesis, based on the official classification system.
- Critical evaluation: AI-generated content must not be used uncritically. All information must be verified, fact-checked, and integrated with academic rigor.
- Tool selection: Students are encouraged to use secure and institutionally supported AI tools. At the University of Bergen (UiB), Microsoft Copilot or UiBChat are available and considered a secure option for academic use.
For more information about the classification system and guidelines, see:
www.uib.no/en/med/174309/use-artificial-intelligence-ai-faculty-medicine
Learning Outcomes
After completion of the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge
- Prove advanced theoretical and practical knowledge within the scientific field of the Master's thesis.
Skills
- Master the methods necessary to carry out the relevant research project connected to the thesis.
- Plan and carry out independent, scientific experiments.
Competences
- Search for - and critically evaluate - relevant scientific literature.
- Submit one's own findings to critical evaluation and discuss these in relation to published academic literature.
- Communicate one's own research results in a scientifically correct fashion, both in written and oral contexts.
Semester of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Access to the Course
Teaching and learning methods
The Master’s thesis is anchored in experimental physiological, cell biological or molecular biological research, or "desktop research" (imaging and modelling) dependent on which direction the student chooses to specialize in. The scope of allocated academic supervision will vary to some degree between different projects. The minimum number of supervision hours a student is entitled to is stated in the written supervision contract, which is formally established between the student, supervisor(s) and chief of staff at the work place the student is primarily associated with.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Forms of Assessment
The thesis is graded before the exam, but the presentation, combined with the oral examination may adjust the final grade. The final grade is made known to the candidate and will be on the transcript.
The oral exam shall normally be held by the end of the 4th semester and no later than two months after submission of the thesis.