Biomedical research has considerably improved human health in the past two decades. With major technological advancements, new breakthroughs, and a better understanding of fundamental aspects of cell and organ function, it’s no hyperbole to say the field has made crucial steps forward. According to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, cancer treatments are more effective than ever, deaths from heart disease have significantly decreased, and the first promising AIDS vaccine has just been tested.
To sustain this momentum, it is important that the next generation of biomedical scientists are just as well-equipped and driven. They must have the precise knowledge and skills to conduct high-impact research, whether in academia, government laboratories, or in industry. A master’s degree from a top school enables this. As homes to some of the best minds in the field, these are places to elevate your understanding of biological and medical processes, to grasp the insidious mechanisms of disease, and to find new treatments and preventive measures.
If improving human life is your calling, then consider the following European institutions. They offer the training required to make a tangible difference.
Students gain theoretical insight and practical skills that reach beyond the traditional disciplines of biomedicine, chemistry, and biology. Source: Malmö University
Malmö University
Biomedical surface science bridges two important scientific disciplines together – biomedicine focuses on the biological aspects of health and disease, while surface chemistry studies the behaviour of molecules at interfaces between different phases. While these are not entirely new fields, this fusion gives it a unique perspective beyond the traditional disciplines of biomedicine, chemistry, or biology. That is what the Department of Biomedical Science at Malmö University does best: interdisciplinary education and research, in close collaboration with industry and the public sector, that broadens knowledge and application to real-world challenges.
This is effectively reflected in its two-year master’s programme, Biomedical Surface Science. Designed to highlight the critical role surface science plays in biomedicine and biotechnology, the programme focuses on the interactions at the interface between materials and biological matter — whether it’s occurring in medical implants, drug delivery systems, or healthcare diagnostics.
You will be working in advanced experimental facilities, comprised within the Biofilms Research Centre for Biointerfaces, and be trained by lecturers who are internationally renowned researchers and leading experts from the biomedical industry. “We have dynamic discussions with professors, where you are encouraged to be more critical and to challenge new ideas, and I think that is where innovation begins,” graduate Reuben Laguitan says. “This kind of classroom environment enables us to work in a multicultural setting and encourages collaboration.”
The programme will provide opportunities to complete part of your programme abroad, either through an exchange semester, thesis writing, or an internship. Your international activity can be part of your Certificate of International Merits, a great way to strengthen your academic, personal, and professional development by leveraging the power of being in a new place. In addition, the multi-year, multidisciplinary vertically integrated projects (VIP) offer a unique opportunity to deepen your experience. As a VIP participant, you will join a research team with students and academic staff from different levels and backgrounds, contribute to ongoing research, and build skills in planning, collaboration, and critical reflection on the research process.
Completing the master’s degree opens doors to exciting career opportunities, both regionally and globally. As a graduate, you’ll be well equipped to work in academic research, healthcare, and the life science industry, e.g. at one of the over 330 partners of Medicon Valley Alliance. This unique cross-border network brings together universities, hospitals, biotech and pharma companies, CROs, CDMOs, science parks and public sector organisations across Southern Sweden and Eastern Denmark.
Apply to Malmö University now.
Ninety-four percent of University of Bristol’s research are assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent. Source: University of Bristol/Facebook
University of Bristol
Ranked fifth best in the UK and with 94% of its research deemed world-leading or internationally excellent — these accolades of University of Bristol speak for themselves.
Within this framework of excellence, their contributions to the biomedical sciences are particularly noteworthy. Through their MSc Biomedical Sciences Research, programme, Bristol is actively spearheading the search for solutions to global health challenges. Taught by experts with a diverse range of expertise, the programme gives you the knowledge and understanding of key areas of contemporary research in human health and disease.
You’ll complete a mandatory Core Skills unit, Literature Review and Project Proposal, two optional units, as well as a research project. Past research includes projects in biochemistry, cancer biology, cell biology, immunology, microbiology, neuroscience, pharmacology and physiology, and stem cell biology and virology. These take place in a laboratory environment, where you will learn to think and work like a scientist.
“I wanted to be in the scientific world where I could help people,” student Rhodri says. “The lab I’m working in is looking at how Parkinson’s disease could be cured by a mutation that’s been found by one of the team in the lab. Knowing that we are contributing to science is fascinating.”
The skills and attributes forged from this MSc will prove valuable in your future job search, publishing of research papers, and PhD-level study. Some graduates have even gone on to pursue non-scientific careers such as teacher training, consulting, accountancy, and patent law – the opportunities are seemingly endless.
The University of Amsterdam is one of Europe’s 20 best, emphasising research excellence. University of Amsterdam / Universiteit van Amsterdam/Facebook
University of Amsterdam
As one of Europe’s 20 best universities, the University of Amsterdam is a leader in science with partnerships that span all around the city and beyond. Take its Biomedical Sciences master’s degree, for example. The programme is closely affiliated with the Amsterdam University Medical Centre, the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, and the Dutch Cancer Institute.
It offers two clusters that you can specialise in. The first is Medical Biology which covers areas in biomolecules, signal transduction, infectious/hereditary diseases, and antibiotic resistance/behaviour. The other is Neurobiology, where you will work on the most complex systems in the human body: the brain. These clusters have tracks of their own, which often collide, providing you with interdisciplinary education within the biomedical science field.
With 3,000 research projects underway, this is a university able to provide crucial exposure to master’s students. “The most valuable part of this master’s programme was that we got the chance to actually take two research internships,” graduate Rebecca McIntyre says. “That actually puts you in the lab setting, working on your own research project.”
Such early immersion is a huge advantage for your career. Whether you proceed to work in clinical laboratories, conducting tests to support disease diagnosis and treatment, or in research, developing new drugs and therapies, this master’s degree from the University of Amsterdam will prove decisive.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International*
