International Master's Degree Programmes

Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry offers six international Master's Degree Programmes. Programmes are multidisciplinary international two-year programmes with instruction in English.

Learn more about our Master's Degree Programmes in general

• Click this brochure link to access the PDF version
• View the MSc Programmes powerpoint presentation (pdf)
• Read the Newsletter 2012
• Student and staff interviews
• New Students on Facebook

How to apply ?
Eligibility and Application Instructions
Language Requirements
Admission Criteria
Results
Appeals

Master's Degree Programmes

Biotechnology (MBIOT)
Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology will admit a maximum of ten students who satisfy the admission criteria. The MBIOT programme offers one major subject, Biotechnology, with four specialist options: 1) Animal Biotechnology; 2) Food Biotechnology; 3) Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology; and 4) Plant and Forest Biotechnology. Students need not choose their specialist option at the application stage, but at the beginning of their studies.
Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT)

Environment and Natural Resources (MENVI)
Master’s Degree Programme in Environment and Natural Resources will admit a maximum of 16 students who satisfy the admission criteria. The MENVI programme includes four major subjects, two of which offer only one specialist option. Applicants must choose their prospective major subject from among the following: 1) Plant Production Sciences, specialist option in Agroecology (three students can be admitted), 2) Agrotechnology, specialist option in Environmental Engineering in Agriculture (five students can be admitted), 3) Environmental Soil Science (three students can be admitted) and 4) Microbiology (five students can be admitted).

Applicants can apply for two majors within the MENVI programme, but they must place the two majors in order of preference. Applicants may be admitted to only one of the two majors.
Master's Degree Programme in Environment and Natural Resources (MENVI)

Food Sciences (MScFood)
Master’s Degree Programme in Food Sciences will admit a maximum of 15 students who satisfy the admission criteria. The MScFood programme offers one major subject, Food Science, with two specialist options: 1) Food Safety and 2) Food Bioprocessing. Students need not choose their specialist option at the application stage, but at the beginning of their studies.
Master's Degree Programme in Food Sciences (MScFood)

Food of Life - the Science of Animal-Derived Foods (EMFOL)
The International Master’s Degree Programme in Food of Life is an integrated, cross-disciplinary, world-class Erasmus Mundus course in the science of animal-derived foods. The graduates of the Programme will be awarded a double degree.

Annually, Food of Life admits 25 students, with a maximum of ten students to pursue the second-year studies in Helsinki. Note! Application deadline is December 1, 2012.
Master's Degree Programme in Food of Life - the Science of Animal-Derived Foods

Forest Sciences and Business (MScFB)
Master’s Degree Programme in Forest Sciences and Business will admit a maximum of 15 students who satisfy the admission criteria. The MScFB programme offers two major subjects, namely 1) Forest Ecology and Management and 2) Forest Economics and Marketing. Applicants must apply to one of these major subjects. Each major subject can admit a maximum of nine students; however, the total for the two subjects cannot exceed 15 students.
Master’s Degree Programme in Forest Sciences and Business (MScFB)

Plant Production Science (MScPPS)
Master’s Degree Programme in Plant Production Science will admit a maximum of 15 students who satisfy the admission criteria. The MScPPS programme has one major subject, Plant Production Sciences, with five specialist options: 1) Agroecology, 2) Plant Breeding, 3) Crop Science, 4) Plant Pathology, and 5) Horticulture. Students need not choose their specialist option at the application stage, but at the beginning of their studies.
Master's Degree Programme in Plant Production Science (MScPPS)

How to apply ?

Eligibility and Application Instructions
The Master’s Degree Programmes are open to applicants who have completed a suitable Bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree in Finland or abroad. Also eligible are applicants who will have completed a suitable Bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree, so that by the time they enrol (no later than July 30, 2013) at the University, they will be able to present their diploma.

The application period begins on November 19, 2012 and closes on January 31, 2013 (16:00/4:00 p.m. GMT +2). Late applications will not be processed. The application form and detailed instructions for applicants (including country-specific instructions) can be found on the ‘How to Apply’ website of the University of Helsinki. Instructions for applicants can also be obtained by email from the University of Helsinki Admissions services (admissions@helsinki.fi).

The right to pursue a degree will be granted on the basis of application documents. Applicants must enclose with their application the following English-language documents as required by the University of Helsinki and UAF:

• Degree certificate (diploma) and transcript of a Bachelor’s or equivalent first-cycle university degree
• Certificate of English language skills ( Rector’s Decision)
• A motivation letter as part of the online applicant registration. The applicants should describe their academic, professional and personal competencies and write a preliminary study plan, including a plan for the topic of the Master’s thesis
• Applicant’s CV (optional)
• Letter of recommendation (optional)

• Applicants applying to the MScFood programme are required to submit a document of their laboratory skills. Detailed instructions for this document can be found on the online application.

At its discretion, the Faculty may ask for further clarification of the documents submitted by the applicant. Applicants may be asked to provide further information and identification documents.

Applicants can apply for a maximum of two Master's degree programmes in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry during one academic year. Applicants must submit their application documents to each programme for which they apply as well as place the two programmes in order of preference. Applicants may be admitted to only one of the two programmes.

Language Requirements
All applicants must submit a certification of their English language skills (Rector's Decision No. 91/2012). For further information about how to demonstrate language proficiency, please visit the ‘Language requirements’ website of the University of Helsinki. At the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry the required score level is the academic level (AL). MScPPS is the only programme, which accepts communication-level English (CL) skills instead of academic level (AL).

As a proof of the applicant's proficiency in English, the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry does NOT accept the foreign language studies included in a degree completed at a Finnish university or at a university of applied sciences. This refers to the foreign language studies requirement in English as defined by the Government Decree on University Degrees.

Applicants living in Finland can take a language test arranged by Language Services.

Admission Criteria
Admissions will primarily be based on

• previous academic performance
• the relevance of previously completed studies
• the study plan
• the motivation letter written by the applicant

Applicants must possess good English skills and must have performed well in their previous studies. Secondarily, attention may be given to professional experience relevant to the programme, the applicant’s CV, letters of recommendation and proficiency in other languages.

Applicants with a previous second-cycle (Master’s) degree in agriculture and forestry will be considered in admissions only for special reasons and only if the content of the prospective degree differs sufficiently from the applicant’s previous degree.

Special consideration will be given to the fact that the applicant’s previous studies must provide a solid foundation for studies in the programme. To acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for the studies, applicants admitted to a Master’s degree programme may be required to complete supplementary studies (as defined in Act No 558/2009) of the following scope:

• 30 credits (MBIOT)
• 30 credits (MENVI)
• 45 credits (MScFood)
• 15 credits (MScFB)
• 30 credits (MScPPS)

These studies cannot be incorporated into the Master’s degree. Any supplementary studies will be specified in the letter of acceptance and be agreed in further detail with each student at the beginning of study.

Results
Applicants whose application was handled in the Faculty’s admissions process will receive the admission results in 10-12 April 2013. All applicants will be informed of the results by e-mail.

The application will be handled in the Faculty’s admission process only if the following criteria are met:

1. The applicant submits an application with application enclosures in the manner requested by the University of Helsinki.
2. The applicant’s previous education gives eligibility for a programme leading to a Master’s degree.
3. The applicant’s language proficiency satisfies the requirements set by the University of Helsinki.

 

Acceptance of student place
Admitted applicants must inform the Academic Affairs Office of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry by 12 June 2013 at 16.00 (4:00 p.m. GMT +2) whether or not they accept the student place granted to them. Such applicants are entitled to submit their other enrolment documents by 30 July 2013.

Applicants who fail to confirm their acceptance of a place offer and to submit the required documents as specified in the acceptance letter by the deadline will lose their right to pursue studies in the Faculty.

Students placed on a waiting list may be selected to replace students who have not accepted the place granted to them.

Students may simultaneously hold the right to pursue only one second-cycle (Master’s) degree in the Faculty.

A student admitted to a Master’s degree programme may not apply at a later date to change his or her programme in another Master’s programme in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.

Admitted applicants must submit the original documents concerning the previous degree on which their application rested at the beginning of study in autumn 2013.

Students admitted to a Master’s degree programme may complete at most 25% (30 cr) of their studies in a language other than English (Dean’s Decision No 119/2009).

Appeals
Applicants dissatisfied with the admissions decision may appeal to the Admissions Board. The appeal must be submitted in writing and indicate in detail the decision appealed against as well as the grounds for the appeal. The appeal must arrive at the Faculty’s Academic Affairs Office within 14 days of the announcement of the admission results (not counting the day of the announcement). Applicants dissatisfied with the decision of the Admissions Board may appeal to the Helsinki Administrative Court. Decisions made by the Administrative Court are not subject to appeal.