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Alma-intranet

International Master's Degree Programmes

Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry offers seven 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:

Student interviews

Staff interviews

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

Biotechnology (MBIOT)
MBIOT provides the students with the expertise and skills they need for modern biotechnology research and in related employment. The curriculum ranges from the latest developments in recombinant DNA technology to non-technical issues, such as business and bioethics.

MBIOT is organized jointly by the Faculty Agriculture and Forestry and the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences in a close co-operation with the Institute of Biotechnology. The preeminent scientific research conducted at these units offers exceptional opportunities to pursue studies in an inspiring research-oriented environment with state-of-the-art facilities. Graduating with a Master's Degree from MBIOT offers scores of opportunities for a wide variety of careers, both within and outside of research and science.
Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT)

Environment and Natural Resources (MENVI)
The programme provides students with a holistic understanding of environmental issues together with a solid foundation of the chosen major subject. The programme combines aspects of the natural and social sciences and equips the student with skills necessary in implementing the results of scientific research in the environmental decision-making process.

MENVI programme provides you with an excellent basis for a career in environmental authorities, international development organisations, industries, consultancy groups, non-governmental organisations, and in research.
Master's Degree Programme in Environment and Natural Resources (MENVI)

Food Sciences (MScFood)
The international and interdisciplinary MScFood programme with two elective tracks of Food Safety and Food Bioprosessing aims to educate experts with outstanding scientific skills for research and development in the area of food science. The programme is organised jointly by two departments constituting Viikki Food Science at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Helsinki.

Food research at the University of Helsinki has been on the very top of its field over the past decade according to Science Watch Magazine that monitors research trends and indicators. The research based education provides you with an excellent basis for a career in food industry and trade, food safety authorities, as well as in research.
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 course in the science of animal-derived foods. The graduates of the Programme will be awarded a double degree. Food of Life students acquire in-depth knowledge in all the relevant animal science and food science aspects of the food production chain.

EMFOL programme provides you with an excellent basis for a career in food industry and trade, as well as in research, with the focus on animal-derived foods.

Note! Application deadline is December 1, 2011.
Master's Degree Programme in Food of Life - the Science of Animal-Derived Foods

Forest Sciences and Business (MScFB)
The goal of the MScFB programme is to promote sustainable use and environmental services of forest resources and ecosystems. The programme is designed for graduate students who intend to gain expertise about the forestry cluster and work in multi-cultural environments.

MScFB graduates find employment opportunities across the forestry and natural resources sectors – within governmental and non-governmental organisations, forest industries, consulting companies as well as in education and research.
Master’s Degree Programme in Forest Sciences and Business (MScFB)

Forestry and Environmental Engineering (CBU)
The Master’s Degree Programme in Forestry and Environmental Engineering is organised by the Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University CBU. The programme is recommended for students who are interested in managing and developing the utilisation of forest and bioenergy resources in a sustainable way. The program offers students high-quality and diversified training in forestry and bioenergy, with an emphasis on social and ecological sustainability.

The program provides the students with knowledge and skills that enable them to serve multinational organisations in creating rational strategies and operations especially for territories and forests of Finland and Russia.
Master’s Degree Programme (CBU) in Forestry and Environmental Engineering

Plant Production Science (MScPPS)
MScPPS gives the students an advanced understanding of the principles of sustainable plant production in the rapidly changing challenges in the food and agricultural sector. The focus of MScPPS studies ranges from molecular and cell biology to agroecology and food production systems. MScPPS is organised by the Department of Agricultural Sciences in close co-operation with the Nordic NOVA University Network, research institutes, and the related industry. The outstanding quality and international impact of the research guarantees an innovative studying environment and assures up-to-date, high-quality teaching.

The acquired academic expertise in MScPPS qualifies you for a broad range of employment opportunities in the public and private sector – both in Finland and abroad. The goal of the programme is to educate experts capable of working as academic researchers, teachers, administrative officials as well as agricultural advisors.
Master's Degree Programme in Plant Production Science (MScPPS)

How to apply ?

opiskelijatentti

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 31, 2012) at the University, they will be able to present their diploma.

The application period begins on November 21, 2011 and closes on January 31, 2012 (16:15/4:15 p.m. GMT +2). Late applications will not be processed. The online registration of applicants 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:

  • Diploma and transcript of a Bachelor’s or equivalent first-cycle university degree. The documents submitted must be officially certified photocopies of both the documents in the original language as well as their translations. The transcript must indicate the grading scale used in the assessment of the degree.
  • Certificate of English language skills (see 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)

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. 75/2011). Table of required language test scores and ways to prove the language skills can be found here (PDF). 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).

The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry does not accept foreign language studies
(in English) included in a degree programme fully completed in Finnish at a Finnish
university or at a Finnish university of applied sciences.

For further information about how to demonstrate language proficiency, please visit the ‘Language requirements’ website of the University of Helsinki.

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)
  • 15 credits (CBU)
  • 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 by email by April 2012.

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.

 

Admitted applicants must inform the Academic Affairs Office of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry by 12 June 2012 at 16.15 (4:15 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 31 July 2012.

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 major subject 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 2012.

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.