Scoring applications in the Faculty of Pharmacy
AUTUMN 2021 / SPRING 2022

Information on scoring applications in the Master’s Programme in Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Safety at the Faculty of Pharmacy.

All applications submitted to Admission Services by the deadline and according to instructions will be assessed by the relevant degree programme. The assessment is carried out on the basis of predetermined admission criteria. The assessment of the application and the applicant’s previous education is known as the academic assessment. Degree programme-specific admission criteria are available in the Studyinfo service. 

 

Scoring an application

There are two phases in the admission procedure.

In phase one, the sections affecting admission will be assessed in the following order:

  1. content and applicability of your previous studies
  2. motivation letter
  3. academic performance
  4. recommendation letter (optional)

In total you can receive 20 points for your application in phase one. To proceed to phase two you must receive for each section (except the recommendation letter) at least one point. If you fail to obtain the minimum points for any section under assessment, your application will not be further considered.

In phase two, top 40 applicants with the highest scores will be invited to an on-line interview.

The maximum score of the scoring an application is 28. No more than the best 20 applicants will be admitted to the programme. Other applicants with at least the minimum score will be placed on a reserve list in a decreasing order based on their score.

If two or more applicants are tied after the assessment, they will be ranked:

  1. on the basis of the interview
  2. on the basis of the applicable studies
  3. on the basis of the motivation letter
  4. on the basis of the academic performance
Sections affecting admission

Based on the content and scope of your previous studies, the master's programme will assess the level of your knowledge and skills for pursuing studies in the master’s programme. The academic level of your institute of education will be also scored.

The assessment of the applicability of your previous studies will also consider selected study track and your self-assessment on the applicability of your previous studies. The self-assessment must be written on the application form in English and it may be up to 2,000 characters in length.

In the self-assessment you must describe what kind of knowledge and skills you have gained during your studies so far and how they are relevant as a background for studying in Master’s programme in Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Safety.

This section will be assessed on the scale 0-6 points.

Your motivation to pursue a master’s degree in the master’s programme will be assessed with the help of your motivation letter.

The motivation letter may be up to 3,000 characters in length. The motivation letter must be written on the application form in English. The language of the motivation letter will be also assessed. The language must be grammatically flawless, and the content of the text must be fluent and coherent. The motivation letter may be rejected if the above requirements are not met.

In the motivation letter you must describe:

  • your motivation to select this master’s programme over other programmes
  • self-assessment on your capacity of completing the programme in two years
  • career plans after completing studies in the master’s programme
  • description on any previous research or other relevant work experience
  • which study track you would be primarily interested in, and what kind of research you would like to be involved in during your master’s studies.

This section will be assessed on the scale 0-6 points.

The academic performance of the applicable studies for the master’s programme will be assessed as a whole, based on the transcripts of records and course catalogues of your previous studies.

This section will be assessed on the scale 0-6 points.

You may also include to your application a separate recommendation (in English) submitted preferably by an academic professional. In the assessment max. two recommendations will be considered.

If you decide to include a separate recommendation to your application, you must provide the name, academic affiliation, and professional email address of your referee on the application form. Instructions for submission and a link to the electronic recommendation form will be sent directly to your referee.

Please note that all applications are processed manually and there may be a delay in sending the instructions to your referee depending on the total amount of applications.

It is advised that you inform your referee on this process and make sure your referee submits the recommendation within the application period according to the given instructions.

After your referee has successfully submitted the recommendation, you will be informed on this by e-mail.

This section will be assessed on the scale 0-2 points.

How to submit a recommendation for the Master’s Programme in Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Safety

Once you complete and submit the application form with the referee’s contact information, the referee will receive an e-mail with a link to an electronic recommendation form. The recommendation must be submitted using this electronic form by 5 Jan 2022 at 15:00 UTC+2. Recommendations sent by email, regular mail or courier services will not be considered.

The referee is asked to evaluate your analytical thinking, communication, and social skills as well as possible research or laboratory performance. The referee may also include a description of any further aspects to support your selection. For this, the form allows a limited amount of free-form text (1500 characters). Attachments are not accepted.

Advice for writing

Recommendations are most helpful when they provide specific examples of the applicant’s accomplishments and character. Go beyond the applicant’s grades or academic performance. The recommendation should provide us with information that we cannot obtain from other application documents such as the student’s transcript or diploma.

Guiding questions that can help in composing the free-form text:

  • How has the applicant demonstrated a willingness to go beyond the normal classroom experience?
  • Describe any unusual talents, abilities, or interests of the applicant.
  • What motivates and inspires the applicant?
  • Describe the applicant’s social skills.
  • How did the applicant react to setbacks, adversity, or disappointments?
  • What has surprised you about this applicant?

You can preview the electronic recommendation form here.

The objective of the interview is to ensure your motivation, communication skills, and the feasibility of your aims as based on the written application.

The interview will be scored on the following scale:

  • You exceed the expectations: 7-8 points
  • You meet the expectations: 4-6 points
  • Below expectations: 0-3 points

The required minimum score of the interview is 4.