Degree level: Master of Science
Scope of studies and planned duration: 120 ECTS credits, 2 years
Language: The language of instruction is English, but exams can be taken and the thesis written also in Finnish or Swedish.
Tuition fee per year (only non-EU/EEA citizens): 18 000 EUR
Please note that our International Master's Programmes only have one intake per academic year. You can only submit your application during the application period.
The applications for studies starting in autumn 2025 closed on 16 Jan 2025. Thanks to all our applicants!
As of 1 Jan 2025, non-EU/EEA citizens must pay an application fee when applying to programmes leading to a degree in higher education in Finland (excl. doctoral degrees and Erasmus Mundus programmes).
The fee is a one-time national fee of 100 euros that covers all applications to studies beginning in the same academic term.
The fee is not collected from applicants who have:
The Finnish National Agency of Education will collect the application fee in connection with filling out the application form at the Finnish national education portal Studyinfo. The fee must be paid or you must upload a document proving the exempted category. Otherwise your application will not be processed.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get an application fee waiver.
The application fee does not guarantee that you will be offered admission to studies.
The Master’s Programme in Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology is for students who want to understand the global significance of microbes as processors of life and the environment.
You are eligible to apply if you:
The applicability and sufficient scope of studies are assessed after applying. No preliminary assessments are made.
The full admission criteria can be found at the Finnish national education portal Studyinfo.fi.
Microbes play a significant role as processors of life and the environment. In the Master's Programme in Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology (MMB), you will:
Graduates can continue with PhD studies or proceed directly into working life, e.g. research and development, surveillance/monitoring in healthcare, food and environment, administration and consultancy, business and management or teaching and education. Statistically, the situation for microbiologists proceeding to employment has been favourable.
This video gives a general overview of the application process for the International Master's Programmes at the University of Helsinki when applying from 2 to 16 Jan 2025.
Start preparing your application well in advance, make sure that you meet the admission criteria and language requirements, and always read the full instructions on our website.
If you have any questions about admissions at the University of Helsinki, please contact our admission advisers for guidance. You can also check out some statistics on student admissions.
Who knows better than our own students what it is like to study in the Master's Programme in Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology?
Meet some of our students and graduates to learn about their experiences with studies, life in Helsinki, career prospects and working life after graduation.
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