spring 2025
BIO-2620 Bachelor Thesis in Marine Biotechnology - 20 ECTS

Type of course

The course is an elective course in the Bachelor's programme in biotechnology (Bachelor i bioteknologi, Norwegian program) as an alternative to BIO-2610 (10 STP/ECTS) and an another 10 ECTS elective course. The course can also be taken as a singular course. It is a practical laboratory course with an extensive report writing (approximately 10 000 words).

Admission requirements

Applicants from Nordic countries: Generell studiekompetanse + Matematikk R1 eller (S1+S2) og enten Matematikk (R1+R2) eller Fysikk (1+2) eller Kjemi (1+2) eller Biologi (1+2) eller Informasjonsteknologi (1+2) eller Geologi (1+2) eller Teknologi og forskningslære (1+2).

International applicants: Higher Education Entrance Qualification and certified language requirements in English. It is a requirement that students have some prior knowledge of biology and ecology, chemistry and mathematics (Participants must have taken introductory level university courses, and achieved pass grades, in these subjects).

A list of the requirements for the Higher Education Entrance Qualification in Norway can be found on the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education website - nokut.no

Application code: 9197 (Nordic applicants).


Course content

  • Practical, individual laboratory work under supervision on a given subject (individual projects) in biotechnology
  • Theoretical project can be done in agreement with teacher as an alternative to a practical project
  • A list of titles and topics (and supervisors) is given at the beginning of the semester.
  • The experimental work will go on during the whole semester, but in total, it will mean approximately 6 weeks of experimental work in the laboratory
  • The writing process for the thesis will go on during the whole semester with 4 intermediate submissions (separate deadlines)
  • One final report submission on the completed term paper (Bachelor thesis exam)

Objectives of the course

After having completed the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge

  • Describe how to address a problem (subject)
  • Describe methods used in the practical laboratory work (or described in a theoretical thesis)
  • Describe and present findings and interpret the importance and conclusions

Skills

  • Read and find scientific information (references) on a scientific topic
  • Learn to use methods in the practical laboratory work
  • Work independently in a laboratory
  • Organize practical work in the laboratory
  • Write a report structured in an IMRAD format and plan the writing process daily in accordance with a proposed plan
  • Complete assignments and a report (thesis) before the deadlines

General competence

  • Work in collaboration with members (supervisor team) within a research group
  • Work independently
  • Evaluate and present scientific data in a laboratory report (thesis)

Language of instruction and examination

English (or Norwegian after agreement).

Teaching methods

  • Introduction at the beginning of the semester with presentation of the possible projects/tasks available. A given supervisor(s) or supervisor team is appointed for each project
  • Students choose from projects that are presented in class
  • Lectures and feedback focusing on reports throughout the semester
  • Each project will be done in the research group(s) of the supervisor(s)/supervisor team(s) the Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NFH). Projects can also be done in collaboration with external partners
  • Guidance, practical and theoretical, by the supervisor(s) within the objective and work of the project
  • Training of writing a scientific report and reading scientific literature. The writing process starts at the beginning of the semester. Submission of different chapters of the report each month (introduction in January/February, material and methods in March, results in April and discussion in early May)
  • Lectures, discussion/seminar/guidance before/after each submission

Schedule

Examination

Examination: Date: Grade scale:
Assignment 02.06.2025 14:00 (Hand in) A–E, fail F

Coursework requirements:

To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:

Present the scientific topic of the thesis in class Approved – not approved
Submit four intermediate reports on given deadlines Approved – not approved
Give an oral presentation of the thesis for the class and supervisors Approved – not approved
UiT Exams homepage

Re-sit examination

Students who do not pass the previous ordinary examination can gain access to a re-sit examination.

This entails submitting an improved version of the bachelor's thesis in the following semester.


  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 20
  • Course code: BIO-2620