Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology master degree programme
Looking for an internationally respected master programme that will open up exciting career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry and research? Potential employers hold our Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology programme in high regard thanks to its broad curriculum.
On the master programme, you enhance your methods-based and problem-solving competencies, putting you in a position to overcome the challenges associated with developing and producing innovative treatments for cancer, autoimmune conditions and neurodegenerative diseases. You use cutting-edge and interdisciplinary methods, such as culturing “mini tumours” to help predict the effects of cancer treatments.
This is the tuition fee for EU and EEA citizens. In addition, the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) dues amount to EUR 22.70. Please note that different tuition fees apply for non-EU citizens.
The degree programme
Our four-semester, English-language Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology master degree programme is designed to provide you with extensive medical biotechnology knowledge and expertise in biotech product development and manufacturing. It is very well embedded in the Vienna Biotech Region.
Developing an interdisciplinary mindset
An interdisciplinary approach is the key to success in biotechnology. To this end, you build on your knowledge of natural sciences, medical and engineering aspects.
Developing high-level expertise in identifying, characterising and manufacturing biopharmaceuticals is an essential aspect of this master programme. Manufacturing biopharmaceuticals also requires extensive knowledge of the applicable legal framework and the quality assurance procedures which play a vital part in an interdisciplinary setting.
Focusing on the needs of the industry
A team of about 40 lecturers from research and industry teach basic and applied topics and how to take advanced therapies from research to application. Paired with plenty of lab work, this ensures that the programme has a strong practical focus and is aligned with the requirements of industry.
The curriculum also features current trends and the latest developments: for instance, you use cutting-edge technologies, such as shotgun proteomics, to carry out a computerised bioinformatic analysis of all of a cell’s proteins under normal and pathological conditions. The programme also offers complementary training in development, application and production methods for quality-assured tissue and organ replacements.
International by heart
Interested in joint classes with students from other universities? Within an ERASMUS Plus Project, a joint module covering the main aspects of drug development is being developed. For the project, our university is collaborating with the French Université Paris XII Val De Marne (UPEC) and Finnish Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS).
The programme covers the research focuses of each partner institution. The theory courses will be held as interactive courses in the virtual classroom in autumn, whereas the laboratory courses will take place on site at the partner institutions in spring.
A particularly attractive option is the dual degree we offer in conjunction with the Linköping University in Sweden. Besides obtaining a master of science at IMC Krems, you will also be accredited with completing the Experimental and Medical Biosciences programme at our partner institution.
Excellent career & PhD opportunities
When you graduate, you can choose from a wide range of career paths – the international nature of the programme opens up opportunities in the domestic and global biotechnology industry or in a variety of PhD programmes.
Here is a short overview of established PhD cooperations:
- The Transformation of Pre-Clinics into Clinics by Organoids (TOPICO) project is a novel PhD programme, which is embedded in the Malignant Disease programme of the Medical University of Vienna, but also synergistically extends important contents of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology master programme of IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems.
This creates a unique environment for PhD students to develop their individual PhD projects in a well-founded network of students and faculty, thereby promoting their later careers in international cancer research in industrial or academic settings. - A collaboration with the University for Continuing Education in Krems has been in place for several years in the PhD programme Regenerative Medicine. For graduates of the master programme Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, this is another opportunity to start a PhD in this innovative field.
" After completing your degree, you will be able start building a career in the international biotechnology industry or on a doctoral programme. "
Programme director Harald Hundsberger
A formula for success: theoretical knowledge + practical experience
The programme is built on three pillars.
Curriculum
What can you expect from your studies? The curriculum provides an overview.
Click on the individual courses for further information.
Course SWS ECTS Health, Disease and Therapeutical Strategies Immunology 2 3 Hallmarks of Cancer 1 1 Molecular Mechanisms of Ageing 1 1 Developmental Biology 1 1 Bioethics Bioethics 1 1 Process Design Equipment and Production Design 2 3 Standardization 1 2 Biomedical Regulatiuons Legislation for Drugs and Medical Devices 2 3 Bioprocess Technology Upstream and Downstream Processing Upstream Processing 1 2 Downstream Processing 1 2 Recombinant Protein Production - Theory 2 3 Recombinant Protein Production - Laboratory 4 4 Research Project in Industry and Master Thesis Research Project - Preparation 1 1 ERASMUS Project_Microcredential Target Identification/H2L 2 3 Lead Optimization 2 3 Clinical Trials 2 3 Focal Subject - Elective 1: Bioprocess Engineering Elective 1: Bioprocess Engineering Process Control and Process Online Monitoring 2 3 Focal Subject - Elective 2: Advanced Therapeutics Development Elective 2: Advanced Therapeutics Development Drug Discovery Systems 2 3 Course SWS ECTS Focal Subject - Elective 1: Bioprocess Engineering Elective 1: Bioprocess Engineering Equipment Test and Process Validation 2 4 Fermentation Technology - Laboratory II 5 11 Focal Subject - Elective 2: Advanced Therapeutics Development Elective 2: Advanced Therapeutics Development Stem Cells, Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine 1 3 Immunology Based Therapies 1 1 Advanced Therapeutic Development Laboratory II 5 11 Research Project in Industry and Master Thesis Master Thesis - Part I 1 4 Master Thesis - Coaching Seminar I 1 1 Research Project 1 10 Course SWS ECTS Focal Subject - Elective 1: Bioprocess Engineering Elective 1: Bioprocess Engineering Current Issues in Bioprocess Engineering 1 2 Focal Subject - Elective 2: Advanced Therapeutics Development Elective 2: Advanced Therapeutics Development Current Issues in Advanced Therapeutic Development 1 2 Research Project in Industry and Master Thesis Master Thesis - Part II 1 18 Master Thesis - Coaching Seminar II 1 6 Master Exam 0 4
Career paths
As a graduate of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology master programme you will be especially well placed to assume positions at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies or medical research institutes.
You can also opt to take a PhD at a university in Austria or abroad. We have PhD cooperation agreements with Danube University Krems and the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. These agreements ensure that admission to the PhD programmes at these institutions is a straightforward process.
- The professional areas open to graduates include:
- R&D responsibilities in research and industry
- clinical trials and drug approval
- planning and management of biotechnological processes (fermentation)
- biomedical and analytical testing procedures
- coordination responsibilities in production, quality control, quality assurance and approval
- marketing and sales
- medical engineering
- food technology and food safety
- industrial and environmental biotechnology
What makes us special? We are more than happy to tell you about the aspects of our university, which we are especially proud of.
Friendly and cosmopolitan: The city attracts students from all over the world, who come to study, research and work together.
Our university has removed a host of administrative hurdles, leaving you free to concentrate fully on your studies.
Do you have questions regarding our degree programmes or the application? Contact our Prospective Student Advisory Service.
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Request our programme brochures
Are you interested in receiving brochures conveniently at your doorstep? Within Europe, we will send you our programme brochures by mail.
Order our brochures nowOur team
Get to know the core team of our master degree programme Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.
Head of Institute Biotechnology / Programme Director Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Prof.(FH) Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Harald Hundsberger
Core Competencies
- Recombinant Protein Expression, Cell Culture Models, Peptide Engineering,
Application and admissions – the next steps
You've found a course that's a perfect fit? Great – you’ve already taken the most important step! We’ve put together an overview to guide you through the next steps.
What are the admission requirements for master programmes?
To qualify for a master programme, you must have completed a bachelor degree – with a workload of at least 180 ECTS and lasting at least six semesters – in a related subject, or hold an equivalent degree from a recognised Austrian or foreign higher education institution.
If your undergraduate studies are not sufficiently relevant, for instance if you’ve completed a degree in an unrelated subject, your qualifications will be assessed after we have received your completed application.
Application interview
Everything revolves around the students on our Master degree programmes. That’s why we’d like to get to know you personally.
As part of the online application you will have to write a statement of motivation. Predefined questions about your motivation can be found in the online application. In your answers, which have to be entered in the provided input fields of the online application, you deal with the questions and explain your motivation to study the selected Master degree programme
Your statement of motivation and your CV (curriculum vitae) form the basis for your application interview. The admission interview is a one-to-one interview, usually with the degree programme director.
In addition to getting to know you personally, your motives for the Master degree programme will be discussed, as well as your professional background and the skillset you have acquired so far. Special attention will be paid to your previous academic and professional experience, your methodological and language skills and your general suitability with regard to your intended Master degree programme.
The application interview is held in the language of instruction of the degree programme and can take place online via Microsoft Teams or in presence.
Interview dates
There is usually a selection of dates to choose from, with quotas allocated for each date. You can select a preferred date and time slot for your admission interview during the online application process. In order to still benefit from the full selection of dates, we recommend that you submit your application in good time.
Get an overview of the dates for your programme.
Admission interview
07/05/202413/05/202417/05/202424/05/202427/05/202403/06/202404/06/202421/06/202402/07/202410/07/202422/07/202405/08/2024After you have successfully completed your online application, your application will be checked for completeness and correctness. As soon as this process is completed, we will inform you by e-mail and confirm the date for your admission interview. We will send you the Microsoft Teams Meeting Link in a separate e-mail a few days before the application interview date.
Application deadline for EU nationals | 15/05/2024 |
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Application deadline for non-EU nationals | 15/04/2024 |
You've decided for one of our degree programmes? First of all: congratulations and thank you for choosing us! We’ll be happy to guide you step-by-step through your online application.
You would like to plan ahead and would like to know when your degree programme starts? Here you will find the answer!
Questions about the degree programme?
Prospective Student Advisory Service
Do you have questions regarding the entry requirements, the admission procedure and more? Our Prospective Student Advisory Service is happy to help.
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Would you like first-hand information about the Medical and Pharmaceutical master degree programme? Contact Viktoria directly, she will be happy to answer all your questions about the study programme.
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