Language skills
Programme length
Full time study for two academic years.
Study mode
Face-to-face learning
Application status
International students:
Students with Icelandic or Nordic citizenship:
- Are you interested in physiological research?
- Do you want to broaden your knowledge of a specific field of biochemistry?
- Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of how the life sciences are used in a specific area?
- Would you like to learn about the main bioinformatics tools used in your specialism?
The Master's programme in biochemistry trains students in scientific and research skills. Students will learn how to use the main tools needed for biochemistry research and be given the opportunity to work with international research teams.
They will learn how to plan and conduct experiments to solve problems, as well as working on research projects under the guidance of a supervisor at the Department.
In order for an applicant to be accepted onto the programme, there must be a suitable academic supervisor available among the permanent members of teaching staff at the Department. Prospective applicants are advised to find out about potential research projects with supervisors working in their area of interest before applying.
Students may also need to complete preparatory courses before starting the Master's programme.
Programme structure
The programme is 120 ECTS and is organised as two years of full-time study.
Organisation of teaching
The programme is taught in Icelandic or English.
The programme is based on a personal study plan, which gives students significant scope for specialisation. Students create a study plan in consultation with their supervisor.
Students generally complete a 90 ECTS Master's thesis and 30 ECTS of courses. However, it is also possible to complete a 60 ECTS Master's thesis and 60 ECTS of courses.
Main objectives
- Students are trained in scientific methods.
- Students acquire a fuller and deeper understanding and a broader overview of their specialisation.
- Students adopt independent working practices and gain the confidence to take on scientific projects and answer questions guided by the pursuit of knowledge.
- Students develop the academic skills and independent working practices needed to be able to undertake further study, as well as maintain and expand their knowledge.
- Students learn to answer questions guided by the pursuit of knowledge.
Other
A Master's degree in biochemistry allows you to apply for doctoral studies.
Students who are interested in going on to do a PhD may change their Master's project to a doctoral project without formally completing the MS degree.
- A BS degree or equivalent with minimum average grade of 6.5. In addition to the BS degree there may be some preliminary course requirements before starting the actual MS programme. Before an application for MS studies is approved a supervisor from the Faculty of Chemistry has to be secured to supervise the MS project.
- All international applicants, whose native language is not English, are required to provide results of the TOEFL (79) or IELTS (6.5) tests as evidence of English proficiency.
- Applicants are asked to submit a letter of motivation, 1 pages, where they should state the reasons they want to pursue graduate work, their academic goals and a suggestion or outline for a final paper.
- Letters of recommendation (2) should be submitted. These should be from faculty members or others who are familiar with your academic work and qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. Please ask your referees to send their letters of recommendation directly to the University of Iceland electronically by e-mail (PDF file as attachment) to transcript@hi.is.
120 ECTS credits have to be completed for the qualification.
Organized as full time studies for two years. Students choose between is 60 ECTS or 90 ECTS final project, other credits are from elective courses.
The following documents must accompany an application for this programme:
- CV
- Statement of purpose
- Reference 1, Name and email
- Reference 2, Name and email
- Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency
Further information on supporting documents can be found here
Programme structure
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
This programme does not offer specialisations.
- Year unspecified
- Fall
- Final project
- Literature Study for the Master's Degree in Biochemistry
- Thesis skills: project management, writing skills and presentation
- Applied Biochemistry
- Current topics in Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Research in molecular biology and biochemistry
- Spring 1
- Final project
- Literature Study for the Master's Degree in Biochemistry
- Current topics in Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Structure and Function of Proteins
- Biochemistry 4
Year unspecified | Fall
Final project (LEF441L)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
0 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Final project
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Self-study
Part of the total project/thesis credits
Year unspecified | Fall
Literature Study for the Master's Degree in Biochemistry (LEF103F)
Free elective course within the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The supervising committee and the MS-student meet for one semester on a weekly basis to discuss research articles, review articles, and parts of books selected by the committee for that purpose. The reading material shall be related to the student's field of research, but without overlapping with it, so as to broaden the horizons of the student.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Year unspecified | Fall
Thesis skills: project management, writing skills and presentation (VON001F)
Free elective course within the programme
4 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Introduction to the scientific method. Ethics of science and within the university community.
The role of the student, advisors and external examiner. Effective and honest communications.
Conducting a literature review, using bibliographic databases and reference handling. Thesis structure, formulating research questions, writing and argumentation. How scientific writing differs from general purpose writing. Writing a MS study plan and proposal. Practical skills for presenting tables and figures, layout, fonts and colors. Presentation skills. Project management for a thesis, how to divide a large project into smaller tasks, setting a work plan and following a timeline. Life after graduate school and being employable.
Language of instruction: English
Face-to-face learning
Online learning
Year unspecified | Fall
Applied Biochemistry (LEF509M)
Free elective course within the programme
6 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Aimed at introducing students to aspects of applied biochemistry and biotechnology with emphasis on protein biotechnology. Lectures: Use of proteins in industry and medicine. Industrial use of enzymes. Enzyme reactors. Applications of immobilized enzymes. Biosensors. Use of recombinant DNA technology to genetically engineer organisms for production of biochemicals. Analytical biochemistry. Automaton in bioanalysis. Purification of bioproducts; scaling up of production lines and downstream processing. Tutorials: Recent research papers presented and discussed.
Teaching methods:
Lectures (about 40). Student lectures based on selected scientific papers.
The course is taught together with ILT102F - Introduction to Applied Biotechnology. Students can only take one of the courses, not both.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Prerequisites
Year unspecified | Fall
Current topics in Chemistry and Biochemistry (EFN012F)
Free elective course within the programme
1 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Lectures in contemporary research in chemistry and biochemistry:
Lectures in contemporary research in chemistry and biochemistry are given by invited speakers. Guest speakers will be from within the University of Iceland and from other universities, research institutes and companies.
Attendance is compulsory. Minimum of 8 lectures must be attended to complete the course.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Year unspecified | Fall
Research in molecular biology and biochemistry (LÍF114F)
Free elective course within the programme
2 ECTS, credits
Course Description
This course is important for all graduate students in molecular biology and related fields. It is divided into two main parts: 1) presentation of a research article (journal club) and presentation of the research project (work in progress). For the research article students select a recent research article of interest and give a presentation on the aims and results. The goal is to train reading research articles in a critical way and present to others. The students have also as an assignment to bring up questions when other students present articles. The aim is to enhance critical approaches concerning scientific aims and methods used to reach the aims. In the project presentations students are expected to concentrate on the aims give a backgrounds and details of the methods used, results and the planned continuation. The students are expected to train in getting the message of the project in a clear way. The project presentation can lead to suggestion from other students that are useful for the approach.
This course is in English and has been on both spring and autumn term. The student can take this course four times giving max 8 ECTS.
Attendance is obligatory.
Language of instruction: English
Attendance required in class
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Final project (LEF441L)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
0 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Final project
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Self-study
Part of the total project/thesis credits
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Literature Study for the Master's Degree in Biochemistry (LEF204F)
Free elective course within the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The supervising committee and the MS-student meet for one semester on a weekly basis to discuss research articles, review articles, and parts of books selected by the committee for that purpose. The reading material shall be related to the student's field of research, but without overlapping with it, so as to broaden the horizons of the student.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Current topics in Chemistry and Biochemistry (EFN011F)
Free elective course within the programme
1 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Lectures in contemporary research in chemistry and biochemistry:
Lectures in contemporary research in chemistry and biochemistry are given by invited speakers. Guest speakers will be from within the University of Iceland and from other universities, research institutes and companies.
Attendance is compulsory. Minimum of 8 lectures must be attended to complete the course.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Structure and Function of Proteins (LEF616M)
Free elective course within the programme
6 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The characteristics of protein structures at the different structural levels. How structure determines the different properties of proteins. Structural classes of proteins and their characteristics. Relationship between molecular structure and biological function. Interactions that determine structural stability of proteins. Protein folding and unfolding. Effects of different parameters, e.g. temperature, pH, salts and denaturants on protein stability. Techniques used for determination structure and different properties proteins. Selected topics in protein structure function relationships.
Course plan: Lectures twice per week (2x40 min. each time). Computer lab once per week (2x40 min.). Lab sessions involve training using the WWW to study proteins. Tutorials and practice of using SwissPDBviewer program for solving specific assignments related to topics covered in lectures.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Biochemistry 4 (LEF617M)
Free elective course within the programme
6 ECTS, credits
Course Description
This course focuses on methodology and recent innovations in biochemistry, emphasizing both analytical and computational techniques. It is divided into several modules, each taught by experts in their respective fields. While lectures form the core of the material, additional resources such as articles or book chapters may be assigned when appropriate. Practical demonstrations of research equipment may also be included. Students are expected to submit several written assignments throughout the semester.
The course will explore recent research in various specialized areas of biochemistry, and the content of the modules is regularly updated.
Topics covered may include single-molecule spectroscopy, protein mass spectrometry, structural biochemistry, binding affinity and thermodynamics, enzymology, and computational biochemistry.
Language of instruction: English
Face-to-face learning
Prerequisites
Year unspecified
- Fall
- LEF441LFinal projectMandatory (required) course0A mandatory (required) course for the programme0 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
Final project
Self-studyPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsLEF103FLiterature Study for the Master's Degree in BiochemistryElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe supervising committee and the MS-student meet for one semester on a weekly basis to discuss research articles, review articles, and parts of books selected by the committee for that purpose. The reading material shall be related to the student's field of research, but without overlapping with it, so as to broaden the horizons of the student.
PrerequisitesVON001FThesis skills: project management, writing skills and presentationElective course4Free elective course within the programme4 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionIntroduction to the scientific method. Ethics of science and within the university community.
The role of the student, advisors and external examiner. Effective and honest communications.
Conducting a literature review, using bibliographic databases and reference handling. Thesis structure, formulating research questions, writing and argumentation. How scientific writing differs from general purpose writing. Writing a MS study plan and proposal. Practical skills for presenting tables and figures, layout, fonts and colors. Presentation skills. Project management for a thesis, how to divide a large project into smaller tasks, setting a work plan and following a timeline. Life after graduate school and being employable.Face-to-face learningOnline learningPrerequisitesCourse DescriptionAimed at introducing students to aspects of applied biochemistry and biotechnology with emphasis on protein biotechnology. Lectures: Use of proteins in industry and medicine. Industrial use of enzymes. Enzyme reactors. Applications of immobilized enzymes. Biosensors. Use of recombinant DNA technology to genetically engineer organisms for production of biochemicals. Analytical biochemistry. Automaton in bioanalysis. Purification of bioproducts; scaling up of production lines and downstream processing. Tutorials: Recent research papers presented and discussed.
Teaching methods:
Lectures (about 40). Student lectures based on selected scientific papers.The course is taught together with ILT102F - Introduction to Applied Biotechnology. Students can only take one of the courses, not both.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesEFN012FCurrent topics in Chemistry and BiochemistryElective course1Free elective course within the programme1 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionLectures in contemporary research in chemistry and biochemistry:
Lectures in contemporary research in chemistry and biochemistry are given by invited speakers. Guest speakers will be from within the University of Iceland and from other universities, research institutes and companies.
Attendance is compulsory. Minimum of 8 lectures must be attended to complete the course.PrerequisitesLÍF114FResearch in molecular biology and biochemistryElective course2Free elective course within the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course is important for all graduate students in molecular biology and related fields. It is divided into two main parts: 1) presentation of a research article (journal club) and presentation of the research project (work in progress). For the research article students select a recent research article of interest and give a presentation on the aims and results. The goal is to train reading research articles in a critical way and present to others. The students have also as an assignment to bring up questions when other students present articles. The aim is to enhance critical approaches concerning scientific aims and methods used to reach the aims. In the project presentations students are expected to concentrate on the aims give a backgrounds and details of the methods used, results and the planned continuation. The students are expected to train in getting the message of the project in a clear way. The project presentation can lead to suggestion from other students that are useful for the approach.
This course is in English and has been on both spring and autumn term. The student can take this course four times giving max 8 ECTS.
Attendance is obligatory.
PrerequisitesAttendance required in class- Spring 2
LEF441LFinal projectMandatory (required) course0A mandatory (required) course for the programme0 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionFinal project
Self-studyPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsLEF204FLiterature Study for the Master's Degree in BiochemistryElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe supervising committee and the MS-student meet for one semester on a weekly basis to discuss research articles, review articles, and parts of books selected by the committee for that purpose. The reading material shall be related to the student's field of research, but without overlapping with it, so as to broaden the horizons of the student.
PrerequisitesEFN011FCurrent topics in Chemistry and BiochemistryElective course1Free elective course within the programme1 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionLectures in contemporary research in chemistry and biochemistry:
Lectures in contemporary research in chemistry and biochemistry are given by invited speakers. Guest speakers will be from within the University of Iceland and from other universities, research institutes and companies.
Attendance is compulsory. Minimum of 8 lectures must be attended to complete the course.PrerequisitesLEF616MStructure and Function of ProteinsElective course6Free elective course within the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe characteristics of protein structures at the different structural levels. How structure determines the different properties of proteins. Structural classes of proteins and their characteristics. Relationship between molecular structure and biological function. Interactions that determine structural stability of proteins. Protein folding and unfolding. Effects of different parameters, e.g. temperature, pH, salts and denaturants on protein stability. Techniques used for determination structure and different properties proteins. Selected topics in protein structure function relationships.
Course plan: Lectures twice per week (2x40 min. each time). Computer lab once per week (2x40 min.). Lab sessions involve training using the WWW to study proteins. Tutorials and practice of using SwissPDBviewer program for solving specific assignments related to topics covered in lectures.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesCourse DescriptionThis course focuses on methodology and recent innovations in biochemistry, emphasizing both analytical and computational techniques. It is divided into several modules, each taught by experts in their respective fields. While lectures form the core of the material, additional resources such as articles or book chapters may be assigned when appropriate. Practical demonstrations of research equipment may also be included. Students are expected to submit several written assignments throughout the semester.
The course will explore recent research in various specialized areas of biochemistry, and the content of the modules is regularly updated.
Topics covered may include single-molecule spectroscopy, protein mass spectrometry, structural biochemistry, binding affinity and thermodynamics, enzymology, and computational biochemistry.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAdditional information The University of Iceland collaborates with over 400 universities worldwide. This provides a unique opportunity to pursue part of your studies at an international university thus gaining added experience and fresh insight into your field of study.
Students generally have the opportunity to join an exchange programme, internship, or summer courses. However, exchanges are always subject to faculty approval.
Students have the opportunity to have courses evaluated as part of their studies at the University of Iceland, so their stay does not have to affect the duration of their studies.
Graduates in this field are in high demand.
Biochemists are found working in a wide range of research careers, e.g.:
- Genetics research
- At biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
- In research labs in teaching hospitals
- At companies and institutions in the health and environmental sector
- At industrial companies
- At entrepreneurial and start-up companies Graduates in this field are in high demand.
This list is not exhaustive.
- Hvarf is the organisation for chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry and molecular biology students at the University of Iceland.
- Hvarf advocates for students in these subjects and organises a busy social calendar.
Students' comments 
My experience in taking Biochemistry as a graduate program has been a great and enlightening experience. The program offers a wide range of options, from classic biochemistry to topics encompassing both biochemistry and molecular biology, as well as exploration of new methods in the field. Doing a research project on the topic has given me invaluable practical experience, as well as the ability to be more independent in the world of science.
The programme’s primary focus was on the final project, which in my case centred around protein interactions. I had the opportunity to study in the United States as an exchange student for a year. I gained valuable experience in working independently on my project during my studies; an experience that will be highly beneficial in the future.Helpful content 
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