Appl. no:
Application deadline:
March 1st, 2011
Master in Applied and Commercial Biotechnology (120 ECTS credits)
Two year degree programme taught in English
Please read all information carefully, including the enclosures, before you start to fill in this form.
Submit your application with certified enclosures and order your transcripts as soon as possible. This will
contribute to an early decision concerning admission and your student visa/residence permit.
All certified copies and test results must be submitted by March 1st.
The programme includes two specialization modules. Please mark your specialization requested:
Specialisation 1: Experimental Biotechnology (209 1256)
Specialisation 2: Commercialization of Biotechnology (209 1257)
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Family name:
Date of birth (day, month, year):
First name:
Personal id. number, 11 digits:
(Norwegian residents only)
Sex:
Citizenship:
Male
Female
Home address:
Living in Norway:
Yes
No
For applicants with a Norwegian
residence permit:
Date of issue:
(As correctly as possible, including postal codes, city and country)
E-mail address(es):
Date of expire:
Phone / Cell phone:
(including country prefix)
1. Higher education and English language skills
List all higher education (enclose numbered documents)
Level
(undergraduate,
bachelor,
graduate, etc.)
Study programme
University/College
From
(year)
To
(year)
Graduation
in spring
2011 *
Enclosed
certified
copies
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
English language requirement (enclose numbered documents)
Native English speaker:
YES
NO
No further documentation is
necessary.
English as primary foreign language:
YES
NO
Enclose certified copies from primary,
and secondary school:
No.
A-level exam in English:
YES
NO
Enclose certified copies from
secondary school:
No.
TOEFL-test:
YES
NO
Document ordered from ETS.:
IELTS-test:
YES
NO
Enclose certified copy:
No.
For applicants from the EU/EEA-area only: Students finishing or improving degrees during spring 2011 have
to add current transcripts and to send new certified copies of transcripts/diplomas no later than July 1 st, 2011.
For all other applicants: These applicants will not be considered for admission unless they meet all the
entrance requirements within the application deadline.
NOTE: Hedmark University College does not take responsibility for original certificates. No documents
received by Hedmark University College will be sent back to the holder of the documents.
2. Additional information
2
3. Ordered transcripts
The deadline for ordering transcripts is March 1st 2011
Fill in:
I have ordered the following institutions to send to send official transcripts directly to
Hedmark University College, Admission Office, Post box 400, No-2418 Elverum, Norway:
Name of Secondary school:
YES
Date of order:
NO
Name of University/College:
YES
Date of order:
NO
YES
Date of order:
NO
Name of others:
YES
Date of order:
NO
4. Signature
I confirm that the above information is correct and the enclosed documents are authentic. If I get admission, I will
bring original documents for verification. I have read the conditions and I understand that I might loose the right to
complete the education if provided information is wrong, missing or misleading 1.
Place:
Date:
Signature:
Send this form and documents to:
Hedmark University College,
Admission Office,
Post box 400,
N-2418 Elverum
NORWAY
This application is valid for the academic year 2011/2012 only.
Visiting address:
Hedmark University College, Admission Office, Hamarveien 112, 2406 Elverum, NORWAY
1
Any attempt to obtain admission with fraudulent documents will be reported to the police.
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Enclosures
I. Entry requirements and documentation
Entry requirements
A. Academic grade:
Applicants must have an academic grade being recognized as equivalent to at least 3
years/180 credits of higher education in Norway. These criteria are set by the Norwegian
agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT):
Note that in a number of countries, that implies a 4 year bachelor degree. Among these
countries are most South American countries, USA, Russia and a number of Asian and
African countries like India and Nigeria
B. Field of study:
For both specialization modules of the programme, your degree from higher education has
to include the equivalent of at least 80 ECTS credits in:
1. Sciences with a solid foundation in chemistry and biology
2. Minimum average grade of D in courses under point 1
For the specialization module in Experimental Biotechnology (209 1256), your degree
from higher education must additionally include:
3. Completed coursework in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (may be included as
part of the 80 ECTS credits in sciences, see point 1)
4. Minimum average grade of C in courses under point 3
C. English language requirements:
All non-native English speakers must provide official documentation of English language
proficiency at the level of Norwegian upper secondary school/high school.
English must have been the primary foreign language in at least seven years in primary,
secondary and upper secondary school, alternatively an A-level exam in English.
Applicants who do not fill these requirements must take one of the following tests:
- TOEFL with a minimum score of 500 (written) 170 (computer based) 60 (internet based)
-
IELTS with a minimum score of 5.0
No exceptions are made to this requirement2. Scores lower than 500/170/60 (TOEFL) or 5.0
(IELTS) will not be accepted.
If you are not sure that you fill the English requirements, consult the GSU-list.
Certified copies / transcripts
We do not accept scanned documents.
The general requirements are:
1. Certified copies of all documentation must be enclosed or sent directly from the issuing
school. All enclosures must be certified as true copies of the originals on every page.
Certified copies are photocopies which are certified by a Notary Public, the Administrator of
the issuing institution, or a Norwegian Embassy/Consulate, and include the name, signature,
stamp and address of the certifying office.
Copies of attested copies will not be accepted.
2
The TOIC test is not accepted.
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All applicants with education from countries outside the EU/EFTA region are encouraged to
order their issuing Universities/Colleges to send official transcripts directly to Hedmark
University College.
Applicants with their education from within the EU/EFTA region, are asked to enclose a
Diploma Supplement.
2. Special requirements for the following countries:
Cameroon, Chechnya, China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Philippines, Sudan
and USA.
In addition to enclosed certified copies, as specified in the paragraphs above, these
applicants must order their issuing Universities /Colleges to send Official academic
transcripts directly to Hedmark University College. No exceptions are made to this
requirement.
Translation
All enclosed documents must be translated into English or Norwegian by an authorized
translator. You may ask the issuing institution to give you a transcript/certificate in English. A
certified copy of the original document in the original language must accompany the certified
copy of the translation.
Enclosures
These documents should be attached to the application:
- Copy of passport (page including passport issue number and picture)
- University/college transcripts or certified copies of certificates
- Documentation of English requirements:
TOEFL / IELTS (original documents only)
or
Primary and Secondary school transcripts / A-level exam
- Copy of Norwegian residence permit and Norwegian personal number for
resident applicants (only applicable if you live in Norway).
Incomplete information
The applicant is responsible for submitting complete documentation within the application
deadline. Incomplete or misleading documentation will not be used for evaluation.
Please note that you will not be considered for admission if:





You have not given sufficient information as to your academic background
Your application is not postmarked within the application deadline
You do not meet all the entry requirements by the time of the application
deadline.3
Your application is not complete with all relevant tests and certified copies within
the application deadline
You have not ordered directly sent Official academic transcripts from your issuing
University /College within the application deadline (see list of countries above).
3
For applicants from the EU/EEA-area only: Students finishing or improving degrees during spring
2011 have to add current transcripts and to send new certified copies of transcripts/diplomas no later than
July 1st, 2011.
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II. Accommodation, living expenses and
residence permit
Accommodation
Student Welfare Organisation in Hedmark is responsible for student housing. Please find
information at www.sih.no/housing
Costs and insurances
Norway is one of the richest countries of the world and is a welfare state. Costs of living are
very high. An average student uses about NOK 9 000 per month (ca Euro 1 100) for
accommodation, food, transport and costs of study.
There are no tuition fee in Norway, but it is required that you pay NOK 600 (ca. Euro 75) to the
student welfare organisation twice a year (once every semester).
Most of the health expenses of people registered in Norway are covered by the public health
insurance. Still, it is recommended to have private health and travel insurances from your
country of origin.
Residence permit

Nordic citizens (Finland, Sweden, Danmark and Iceland) don’t need a residence permit.

EU-citizens outside the Nordic countries have to apply for a residence permit by filling
out a form that can be downloaded at UDI:studies . They have to add documentation on
their private health insurance, a letter of acceptance from Hedmark University College, and
documentation about the financing of their stay (e.g. copy of scholarship approval).

Non-EU citizens have to apply at the closest Norwegian embassy for a residence permit.
This process can take several months. In addition to the documents above, the Norwegian
immigration authorities require a deposit of approximately NOK 90 0004 (approx. EURO
11 000) per year into a Norwegian bank account belonging to Student Welfare Organisation
in Hedmark (www.sih.no ).
Note that NOK 90 000 must be documented annually when renewing your residence
permit. This deposit will then be available for the student to cover all expenses in Norway
during their stay. NOK 15 000 will be available for the student upon arrival, but the rest will
stay in the deposit account until the student has received a Norwegian National Insurance
number (Social Security number) and opened a Norwegian bank account.
IMPORTANT: As the cost of living is very high in Norway, students are responsible
for spending money wisely to ensure that they have enough money throughout the
year. Students are responsible themselves for meeting the NOK 90.000 deposit
requirement every year to obtain resident permit renewal. Note that finding part-time
work has proven difficult for most international students.
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The deposit sum is regulated yearly
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III. Information about the Master
Programme and Campus Hamar
Master in Applied and Commercial Biotechnology (120 ECTS
credits)
Two year full-time degree programme taught in English
Why take a Master’s Degree in Applied and Commercial Biotechnology?




Biotechnology is an education for the future
Biotechnology comprises the use of living organisms (or parts thereof), extracts or molecules
to generate knowledge, products or services
Biotechnology is an area in furious development
Biotechnology involves the use of gene technology, animal & plant cells, bacteria, yeast and
much more
What career opportunities will I have?
The programme includes two specialisation modules from which to apply.

Specialisation 1 (209 1256):
Specialization in Experimental Biotechnology is suitable for those interested in a career in
research, education or another vocation in applied biotechnology.

Specialisation 2 (209 1257):
Commercialisation of Biotechnology is directed toward those who wish to commercialize
knowledge gained from biotechnology research to generate intellectual property, a product or
a service.
The curriculum in brief
The programme, including both spesialisation modules, consists of coursework equivalent to 60
ECTS credits and the Master’s Thesis counting an additional 60 credits. Courses in
Biotechnological Methods, Bioinformatics / Biostatistics, Bioethics, IPR Strategies &
Biotechnology Regulation are obligatory for both modules.
Spesialisation 1 (Experimental Biotechnology):
Focuses on experimental biotechnology, specifically within cell biology, molecular genetics
and/or bioprocess technology. The thesis will be based on a research project performed in the
laboratory.
Spesialisation 2 (Commercialisation of Biotechnology):
Emphasises business plan development and IPR strategies. The thesis work will be carried out in
collaboration with a biotechnology organisation, most commonly a company.
For a detailed description of the curriculum, please navigate to the following weblink:
Curriculum, M.Sc. Programme in Applied & Commercial Biotechnology
Further study
The programme qualifies candidates for university Ph.D. programmes
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Time schedule


March 1, 2011:
August 16, 2011:
Application deadline;
Starting date first semester.
Teaching semesters will be approximately
 Fall semester:
August 16 – December 18.
 Spring semester:
January 4 – June 18.
Campus Hamar
Campus Hamar is the largest of the four campuses of Hedmark University College, boasting an
enrolment of ca. 1800 students. There are four departments at Campus Hamar, the Dept. of
Humanities, Dept. of Social Sciences, Dept. of Art & Information Technology and the Dept. of
Natural Science & Technology.
In addition to the Master’s degree programme in Applied & Commercial Biotechnology, the
Department of Natural Science & Technology also offers bachelor’s degree programmes in
biotechnology, and agriculture. Our department is housed in the recently built BioHus building
with modern teaching and laboratory facilities with state-of-the-art laboratory instrumentation.
Students have full access to computers, internet and library services.
Geographics
Hamar is the largest town and capital of Hedmark County where it serves as the political,
business, mercantile and cultural centre. Campus Hamar is situated in the town centre, just 5
minute’s walk from the train and bus stations where there are hourly departures, both south
towards Oslo International Airport (60 minutes by train) and the nation’s capital, Oslo, and
northbound to Lillehammer and Trondheim.
Hamar lies on the shores of Norway’s largest lake, Mjøsa, and is surrounded by a rural landscape
including rolling agricultural fields and wilderness with forests and lakes. From sun bathing at
Mjøsa’s beaches during the warm and dry summers, or skiing along the more than 280 km of
prepared nordic trails in the snowy, cold winter months, Hamar offers a plethora of outdoor
activities to suit everyone. Whereas days don’t end in June, there are only a few hours of
sunshine in December.
Research
Biohus is an active research environment integrating research projects at the college,
biotechnology companies and collaborative research projects between the collage and the
companies. Project topics range from Genome projects and gene mapping in wheat, strawberries
to cattle and swine, reproduction biology in farm animals and pets, plant development and
evolutionary biology. In addition, projects focus on molecular ecology of gut microbial flora of
humans and earth worm as well on bioprocessing technologies and ecology of wild species.
Student environment
Most of the students live close to campus in housing organised by an active student union, which
also operates its own pub & concert locale, Hydranten, one of Norway’s best venues. Hamar has
a large cinema with five screening rooms, several good pubs, restaurants, and cafés. The town
also boasts one of Norway’s largest public swimming facilities (Ankerskogen) and the
expansive, well-equipped fitness centre, Espern.
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