Biovitenskap (master)

Resource hub for Master’s students in Biosciences

Here is some useful information and resources for the different phases of your studies.

If you are unsure of anything, please contact the Study Administration

 

IBV = The Department of Biosciences

NHM = Natural History Museum

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Start of Studies

Here’s what you need to do in your first semester. Follow these steps in order to make sure you’re registered correctly and ready to start your project. If you’ve moved to Oslo for your studies, see the Information for International Students for details on settling in, visas, and student life.?

Step 1: Register for Courses

  • Register for your first-semester courses before the deadline.?

  • Choose electives based on your interests and programme relevance.?

  • See the List of Courses at IBV.?

Tip:?Try to leave your last semester free for your thesis work. Finding three courses without schedule conflicts can be tricky — this schedule planner can help.?

Step 2: Attend the Mandatory Information Meeting?

Step 3: Find a ?Master's Project

You can either:?

NB! If your project is outside IBV or NHM:?

  • Your main supervisor must arrange an internal co-supervisor from IBV or NHM.?

  • The topic and scope must be approved by your internal co-supervisor.?

Note: You can also read the Instructions for Supervisors of Master’s Students at IBV to understand the process.?
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Step 4: Get to Know Your Programme and Department?

Step 5: Complete the Study Agreement and Project Description

Deadline: 1 December?

  • With the support of your supervisor, you are required to prepare a project description and submit it when completing the Study Plan Agreement. The project description should clearly outline the scope and objectives of the project, as well as include a tentative timeline indicating when the different stages or components of the project are expected to be completed.

Form:?

Step 6: Health, Safety, and Environment Requirements

?If your project is at IBV:?

  • You must upload a risk assessment in the HSE form (provided by your supervisor).?

  • Upload the reference number from your submitted HSE form to your study agreement.?

  • You don’t need to upload the risk assessment again in your study agreement.?

Lektor students at IBV

If You Are Delayed?

If your study agreement isn’t ready by December 1:?

  • Inform the Study Administration.?

  • Give them a new estimated submission date.?

  • Do not start working on your project until your internal supervisor has approved it.?

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Deadlines and Form

Course deadlines

Pay the semester fee

Deadline for fall semester: 1 September

Deadline for spring semester: 1 February

For more information go to this website: registration and semester fee

Exam dates

Make sure to check the exam date, which can be found in the course description. Select the correct term and then navigate to the exam section. It is your responsibility to ensure that your exams do not conflict with one another. If a conflict occurs, contact the student administration as soon as possible.

Forms and websites you must be familiar with

Submitting your thesis

After 12 September 2025, submission of master's thesis in Studentweb for publication in DUO will be discontinued. Starting 15 September 2025, all master's theses will only be submitted in Inspera for publication in the Norwegian Research Information Repository (NVA - Norsk vitenarkiv).

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  • Your thesis must be?submitted in Inspera?by the set submission deadline 15th May (4th semester).
  • How to submit your thesis in?Inspera
  • Send the thesis to the examiners with cc to your supervisors and studieinfo@ibv.uio.no.
  • Should the thesis not be submitted by the deadline, admission to the Master's programme will be terminated without any additional notification.
  • Plagiarism checks will be conducted on all master's theses.
  • Please note that if you have used Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your assignment, its usage?must?be declared. The Centre for Teaching and Learning in Science (KURT)?have have designed a template for declaring generative AI usage.

Printing your thesis

You may also print your thesis through the UiO Graphic Center. IBV covers 15 copies in b/w or color up to NOK 1000. When ordering you must use koststed 15550000 and delprosjekt 102420154. It is recommended that you print your thesis, as the examiners may prefer a printed version.

Download standard cover page from Graphic Center

Master's Exam

Once the thesis is submitted, a master's defence (a presentation followed by an oral examination) must be held?3 - 6 weeks after thesis submission. All courses must be passed prior to the master's defence.

Tasks before the exam

The Candidate should:

  • Send a copy of the thesis to the internal and external examiners, and make sure to CC both?studieinfo@ibv.uio.no and your supervisors. This must be the same version that was submitted in Inspera.
  • prepare for the exam

The Supervisor should:

  • Find examiners—one employed at UiO and one external examiner. Please note that the external examiner must not have been employed at UiO within the last two years.
  • set a time for the exam in collaboration with the examiners
  • inform the Study Administration about the names of the examiners and the time of the exam?and provide the name and contact information of the examiners

The Study Administration should:

  • arrange a contract for the external examiner
  • book a room for the exam (if held in Kristine Bonnevies Hus)
  • publish the event
  • send information about the exam to all involved

After the?Master's Exam

Any borrowed IT equipment must be returned to the IT section at IBV and keys must be returned to the study administration.?clerance form?must be filled out and sent to studieinfo@ibv.uio.no.

The diplomas at UiO have been made digital and can be found in the?Diploma registry?

Career Questions

The study administration cannot provide individual career guidance. However, we encourage you to explore the university’s career resource pages for useful information and support.

More resourses:

Forms for master's exam

Handy resources

Academic Support

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