Master in Biotechnology

The Master in Biotechnology at NTNU is a two-year full-time programme taught in English. It is closed to new applicants, and the last admission was autumn 2026. From autumn 2027, this programme and the Master in Food Science will merge into a new two-year master's programme called "Biotechnology and Food Science". Students admitted to the new programme will choose a field of study, either biotechnology or food science, after they start.

What you study

The programme builds on basic topics in biochemistry, microbiology, and cell and molecular biology. You take advanced biotechnological subjects and learn practical skills in central courses such as cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology. You study biological processes in bacteria, plants, and animals, and look at possible applications of these processes. You also learn to form testable hypotheses and strategies for testing, collecting, and interpreting data. The master's thesis can be experimental or theoretical.

How the programme is organised

The degree is 120 ECTS, with 60 credits per year. It consists of mandatory and elective courses (60 credits) that are both theoretical and methodological, plus a master's thesis (60 credits), which is a supervised, individual research project. All courses are taught in English. The Department of Biotechnology and Food Science and the Department of Biology are at Gløshaugen campus, close to Trondheim city centre.

Who it suits

This programme suits students with a bachelor's degree in cell and molecular biology, bioengineering from a Norwegian university college, food technology, or an education corresponding to three years of university study in biotechnology or biochemistry. Other related bachelor's degrees may be considered individually. If you want to work with molecules, cells, and organisms to understand biological processes and develop products like vaccines, antibiotics, enzymes, biopolymers, or biofuels, this is a relevant path.

Admission, language and next steps

The programme is closed to new applicants, so you cannot apply for this exact programme. The last admission was autumn 2026. From autumn 2027, the merged programme in Biotechnology and Food Science will be the route. Check the programme page for details on that new programme, including admission requirements and application deadlines. The teaching language is English. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at state institutions, while other degree students normally pay a fee set by the institution.

Master’s applications go straight to Norwegian University of Science and Technology, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme. Deadlines are set by each institution for each programme, so confirm yours. Entry requirements and language tests are also set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, study permits and housing.