Master’s Degree Programme in Drug Discovery and Development

You are an eligible applicant for Master’s-level studies if

• you have a nationally recognized first cycle degree – normally a Bachelor’s degree – from an accredited institution of higher education,
• your degree corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits) or to three years of full-time study,
• your degree is in a relevant field for the Master’s degree programme that you’re applying to. Please check the section on programme-specific admission requirements for detailed degree requirements.

Language Requirements

Applicants must have excellent English language skills and a certificate that proves those skills. You can indicate your language skills by taking one of the internationally recognized English language tests.

Applicants must reach the minimum required test results to be considered eligible to the University of Turku. No exceptions will be made.

Language skills can be indicated by taking one of the internationally recognized English language tests listed on this page.

• The test result must be available and attached to the application form by the end of the supplementation period (29 January 2025) for verification purposes.
• The test result must be verifiable for at least one month after the application time has ended (22 February 2025)

You must reach the minimum required test results to be considered eligible to the University of Turku. Only the tests listed below will be accepted. No exceptions will be made.

When taking the test please choose University of Turku as a recipient of your results when possible.

Some test organisers give an expiration date on the tests. If your language test result is verifiable from the online verification service of the organiser until the set deadline of the University of Turku, it is sufficient for applying to the University of Turku.

• The IELTS test cannot be verified after three years.
• The TOEFL test cannot be verified after two years.
• The PTE test cannot be verified after two years.
• If the test scores can no longer be verified, the test is not valid and you are advised to retake the test.

TOEFL iBT – Test of English as a Foreign Language with

• a minimum overall score of 92 and the writing test score 22 or more on the TOEFL iBT test.
• TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted.
• University of Turku code is 9701.
• Combined test scores from different test dates are not accepted (e.g. TOEFL MyBest scores is not accepted).
• More information about the TOEFL test
• Locate a test site

IELTS – International English Language Testing Service test (Academic).

• an overall band score of 6.5 and the writing test score 6.0. or more.
• The IELTS Online (Academic) test is accepted.
• The IELTS General Training test is not accepted.
• IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted.
• More information about the IELTS test
• Locate a test site

C2 Proficiency (previously CPE) – Cambridge English Qualifications with pass grade A, B or C.

• More information about the C2 test
• Locate a test site

C1 Advanced (previously CAE) – Cambridge English Qualifications with pass grade A, B or C.

• More information about the C1 test
• Locate a test site

PTE – Academic test with a minimum overall score of 62 and the writing test score 42 or more

• PTE Academic online test is accepted.
• More information about PTE – Pearson Test of English
• Locate a test site

YKI – Finnish certificate for language proficiency in English with a minimum score of 5 in all subtests (reading comprehension, writing, speaking and listening comprehension). You can combine the different examinations.

• More information about YKI
• Locate test site

Study right

You will not be granted a new, similar study right to pursue a degree or course of study that you are already pursuing, or have already completed, within the same field or a corresponding subject at the University of Turku. If your study right has expired or been moved to the passive register, you cannot apply for a new, similar study right. Instead, you must then apply for an extension to your study time or a reactivation of your study right.

The degree on basis of which you are applying to the MDP in Drug Discovery and Development must be in a relevant field of study. For the Drug Discovery and Development such fields are

• bioengineering
• biochemistry
• bioinformatics
• biology
• biomedical sciences
• chemistry
• medical sciences
• life sciences
• pharmacology
• pharmacy

The applicants should also be familiar with the basics of laboratory practice relevant to the programme, and with pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, histology and cell biology. In case the applicant gets admitted, they may need to conduct 0-18 ECTS supplementary studies in above mentioned areas in the beginning of the studies, depending on the admitted student’s background. This is to give the student the basic understanding on the subject and support the curriculum studies. Teaching staff evaluates the need for supplementary studies based on the student’s proficiency test at the beginning of the studies. Please note that supplementary studies are not included in the degree.

Since this knowledge and skills are crucial for successful completion of Master’s Degree Programme in Drug Discovery and Development degree, it is recommended that the applicant should have good prior knowledge on areas listed as supplementary studies already when applying to MDP in Drug Discovery and Development.

Both Finnish and foreign students can apply to the programme.