Master in Life Sciences - Applied Cell Biology

School of Life Sciences

Become an expert in Applied Cell Biology – from high-content screening to tissue engineering. The Master’s degree in Applied Cell Biology trains you to apply pioneering methods such as single-cell assays, complex microphysiological systems and automated cell cultures directly in the laboratory.

Factsheet

Degree: Master of Science in Life Sciences
Study mode: Full-time, Part-time/work-study
Learning mode: Online, Onsite
ECTS credits: 90
Next start: 22.2.2027
Duration: 3 semesters (full-time) / 6 semesters (part-time)
Teaching language: Englisch
Place: FHNW Campus Muttenz, Hofackerstrasse 30, 4132 Muttenz
Stay abroad: Possible
Application fee: CHF 200
Semester fee: CHF 750 / CHF 1 000 / CHF 5 000

At a glance

Practice-oriented modules: You set up automated cell culture systems, apply high-content screening in real projects and work with state-of-the-art microphysiological systems.
Individual study profile: Design your curriculum to suit your interests. With elective modules in Pharma Technology, Bioanalytics and Analytical Chemistry, you can define your own focus areas.
Industrial and research careers: Gain valuable experience for careers in drug discovery, regenerative medicine and laboratory automation through practical assignments in research institutions and companies.
International opportunities: Spend an exchange semester at one of our partner universities or do your master thesis abroad.

Why study this?

What career opportunities are open to you?

Applied Cell Biology is a fast‑growing field of great importance for biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. Rapid technological progress and the increasing use of cell‑based models make skilled graduates highly sought after. This programme equips you to contribute to drug discovery, pre‑clinical testing and regenerative medicine.

Typical areas of employment for graduates are:

Pharmaceutical research and development: drug testing and the development of new therapeutic approaches.
Biotechnology industry: manufacture of biological products and development of cell-based production systems.
Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering: Development and application of cell-based therapies, e.g. with stem cells or tissue cultures.
Pre-clinical research and assay development: Establishing test systems with mammalian cells as alternatives to animal testing (3R principles: Replace, Refine, Reduce).
Academic research institutions: Contribution to projects in cell technology, molecular biology or biomedical analysis.

Structure and programme contents

The programme combines research‑driven and practice‑oriented training tailored to the needs of the pharmaceutical industry and the life sciences sector.

You will acquire advanced knowledge in the following areas:

Cell engineering and high‑throughput assays: Development of cell‑based systems for drug discovery, especially high‑content and high‑throughput screening.
Microphysiological systems: Application of complex, cell‑based models to simulate physiological conditions in industry.
Cell imaging and analytics: Use of state-of-the-art imaging techniques to analyse cellular processes in high-content screening.
Process and analysis automation: Automated workflows for efficient execution and evaluation of cell‑based assays.
Electives from related fields: Specialisation opportunities in Analytical Chemistry, Bioanalytics, Biotechnology and Pharma Technology.

Interdisciplinary modules further support your development. These strengthen skills in:

Project work and academic writing: Development of methodological and communication skills for research.
Interdisciplinary collaboration: Work at the interface of biology, technology and data analysis.
Career planning: Preparation for jobs in scientific and industrial sectors.

Details of the degree programme

Programme structure

The master’s degree programme consists of three key components: core skills, specialised training and the thesis. In the first part of your degree programme, you will complete modules totalling 50 ECTS. These include your chosen core skills modules (at least 12 ECTS) and specialised training, allowing for individual specialisation. This is followed in the final semester by the thesis, completed over eight months and worth 40 ECTS.

The following is an example of a programme structure for a full-time course (three semesters); part-time students generally take the modules in four semesters.

Full-time course

The master’s degree can be started in the spring or autumn semester and is designed as a full-time programme over three semesters. In the first two semesters, the focus is on lectures and expanding specialist skills.

From the third semester onwards, you will devote yourself to your eight-month MSc thesis, which concludes your studies.

The following is an example of the full-time course starting in the autumn semester:

Part-time study

The master’s degree programme can also be done part-time starting in the spring or autumn semester on a work-study basis. This generally takes six semesters.

Experience has shown that a workload of 50 to 60% is easily compatible with part-time studies.

As a part-time student, you attend tuition over several semesters and usually start your thesis after the fourth semester.

The following is an example of the part-time course starting in the autumn semester:

Module groups for the Applied Cell Biology specialisation

A total of 50 ECTS credits (i.e. 17 modules each worth 3 ECTS credits) must be earned. Other modules can be selected: Module overview (English)

You can also plan your studies in advance with our MSc Life Sciences planning tool.

Applied Cell Biology

choose 4 of 5

Cellular Imaging
Bioassays: Engineered Cells, Tissues, Organisms
Advanced Cell Culture Systems
Laboratory Automation in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Gene and Cell Therapeutics

Compulsory electives

choose 3 of 5

Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry
Proteomics and Protein Analytics
Genomics
Biomarkers
Molecular & Translational Imaging

Cluster-specific

choose 3 of 5

Physicochemical Principles of Pharmaceutics
Tissue Engineering for Drug Discovery
Compound Profiling in Pharmaceutical Drug Discovery
Physiology and Immunotherapies
Bioanalytics in a Regulated Environment

Core skills

choose 4 of 8

Handling and Visualizing Data
Business Administration for Life Sciences
Design and Analysis of Experiments
Management and Leadership for Life Sciences
Multivariate Data Modelling and Exploration
Innovation and Project Management
Data and Ethics
Politics and Society

Thesis

The eight-month thesis is the core module of the MSc programme and comprises 40 ECTS. You will work on a challenging, application-oriented project with a direct link to current issues in research or practice. You may work in a company, university, a research institute in Switzerland or abroad, or at an institute of the FHNW School of Life Sciences.

International

Our master's programme opens up global horizons: whether aiming for a double degree, planning your master's thesis overseas or coming to us from abroad, we will support you every step of the way!

Outgoing Students: Doing your Master's thesis abroad: Information

Incoming Students: Studying with us as an international student: Information

Information for international students: International Student Guide (PDF).

Requirements and admission

Direct admission requires:

a Bachelor’s degree in a related field from a university of applied sciences or university with a good grade (Switzerland: A, B or ≥ 5; Germany/Austria: at least “good”),

sufficient English proficiency.

If you do not fully meet the requirements, you may be invited to a personal interview.

Proof of sufficient English skills must be provided with one of the following certificates:

Type of certificate	Required level
CE (Cambridge English)	B2/FCE
IELTS (English Language Testing System)	5.5
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)	IBT 72
Spoken or Written Academic English (module in the bachelor’s degree programme at the FHNW School of Life Sciences)	4.5

If you are unable to provide evidence of the required command of English, you are obliged to improve it during your master’s degree programme. You can either attend the advanced English course offered by the FHNW School of Life Sciences or other suitable language courses. At the end of the programme, proof must be provided that the required level of English has been achieved (see table above).

Organisational matters

The international Master of Science in Life Sciences is conducted in collaboration with other Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences: Berner Fachhochschule BFH, Haute Ecole Spécialisée de la Suisse Occidentale HES-SO and Zürcher Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften ZHAW.

Course start

The Master's programme starts in the autumn semester (calendar week 38). It is also possible to start the programme in the spring semester (calendar week 8).

Tuition fees

The following semester and registration fees are charged in accordance with FHNW regulations. Further details can be found in the FHNW fee regulations, valid from academic year 2025/26.

Tuition fees per semester:

CHF 750

Swiss citizens
Students legally resident in Switzerland at the start of their studies
Students whose parents are legally resident in Switzerland at the start of their studies
Recognised refugees and stateless persons who are legally resident in Switzerland.

CHF 1 000