Life on Earth depends on solar energy captured by plants - they are the base of most food webs and underpin the functioning of all major ecosystems. Plants release the oxygen we breath. They convert solar energy into chemical energy, providing us with food, fibres, renewable energy sources, and raw materials for many industries. Plants do not carry out these processes in isolation. They interact with other organisms and the physical and chemical environment, communicate and actively adjust to their circumstances. How do they do these things and how can we profit from understanding them? When you have graduated from the Master’s Program in Plant Biology you will have the answers to these big questions, and more, such as:

• How one plant cell develops into a complicated organism and how plant cells, tissues and organs communicate with each other
• How plants avoid, tolerate or defend themselves from external stress factors such as diseases, drought and excessive solar radiation
• How plants sense their environment and communicate with each other and with other organisms
• How plants, interacting with microbes, fungi and animals, maintain ecosystems and thus life
• How the genotypic, functional and morphological differences between plants allow them to thrive in vastly different habitats

You will also be able to:

• Understand how research in plant biology and biotechnology can contribute to plant breeding and production
• Plan, coordinate and execute high-quality basic and applied scientific research
• Have a good command of the scientific method and critically evaluate research across scientific disciplines
• Use the basic skills needed to expand your knowledge into other related fields and communicate with experts in those fields
• Act in working life as an expert and innovator in your field, supported by your language, communication and other transferable skills
• Be eligible for scientific post-graduate (doctoral) studies

After earning your degree, you can continue towards a PhD or move directly into a career. If you have a Bachelor’s degree in a field of biology from another Finnish university or from a foreign university anywhere in the world, you are welcome to apply for the Master’s programme in Plant Biology.

Further information about studies on the Master's Programme's website.