International master's programme «From fundamental molecular biosciences to biotherapies»
The field of biotherapy regroups the therapeutics based on the use of molecules designed from a living organism. Biotherapies comprise cell and tissue therapy, gene therapy and therapies using human molecules synthesized by eukaryotic cells or bacteria, as antibodies and bioactive proteins.
This domain has considerably evolved during the recent years thanks to the research progress in vectorology, stem cells, biomaterials, omics and computational biology, which have transformed the practices of research laboratories in fundamental biology and biotherapy and allowed numerous clinical trials to emerge. The societal and ethical impact of these new features is huge and the area of biotherapy will need experts in the next future. Future researchers in this field require a strong education in the molecular basis of the physiopathological processes to develop new biotherapy strategies.
Presentation
The aim of the international master « From fundamental molecular biosciences to biotherapies » is to offer an integrated state-of-the-art training in fundamental molecular biosciences applied to biotherapies through a multidisciplinary approach that conforms to the trends and development within the field.
Our programme, taught in english, consists of four semesters (120 ECTS) and offers students the opportunity, in addition to a high quality education in Molecular Biosciences delivered at Sorbonne Université (Paris), to choose a specialisation among the different fields of biotherapies in different partners universities.
Programme structure
There are two ways to submit your application, depending on your profile.
- If you reside in one of these following countries:
A: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan
B: Bahrain, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi
C: Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire
D: Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic
E: Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia
G: Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea
H: Haiti, Hong-Kong
I: India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel
J: Japan, Jordan
K: Kenya, Kuwait
L: Lebanon
M: Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco
N: Nepal, Niger, Nigeria
P: Pakistan, Peru
Q: Qatar
R: Russia
S: Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea
T: Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey
U: Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States
V: Vietnam.
You must follow the “Etudes en France” procedure.
Create your private electronic file and follow the instructions. If necessary, contact the Campus France local office in your country of residence for more information. (Map of Campus France local offices: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/espaces)
- If you are from France or any other countries than the ones listed above:
You have to apply through the eCandidat platform (lien à venir), that will be available from March to June 2025. You must submit your application before May, 2025. After this date, the application committee will review submitted applications and the program may already be full.
You will need to upload supporting documents:
1. A cover letter mentioning your choice of specialization option for the second semester:
- Stem cell, Development and Evolution
- Immunology and biotherapies
- Cancer Biology
- Fundamental molecular biosciences in biotherapies
2. A one page Curriculum Vitae
3. An English language certificate (TOEIC, TOEFL, Cambridge, or certificate of English as medium of instruction)
4. Transcripts and diplomas of higher education
5. Two letters of recommendation
- Important information:
- Once you have applied via one of these two platforms, please fill in this form to complete your information. Especially, you will need to indicate your choice of option for the second semester, and your application for a student residence.
- The bioinformatics option will not be available for the 2024-2025 academic year
Further information on the on the international master “From fundamental molecular biosciences to biotherapies " is available here
First semester Sorbonne Université (Paris) 30 ECTS
Practical in molecular and cellular biology (12 ECTS) MU4BM001
Fundamental molecular biosciences (15 ECTS) MU4BM010
Language course (3 ECTS)
Second semester in one partner university
Theoretical courses (12 ECTS) and a junior internship (18 ECTS) in a laboratory on a topic related to
the chosen option.
Theoretical courses
- Heidelberg University, Germany (Alliance 4EU+)
Major Cancer Biology (12 ECTS)
-“Frontiers in Biosciences” module (mid January – first week of March)
- Module 1: Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Lecture Series and Tutorials on "Molecular Principles of
Cancer Development“ period: mid-April until end of May
written exam: beginning of June; multiple-choice questions; grades available directly afterwards
- Module 2: Tumor Immunology and Virology Lecture Series and Tutorials on "Tumor Immunology,
Virology and Cancer" period: mid-June until end of July written
exam: beginning of August; multiple-choice questions; grades available directly afterwards
Major Developmental and Stem Cell Biology (DSCB) – 12 ECTS
Focus 1 module:
- Lecture „Genetics and Epigenetics Mechanisms“ April/May, Exam in June
- Seminar „Peer Review in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology“ May/June
- 3 weeks lab class (March/April : 1 week: Biological data science for high-throughput omics data ; 2
weeks: Single-Cell Techniques)
Focus 2 module:
- Lecture „Stem Cell Biology“, June/July, Exam end of July
- Seminar „Grant Writing: Essential Topics in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology“ July
- Individual Lab Rotation at least 6 weeks in the group of a DSCB lecturer
- Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic (Alliance 4EU+)
12 ECTS to choose among the following courses:
Advances in Immunology: 3 ECTS
Animal models in Immunology: 3 ECTS
Clinical cases in immunology: 3 ECTS
Functional Immunology: 4 ECTS
Proteins of signaling cascades: 3 ECTS
- Lisbon University, Portugal (Gabriela Rodrigues and Elio Sucena)
12 ECTS to choose among the following courses:
Genes and molecules in Development: 6 ECTS
Stem cell biology and technology: 6 ECTS
Evolution and development: 6 ECTS
Developmental and Comparative neurobiology: 3 ECTS
Evolution and Development of the immune system: 3 ECTS
- Sao Paulo University (Brasil)
12 ECTS Immunology
Foundations of Immunology, cancer immunology and immunotherapy: 6 ECTS
International school of Immunotherapy Immunology paradigms across diseases:6 ECTS
- Second semester at Sorbonne Université
Theoretical courses (12 ECTS, to be chosen among the following ones):
Molecular biology of eucaryotes (6 ECTS) MU4BM112
Schmid training course (6 ECTS) MU4BM113
Fundamental and integrated immunology (6 ECTS) MU4BM123
Embryonic models for genetic disease and cancer (6 ECTS) MU4BM148
Introduction to stem cell biology (6 ECTS) MU4BM169
Theoretical and practical introduction to epigenetics (6 ECTS) MU4BM142
Junior internship (18 ECTS) in a laboratory on a topic related to the chosen option. Evaluation: written report and oral presentation.
First semester (30 ECTS) Sorbonne Université
Introductory course: Transverse and translational approaches in biotherapies (6 ECTS) MU5BM566
Specialization course: (depending on your options) (12 ECTS):
Molecular biology of the cell (Institut Pasteur) MU5BM212
Advanced course in cell biology (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM215
International developmental biology course: from stem cells to morphogenesis (Institut Curie/Sorbonne Université) MU5BM211
Stem cell biology (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM216
Translational immunology and biotherapies (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM534
Systems immunology (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM537
Scientific project (6 ECTS)
Optional course (6 ECTS to choose among the following ones):
Seminars in developmental biology (6 ECTS) (Institut Curie/Sorbonne Université) MU5BM220
Seminars in stem cell biology (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM217
Development of marine organisms (6 ECTS) (Marine station of Villefranche-sur-Mer, Sorbonne Université) MU5BM200
Regulation of gene expression: translation and cell cycle (6 ECTS) (Marine station of Roscoff, Sorbonne Université) MU5BM232
Proliferation and cell death (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM285
Cell biology and cancer (3 ECTS) (Institut Curie) MU5BM222
Seminars in allergy and hypersensitity (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université)
Data analysis in immunology (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM578
Immuno-monitoring (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM575
Non-coding genome (6 ECTS) (Institut Curie) MU5BM429
Epigenetics, From nuclear organization to metabolism and cell fate in normal state and diseases (6 ECTS) (Institut Curie) MU5BM460
Second semester (30 ECTS)
Laboratory internship
Mobility programmes
Our international masters programme «From fundamental molecular biosciences to biotherapies» is here to offer our students an accute and complete professional training in the field, which is why we encourage our students to complete an internship abroad, in one of the following laboratories from our partner universities:
Laboratories in partner universities:
- Barcelona Pompeu Fabra university (Spain):
IMM-Hospital del Mar research Institute
Center for Genomic regulation - Sao Paulo university (Brasil):
Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo - Lisbon university (Portugal):
Gulbenkian Institute of Sciences
Institute of Molecular Medicine
Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes
- Prague Charles University (Czech Republic) :
Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences -
Heidelberg university (Germany):
Center for Organismal Studies
Bioquant center
German cancer research center EMBL
Students can also choose to complete their internship in one of Sorbonne University's laboratories:
Students registered at Sorbonne Université will follow the 1st semester of the M1 year in Paris, move for the 2nd semester to one partner university depending on the option chosen and come back to Paris for the M2 year, except for the option « Fundamental molecular biosciences in biotherapies » in which students will move during the 2nd semester of the M2 year.
Students registered in partner Universities will follow the M1 year in their host universities and move for the M2 year to Sorbonne université. Students from partner universities who want to follow the option « Fundamental molecular biosciences in biotherapies » can move during the 2nd semester of the M1 year.
Admission criteria
The prerequesite for the admission in the master is to possess a Bachelor degree (licence) in Biological Sciences or an equivalent diploma with a basic background in Genetics, Immunology, Cell biology and Developmental biology. For the “Bioinformatics for Health sciences” option, a basic background in Bioinformatics is required. Students must also possess a certification of proficiency in English (e.g, TOEFL or equivalent, minimum CEFR level B2).
Employment prospects
The program’s objective is to attract motivated students to a fully integrated Master course that combines the best elements of existing courses by the consortium members. Graduates will emerge with critical understanding of basic and applied scientific knowledge and excellent professional and personal skills. The specializations allow students to obtain original multiple high qualifications in complementary disciplines and generate career opportunities in academic research, pharmaceutical industry, biomedical research with an emphasis on molecular aspects of biotherapies