Degree Project in Biology
During the degree project you will gain deeper theoretical knowledge within part of the biological subject area and learn to work independently on a scientific question, usually within an ongoing research project.
The degree project is an independant assignment which results in a thesis. By most students considered to be the most interesting and rewarding part of their education, but also the most demanding as you put your previous knowledge and skills to work.
Recent degree projects
- Temporal genomic change in the Scandinavian brown bear
- Primate brain size correlates with life history and group size
- POU/Oct transcription factor Nubbin in Drosophila immunity
Information for admitted students spring 2025
Congratulations! You have been admitted at Stockholm University and we hope that you will enjoy your studies with us.
In order to ensure that your studies begin as smoothly as possible we have compiled a short checklist for the beginning of the semester.
Follow the instructions on whether you have to reply to your offer or not.
universityadmissions.se
Checklist for admitted students
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Activate your university account
The first step in being able to register and gain access to all the university's IT services.
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Register at your department
Registration can be done in different ways. Read the instructions from your department below.
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Read all the information on this page
Here you will find what you need to know before your course or programme starts.
IMPORTANT
Your seat may be withdrawn if you do not register according to the instructions provided by your department.
Information from the department - courses
Welcome to spring term 2025 at BIG! Open here, read and let us know if you have any questions.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are registered on the correct course. If you do not register then your place can go to a reserve. However, it is important that you only register on courses that you do intend to take, or you are taking a place from another student.
Registration period for spring 2025
Note! In order for us to efficiently be able to help all students, before registering make sure to carefully read our information to admitted students.
- Registration for all courses opens 7th January and closes Sunday just over a week before the course starts.
- Traineeships, research traineeships and degree projects are open for registration throughout the semester (see more information in the link above).
If you have trouble registering, please contact our student office latest on the last registration day. Otherwise you will loose your place on the course.
Reserve place
If you have been given a reserve place you may be admitted if someone declines their place. In which case you must confirm that you want the place by attending the reserve roll call for each course. The exception is traineeships, research traineeships and degre projects where an apporved work plan is required to be admitted, for more information see the link below.
More information about your studies with us
On our website you will find more information about your studies with us.
Welcome activities
Stockholm University organises a series of welcome activities that stretch over a few weeks at the beginning of each semester. The programme is voluntary (attendance is optional) and includes Arrival Service at the airport and an Orientation Day, see more details about these events below.
Your department may also organise activities for welcoming international students. More information will be provided by your specific department.
Find your way on campus
Stockholm University's main campus is in the Frescati area, north of the city centre. While most of our departments and offices are located here, there are also campus areas in other parts of the city.
Read more
For new international students
The degree project is an independant assignment which results in a thesis. By most students considered to be the most interesting and rewarding part of their education, but also the most demanding as you put your previous knowledge and skills to work.
Recent degree projects
- Temporal genomic change in the Scandinavian brown bear
- Primate brain size correlates with life history and group size
- POU/Oct transcription factor Nubbin in Drosophila immunity
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Course structure
The degree project consists of two parts, the project plan and the project work.
When you start the course, you will begin by working on the project plan and time plan, allowing you to read up on the background as well as plan your work. The aim of the project plan is to make sure you understand the tasks involved before you begin the project work and that you gain experience in formulating a scientific hypothesis.
The project work involves working on the tasks set out in your project plan. The aim is that you should be able to perform a scientific study and lead a scientific discussion within a part of the biological subject area.
Note that the course is also offered in other scopes:
Degree project in biology 45 credits
Degree project in biology 60 credits
Teaching format
During the course you work indepedently under supervision. What you work on is dependent on the project you choose and is decided in agreement with your supervisor (see below in More Information).
Assessment
You present the project plan and the project work both orally and in writing. The written part for the project work should be in the form of a scientific report including a popular summary and an ethical and societal reflection. The oral examination is in the form of a seminar normally held at the research department, and is open to colleagues at the deparment, students as well as family and friends.
Examiner
The examiner depends on which subdiscipline your project best fits. The examiner and supervisor can not be the same person.
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.The course does not have set start and end dates, but you should apply for the course the period that best fits when you plan to do the project. Which weeks you will work and what workhours you should keep is an agreement you make with your supervisor, these are then specified in the time plan which must be approved by the examiner. Degree project 30 ECTS credits should be equivalent to 18 full time work weeks, while 45 credits is equivalent to 27 weeks and 60 credits equate to 36 weeks.
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Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
The degree project does not have any set literature. As part of the project you will read literature assigned by your supervisor as well as identify relevant literature to read yourself.
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Course reports
Collated answers are for the full year (not only spring term)
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More information
Before you start your degree project, you must follow all these steps:
- Apply as usual on Universityadmissions.se. Apply to the period that best matches your plans.
- When the application has closed, you will receive a link to a form where you fill in the supervisor and research idea (a very brief description of the planned project). The deadline for submission is normally about one month after the application closes.
- When the supervisor and research idea have been approved, you will be admitted (assuming that you are eligible) and you can register online.
You can not start the traineeship until you have registered for the course! This is important because you are not insured by the university until you are registered.
The supervisor and project
It is your responsibility to find a suitable project and supervisor.
The supervisor is responsible for the theoretical and practical supervision during the entire degree project. The supervisor should hold a doctorate within the relevant subject. There are often others, e.g., PhD-students that help you during your degree project, however, there is only one official supervisor.
Reading about ongoing research projects on the department’s websites:
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP)
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute (MBW)
- Department of Zoology
Other ways of finding ideas for projects include:
- discussing possible projects with the teachers on the courses you take
- MyCareer listings
External projects
If the project and supervisor are tied to a work place other than Stockholm University, e.g., an authority, company or a university abroad, it counts as an external degree project. In these cases you must also have an internal supervisor who ensures that the project complies with the requirements we set and guides you in regards to our routines.
Projects abroad
Some projects require data collection abroad. In this case you should talk to your supervisor and BIG early on to make necessary arrangements to ensure that you are insured during the time abroad.
After the course
A completed degree project is a requirement for the Master's degree, 30 ECTS credits is enough to qualify for a Master's degree in Biology. At most you can include 60 ECTS credits of degree projects in your degree.
A completed degree project is also a requirement for eligibility for postgraduate studies in biology at Stockholm University.
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Contact
Student office- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratory, room E315
Svante Arrhenius väg 20C
- Office hours
Mon-Thur: 13.00-15.00
- Irregular office hours
Closed Thursday November 21!
Study counsellor for advanced level
- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratoriet, room E315
Svante Arrhenius väg 20 C
- Office hours
By request
