Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Master of Science (2 yrs), autumn 2026

Scope of studies

120 ECTS credits

Career titles

biologist

ecologist

evolutionary biologist

molecular ecologist

ecological or evolutionary modeler

Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens

14 000 €

Scholarship

05000 €

Language of instruction

English

Teaching time

Day time teaching

Planned duration

2 years

Form of teaching

Contact teaching

Education description

Our changing climate makes studying ecology and evolutionary biology timely and important. The decrease in natural resources and biodiversity as well as changes in population dynamics and ecosystems means that we have a crucial need to understand different phenomena of life comprehensively and use this knowlege to predict the consequences of future change.

The Masters programme in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology offers you the opportunity to reflect on the origin of life and its diversification over millions of years. In your studies, you will examine life at the DNA, organism, population, and ecosystem levels. Our teaching is based on recent international high quality research in ecology and evolutionary biology.

The studies are practical and nature-oriented, including both laboratory and field work opportunities at the Konnevesi Research Station as well as theoretical approaches. Our programme has received good feedback from students and working life partners, especially in relation to our high quality and extensive teaching of Finnish nature. You are encouraged to supplement your degree with studies in fields such as statistics, chemistry, physics or social and economic sciences.

The Master of Science degree qualifies students for advanced studies in bioscience, especially ecology and evolutionary biology, biodiversity and conservation biology and other related fields. For information on further study opportunities at the University of Jyväskylä, please see the Doctoral Programme in Biological and Environmental Science (jyu.fi).

The department and faculty are both very international. All research groups operate at the international level and the working language in research groups is English. Students at the department also have extensive opportunities to complete part of their studies at foreign universities, for example through JYU’s exchange programs, our ForThem partners and through department- and teacher-specific contacts.

The master’s degree thesis takes approximately five months to complete, including the planning and execution of a project, and writing up the thesis (altogether 30 ETCS credits). The master’s thesis includes an introduction to the scientific literature of the subject, experimental/theoretical work and a discussion. Research methods can vary greatly depending on the subject. In the master’s thesis you will develop skills to gather information, assess and apply information, and present information, while developing your scientific thinking.

Often the master’s thesis work is part of a larger research topic and completed within research groups in the department. This means that the student will be a member of a research group and receive guidance from other group members, in addition to the nominated supervisors. Research projects together with co-operative parties and business are also possible.

Research in ecology and evolutionary biology is wide-ranging, covering DNA, organisms, populations and ecosystems. Research activities are characterised by an open-minded integration of different biological disciplines and an emphasis on empirical research. Ecology and evolutionary biology provide an excellent framework for thinking about the origin of life and how it has diversified over millions of years.

Particularly strong research areas in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology are biodiversity studies, host-parasite interactions, sexual selection, genetics of adaptation and speciation, evolutionary ecology, and life-history evolution. Researchers in ecology and evolutionary biology at JYU continue a strong tradition of experimental research, using state of the art techniques, to investigate and integrate disparate biological fields. Our work is facilitated by a pleasant working environment, with, for example, a well-equipped DNA laboratory, and the Konnevesi Research Station.

The Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences has excellent connections with many domestic and international research institutes and other universities. Established collaborations exist with relevant national state institutes, such as SYKE (Finnish Environment Institute) and LUKE (Natural Resources Institute Finland). Collaboration is mainly in the form of teacher exchange, shared supervision of master’s theses and internship positions. All research groups have both national and international collaborations with other universities as well.

Globally, there is a growing need for experts in the field of biological and environmental science. This global demand is expected to continue or even increase due to global environmental problems caused by human population growth and decrease in natural resources. After completing your master's degree, you will have a broad basic knowledge of evolution, ecology, genetics, and applied ecology, as well as the ability to apply the knowledge you have acquired in areas such as nature conservation and environmental protection.

Many master's degree holders in ecology and evolutionary biology continue their studies to obtain a doctoral degree and continue work as researchers. Optional studies allow you to tailor your degree to your interests and influence the type of work you can do in the future. Ecologists and evolutionary biologists also work as experts in companies, municipal and state administration, and research and educational institutions.

A 1,500 € early bird discount from the first year tuition fee is offered to those who accept their study place within 14 days and pay the annual tuition fee by the deadline. You are not required to pay tuition fees if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland or hold a specific type of residence permit in Finland. For more information, please see: Scholarships and tuition fees (jyu.fi).

Application options

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Master of Science (2 yrs), autumn 2026

Application starts

7.1.2026 08:00

Application ends

21.1.2026 15:00

Application procedure

Joint application

Places of study

Prior education

University Bachelor's degree

University Master's degree

University of applied sciences Bachelor's degree

University of applied sciences Master's degree

Foreign Bachelor's degree

Foreign Master's degree

Admission criteria

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, you must have a suitable higher education degree and demonstrate adequate English proficiency, as described below.

1. A higher education degree that fulfils the following requirements:

As a rule, the degree must give eligibility for master’s-level degree studies in the awarding country. If the degree is significantly less extensive than a Finnish bachelor’s degree (comprising a minimum of 180 ECTS credits and three years of full-time study), it may not provide eligibility. If your degree qualifies for doctoral-level studies, you should seek admission to a doctoral programme instead.

The degree must be awarded from a higher education institution that is officially recognised in the national education system, i.e., listed as a degree-granting higher education institution by the country where it is located or by a relevant international organisation (such as UNESCO).

Suitable fields for the degree include:

Biology
Ecology and evolutionary biology
Botany
Zoology

Degrees in related fields, such as microbiology, molecular biology and genetics, are suitable if they include adequate courses in ecology and evolutionary biology. Applicants must have at least undergraduate level skills in ecology and in evolutionary biology.

If the degree is incomplete at the time of application, you may be admitted on a conditional basis. In this case, you must graduate and submit officially certified copies of the final educational documents so that they are received by the University by the specified deadline. The deadline will be posted on the University’s website before the application period begins.

Separate higher education studies that are not part of a degree may be considered when evaluating the compatibility of your past studies and calculating your admission score if you studied at a recognised higher education institution and submitted an official transcript.

You cannot be admitted if you currently hold a study right for this master’s programme at the University of Jyväskylä (incl. the Master’s Degree Programme in Biological and Environmental Science).

2. English proficiency demonstrated in one of the given ways:

Each applicant must demonstrate they possess the necessary English language profiency. Please visit the following web page for further information: How to prove your English skills (jyu.fi)

We do not grant waivers for the language skill requirement. In case you fail to prove your proficiency in one of the pre-given ways, your application will be rejected.

Selection criteria description

These admission criteria are valid for student selections made in 2026. The faculty reserves the right to make changes between application rounds as necessary. In 2026, the number of available study seats is 15.

Admissions procedure

Online application, required attachments, interview

The application process is divided into two parts: 1) submitting the application and all the required attachments, and 2) participating in an online interview.

Please note that if you use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to aid your application, you must indicate which model (e.g., ChatGPT) you have used and in what way through proper citations. Citations are not required if you use AI solely for ideation, proofreading, stylisation or similar purposes.

Claiming AI-generated content as your own without acknowledging it is considered plagiarism. If we detect that a supporting document or assignment has been generated by AI, either wholly or in part, without proper acknowledgement, it will be given zero points.

Phase 1: Application and required attachments

First, you must submit your application on Studyinfo along with the necessary attachments by the given deadlines. If your application is deemed eligible, it will be evaluated according to the criteria listed below. Ineligible applications will not be processed further after they have been found not to meet the eligibility criteria/documentary requirements.

Category	Score
Academic background (Degree, field of study, grades)	0–30*
Other related experience (CV)	0–10
Total	0–40

*At least 15 points must be scored in the “Academic Background” category to be considered in the next phase.

Applicants will be ranked according to their admission score in Phase 1, and the highest-scoring applicants (max. 50) will proceed to Phase 2.

Phase 2: Interview

After Phase 1, the highest scoring applicants are invited to an online interview. You are responsible for providing yourself with the space, time, and equipment to enable participation in the online interview. More detailed instructions will be sent with the interview invitation.

The interview will be evaluated according to the following criteria.

Category	Score
Knowledge in the fields of study	0–10
Motivation and preparedness for studies	0–5
Communication skills in English	0–5*
Total	0–20

*At least 3 points must be scored in the “Communication skills in English” category to be considered for admission.

Final selection

Your scores from Phases 1 and 2 are added together to form your final admission score (max. 60). Applicants will be ranked according to their final admission scores, and the highest-scoring applicants, in accordance with the number of available study seats, will be admitted. If two or more applicants are tied for the last study place, all of them will be accepted. The faculty may also, at their discretion, admit more applicants than there are study places to ensure there will be enough students to start their studies in the programme. There are no arrangements for clearing, i.e., unaccepted study seats will not be reallocated.

All applicants will be notified of the results via email by the date given on the University’s website. If your application was rejected, you will be informed of the policy and the deadline for requesting rectification of the admission decision.

More information about the application process

To learn more about applying, please visit Master's degree programmes (jyu.fi).

Attachments

The required application attachments are listed below. Some attachments may be optional or apply only to some applicant groups. If a document is not listed below, it will not be considered.

If a mandatory attachment is not submitted following the instructions, your application will be deemed ineligible and not processed further. More detailed instructions will be published on the University’s website before the application period begins. The instructions may change between application rounds, and you must make sure to comply with the requirements for the correct round.

1. Copy of an official transcript of records of a higher education degree

A transcript of records (mark sheet) is a list of courses and study attainments a student has completed at an educational institution.

2. Official translation of the transcript into English, Finnish, or Swedish (if needed)

If the official transcript of records is issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, an official translation into one of these languages is required in addition to the original language version.

3. Copy of a degree certificate of a higher education degree

If the degree used for proving your eligibility is unfinished at the time of application, a degree certificate is not required in the application phase.

4. Official translation of the degree certificate into English, Finnish, or Swedish (if needed)

If the degree certificate is issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, an official translation into one of these languages is required in addition to the original language version.

5. Proof of English language proficiency

The required document is either a language test certificate or an educational document, depending on how you prove your language skills. See Eligibility for the approved methods.

If an educational document is issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, an official translation into one of these languages is required in addition to the original language version.

6. Copy of a valid passport (if needed)

A copy of the identification pages of a valid passport with your (the applicant’s) name, date of birth, and nationality. If you do not hold a valid passport, another official identification document (such as a personal identity card or driving licence) stating the same information is accepted. If you are a Finnish citizen, this document is not required, since your nationality can be verified from a national database.

7. Copy of a residence permit card (if applicable)

A copy of both sides of the residence permit card. The document is required only if you, the applicant, hold one of the following: a valid residence permit in Finland of type A (that is not based on studies), P, P-EU, EU Blue Card, or a certificate of the permanent right of residence of a UK citizen in Finland, or residence card for a family member of an EU or UK citizen residing in Finland.

8. CV (Curriculum vitae)

A CV is a document that outlines your professional and academic history. The curriculum vitae must be written in English

Attachment is uploaded on the application form

Must be submitted by
Jan. 28, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC+2

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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Master of Science (2 yrs), autumn 2026

Education description

Further study opportunities

Internationalisation

Qualification

Structure of studies

Thesis

Research focus

Co-operation with other parties

Career opportunities

Scholarship

Tuition fees

Contact persons

Application options

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Master of Science (2 yrs), autumn 2026

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