Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM)

Faculty of Biology and Medicine

Faculty of Biology and Medicine
University of Lausanne
UNIL - Bugnon
Rue du Bugnon 21
CH-1011 Lausanne
SWITZERLAND

Information

Phone: ++41 (0)21 692 5015
Fax: ++41 (0)21 692 5005

Description, aims and objectives

The research and teaching of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine cover three distinct disciplines that share the same interest in living beings, thus offering three complementary approaches and cultures. Biology studies nature in all its forms and focuses its academic activity on fundamental research. Medicine and Nursing Science focus on human beings in their entirety, whether in good health or suffering physically or mentally. Their activities are oriented towards care for the sick and clinical research.

Teaching in these three fields offers many opportunities for inter-disciplinary collaboration. If you would like to expand your knowledge of ecology, evolutionary biology or conservation following a Bachelor’s in biology, you might like to consider a Master’s course focusing on a particular specialisation. If you would rather explore genomics, microbiology or molecular and cellular biology, then a Master’s in Molecular Life Sciences would be the perfect choice. If, on the other hand, your interests lie more in human biology and the biology of diseases, you have the option of a Master’s in Medical Biology.

Conversely, holders of a Master of Medicine degree interested in fundamental research can develop their knowledge of the fundamental disciplines of biology by studying for a PhD in Medicine or a PhD in Medicine and Sciences (MD-PhD). Finally, the "Bridging" pre-graduate programme allows you to study for a Master's degree in medicine if you have a Bachelor's degree in biology, life sciences engineering or a diploma deemed equivalent. If you hold a nursing diploma, you have the opportunity to consolidate your learning and become an expert in care via a Master’s in Nursing Sciences. If you hold a Bachelor’s in occupational therapy, nutrition and dietetics, physiotherapy, midwifery or medical radiology techniques, you have the option to expand and further your skills via a Master’s in Health Sciences in your specific field.

At the Doctoral School, responsible for third cycle studies, biologists and physicians have collaborated closely for many years. Many doctoral theses in Life Sciences are prepared in the basic or medical research laboratories. Thus, medical research benefits from the technical skills and medical platforms developed by fundamental biology, but the flow is bi-directional.

These synergies now extend to Nursing Science, since UNIL became the second university in the French-speaking world to offer a doctorate in this field back in 2008.