Master of Science in Life Sciences
Sunway College Johor Bahru · Johor Bahru, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
This postgraduate research programme will provide students with the opportunity to conduct original research, which extends the frontiers of knowledge in a specialised area of their choice in Life Sciences.
The programme provides advanced knowledge of, and training in, research methods that will enable students to apply knowledge and skills as researchers, practitioners and administrators in many fields of life sciences and assist them in obtaining employment in the healthcare and biopharmaceutical industry.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Complete the taught module Research Methodology before proceeding to the thesis.
- Learn current approaches to research design, data analysis, and scientific writing.
- Develop the skills and knowledge needed to conduct research successfully for the Master’s degree.
- Formulate and submit a research proposal in an area of interest or specialisation.
- Carry out original research throughout the candidature.
- Produce the thesis based on the student’s research work.
- The MSc is awarded based on the successful completion of the thesis.
- The thesis should demonstrate proficiency, criticality, and mastery in the chosen area of research.
Curriculum
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | credit hours | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 1 taught module | Research Methodology | ||
| Semester 2 | Thesis | Thesis | ||
| Total | Research Methodology and Thesis | |||
Career outcomes
- You gain advanced research-method training (Research Methodology) that prepares you to conduct original work in life sciences research settings.
- You graduate with a thesis based on your own research, which helps you present real research output when applying for lab and research roles.
- The programme is designed to support careers as researchers and practitioners in life-sciences fields, including work in healthcare and biopharmaceutical industry areas.
- The programme is offered in partnership with Lancaster University, so you complete a pathway that awards dual certificates on successful completion.
- You build skills that are relevant to roles such as research scientist, laboratory manager, quality control specialist, and research-focused education/lecturer pathways.
- You can align your study with a research focus area (for example microbiology, molecular biology and genetics, cancer biology and therapeutics, or ecology and conservation) through your proposal and thesis topic.
Employability rate
Sunway University’s Master of Science in Life Sciences is a research-based master aimed at graduate employment pathways in life-sciences and healthcare and biopharmaceutical industry areas, so the employability outlook is generally strong for graduates who complete an approved thesis successfully.
Together, these figures point to a stable career outlook where your research training and thesis work help you compete for laboratory, research, and science-support roles in Malaysia and internationally.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree (foreign qualification) | International applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences (for example, medical biotech or biomedicine) or a related field, with a minimum CGPA of 2.75 or equivalent. |
| Other qualifications (case-by-case) | If you hold other qualifications that are equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, your application may be considered on a case-by-case basis and is subject to approval and acceptance by the University Senate. |
Language requirements
International applicants must meet the programme English language requirements if their previous education was not taught in English. The acceptable evidence includes IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE Academic, as stated below.
IELTS Academic
TOEFL iBT
PTE Academic
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | MYR 45700 / total program | Estimated Total Course Fee (Year 2026) for international students: RM45,700. International students must pay their fees in RM equivalent; USD shown is indicative/estimation subject to exchange rate. |
| Student pass and visa processing fee (EMGS) | MYR 3300 / one time | RM 3,300 Student Pass/ Visa processing fee paid to EMGS (non-refundable), as published in Sunway University international application payment instructions. |
Proof of financial resources
International applicants should prepare financial proof showing they can pay programme-related expenses. Requirements for student pass processing typically rely on the student’s ability to fund study and living costs in Malaysia.
- Financial evidence of ability to pay for study and living costs in Malaysia (as requested during student pass processing)
- Any official financial document requested by Sunway University or the Student Pass process
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | Rolling - Winter intake | Rolling - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | January 01, 2026 | January 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | December 31, 2026 | December 31, 2026 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | January 01, 2026 | July 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | Rolling - Winter intake | Rolling - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | Rolling - Winter intake | Rolling - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your application documents and eligibility
Review the programme entry requirements and confirm your Bachelor’s degree and CGPA meet the stated minimum for international applicants. Prepare your English language test results (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE) if required based on your prior education. If your qualification is outside the listed Biological Sciences examples, be ready for case-by-case evaluation by the University Senate.
Submit your postgraduate application
Submit the Sunway postgraduate application form and ensure it is complete and signed. Provide the required documents as true certified copies as specified by the programme application procedure. Include two reference letters and your research statement as part of the initial submission.
Submit the research proposal and await evaluation
Prepare your research proposal following the stated structure and length requirement, and submit it as part of the application package. The proposal should be focused on the research question you have discussed with your future PhD supervisor. Your documents will be processed once the application is complete, and incomplete applications will not be evaluated.
Receive an offer and complete enrolment steps
If your application is successful, you will receive an offer letter by email within the stated timeline on Sunway’s international application guidance. Accept the offer as detailed in the Letter of Offer and return the Acceptance of Offer to the International Office. Submit any outstanding documents listed in the incomplete record checklist attached with your offer to avoid delays in student pass processing.