The School aims to deliver outstanding independent researchers in the field of Life Sciences. These researchers will be familiar with the latest developments in their field and be able to develop this scientific field further on the basis of scientific and socially relevant questions and challenges. Every Master’s graduate should, in principle, be able to qualify for a PhD position and preferably also have ambitions to pursue a career in scientific research. To achieve this goal, the School supplies advanced research-intensive education in which education and research go hand in hand. An important underlying principle here is to ensure that students benefit optimally from the presence of top research and top researchers.
These objectives have been stated in terms of the learning outcomes below, which correspond to the widely used Dublin descriptors for Master’s programmes. The descriptors have been stated in terms specific to the entire field of Life Sciences. The individual Master’s programmes at the GSLS elaborate these School-wide learning objectives further at the programme level.
Knowledge and insights
Graduates of the GSLS:
- will be able, with the knowledge of at least one of the specialised subjects of Life Sciences, to make a substantial contribution to the development and/or application of scientific concepts and methods, often in a research context;
- will be able to overview the important, recent developments within the Life Sciences and to point out the implications of these developments on the Life Sciences field and society;
- will be able to adequately use and interpret specialist literature in at least one of the subjects of Life Sciences.
Apply knowledge and insights
Graduates of the GSLS:
- will be able to translate a Life Sciences problem into a relevant research question or approach, suitable for research development, product development, education or society;
- will be able to design a suitable research plan to test the formulated research questions, according to methodological and scientific standards;
- will be able to independently perform research, with the required accuracy. Graduates are able to handle, analyse, interpret and evaluate the empirically derived data in a correct manner;
Judgement
Graduates of the GSLS:
- will be able to discuss the outcomes of empirical research and to link them with scientific theories;
- will be able to indicate the importance of research activities for solving a biomedical question or problem, if applicable from a social perspective;
- will be able to critically reflect on their own research work in Life Sciences, from a social perspective;
Communication
Graduates of the GSLS:
- will be able to comprehensibly report research results verbally and in writing, to specialised and non-specialised audiences in an international context;
- will function effectively in a multidisciplinary research team
Learning skills
Graduates of the GSLS:
- will have the skills to reflect on their own development and study career, and, if necessary, to motivate themselves and make any necessary adjustments;
- will have the skills to function independently and result-oriented in a competitive labour market;
- will have the qualification to be eligible for a PhD position or a position in another sector of the labour market.
