Curriculum outline

The major research project is carried out in one of the UU/UMCU research groups and will teach you the practice of scientific research. Under the guidance of a staff member, a post-doctoral fellow, or an advanced PhD student, you work on a well-defined project of your choice, practising all aspects of research: designing experiments, planning, conducting experiments, collecting and interpreting data, drawing conclusions, and writing reports or an article for a scientific publication. Furthermore, you take part in work discussions and journal club meetings in order to understand the meaning of the work compared to that of the research group and of the scientific community as a whole. The project is finished with a written report and an oral presentation.

For more information visit the GSLS-page Research project / business internship.

As part of your study programme you have to select a profile. There is a choice of 9 different profiles with the aim of focusing your education in a specific direction. These include profiles with a research project component and a flexible curriculum, profiles with a more set course-list and assignments, and profiles that are a mix of the two.

For more information visit the GSLS-page Profiles.

Most of the GSLS Master’s programmes devote ten weeks to theoretical courses.

For more information visit the GSLS page on courses.

The elective component gives you the possibility to create your personal profile. You can follow education to grow competencies or skills of your own choosing - whether these are more research, academic, or soft skills.

For more information visit the GSLS page Elective component.

You will write a review presenting a literature overview including a discussion/evaluation of hypotheses and a personal view. Alternatively, you write a research proposal using the format of the open programme of NOW-ALW.

For more information visit the GSLS-page Writing assignment.

The Life Sciences Academy (BMB509718, GSLS-ACAD) is a compulsory 3-part module of 1.5 EC in total. This module is a combination of courses, workshops, seminars, and career events designed to cover all aspects of academic education and to acquaint you with a wide range of life sciences-related topics. Moreover, special focus is put on giving a comprehensive overview of the different choices you can make, both in terms of study components and personal development opportunities, but also to prepare you for your upcoming entry into the job market.

For more information visit the GSLS-page Life Sciences Academy.