Study programme

The major research project is the most important part of your studies. Nine months of research in a Utrecht research group is the core of the programme. Check out the UIPS website. Think ahead: what will I be doing in ten years? Will it be chemistry, biology, medicine, pharmacy? Will I work with analytical equipment, lab animals or computers? Will I work in research, management, education? Will I work in industry or a research institute? Which field of disease motivates me most? Cardiovascular, immunological, psychiatric, cancer?

Once you select a field, make contact with several professors and do not immediately say yes. Shop around! If you like a topic and a professor offers you this project, discuss the compulsory prerequisites. 

All compulsory theory needed for your research project, should be in the 10 weeks of compulsory theory courses if possible. But if the professor or supervisor of your project wants you to take a skills course in laboratory animals, or safe microbial handling, or statistics, etc..., this should fit in these 8 weeks of electives, which are intended for repair.

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.

The following courses are mandatory specific for the Drug Innovation programme:

DI-408, Drug Discovery (7.5 EC)
DI-409, Drug Development and Regulation (7.5 EC)

Electives give you the possibility to create your personal profile. Contact the programme coordinator how to use the electives in your programme.

For more information on the courses that you can choose to fulfill your elective component, visit the GSLS page on electives.

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.