Honours and awards
A university degree is varied and challenging in itself, but for students looking to broaden their horizons or dig deeper, we also offer honours programmes that provide an additional challenge. You can choose between a life sciences honours programme (QBio or U/Select) or an interdisciplinary honours programme at UU Honours College.
The honours programme U/Select is a 2-year extracurricular programme, for excellent students who seek to broaden their horizon and want to get more out of their Master's programme.
Learning goals
- To broaden and deepen your study programme in extra and special learning experiences.
- To be part of a community of excellent students in life sciences.
- To be able to write a research proposal and execute this during your minor research abroad.
- To have a better start position for your next step in your (study) career.
- To build your network beyond your own Master's programme.
Programme
- Kick-off meeting (February - year 1)
Meet each other and get informed about the U/Select programme.
- Master classes (year 1)
In the first year, the students will organize monthly master classes (decide on the topics, invite speakers, etc.). Examples are: career planning, going abroad, and publishing. The students will do this in consultation with the U/Select coordinator, prof. Jos van Strijp.
- Research proposal and research project abroad (year 1&2)
You will choose a topic within the scope of life sciences, and a top institute abroad. You will write your own research proposal, in collaboration with your supervisor abroad.
Mini-symposium (September - year 2)
You will report on your work during a mini-symposium. The jury, consisting of leading scientists of Utrecht University, will choose the best research project and reward it.
Application procedure
Students will be selected on the following criteria:
- motivation and ambition;
- Curriculum vitae;
- Grades of BSc degree; average grade > 7,5;
- extracurricular activities.
To apply, send in the following documents to USelect@umcutrecht.nl:
- Letter of motivation, including a description of your BSc or MSc (research) project;
- Curriculum vitae;
- Proof of your qualities - grade list or transcript of BSc degree, jobs, experience abroad etc.;
- Letter(s) of recommendation from your Master's coordinator or from your current/previous supervisor. Please use the Standarised Recommendation Letter, which needs to be emailed directly to uselect@umcutrecht.nl from your referee.
The deadline is December 9th, 2022, 17:00 pm.
A selection committee will judge all applications and select the U/Select participants. You may be invited for an interview with this committee. About 10-12 participants each year are selected to enter the programme.
More information? Contact USelect@umcutrecht.nl
The honours programme Quantitative Biology (QBio) offers students extra challenge in the field of Quantitative Biology and Computational Life Sciences. The programme is set up for students with a genuine interest in interdisciplinary work as it sets out to combine different scientific disciplines such as Biology, Biomedical Biology, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Sciences.
The programme is offered to students of the Graduate School of Life Sciences as well as Natural Sciences. The aim of the programme is to train the next generation of scientists in Quantitative Biology.
Visit to the QBio website for more information and application.
How will your honours programme fit in your Master’s programme?
Most components fit in the GSLS Master’s programmes, with the exception of Medical Imaging, Science and Business Management and Epidemiology postgraduate. Please always consult your Master’s coordinator first to discuss your options.
Components | EC | Place in curriculum |
| Summerschool QBio | 1.5 | Elective |
| QBio master course | 4.5 | Elective |
| Journal club | - | Extracurricular |
| Research project | 33* | Minor project* |
| PhD proposal | 7.5 | Writing assignment |
*MCLS students can use the major project (51 EC) for this cause as well.
Components that do not fit the regular study programmes may be taken extracurricularly. Students who do not complete the whole honours programme can still use the Qbio master course as an elective. Students fulfilling all requirements of the honours programme (including the journal club) will get a notification on their Master’s degree supplement.
Utrecht University offers the Young Innovators Programme to high-achievers with leadership potential. The Young Innovators Programme is a selective 15 credits honours course at graduate level, to be taken on top of any Master's programme. This course is about leadership and innovation skills, about responsibility and ethics, and it is structured around major challenges of modern societies in a globalizing world:
Sustainability and Growth
Globalization and Identity
Entrepreneurship and Ethics
Stability and Change
Visit the Young Innovators website for more information and application.
The Graduate Honours Interdisciplinary Seminars (GHIS) is a series of small-scale seminars, 3-4 meetings each, about the focus research areas at Utrecht University. The topics will be diverse, ranging from global health issues and transition towards sustainability, to trends in youth culture, and the philosophy of science. No more than eight students participate in each discussion-based seminar group. Each seminar is hosted by distinguished researchers. You, your fellow students, and the lecturers will co-create the sessions.
Visit the UU website for more information.
Utrecht University and UMCU Utrecht offer a number of awards for students delivering excellent results in the field of their studies or beyond. Please visit the UU website and UMC Utrecht website for more information.
For prizes and awards in the area of your Master's programme, please consult your Master's coordinator. Interesting prizes are for example the KNCV Golden Master Award, EAHP-EPSA Student Science Award, and Young Talent Awards (KHMW).