GSLS programmes

Main components

Each Master's programme includes a research project and one of the profiles. In addition, each programme supplies one or more specific Master's courses. You also attend the Life Sciences Academy that includes an introductory week, a number of seminars in the field of life sciences, and professional skills and workshops focused on personal development. Furthermore, you perform a writing assignment and each programme includes an elective component that can be used for deficiencies, additional courses or for additional research time.

No strict order

The order of the curriculum components is not strictly regulated. Each student makes their own timetable. However, all students start with an introductory week (Introducing Life Sciences). Another precondition for the study relates to the research project, which must be located at Utrecht University or UMC Utrecht. For research projects within the General Research profile, you can also study elsewhere in the Netherlands or abroad.

When you are admitted to your Master's programme, the first thing to do is plan your programme together with your programme coordinator. Remember, he or she has to approve every part of your programme in advance. During the Introducing Life Sciences week at the start of your programme, there is also time available to help you plan your Master's in detail.

Planning form

To make the planning process easier, you can download the GSLS planning form. (Open this form in Adobe Reader via your 'Downloads' folder.) This form is an ongoing document to help you plan your programme. It has no official status. You can change the contents of the form at any time, after consulting your programme coordinator.

Holidays

Taking time off to relax and gain new energy is important. Every year contains approximately 10 weeks of free time next to your study programme, which you can spend on holidays et cetera. We strongly advise you to take along this time in your planning to make sure you keep a good balance between studying and personal time. A general advice would be to take off at least two consecutive weeks each year within the total time spent on holidays. Please, take into account the enrolment periods and the public holidays in the academic year calendar. During your project, you can take the public holidays off upon discussion with your supervisor and without it affecting your end date.

When you want to stop one Master’s programme and start another one, please do the following (in this order):

• Inform your current programme coordinator that you want to stop;
• Apply for the new programme through the regular application procedure. Please note that regular deadlines for application as well as regular starting dates apply.
• In case you are admitted to the new Master’s programme, you can deregister from your current programme.
• Notify the current Master's administration office that you started a new Master’s programme.

Obtained study components and credits (courses, research projects, ...) will not automatically be transferred to the new Master’s programme. Therefore:

• Contact the programme coordinator of your new Master’s programme to determine if and how the components fit in the new programme.
• Ask the Board of Examiners to transfer the study components and credits to the new Master’s programme, by sending them a formal request. This request should contain:
  • an overview of all the study components and credits you would like to transfer;
  • an explanation how you would like to fit those components in the new Master’s programme;
  • proof that your new programme coordinator supports your request (e.g. by signing your request or via an e-mail to the Board of Examiners).