Science and Business Management

The focus shifts from performing scientific research towards acquiring a range of business skills important for a career in industry or commercial organizations. You start with a research project in a research group of the Graduate Schools Life Sciences or Natural Sciences, or an associated research institute elsewhere. You work on research topics with potential for application and are required to present and write a summary about the applications of the research that is performed. The first year is finalized by writing an executive summary on the applications of the research combined within an interview with a relevant industrial representative about these applications.

The second year starts with an intensive half year of business courses: economic environment, management skills, organisation, marketing, quantitative methods for business, management accounting, human resources, business law, entrepreneurship and several workshops. These business skills prepare you for their business internship at a company or commercial organisation.

The Master’s programme Science and Business Management (SBM) aims to prepare science students for a career in a business environment. SBM students are educated to understand both the science and business worlds. Industry needs professionals that are able to manage the development and marketing of innovative products and processes. Such professionals understand the underlying scientific principles and have experience with the scientific discovery process. Also in academic research professionals are needed with a sound basis in science.