Profiles

Description and aims

The Master’s profile Complex Systems is an interdisciplinary profile for students who are interested to broaden their knowledge and expertise within the field of Complex Systems. In this research field societal issues, such as a financial crisis, a sudden epidemic or climate change are studied from a quantitative modelling perspective. Students will get an understanding of the various models used in the complexity field and the behaviour (i.e. transitions, predictability) of these models. 

The aim of the Complex Systems Profile is for students to develop or improve their:

• affinity for quantitative approaches in order to address societal issues;
• ability to build models that are amenable to quantitative approaches;
• familiarity with standard (quantitative) methods in the toolbox for analysing complex systems;
• ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the Master’s profile the student:

• is able to recognise the complex systems aspects when confronted with a societal problem;
• is able to develop models of complex systems and/o has a good overview of model-building for complex systems;
• has a good overview of the methods in the complex systems toolbox, can apply them to models and extract quantitative results;
• communicate/explain complex-systems models and methods to (interdisciplinary) teammates.

Programme

The Master’s profile comprises 30 EC. Details of the courses that comprise the programme are provided in the EER, and additional information can be found on the education website of the Center for Complex Systems Studies.

Entry requirements

• The student belongs to one of the participating master programmes
• Upon consultation with the coordinator for the profile, it is also possible for students from outside Utrecht University to participate in the profile, when their master programme has an affinity to complex systems

Participating Master’s programmes

• Artificial Intelligence
• Climate Physics
• Computing Science
• Energy Science
• Experimental Physics
• Game and Media Technology
• Mathematical Sciences
• Nanomaterials Science
• Sociology and Social Research
• Sustainable Development
• Theoretical Physics
• Multidisciplinary Economics

Contact

If you have questions about the profile, then please contact coordinator Robbin Bastiaansen.

Science-based entrepreneurship (SBE) is a foundational source of innovation and thereby for economic growth. There are many routes towards entrepreneurship; whether it is finding a science-based product while working at a large company or performing research in an incubator. The SBE profile has been created with the goal of providing a path in entrepeneurship for students in all science programs.

Read the full desription and how to apply on the Science-based Entrepreneurship Profile page.

The Communication profile can be taken as part of most GSNS master’s programmes. This profile offers students the opportunity to focus on science communication and informal science education within the context of their own science research Master's programme for a full semester (30 EC).

These days researchers are increasingly called upon to engage with society, to share their results with a great variety of groups and to talk about work-related matters with citizens and interested parties. If you do not just want to become a good researcher but also want to learn how to communicate properly about your work with a variety of target audiences or how to teach your subject matter well in informal settings, this profile is a good choice for you. 

Programme

In the Communication profile, you learn how to make all kinds of knowledge accessible and useful for your target audiences. In addition, you strive for interaction; the public’s knowledge is valuable as well. A key component in these processes is a thorough understanding of the way people think and act. You implement this knowledge in the design of communication activities and educational material. Important questions are: what engages the target audience? How can we reach them and motivate them to share or take up information? How best to support these learning processes?

Outline of the programme*

Compulsory elements (25 EC):

• FI-MSECIPD Internship Product Development  (20 EC)

• FI-MSECCSP Communicating Science with the Public (5 EC)

   

Choose one out of the elective courses (5 EC):

• FI-MSECITS Issues and Theories in SEC (sem 1)
• FI-MSECPSI Professional Skills and Identity (period 4)
• FI-MSECDSE Designing for Science Education in formal and informal settings  (period 2)
• FI-MSECSIS Science in Society  (period 4)

* For detailed course information please go to the Osiris course catalogue.

Application, admission and enrolment

The Communication profile starts twice a year, in September and February. By default, the profile will be completed in a single semester of full time study.

• Application goes through contacting C-profile coordinator Liesbeth de Bakker. She will send you all necessary information about the Communication profile including the registration procedure.
• Registration deadline is 1 May for a start in September, and 15 October for a start in February. There is space for 16 students per semester.

All students need to fill in the Profile Application form for the C profile and get permission from their exam committee before starting the C-profile. The Profile application form can be obtained from the C profile coordinator on request.

Please register as early as possible, as it takes a lot of time to arrange good internships. Late applications will only be considered if there are still places left, but placement cannot be guaranteed.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the Communication profile the student is able to:

• Understand and critically use the core knowledge of science education and communication theories, and the research underlying such theories;
• Develop and adapt a theoretically based design for science education or communication;
• Develop adequate science communication and education products according to design criteria, based on both theory and the personal research project. 

In the M-profile, skills in the life sciences are combined with courses in management and business economics.

Content

In the modern knowledge-based economy, development of products and services requires firms to combine scientific frontier knowledge and superior market assessment. For this, organizations need professionals with the skill to manage and market knowledge-intensive products, as well as having a solid understanding of the scientific principles underlying these products and processes. Especially at the start of a professional career, young science academics need the management skills to add value and survive in a competitive business environment. The M-profile offers such skills.

The profile consists of an intensive half-year of coursework on economics, organisation & strategic management, marketing, operations management, financial management, entrepreneurship, and public procurement. Professors in the M-profile are (mostly) staff of the Utrecht University School of Economics. In addition, several companies and organizations such as CapGemini, Accenture, the Netherlands Patent Office, Transfer Solutions, Quadia, Kempen & Co, Utrecht Inc., and Quintiles have provided workshops in the past to support that professional focus of the programme.

Application

• You have to apply for the programme following this link (it requires a motivation of around 150 words) and you will receive notification of your acceptance three days after the deadline for registration.
• There is a fixus for the minor of 35 students including the SBM students. In practice this means that there are substantially more minor spots at the February start of the programme.
• Note also that the M-profile is an integrated part of SBM Master programme, therefore SBM students do not have to apply.

All (non-SBM) students also need to fill in the Profile Application form in order to apply for a profile with the Board of Examiners. The form can be obtained from the M-profile coordinator on request.

Deadlines

- July 1st, for start September 1st
- December 1st, for start February 1st

Contact

For more information you can contact M-profile coordinator dr. Hein Roelfsema.

Courses

The M-profile includes 7 theoretical courses, at least 4 workshops, and comprises a total of 33 EC.

• International Business
• Entrepreneurship
• Financial management
• Public procurement
• Marketing
• Operations Management
• Strategic management of innovation

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the management profile, the student is:

• acquainted with several essential concepts within business management & entrepreneurship;
• able to apply this knowledge in different modules, case studies and business plans;
• able to work in interdisciplinary teams.

Step up as a changemaker and drive innovative, sustainable solutions. Push beyond your comfort zone and tackle real-world challenges in this interdisciplinary profile. In the Da Vinci programme (pilot), you will work at the premises of a company to tackle a challenge related to the energy, material, and feedstock transition. Together with peers from different disciplines and universities, you will find a solution to a multi-faceted case.

Expect to spend several days a week working on-site with stakeholders, while also receiving training and coaching to strengthen your skills and broaden your perspective. If you’re ready to challenge yourself in a collaborative, high-impact setting — the Da Vinci Programme is for you.

The initiative is led by Prof. Bert Weckhuysen (UU), in collaboration with Prof. Emiel Hensen (TU/e) and Prof. Harry Bitter (WUR).
 

Profile or Elective?

There are two different tracks to choose from. 

• If you want to follow the Da Vinci programme as a profile (30EC, longtrack -> SK-MDAVI).
• If you are not interested in choosing the Da Vinci programme as full profile, there is now also the opportunity to choose the short track of 15EC (Short track -> SK-MDAVIS), as part of your electives. 

For whom?

The programme is open to Master's students from all disciplines within the EWUU alliance (TU/e, WUR,  UU, UMC-U).

When does it start?

The Da Vinci profile is a pilot and starts in February 2027.
 

Questions? Contact the coordinator via mdavinci@uu.nl

The Educational profile (30 EC) is offered by the Graduate School of Teaching (GST) and can be taken as part of most GSNS Master’s programmes. The GST is responsible for the content of the 30 EC.

The total number of EC of each Master's programme will NOT be increased by completing the Master's Educational Profile.

If you are passionate about sharing your knowledge, and you would consider a career as a teacher in secondary education, this profile might be right for you. The Educational profile has two different variations: for a second degree or a first degree teaching qualification.

A major feature of the profile is the emphasis on practitioner skills and school-based activities. Throughout the programme, learning theories and teaching methods will be taught closely linked to your day to day work in the classroom. This programme is tailored to meet the professional development needs of teachers in the early stages of their careers.

More information

For more information such as admission and registration for the Educational Profile, check the detailed description (in Dutch).

Non-Dutch speaking students

As the Educational profile is primarily targeted towards teaching in the Dutch school system, the courses and the internships are by default in Dutch. This profile has an entry level of C1 for reading and listening in Dutch. Admission to the Educational Profile is therefore not available for students that are not proficient in the Dutch language.