Year 1: Biology
The Biology component consists of the following:
Research Project Biology of 36 EC
Advanced theory (courses and lectures) of 24 EC
Theoretical components should be minimally at level 400. The individual study programme consisting of choices of courses and the research project must have prior approval by the Board of Examiners through approval of the individual study plan of a student and approval of the research agreement.
Course | EC | Semester1 | Semester2 |
---|---|---|---|
Compulsory courses: | |||
Safety instructions | 0 | ||
Genomic Architecture | 6 | ||
Research Project Biology | 36 | ||
Compulsory Statistics course (choose one) | |||
Basic Statistics for Master students | 4 | ||
Advanced Statistics | 4 | ||
Compulsory Orientation course (choose one) | |||
Orientation on Biodiversity and Sustainability | 2 | ||
Orientation on Evolutionary Biology | 2 | ||
Orientation on Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology | 2 | ||
Orientation on Molecular, Cellular and Organismal Biology | 2 | ||
In case of a research project that involves experiments with fish or birds the corresponding course is compulsory: | |||
Bird species in animal experimentation | 3 | ||
Fish species in animal experimentation | 3 | ||
Electives (choose at least 12EC from this list or from 'biology electives or 'other electives'): | |||
Human Impacts on Biodiversity | 6 | ||
Development and Evolution | 6 | ||
Mechanisms of Disease | 6 | ||
Advanced Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology | 3 | ||
Systematics and Biodiversity | 6 | ||
Ecotoxicology (2025-2026) | 6 | ||
Ecosystem Services (2024-2025) | 6 | ||
Paleobiology | 6 | ||
Advanced Cell Biology | 4 | ||
Innate Immune systems | 6 | ||
Animal Cognition (2024-2025) | 6 |
Year 2: Education
Questions about the Education component of the programme?
Please contact the Study Adviser of the Leiden University Graduate School of Teaching (ICLON):
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/iclon/lo/contact
The Education specialisation is a joint programme offered by the Faculty of Science and the Leiden University Graduate School of Teaching (ICLON).
The specialisation consists of the following components:
Pedagogy in Practice 1, 7EC
Adolescent development, 4EC
Teaching Methodology 1, 4EC
Teaching Practice 1, 15EC*** Total: 30EC**
Pedagogy in Practice 2, 3EC
Teaching Methodology 2, 5EC
Teaching Practice 2, 15EC
Subject-specific research project, 5EC
Elective course:Subject-specific research project 2, 2EC
Adolescent development 2, 2EC
Innovations in School, 2EC
World Teachers, 2EC*** Total: 30EC**
For students who passed the minor Education (30EC) during the BSc programme, the programme consists of the following:
Learning and Instruction 2: level 400, 3 EC
Teaching Methodology 2: level 500, 5 EC
Design Research: level 600, 7 EC
Teaching Practice 2, 15 EC
The remaining 30 EC must be used for listed courses and electives of the MSc programme of choice.
For further information about the programme and a more detailed description of the programme, see this website: Education Specialisation - Universiteit Leiden.
Biology Electives
Course | EC | Semester1 | Semester2 |
---|---|---|---|
Advanced Academic Skills Course | 6 | ||
Literature Review | 6 | ||
Book Exam | 6 | ||
Metabolomics | 6 | ||
Plant Families of the Tropics | 5 | ||
Portugal Conservation Field Course (2024-2025) | 4 | ||
Top Lectures in Biology | 3 | ||
Tropical Biodiversity and Field Methods | 6 | ||
Systems Microbiology | 6 | ||
Advanced Academic Skills Course | 6 | ||
Urban Ecology and Evolution | 6 |
Other Electives
Course | EC | Semester1 | Semester2 |
---|---|---|---|
Electives organized by the Faculty of Science or LUMC (please check with the coordinator of the course whether you can join the course): | |||
Advances in Data Mining | 6 | ||
Image Analysis with Applications in Microscopy | 6 | ||
Model organisms in cancer drug discovery and development | 4 | ||
Multiscale Mathematical Biology (BM) | 6 | ||
Science and the public: contemporary and historical perspectives | 6 | ||
Science Methodology (SCM) | 4 | ||
Evolutionary Algorithms | 6 | ||
Multicriteria Optimization and Decision Analysis | 6 | ||
Biological and Biomedical Informatics | 6 | ||
Bio-Modeling | 6 | ||
Introduction to Machine Learning | 6 | ||
Other approved electives | 4-6 | ||
TU Delft elective | |||
Joint Interdisciplinary Project (JIP) | 15 |
More info
Questions about the Education component of the programme?
Please contact the Study Adviser of the Leiden University Graduate School of Teaching (ICLON):
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/iclon/lo/contact
The Education specialisation is a joint programme offered by the Faculty of Science and the Leiden University Graduate School of Teaching (ICLON).
The specialisation consists of the following components:
Pedagogy in Practice 1, 7EC
Adolescent development, 4EC
Teaching Methodology 1, 4EC
Teaching Practice 1, 15EC*** Total: 30EC**
Pedagogy in Practice 2, 3EC
Teaching Methodology 2, 5EC
Teaching Practice 2, 15EC
Subject-specific research project, 5EC
Elective course:Subject-specific research project 2, 2EC
Adolescent development 2, 2EC
Innovations in School, 2EC
World Teachers, 2EC*** Total: 30EC**
For students who passed the minor Education (30EC) during the BSc programme, the programme consists of the following:
Learning and Instruction 2: level 400, 3 EC
Teaching Methodology 2: level 500, 5 EC
Design Research: level 600, 7 EC
Teaching Practice 2, 15 EC
The remaining 30 EC must be used for listed courses and electives of the MSc programme of choice.
For further information about the programme and a more detailed description of the programme, see this website: Education Specialisation - Universiteit Leiden.
Career Orientation
During the study program MSc Biology we want to provide you with the best possible preparation for the job market. In addition to knowledge, it is important that you develop skills, gain practical experience, orientate on positions & careers, and reflect on your own profile and development. In addition to substantive knowledge, it is also important to be aware of the so-called transferable skills that you develop outside and during your education. These are, for example, your cognitive skills such as critical thinking and communication. Altogether, this contributes to your development as a professional and offers good preparation for the labour market.
At various times during your studies, questions about this subject may arise, such as: How can you use the knowledge and skills you gain within and outside your study program in the labor market? Which direction do you choose within your study and why? What are you already able to do, and what skills do you still want to learn? How do you translate the courses you choose into something you would like to do later?
You may have already discussed this with the study advisor, mentor, tutor, the Science Career Service, fellow students or made use of the Leiden University Career Zone. All kinds of activities are organized where you get the chance to orientate yourself on the job market and gives opportunities to reflect on your own development, possibilities and (study) career profile as well. Central to this are the questions: "What are my capabilities?", "What do I want?" and "How do I achieve my goals?".
In the prospectus, learning objectives have been formulated for each subject, the purpose of which is to inform you which components are covered in the development of your (study) career profile and preparation for the labour market. Various activities are also organized that help you in making all kinds of career choices and to develop skills. An overview of activities is shown below.
Activities
(Study) career meetings
Alumni lectures
Company visits and company dinners
Lunch & Learn lectures by companies
IBL Symposia
Introductory meeting with the study advisor
Information meeting student counsellor
(International) Leiden Leadership Programme
Mentorship and tutoring
Workshops en Career Colleges (Science Career Service)
Science Career Event
Regular information sessions with the study advisor
Research Project Market
Research skills as part of the master research project
Science Career Service
Science Career Service, one of the utilities of the Science faculty, offers information and advice on study (re)orientation, career planning and personal professional profile as well as preparation for the job market, such as job applications. Facilities provided to students include online information, walk-in consultations, workshops and individual counselling sessions. In addition, Science Career Service offers expertise and support to programmes that want to strengthen the connection between their curriculum and the job market. This can vary from providing specific guest lectures/workshops to advising on integrating career orientation programmes into the curriculum.
LU Career Zone
The Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career planning. You will find advice, information, video recordings of webinars and tools such as professional tests to get an idea of your personal profile. You can also explore positions and sectors, you will find tips about CV, job application, LinkedIn and there is a vacancy platform that you can make use of.
Mentor Network
Leiden University likes to prepare students and young alumni well for the job market. For this we use the knowledge and experience of Leiden alumni. To bring students and young alumni with questions about their careers into contact with experienced alumni, Leiden University has established the Mentor Network. Students and young alumni can register for free.
Contact
Do you have questions about your (study) career choices and has the above information not been able to help you further? Your study adviser is available to discuss your plans and concerns: BioMScStudieadviseur@biology.leidenuniv.nl.