M.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences: Science Communication

You will start the programme with a research specialisation in Immunology, Infectious Disease or Neurobiology.

After the first year of research, you can make your degree your own by choosing either a future in research, or in a field more directly tied to society. Those latter fields include International Public Health, Science Communication, Science in Society or Education – Teaching Biology (Dutch only).

The societal specialisations will make you well prepared and well equipped for a scientific function that lies outside the standard domain of laboratory research.

The programme’s structure ensures that you will emerge as a specialist in one or two specific disciplines within the biomedical sciences.

The programme consists of:

• Several specialisations, each including compulsory courses (12-18 EC)
• Three compulsory courses (total of 9 EC)
• Elective courses (nr. of EC depends on combination of specialisations)
• First internship (30 EC)
• Second internship (30 EC)
• Literature thesis (9 EC)

Courses form half of the Biomedical Sciences programme. For the other half, you must conduct your own research. There is plenty of scope for practical work, giving you the opportunity to use the very latest research methods and equipment. You can also select a work placement in policymaking, education or communication, depending on your chosen specialisation.

The Biomedical Sciences Master’s is a two-year programme of 120 ECs. The programme is in English.

The start date of this programme is September 1st.

Your first year of the programme will begin when you choose one of three research specialisations. You will choose relevant specialisation courses, and later your first internship, in line with your chosen specialisation. There are three compulsory courses: Scientific Writing in English, Study and Career and Ethics in Life Sciences.

Immunology

With a specialisation in Immunology, you will have a broad understanding of immunological processes. This ranges from the molecular and cellular interactions between host and pathogen to an integrative knowledge of the role of the immune system in various pathologies, such as cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmunity.

You will also specialise in one of the subjects within the field of Immunology. At the end of the programme, you will understand current theory and the key research questions in the field, and have an understanding of the scientific and social relevance of this subject area.

Infectious Diseases

With a specialisation in Infectious Diseases, you gain a broad understanding of the biology of pathogenic organisms and the interaction between pathogens and their hosts.

You will gain the ability to conduct scientific research in the field of medical microbiology and to critically assess the results of microbial research. You will also choose a specialisation in one of the subjects within the field of infectious diseases.

Neurobiology

With a specialisation in Neurobiology, you will gain knowledge, insight and understanding into the physiology and science of the brain.

You will master state-of-the-art techniques to developing theories and gain insight into the most important research issues in the neurosciences.

The skills you obtain will enable you to conduct neurobiological research and to critically assess the results. You will also specialise in one of the subjects within the field of neurobiology. At the end of your study, you will understand the significance of neurobiology within the context of brain research, and some of its clinical implications.

In the second year, you can shape your degree to your future ambitions. Opt for a complete research profile by choosing another of the three research specialisations, develop an alternative second research year that you can compile yourself, or choose a profile with a closer link to society.
The second year is also the time to write your literature thesis, and conduct your second internship, in line with your chosen specialisation. You also finish the Study and Career course in your second year.

Immunology

With a specialisation in Immunology, you will have a broad understanding of immunological processes. This ranges from the molecular and cellular interactions between host and pathogen to an integrative knowledge of the role of the immune system in various pathologies, such as cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmunity.

You will also specialise in one of the subjects within the field of Immunology. At the end of the programme, you will understand current theory and the key research questions in the field, and have an understanding of the scientific and social relevance of this subject area.

Infectious Diseases

With a specialisation in Infectious Diseases, you gain a broad understanding of the biology of pathogenic organisms and the interaction between pathogens and their hosts.

You will gain the ability to conduct scientific research in the field of medical microbiology and to critically assess the results of microbial research. You will also choose a specialisation in one of the subjects within the field of infectious diseases.

Neurobiology

With a specialisation in Neurobiology, you will gain knowledge, insight and understanding into the physiology and science of the brain.

You will master state-of-the-art techniques to developing theories and gain insight into the most important research issues in the neurosciences.

The skills you obtain will enable you to conduct neurobiological research and to critically assess the results. You will also specialise in one of the subjects within the field of neurobiology. At the end of your study, you will understand the significance of neurobiology within the context of brain research, and some of its clinical implications.

International Public Health

When you choose a specialisation in International Public Health, you will have a broad understanding of current and future challenges in international public health, their main causes, and applied and potential interventions.

You will gain specialised knowledge of relevant concepts from various disciplines, including epidemiology, policy science, anthropology, management studies, biomedical sciences and health sciences.

You will have the ability to conduct scientific research in the field of international public health, and to critically assess the results.

You will also specialise in one of the subjects within the field of International Public Health. And, you will understand current theory and the key research questions in this field and recognise the scientific and social relevance of this subject area.

The International Public Health specialisation has a study load of 54 EC and can only be pursued in the second year of your Master’s programme.

Bridge the gap between science and society

There is an urgent need for professionals with an academic background in the natural and life sciences, who have knowledge of policy, management and entrepreneurship. The Science in Society specialisation prepares you for working, for instance, as a consultant, policymaker, researcher or entrepreneur at the interface of science, technology and society. It provides you with tools and strategies for understanding and addressing complex societal problems related to scientific, technological or medical developments.

During the specialisation, you will learn to analyse and create policy advisory reports and to improve on aspects of management such as leadership styles and motivation techniques. The specialisation is open to students of both VU Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam (UvA).

The Science in Society specialisation teaches you how to identify, analyse and manage complex societal problems.

During the first semester, you will follow three compulsory courses:

• Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems (6 EC)
• Analyzing Governmental Policy (6 EC)
• Communication, Organization and Management (6 EC).

During the second semester, you will conduct an internship in which you apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the courses to professional practice (30 EC).

Please register for your Science in Society courses individually on VUnet using the course codes in the study programme at least four weeks before the semester starts.

Bridge the gap between science and society

Many of the societal challenges that require research and innovation cannot be addressed by scientists alone. And at a time when ‘the facts’ are being questioned, scientists need to engage with the public more openly. Take, for instance, public health issues like the coronavirus pandemic. Scientists conduct numerous studies on the best preventive measures, but those measures need to be understood and adopted by the public in order to be effective. And when it comes to climate change, many members of the public are still resistant to believing the scientific data, which makes them reluctant to change their behaviour in ways that protect the environment. On these and other issues, how can scientists engage with members of the public in thoughtful and productive ways?

This specialisation provides you with the relevant knowledge, skills and practical experience to help shape meaningful conversations about science in public. You will not only learn how to inform and educate the public about science, but you will also learn how to engage the public in addressing societal issues together with scientists and innovators. After completing this specialisation, you will have an in-demand skills set. You can work, for instance, as a science journalist at a newspaper, a communications advisor at a biomedical company, a content manager at a science museum, or as a public relations manager at an environmental organisation. The specialisation is open to students of both VU Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam (UvA).

The Science Communication specialisation immerses you in the world of science communication through five courses and an internship. During the first semester, you will to follow two compulsory courses: Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems (6 EC) and Science and Communication (6 EC). You will also choose (at least) two out of three elective courses in science communication (18 EC total): Science Journalism (6 EC), Science in Dialogue (6 EC) and Science Museology (6 EC). The third course is an elective. This could be an elective course from your Master’s programme. Visit Studiegids for an overview of elective courses of your Master's programme.

During the second semester, you will conduct an internship in which you apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the courses (30 EC). You can choose between a reflective practice internship (only if you follow this specialisation in the second year of your master’s programme) or a research internship. With a reflective practice internship, you will work at a science communication company and apply the knowledge you have acquired to professional practice (21 EC). You will also write a reflection on professional practice (9 EC). If you choose a research internship, you will conduct research in the field of science communication.

Please register for your Science Communication courses individually on VUnet using the course codes in the study programme at least four weeks before the semester starts.

Secondary Education Teacher Training for STEM Disciplines

Motivate & inspire students as a teacher in the STEM disciplines - This specialisation is taught in Dutch.

During the specialisation Secondary Education Teacher Training for STEM Disciplines, you will learn how to transfer your knowledge and motivate and inspire students in your field of study, whether it is Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology. For computer science, there is another route: the one-year teacher training programme. The courses for this teacher training specialisation are taught in Dutch and your teaching qualification will be valid in the Netherlands.

As a teacher, you make an important contribution to the future of young people, society and education in the Netherlands. In our knowledge economy, specialists in the area of knowledge transfer are indispensable. With an abundance of jobs in secondary education, obtaining a teaching qualification guarantees job security and—flexibility—because in addition to being a teacher, you are also a scientist in your field.

The teacher training programmes at VU Amsterdam are unique because of their modular structure that is built around 20 themes (core practices). You will apply these teaching practices directly in the classroom, as you will be working in a school for more than 50% of your study programme. At VU Amsterdam, personal attention and individual guidance are top priority. You will have a mentor from VU Amsterdam and a workplace supervisor who is an experienced first-degree subject teacher.

With this specialisation, you will obtain a specialist Master's degree in a STEM discipline and a first-degree teaching qualification (eerstegraads lesbevoegdheid). This means that in two years, you will be qualified to teach both lower and upper secondary vocational education (HAVO/VWO) and pre-university education (VMBO) in the Netherlands. All teachers in the STEM disciplines are also qualified to teach the STEM elective NLT (Nature, Life and Technology).

The teacher training specialisation in the STEM disciplines starts every academic year in September and February, unless you are following a Master's programme in Ecology, Earth Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or Biomedical Technology and Physics. Within these Master's programmes, you can only start the specialisation in September.

Second year

What makes you unique as a STEM teacher? We explore your strengths as a teacher while focussing on personal attention, customisation and guidance. You will follow an integrated programme, which includes a practical component (internship) in secondary education and didactic theory at VU Amsterdam. You will be taught general didactics related to core practices as well as specific subject-related didactics for your school subject. The theory is always applied and tested in practice at the school where you conduct your internship. You will start immediately with the practical component. Internships are arranged by VU Amsterdam.