M.Sc. in Human Movement Sciences: Sport, Exercise and Health (Research Master)

Curriculum

Physical activity and exercise are often a means to get or stay healthy. But they can also be an aim in and of themselves. How can we help older people to stay mobile and independent? How do top athletes get maximum performance out of their muscles?
As a Research Master’s student, you’ll learn how to answer questions like these that are both urgent and relevant in today’s society. Your research will be aimed at unravelling the the secrets of human movement.

Grounded in the five core research themes of the Amsterdam Movement Sciences (AMS) institute, the Research Master’s includes courses on sports, musculoskeletal health, tissue function and regeneration, ageing and vitality, and rehabilitation and development. Topics covered range from molecular biology to systems neuroscience, and from biomechanics to motor behaviour.

In addition to becoming well versed in these research areas, you’ll be trained in state-of-the-art research methodologies and advanced statistics. The interactive, small-scale teaching methods used in the programme allow you to have in-depth discussions that meet the level and intensity of a Research Master’s programme. Plus, all the lecturers are renowned experts in their fields of research.

After completing the Research Master’s, you’ll be well prepared to pursue a scientific career, either starting with a PhD position or by entering an R&D environment. You’ll also be well equipped for other research-related positions.

Specific information about the courses can be found in the study guide.

The start date of this programme is September 1st.

First year

Your first year is dedicated to preparing you to conduct scientific research, and is made up of a variety of compulsory and elective courses. These electives allow you to tailor the programme to your own areas of interest.

You’ll follow courses focused on:

• Health-related topics, such as rehabilitation, treating locomotor disease and clinical exercise physiology. You’ll learn about the restoration of motor function during rehabilitation, as well as the effects of aging on mobility.
• Physical performance, such as energy flow models, maximal neuromuscular performance, and exercise and clinical immunology. This includes modelling human endurance performance and biomechanical analyses of technical sports, plus the way in which muscle activation and properties determine maximal neuromuscular output.
• Neuroscience, such as coordination dynamics, perceptual motor learning, and the coupling between perception and action. You’ll gain insights into the clinical problems associated with neurological diseases, and into new possibilities for treatment.
• Biomechanics, such as applied biomechanics, neuromechanics, 3D kinematics, mechanical and adaptive myology, and neuromuscular simulation models.
• Research methodologies, such as molecular cell biology, scientific communication, statistics, tissue engineering, electromyography and time series analysis.

Second year

The second year is entirely dedicated to a research project of your choice. Since extensive experience in high-quality research is indispensable for a career in research, you’ll be aiming for a first-class project that eventually results in a scientific publication. This may be at the VU Amsterdam or in collaboration with another institute anywhere in the world.