M.Sc. in Neurosciences (Research Master)

Curriculum

Take an integrative approach to the brain and its disease mechanisms
During the programme, you’ll get to grips with all facets of neurosciences – ranging from genes to behaviour, from both fundamental and clinical perspectives. The expert teaching you’ll receive comprises a combination of lectures, research seminars, work groups, demonstrations, lab visits and practicals.

The VU Amsterdam brings all areas of neuroscientific expertise together in Amsterdam Neuroscience. Its mission is to study the brain and its disease mechanisms through an integrative approach that covers everything from molecule to bedside. In Amsterdam Neuroscience, innovation takes place at all levels of study, from molecular to cellular studies, and from circuitry to intact brain and behaviour, both at individual level and at population level.

To prepare for a career in the academic or scientific world, you’ll also work on your own professional development plan as part of our Career & Academic Skills Portfolio course, which spans both years of the programme.

The start date of this programme is September 1st.

1st year

In the first year, you’ll take compulsory core courses

These courses give you a thorough grounding in the relevant neuroscientific disciplines. These include neurogenomics, statistics, genetics and clinical neurosciences, as well as a skills course in academic writing. In the second half of the year, you’ll follow a five-month internship.

2nd year

Which specialisation do you choose?

In your second year, you’ll specialise in one of the two tracks:

• Fundamental Neurosciences
• Clinical and Translational Neurosciences

You’ll gain a more in-depth perspective on research in your preferred field in neurosciences, taking four elective courses to expand your knowledge in particular areas. It’s also possible for you to mix elective choices between these specialisations.

During the final six months of the programme, you’ll take your second internship and carry out a literature survey.

Fundamental Neurosciences

Summary

The fundamental neuroscience track aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge and hands-on experience with state of the art neuroscience technology to prepare for a PhD in fundamental neuroscience. You will study the effect of genes and gene mutations in systems of increasing complexity, from single neurons to networks and whole organisms using the latest technologies in molecular neurobiology, stemcell and human neuron preparations, and live cell imaging.

Clinical and Translational Neurosciences

Summary

The Clinical and Translational Neurosciences track makes use of all fundamental knowledge and understanding gathered in the first year in order to evaluate, improve and design clinical research in neuroscience, neurology and psychiatry. Translating from fundamental to clinical, you will link pathophysiological properties to symptomatology and treatment outcomes. Translating from clinical to fundamental, you will learn how to navigate the clinical realm of brain disease and disorders, define knowledge gaps, and create experiments that might fill those gaps.