MSc in Molecular Life Sciences
Maastricht University, Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Maastricht, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,314 / per year
Application deadline
01 May 2024
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
Introduction
Are you curious, creative and determined to solve biomedical challenges? Are you fascinated about the fundamentals of biomedicine and do you dream to be a scientist, work in a clinic or be an entrepreneur? Then the master's in Biomedical Sciences (MBS) might be exactly what you are looking for. Through a mix of theoretical courses, practical training sessions and internships, you’ll explore the relationship between human beings and their environment, from molecule, to gene, to cell and organ, to individual and to entire populations. You’ll learn how new scientific knowledge is obtained in basic and applied research areas, and how these insights can be used to benefit patients. Upon graduation you’ll be able to pursue a career as a researcher studying diseases and treatments in both academia and industry.
Fast facts
- Unique collaboration with University Hospital
- Strong emphasis on developing academic and personal skills
- Full year internship of your choice (year 2)
- Flexible curriculum that allows you to personalize your degree
- 2-year, full-time master’s, taught in English
- Starts in September
- Independent study
- you’ll get an MSc in Biomedical Sciences
Why this program?
The 21st century may well be called the century of medical biology. Amid wide-scale investments in life sciences all over Europe, there is a growing demand for highly specialized professionals in a range of life science fields. The master's in Biomedical Sciences focuses on the state-of-the-art methodology and skills that enable researchers to unravel the molecular and cellular mechanisms in health and disease with the ultimate goal to restore health. You'll explore the relationship between human beings and their environment, from molecule, to gene, to cell and organ, to individual and to entire populations.
Biomedical Sciences in Maastricht is a unique program
In addition to comprehensive theoretical knowledge, the program provides you with all the universal career skills that are essential for your future work. You will study and practice these skills both with a personal coach and in small groups.
Next to lectures from experts in the field, you will acquire theoretical knowledge via a special student-centered learning program and practice your knowledge in modern, high-end equipment laboratories.
This program also offers you the freedom to tailor your studies to your own interests and ambitions. Develop your own profile in the domain of biomedical sciences by picking one of six specializations and by designing your own research project.
Finally, this unique program enables you to discover your own talents and to develop a successful career, also outside the academy.
Tailor your degree to your ambitions
The program is versatile, offering a large variety of courses that provide you with plenty of opportunity to concentrate on specific areas of interest and specialize in a particular field. You will pick a specialization, pursue your own research interest and then apply the skills and knowledge gained during a one-year internship at an approved laboratory of your choice. The internship can be undertaken within academic institutes, clinical labs and the pharmaceutical industry, anywhere in the world. This allows you to personalize your degree and specialize in a topic that fits your interests, under the guidance of top experts in the field.
Over the course of the Biomedical Sciences master's, you will gain practical and professional experience and will rapidly develop from working on assignments in small groups to becoming an independent researcher.
A long internship period
Within the master's in Biomedical Sciences, we consider an internship an indispensable experience. You will gain practical and professional experience and will rapidly develop from working on assignments in small groups to becoming an independent researcher. An internship will also give you an advantage when looking for a job. Therefore, as of 2020, the master's in Biomedical Sciences contains an internship of one whole year, which may take place at UM or another approved laboratory, in the Netherlands or abroad.
Perfect your competencies
In addition to the theoretical knowledge you'll obtain, you will also improve your practical research skills. An essential focus of the curriculum is developing your own skills and talents: under the guidance of an experienced personal mentor, you will increase and improve your biomedical expertise, communication and networking skills, creativity and professional behavior skills. You’ll practice these skills in all the stages of academic research, from formulating a testable hypothesis all the way down to conducting critical evaluations. You’ll also practice writing grant proposals and scientific articles, and you’ll give poster presentations during a student-led international conference.
These skills guarantee success both in your studies as well as in any career path you may choose.
Develop your management skills
During the program, you will also receive unique training that will allow you to develop management skills that will be particularly useful should you choose to have a career within the pharmaceutical industry. In the Biomedical Science master's, you will learn about strategy, resources and management required to run an innovation project. To ensure that these skills are developed, you will go through the whole cycle of project management several times in the curriculum. The emphasis in the first year will be on project design and the skills needed for that, while in the second year there will be ample opportunities for you to practice these skills in carrying out the project, during the internship phase.
Get two master's degrees in one go!
As a Biomedical Sciences student at Maastricht University, you can enroll in a double degree program. You'll obtain two Master of Science degrees in considerably less time than it would take to earn them separately.
Double degree in Japan
You may opt for a double degree at one of two Japanese universities (Tohoku University in Sendai and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Kyoto). Possibilities exist in the whole field of Life Sciences including neuroscience, oncology, immunology and metabolism. After completing all the requirements of both master's programs, you will be awarded a degree from each university. Almost all double degree programs can be completed with little or no delay in your studies and with no extra tuition fee.
The first year will be in Maastricht and the second year in Japan. The program in Japan starts on 1 September at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and on 1 October at Tohoku University.
If you are interested send an e-mail to AskFHML and put DDP Japan in the subject. Based on your motivation letter which you can send after the meeting a selection will be made depending on the possible spots at the universities in Japan. The selected students will have an interview by video call with the Japanese universities as soon as possible.
Exchange Programs
Exchange programs (10 months) have been established with several universities. These programs offer a 10-month stay in various laboratories. After completing the degree is solely from Maastricht University.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
It is Maastricht University’s (UM) mission to offer students from all over the world the opportunity to develop into active, globally oriented thinkers that are ready to make a positive contribution to their societies.
UM’s high-quality, innovative education based on small-scale Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in an international and intercultural setting prepares students for this purpose.
As an open and accessible academic community, UM offers several scholarships to support top-performing undergraduate and graduate students with personal development potential that are experiencing financial difficulties to pursue a degree at UM. UM scholarship students function as important ambassadors of the university during and after their studies.UM scholarship students are selected on the basis of their academic excellence, extracurricular engagement, active citizenship and financial need. As the number of scholarships is limited, the selection process is highly competitive.
Before applying for a UM scholarship, please take into account the factors summed up below. Read these carefully, to make sure that the valuable time you invest in applying pays off:
- You will have to apply for a study program at UM before applying for a scholarship;
- You are only allowed to apply for one UM scholarship, multiple applications will be disqualified;
- Verify if your nationality is eligible for the scholarship;
- Verify whether your study program is participating in the scholarship;
- Ensure that if the scholarship covers only the tuition fees, you are able to finance your own living expenses (rent, food and insurances) for the complete duration of your studies.
Curriculum
Year 1
- Biomedical Challenges MBS1001
- Biomedical Approaches MBS1002
- Biosafety MBS1103
- Advanced Principles of Genetics and Genomics MBS1101
- Pathophysiology of Disease MBS1201
- Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism; Fundamental Aspects MBS1301
- Science and Technology of Regenerative Therapeutics MBS1401
- Pre-clinical Imaging MBS1501
- Invasive Neuromodulation MBS1601
- Clinical and Applied Genetics and Genomics MBS1102
- Engineering the Immune System; Treatment of Disease MBS1202
- Practical Engineering the Immune System; Treatment of Disease MBS1212
- Lifestyle Interventions and Metabolism; a Translational Perspective MBS1302
- Translating Therapies into Clinic and onto the Market MBS1402
- Clinical Imaging MBS1502
- Non-invasive Neuromodulation MBS1602
- Designing Scientific Research MBS1005
- Ethics in Biomedical Science MBS1004
- Managing a Biomedical Innovation I MBS1006
- Career Skills (Portfolio) I MBS1007
Year 2
- Ethics in Biomedical Sciences MBS2001
- Managing a Biomedical Innovation II MBS2002
- Career skills (Portfolio) II MBS2003
- Thesis MBS2004
- Internship MBS2104
- Poster Presentation MBS2204
Specializations
After the first multidisciplinary block, students choose one of the following specializations:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Genetics and Genomics
- Inflammation and Pathophysiology
- Invasive neuromodulation
- Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism
- Regenerative Medicine
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Biomedical Sciences is a fast-paced, cutting-edge field that is currently enjoying ambitious support from the EU and wide-scale investments all over Europe. As a result, there is growing demand - and good labor market prospects - for highly specialized professionals in both academia and industry.
Studying biomedical sciences allows you to choose from a wide variety of careers in hospitals, universities and industry. Including governmental agencies, patent organizations, environmental agencies, research organizations, pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies and public health institutes.
Alumni @Work
Graduates have found positions as:
- Postdoctoral fellow at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada
- Intern at European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing
- Associate Clinical Research Specialist at Medtronic
- Scientist and lecturer, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
- Ph.D. candidate - Department of Tumor Immunology, Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboudumc
- Senior Clinical Research Associate at Quintiles