Program Overview

Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences Program

The Biomedical Sciences program at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a master's program that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and understanding required to operate as independent professionals within the disciplines covered by the program. The program is designed to prepare students for a subsequent career in biomedical research.

Program Structure

The program is a two-year, full-time master's program that consists of 120 EC. The program is divided into two years, with the first year focusing on research specializations and the second year focusing on a second specialization and compulsory courses.

First Year

In the first year, students choose one of three research specializations: Immunology, Infectious Diseases, or Neurobiology. Each specialization includes a research internship, compulsory courses, and optional courses. The research internship is 30 EC, and students must also take at least three courses from the specialization (18 EC). Students can also choose to take a literature thesis in the field of the specialization (9 EC) or an extra optional course from the specialization (6 EC).

Research Specializations

• Immunology: This specialization focuses on immunological processes, ranging from molecular and cellular interactions between host and pathogen to an integrative knowledge of the role of the immune system in various pathologies.
• Infectious Diseases: This specialization focuses on the biology of pathogenic organisms and the interaction between pathogens and their hosts.
• Neurobiology: This specialization focuses on the state of the art in terms of developing theories and insight into the most important current research issues in the neurosciences.

Second Year

In the second year, students choose a second specialization, which can be a research specialization or an ICSE (International, Communication, Science, and Education) specialization. The ICSE specializations include International Public Health, Science Communication, Science in Society, and Education.

ICSE Specializations

• International Public Health: This specialization focuses on current and future challenges in international public health, their main causes, and applied and potential interventions.
• Science Communication: This specialization focuses on the complex problems that arise during communication processes between scientific actors and society.
• Science in Society: This specialization focuses on the social, economic, and ethical aspects of new developments in the biomedical sciences and their implications for society.
• Education: This specialization is designed for students who want to become teachers in secondary schools and focuses on the skills and competences needed to perform scientific research at the interface of the biomedical sciences and society.

Compulsory Courses

In addition to the research specializations and ICSE specializations, students must also take compulsory courses, including Study and Career (3 EC) and Literature Thesis (9 EC).

Conclusion

The Biomedical Sciences program at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary program that prepares students for a career in biomedical research. The program offers a range of research specializations and ICSE specializations, as well as compulsory courses, to provide students with a broad understanding of the biomedical sciences and the skills and competences needed to succeed in the field.