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Biology: General Biology Programme (no research specialisation)

Website Instituut Biologie Leiden

For a description of the full programme read the more information button!
For the timetable and registration in usis and codes, see under ‘files’ (bestanden)

This MSc specialisation will start on Monday 3 September, 2018 at the Sylvius Laboratory, with an information lecture.

Compulsory elements

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Advanced Statistics 4
Genomic Architecture 6
Research Project Biology 60

One of the following courses is compulsory:

Orientation on From Cells to Organisms 2
Orientation on Evolutionary Biology 2
Orientation on Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology 2
Orientation on Biodiversity and Sustainability 2

At least 18 EC of the courses (or courses from the list of biology electives or other electives) are compulsory:

Advanced Cell Biology 4
Advanced Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology 3
Development and Evolution 6
Ecosystem Services 6
Global Regulatory Networks in Bacteria (GRNB) 6
Human Impacts on Biodiversity 6
Innate Immune Systems 6
Integrative Taxonomy 6
Mechanisms of Disease 6
Methods in Biodiversity Analysis 6
Paleobiology 3

Biology Electives

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Advanced Academic Skills Elite Course 6
Book exam 6
Biogeochemistry of System Earth 3
Introduction to Laboratory Animal Science 1
Metabolomics 6
Pharmaceuticals from Plants 4
Plant Families of the Tropics 5
Top Lectures Basic 1
Top Lectures Elite 3
Tropical Biodiversity and Field Methods (South East Asia / Caribbean) 6
Practical Assistance 2/10

Other Electives

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Electives Faculty of Science or LUMC:

Advances in Data Mining 6
Computational Molecular Biology 6
From genetic disease to functional genomics 6
Image Analysis with Applications in Microscopy 6
Metabolic Network Analysis (BM) 6
Model organisms in cancer drug discovery and development 4
Multiscale Mathematical Biology (BM) 6
Science and the public: contemporary and historical perspectives 6
Science Methodology (SCM) 4
Stem Cells 6
Other approved electives 1/6

More info

Programme (120 EC)
The MSc programme consists of:

  • a theoretical part (30-60 EC)

  • one or more research projects (60-90 EC).

The programme includes several compulsory components, mostly at the start of the programme, and can be expanded with a wide choice of elective elements. The mandatory components in the 1st semester aim to provide students with the theoretical and practical background needed for an efficient start of the specialisation Research Project at the end of this semester.
At least one Research Project has to be done within a research area at the IBL, CML, Naturalis, Faculty of Science or LUMC. All Research Projects require prior approval by the Board of Examiners through approval of the individual study plan of a student and approval of the research agreement.

Compulsory components:
The compulsory theoretical components consist of at least 30 EC, and the minimum time to be spent on research projects is 60 EC. Each Research Project should be at least 30 EC. A single research project cannot exceed 60 EC.

Electives/Optional elements:
The optional part of the programme can consist of either additional courses or lectures, or an extension of the duration of a research project. A list of approved elective courses is available on the e-prospectus. For courses outside the LU biology programme and for all research projects, prior approval of the Board of Examiners is required.
Note: No more than 12 EC of optional theoretical elements of level < 400 are permitted and at most 15 EC of non-biology courses.

Approval of programme
The individual study programme consisting of choices of courses and one or two research projects must have prior approval of the Board of Examiners.

Short description of the courses
Courses cover a broad range of relevant subjects and provide in-depth theoretical knowledge as well as training in practical skills and advanced research tools. The Orientation courses provide a state of the art overview of the scientific research and research methods of the participating Institutes.
The course “Genomic Architecture” aims at training students to become “genome-enabled” biologists by giving an overview of the structure, function and evolution of genomes, and an introduction into the bio-informatics required to study these genomes. In addition, students are trained in ‘Advanced Statistics’ and follow at least one specialised course providing students with an integrated picture on specific topics for their training in scientific research during the Research Project(s).
A variety of additional courses from other MSc specialisations in Biology and from other MSc programmes at the Faculty of Science can be chosen as electives. For details (description, literature, exam dates and further calendar events) about the different courses see the e-prospectus and Blackboard.