Prospectus

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Biomedical Sciences

Master

The total amount of credits of this two-year master programme is 120 EC. For all students, the master Biomedical Sciences consists of a common part (60 ec, usually in the first year) and a specialisation-specific part (60 ec in the second year). In the common part you will gain essential biomedical knowledge and skills via courses (Clinical Research in Practice, How to write a research proposal, Scientific Conduct, choice of FOS courses and first part Career orientation) and a research internship (JRP1). In your specialisation year you will either further explore research or gain knowledge and training in communication, management or education. For medical students it is possible to combine the BMS master programme with the Medicine master programme (Health specialisation). By following courses and performing a second internship you will get a solid base for your future career.

The master’s programme has the following general objectives:

  • to impart to students academic and scientific knowledge, insight, skills, and methodology in the field of (bio)medical sciences

  • to enable students to adopt and apply an academic attitude by acquiring the ability to:

    • engage in individual and independent academic thinking

    • analyse complex data and/or issues

    • write and present (scientific) data clearly, convincingly and coherently

    • apply knowledge and skills from the field of (bio)medical sciences to (broader) scientific, societal or philosophical problems

  • to prepare students for a career and/or postgraduate education in or outside academia

More detailed learning outcomes are specified in the OER .

Additional information on the master programme and its regulations , can be found on the website of the Leiden University and the learning management system (Brightspace). Information on course schedules is provided separately.

Research Specialisation

The study programme aims at deepening and broadening the student’s knowledge within those research areas which encompass the LUMC Research Themes. Deepening shall primarily take place during the two Junior Research Projects (JRP1: at least 20 weeks in MSc1, JRP2: at least 28 weeks in MSc2) and during the Scientific review. Broadening shall be achieved as the student has to become familiar with multiple LUMC Research Themes through his/her choice of the Junior Research Projects, the Frontier of Science (FOS) and elective courses. The Research specialisation allows you to focus to a certain extent on a specific scientific area during your master. Focus is offered in specific tracks e.g. Data-driven research, Neurosciences, Immunity/Infectious Disease, and Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy, but students can organize and plan their own track as well. The Research specialisation consists of compulsory components (e.g. courses and research projects) and electives. The elective area can also contain additional FOS courses, courses elsewhere or extension of internship(s). Please check the list below for a detailed description of the components involved in the Research specialisation. The MSc programme in the Research specialisation is taught in English.

Management Specialisation

The Management specialisation is offered by Leiden University Medical Center in collaboration with the Faculty of Science. This specialisation encompasses the compulsory components of the master’s programme (at least 60 EC) combined with courses from the Business programme at the Faculty of Science and a management internship. It broadens the student’s perspective predominantly in the field of management (e.g. marketing, finance, project management). The specialisation prepares students for a career outside scientific research, but graduates will also be equipped to pursue a career within scientific biomedical research. The entire programme is taught in English.

Mandatory business courses are: Strategy and Technology, Marketing Science, Strategic Financial Management and Operations Management (15 EC in total). These courses can be combined with elective business courses. Students with prior education in management, business and/or entrepreneurship (e.g. students who have completed the Science Based Business (SBB)/Business Studies Fundamentals course – Bachelor edition) are exempted from following these 4 courses. In this case the mandatory courses need to be substituted by at least an equal number of EC of other SBB/Business studies master courses, or business courses elsewhere. For detailed description of the course modules/components of Business studies, please refer to the website of Business studies directly .

The management internship (26-42 EC) will be executed at an organization/company with a link to the biomedical field. Approval of this internship should be given beforehand by the examination board of the master Biomedical Sciences. Prior to the internship an internship proposal (3 EC) is written.
Please check the list below for a detailed description of the components involved in the Management specialisation.

Communication Specialisation

The Communication specialisation is offered by Leiden University Medical Centre in collaboration with the Faculty of Science. This specialisation encompasses the compulsory components of the master’s programme (at least 60 EC) combined with courses from the Science, Communication and Society (SCS) programme at the Faculty of Science and a communication internship. It broadens the student’s perspective predominantly in the field of communication (e.g. writing for a newspaper, website or science magazine or working for a museum). The specialisation prepares students for a career outside scientific research, but graduates will also be equipped to pursue a career within scientific biomedical research. The entire programme is taught in English. For Dutch students it is also possible to follow writing classes in Dutch and to do an internship in an environment where Dutch is the only or preferred language.

Mandatory SCS courses are: Informal Science Education, Policy & Development in science and Society, Research in science communication, Science Journalism (ENG) / Wetenschapsjournalistiek (NL), Science Communication product development and SCS Scientific Narration and Visualization (23 EC in total). For detailed description of the SCS courses, please refer to the website of SCS directly .

A communication internship (23- 34 EC) will be executed at an organization/company/museum with a link to the biomedical field. The internship should contain a research project related to communication of at least 10 EC. A communication research internship can also be performed separately from a more practical communication internship. A proposal is written prior to the start of the communication research internship. Approval of the internship(s) should be given beforehand by the examination board. Please check the list below for a detailed description of the components involved in the Communication specialisation.

Education Specialisation

Fluency in Dutch required!

Deze specialisatie is bedoeld voor studenten die een baan als eerstegraads biologiedocent op een middelbare school ambiëren, of zich anderszins willen specialiseren in onderwijs. Maar de mogelijkheid om verder te gaan in het biomedisch onderzoek, blijft ook met een diploma in deze specialisatie bestaan.

De opleiding is deels in het Engels en deels in het Nederlands.

Het programma bevat, naast de verplichte onderdelen van de opleiding Biomedical Sciences (totaal 60 EC), twee onderdelen (in totaal ook 60 EC) bij het ICLON, namelijk:

  • een pakket ter opheffing van deficiënties in de biologie;

  • de ICLON lerarenopleiding Biologie.

Het programma van de biologiedeficiënties omvat de volgende onderdelen en kan in zelfstudie worden uitgevoerd.

  • Gedragsbiologie

  • Evolutionaire morfologie

  • Evolutiebiologie

  • Dierfysiologie

  • Plantenfysiologie

  • Biodiversiteit van planten en dieren

  • Ecologie

  • Een excursie, gevolgd bij de faculteit W&N

Voor een inhoudelijke beschrijving van de cursussen bij het ICLON wordt verwezen naar de studiegids van het ICLON.

Health Specialisation

Fluency in Dutch required!

Dit programma geeft studenten de gelegenheid een master BMS te combineren met de master GNK en staat alleen open voor:

  • Leidse studenten Geneeskunde die een bachelor Geneeskunde en een premaster programma (BW-track) met succes hebben afgerond.

  • Studenten die toegelaten zijn tot de master Biomedical Sciences en daarnaast ook de master Geneeskunde in Leiden volgen.

Career Preparation

The programme of the master BMS contains the mandatory course Career Orientation of 2 EC. The assignments and activities within Career Orientation are designed to stimulate you to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as well as you career options and choices, and are spread out through your whole master programme. You will get to know the broad job market for Biomedical Scientists by meeting researchers, alumni and employers during the various activities within this course. You will practice how to present your professional profile to your network. Entering the job market should feel like a logical follow-up of your activities in the master and this course offers the opportunity to find out what you can and want to do with your master degree Biomedical Sciences.

LUMC also offers Career Service. Career Service of the Medicine Faculty offers support if you have questions about your career, the job market and job applications, and organizes workshops on a variety of job related subjects. Are you looking for career advice? Visit the Career Service of Medicine!
More information: https://careerzone.universiteitleiden.nl/en/career-services/medicine-lumc/