Biodiversity and the Anthropocene
About this programme
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life. Most people recognise biodiversity by species - currently estimated at 7-12 million - while it also includes habitat diversity and genetic diversity. Biodiversity has evolved during millions of years, yet all aspects are currently under immense pressure due to human activity. The Netherlands acts as our case of biodiverse, yet highly human modified landscape. What does fast-paced change mean for biodiversity in general and humans specifically? How can we counteract further deterioration of biodiversity?
These are among the questions that will be addressed in the minor Biodiversity. To be able to answer these questions, you will learn in this minor what biodiversity actually represents, how it can be mapped and how biodiversity has evolved. In addition, you will learn about the important processes that determine the level of biodiversity in today’s ecosystems and the effects of human intervention and the introduction of new species on biodiversity.
The study programme of this minor consists of courses, lectures, excursions, and discussions with relevant stakeholders. The minor starts with excursions to all Dutch landscapes, and also includes one week fieldwork on Schiermonnikoog and one week in the Polderlab near Leiden. The courses provide a comprehensive overview of biodiversity in the Dutch landscape, patterns in biodiversity, evolutionary developments and environmental processes. It teaches a range of skills including spatial analyses with GIS, molecular species identification, and offers starting courses in statistical analyses. In the second part of the minor, students will analyse a relevant biodiversity case in small interdisciplinary teams using knowledge and skills that they have learned during the minor. The students will also contact stakeholders and write a societally relevant policy report.
Enrollment / Good to know
General Information
Size: 30 EC
Period: fulltime from 31 August 2026 to 30 January 2027
Language: English
Number of participants from Leiden University/TU Delft/ Erasmus University Rotterdam: maximum 40
Exchange students and students from universities of applied science are welcome to apply (see below), the number of available places may vary
General information: Education Office Biology
Coordinators: Prof.dr. F. Barona Gomez and Dr. T.J.E. Aivelo
The minor is provided by the Bachelor Biology
How to enroll
Students of Leiden University, TU Delft, and Erasmus University Rotterdam
Registration from Tuesday 19 May (13:00 hrs) until Tuesday 30 June 2026 (23:59 hrs) via eduXchange.
Students of other universities (of applied science)
Application possible from Monday 2 March until Tuesday 30 June 2026.
Please follow all steps outlined here.
You will be placed on a waiting list and informed as soon as possible after application whether or not you can join the minor.
Exchange
This minor is open for inbound exchange students if they wish to take the entire minor Human Evolution. It is not possible to take single courses from this minor. Exchange students must be admitted by the Science International Office prior to the start of the minor. For more information about the application procedure for exchange students; please contact the Science International Office at incoming@science.leidenuniv.nl
Required prior knowledge
The minor is open to students with a strong interest in interdisciplinary aspects of biodiversity and has a maximum capacity of 40 students. The minor is particularly interesting for students who wish to specialise in policy and governance in relation to the environment with a strong scientific foundation.
This minor requires motivation and dedication! You will be doing a lot of fieldwork (including biking, walking) near Leiden and also on Schiermonnikoog so you'll need to be comfortable with this. It is not possible to combine the minor with e.g. other courses during the same time.
We expect you to have (or obtain through self study) some basic knowledge about biodiversity, systematics, and ecology.
We also expect you to have basic experience with the use of identification keys of plants and insects, i.e. basic knowledge of plant and arthropod morphology.
When applying please fill out our enquiry form.