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Biology: Biology and Business Studies

The specialisation Biology and Business Studies offers students the possibility to combine biology with knowledge, insights and skills in the area of Management, Business and Entrepreneurship.

Students are encouraged to broaden their horizon, to form an opinion on and prepare for a career in industry and to enhance competences for pursuing entrepreneurial business opportunities created in science and research.

Students who complete the specialisation Biology and Business Studies are admissible to a PhD programme.

Coordinator: Prof.dr. D. Claessen

Email: d.claessen@biology.leidenuniv.nl

Year 1: Biology programme

Year 2: Business Studies programme

For a description of the full programme please see the 'more information' tab.

Year 1: Biology

The Biology component comprises at least 60 EC and consists of the following:

  • 24 EC of advanced Biology theory (courses)

  • a Biology research project of 36 EC; the course Fish species in animal experimentation (3 EC) or Bird species in animal experimentation (3 EC) is obligatory in case of a research project in which experiments with fish or birds are involved.

The Biology component can be extended with an additional 20 EC (courses or extension of the research project to 80 EC in total). Prior to the start of the Biology Research Project, the internship coordinator has to approve the Research Project Agreement.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory courses:

Safety instructions 0
Genomic Architecture 6
Research Project Biology 36

Compulsory Statistics courses (choose one)

Basic Statistics for Master students 4
Advanced Statistics 4

Compulsory Orientation course (choose one)

Orientation on Biodiversity and Sustainability 2
Orientation on Evolutionary Biology 2
Orientation on Molecular, Cellular and Organismal Biology 2
Orientation on Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology 2

In case of a research project that involves experiments with fish or birds the corresponding course is compulsory:

Bird species in animal experimentation 3
Fish species in animal experimentation 3

Electives (choose at least 12EC from this list or from 'biology electives or 'other electives'):

Development and Evolution 6
Human Impacts on Biodiversity 6
Mechanisms of Disease 6
Advanced Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology 3
Systematics and Biodiversity 6
Ecotoxicology (2025-2026) 6
Ecosystem Services (2024-2025) 6
Paleobiology 6
Advanced Cell Biology 4
Innate Immune systems 6
Animal Cognition (2024-2025) 6

Year 2: Business Studies

The Business Studies specialisation comprises at least 40 EC, of which 20 EC should consist of the main master courses from the Business Studies programme (as listed in the overview) and minimally 20 EC of the business internship. The Business Component therefore consists of the following components:

  • Strategy and Technology (5 EC)

  • Strategic Financial Management (3 EC)

  • Marketing Science (3 EC)

  • Operations Management (4 EC)

  • Research Methods (5 EC)

  • Business Studies Internship (20-30 EC)

  • Electives (0-20 EC)

o a maximum of 20 EC of electives within either Biology or the Business Studies component. The Biology component can be extended with an additional 20 EC (courses or extension of the research project)

o the following course modules can be included as electives in the Business Studies tracks:

Course - Level - EC - Catalogue nr.
Accounting - 500 - 3 EC - 4603BSAC3
Machine Learning for Business Analytics - 500 - 3 EC - 4353MLBA3
Digital Transformations - 500 - 5 EC - 4603BSDT5
Entrepreneurship - 500 - 3 EC - 4603BSEN3
Leading & Managing People - 500 - 5 EC - 4603BSLM5
Lean Six Sigma - 500 - 3 EC - 4603BSLS3
Financing Technology Ventures - 500 - 3 EC - 4603BSFT3
AI for Strategy - 500 - 3 EC - 4603BSAS3
Marketing Analytics - 500 - 3 EC - 4603BS1MA
Management Science - 500 - 3 EC -4603BSMS3
Systems Optimisation - 500 - 3 EC - 4603BSSO3
Electives - variable - variable

You will need to enroll for the business courses via MyStudyMap to make your registration final before the start of the semester.

For questions please contact: info@sbb.leidenuniv.nl

For information about the Business Studies programme and registration for the courses see: E-prospectus Business Studies.

Biology electives

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Plant Families of the Tropics 5
Bird species in animal experimentation 3
Fish species in animal experimentation 3
Metabolomics 6
Advanced Academic Skills Course 6
Top Lectures in Biology 3
Literature Review 6
Book exam 6
Urban Ecology and Evolution 6
Tropical Biodiversity and Field Methods 6
Systems Microbiology 6
Portugal Conservation Field Course (2024-2025) 4

Other Electives

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Faculty of Science and LUMC electives (always check with the coordinator of the course whether you can join):

Advances in Data Mining 6
Multiscale Mathematical Biology (BM) 6
Science Methodology (SCM) 4
Image Analysis with Applications in Microscopy 6
Model organisms in cancer drug discovery and development 4
Science and the public: contemporary and historical perspectives 6
Introduction to Machine Learning 6
Bio-Modeling 6
Biological and Biomedical Informatics 6
Multicriteria Optimization and Decision Analysis 6
Evolutionary Algorithms 6
Other approved electives 4-6

TU Delft elective

Joint Interdisciplinary Project (JIP) 15

More info

The MSc Biology programme builds on the unique combination of biological institutes in Leiden joining forces: the Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL), the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Naturalis). The choice of courses and research projects is further increased by the embedding in the Faculty of Science and the connections with the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) and with bioscience-based companies that are located at the Leiden Bioscience Park.

The duration of the programme is two years (120 EC). Students who complete the programme receive the degree Master of Science in Biology (MSc in Biology) with specification of the specialisation
In addition to the E-Prospectus, the aim and content of the MSc Biology programme is described in the Appendices to the Course and Examination RegulationsThe practical-oriented specialisation Biology & Business Studies is designed for MSc students in the fields of sciences and biomedicine who have a keen interest in industry The objective of the specialisation is to teach students basic analytical frameworks and skills that enable them 1) to analyse business-related problems, and 2) to contribute to managerial decision making, all within the context of established knowledge-intensive organisations or new technology ventures. This faculty-wide specialisation blends discipline-specific scientific knowledge with business and managerial skills. It is designed to meet the evolving needs of start-ups and companies, where a combination of scientific knowledge and effective management has become increasingly important.

Program (120 EC)

The MSc program, when coupled with the Business Studies specialization, comprises two main components::

  • A Biology component of 60-80 EC

  • a Business Studies component of 40-60 EC

  • 0-20 EC of electives within either Biology or the Business Studies component

Preferably, the component within the chosen MSc programme should be followed during the first year of study. The Business Studies component should be followed during the second year.
Theoretical components should be minimally at level 400.

Biology
The Biology component comprises at least 60 EC and consists of the following:

  • 24 EC of advanced Biology theory (courses)

  • a Biology research project of 36 EC; the course Fish species in animal experimentation (3 EC) or Bird species in animal experimentation (3 EC) is obligatory in case of a research project that involves handling or experimental use of fish or birds species, respectively.The Biology component can be extended with an additional 20 EC (courses or extension of the research project). Prior to the start of the Biology Research Project, the internship coordinator has to approve the Research Project Agreement.

Business Studies

The Business Studies component comprises at least 40 EC, of which 20 EC should consist of master courses from the Business Studies programme and 20-30 EC of the business internship. An additional maximum of 20 EC of electives can be chosen from the listed business studies courses and electives, or from the MSc Biology . The choice of courses and electives should be made in consultation with a study adviser, or specialisation coordinator.

Approval of program

All students have to submit their individual study plan consisting of choices of courses and one or two research projects to the Study Advisor. Through the submission of this study plan, The Study Advisor determines whether the student’s individual study plan meets the requirements of the MSc Biology programme and can be approved. Prior to the start of the Research Project Biology, the study advisor has to approve the individual study plan of the student and the internship coordinator has to approve the Research Project agreement

Exemptions

Students with prior education in management, business and entrepreneurship may – depending on the contents and extent of said education – be exempted from following (parts of) one or more of the courses. These courses need to be substituted such that their master programme contains at least 20 EC of business courses as mentioned in the overview above and an internship of at least 20 EC. Decisions on exemptions and substitutions are taken by the Board of Examiners of Science Based Business.

Career Preparation

Career preparation at Leiden University

In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you as well as possible for the labour market, and in doing so contribute to the development of your employability. In this way, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market, in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.

'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:
1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.

2. Transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example: researching, analysing, project-based working, generating solutions, digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, societal awareness, independent learning, resilience.

3. Self-reflection
This concerns self-reflection in the context of your (study) career, including reflecting on the choices you make as a student during your studies, what can you do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market?

In addition, reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?

4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through internships, work placements, projects, practical (social) assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment.

5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers and alumni experiences from the work field, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.

Employability in the curriculum of Biology

You will also find these employability elements in your study programme. Examples of subjects that pay attention to this are:

1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.
Examples of subject-specific skills are: using a microscope, cell cultures, sampling, experimental design, executing fieldwork, morphological analysis, laboratory skills, in situ conservation, bio-modeling, bioinformatics, molecular biology techniques such as genome sequencing, microarrays , et-cetera.

2. Transferable skills
These include cognitive skills, such as researching, analysing, project-based working, generating solutions and digital skills; intrapersonal skills, such as reflecting, independent learning, resilience, and metacognition; and interpersonal skills, such as oral and written communication, collaboration, presenting and societal awareness. In short, they are skills that all professionals need in order to perform well.

3. Self-reflection
This concerns self-reflection in the context of your (study) career, including reflecting on the choices you make as a student during your studies: what can you do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market? In addition, reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development: who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?

4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through research projects/internships, laboratory training, fieldwork, practical assignments et cetera, which are integrated into courses and research projects.

5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers and alumni experiences from the work field, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.

Activities to prepare for the labour market co-curricular or outside the curriculum

Every year, various activities take place, within, alongside and outside of your study programme, which contribute to your preparation for the labour market, especially where it concerns orientation towards the work field/the labour market, (career) skills and self-reflection. These may be information meetings on decision moments within your programme, but also career workshops and events organised by your own programme, the faculty Career Service or your study association.

  • Science Skills Platform with a Personal and Professional development domain

  • (Study) career meetings

  • Guest lectures

  • Alumni lectures

  • Company visits and company dinners

  • Lunch & Learn lectures by companies

  • IBL, Naturalis and CML symposia & lecture series.

  • Introductory meeting with the study advisor

  • Introductory meeting Science Career Service

  • (International) Leiden Leadership Programme

  • Mentorship and tutoring

  • Workshops en Career Colleges (Science Career Service)

  • Biology Career Event

  • Other career events such as BCF Career Event, Bio Science Park excursion, Science Career Event/Beta Banenmarkt

  • Events organized by the Study Association ‘Leidse Biologen Club’, such as a Meet & Greet with PhD candidates

  • Regular information sessions with the study advisor

  • Research Project Market

  • Research skills as part of the master research project

Career Service, LU Career Zone and career workshops calendar

Faculty Career Service
The Career Service of your faculty offers information and advice on study (re)orientation and master's choice, (study) career planning, orientation on the labour market and job applications.

Leiden University Career Zone Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.

Workshops and events
On the course calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Career services.