Vitality and Ageing

General description
The ‘Vitality and Ageing’ master’s degree is tailored specifically to professionals who have completed their basic academic degree and have proven affiliation with vitality, ageing and care for the elderly. No matter the future area of specialisation, this master’s degree is an excellent stepping stone towards modern practice.

The master programme focuses on the biological and social aspects of the ageing process (gerontology), as well as on the medical aspects of the care for elderly people (geriatrics). The organisation and management of the care process is also closely examined. Additionally, the degree programme leaves ample room for personal development – a requirement if one is to provide the highest quality of medical care in the future.

Such initiatives are notably absent from modern medical curricula, making this internationally accredited Master of Science degree unique. The master’s degree also offers a select few the opportunity to proceed to a doctorate programme.

Objectives
The general objective of the Vitality and Ageing Master’s programme is to enable young medical and health care professionals, – scientists and – policy makers to deepen their knowledge of ageing, improve their scientific medical skills and develop themselves personally which will eventually enable them to shape the future of medical care in a rapidly changing demographic environment. The programme therefore aims at training recently graduated medical doctors and healthcare professionals, scientists and policy makers (MD, MSc or Bachelor subject to selection criteria) on the subjects of gerontology, geriatrics and structure of health care. On top of that, the programme offers training in scientific skills such as academic development, clinical research, and, management and leadership.

Programme
The Master Vitality and Ageing is divided into two semesters. Each semesters consists of several courses. The first focuses on scientific development in ageing including the ageing process, the biological mechanisms of ageing, the anthropology of ageing, demography of ageing and multimorbidity. This is furthered by the skill-courses that focus on academic skills such as presentation and academic writing. In the second semester the focus is shifted towards the practical and medical-scientific application of this knowledge in courses such as vitality and healthy ageing, structure and financing of health care, models of care and governance. Acquired skills during this semester includes team roles and leadership and business management. It is an intensive programme that transcends attending lectures and participating in work groups. Students are expected to do more than merely absorb facts. The intense, international nature of the programme means that personal development also takes place outside of the lecture halls. The final examinations of this programme endorse this, being a scientific essay, a research paper and a group assignment.

Final examinations
In order to graduate, students must have succesfully passed the three final assignments: scientific essay, research paper and professional collaboration. Students have to have attended 80% of the course lectures of the 60 ECTS course programme. Students can compensate a maximum of two examinations with maximal two deficiencies and these have to be compensated with acquired results in other examinations of at least equal study weights. Grades less than 6.0 can be compensated with grades in maximum two other examinations of the total curriculum (one point failed should be compensated by one point pass: 5 with a 7, a 4 with an 8, two 5’s with two 7’s).

Resits
Every course can be retried once each academic year. In exceptional circumstances, the board of examiners may grant an additional resit, upon the written request of the student and upon discretion of the Board of Examiners. The grade of the resit will replace the original grade. Resits can not be withdrawn after handing in or taking the resit.
For resits of regular assignments (non final assignments) the student can receive one session of feedback with the tutor/coordinator. No further feedback is allowed on the new version of the assignment, and only clarification on the procedures and/or the review form. For final assignments, please consult the procedures as indicated in the e-prospectus and the study guide.

Board of Examiners
The president of the board of examiners is dr. A.J.M. de Craen, the vice-president is prof. dr. R.C. van der Mast and the secretary is J. Lindenberg. Requests can be directed to J. Lindenberg, lindenberg@leydenacademy.nl

Examiners
Each course coordinator is examiner. Additionally, one, two or three examiners are appointed by the board of examiners.

Registration for examinations
The study secretary will register all students registered for the designated courses of the Master Vitality and Ageing for the concerned examinations.

Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing
This Master of Science programme is a degree programme of the Leiden University, Leiden University Medical Center. It is offered and facilitated by the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing, a knowledge center conducting research, providing education and initiating novel endeavors in ageing and vitality.