Business Studies specialisation
Business Studies (BS) is a specialisation of the Master’s programme Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences of Leiden University. It provides knowledge and skills in the area of Management, Business and Entrepreneurship. Its focus is on their application in science- and research-driven organisations. Its purpose is to broaden the horizon, to form an opinion on and prepare for a career in industry and to enhance competencies for pursuing entrepreneurial business opportunities created through science and research (Research Based Business; RBB).
The specialisation Business Studies aims to provide an introduction to general management theory and practice. In addition, students will gain practical experience in applying their business knowledge and skills through working as an intern in a knowledge-intensive organisation.
Students with an MSc specialisation Business Studies are admissible to a PhD programme in their MSc research field or in Business Studies.
For the Business Studies specialisation, students have to obtain at least 40 EC and max. 60 EC of Business Studies courses. These must include:
If students have obtained less than 60 EC with the above parts, they must obtain the remaining EC by following Business electives, lecture series of BPS or other courses in life sciences or medicine.
Note: If you did the SBB minor before 2021-2022, contact the coordinator.
For more information about the Business Studies specialisation go to the website.
For more information on how to apply for this specialisation, go to the Brighspace master module.
Science, Communication and Society specialisation
Science, Communication and Society (SCS) is a specialisation of the Master’s programme Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences of Leiden University. It concerns science communication in a broad sense. The programme focuses on the link between science and society and covers knowledge and skills in the field of science communication.
The programme prepares students for a career in the area of science communication, for example, as a science communicator, a science policymaker or a public relations or health communication officer, or for a career as a scientist with a communicating mind-set. For future science teachers the specialisation is also a valuable preparation.
Students with an MSc specialisation Science Communication and Society are admissible to a PhD programme in their MSc research field or in Science Communication.
For the Science, Communication and Society specialisation, students have to obtain at least 40 EC and max. 60 EC of SCS courses. These must include:
SCS Courses (23 EC):
Research in Science Communication (4 EC)
Innovative Methods in Science Communication and Society (3 EC)
Policy and Development in Science and Society (4 EC)
Science Journalism/Wetenschapsjournalistiek (4 EC)
Informal Science Education (4 EC)
Science Communication Product Development (4 EC)
Internship:
SCS Project Proposal (3 EC)
SCS Internship (14-34 EC)
If students have obtained less than 60 EC with the above parts, they must obtain the remaining EC by following SCS electives, lecture series of BPS or other courses in life sciences or medicine.
For more information about the Science, Communication and Society specialisation, go to the website and the e-prospectus
For more information on how to apply for this specialisation, go to the Brightspace module of the master.
Education specialisation
Education (EDU) is a specialisation of the Master’s programme Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences of Leiden University. It optimally prepares you to teach the subject of chemistry to secondary school students, based on a solid background of high quality research in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS). It uniquely enables you to make a relevant impact on society by educating today’s secondary school pupils for tomorrow’s challenges in the field of chemistry or biology.
Students with an MSc specialisation Education are admissible to a PhD programme in their MSc research field.
For the Education specialisation, students have to obtain 60 EC of Education courses. These must include:
Pedagogy in Practice 1 (7 EC)
Adolescent development (4 EC)
Teaching Methodology 1 (4 EC)
Teaching Practice 1 (15 EC)
Pedagogy in Practice 2 (3 EC)
Teaching Methodology 2 (5 EC)
Teaching Practice 2 (15 EC)
Subject-specific research project (5 EC)
Elective course (choose at least one) :
- Subject-specific research project 2 (2 EC)
- Adolescent development 2 (2 EC)
- Innovations in School (2 EC)
- World Teachers (2 EC) - only for students who follow the World Teachers programme
When the student has passed the minor Education (30 EC) during the BSc programme, the compulsory education component is reduced with 30 EC. The remaining 30 EC can be obtained by following lecture series of BPS or other courses in life sciences or medicine and the research component of the MSc programme.
For more information about the specialisation Education go to the website and e-prospectus (chemistry), or e-prospectus biology
For more information on how to apply for this specialisation, go to the Brightspace module of the master
Note: the specialisation is in Dutch.
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
General
During the master Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS), we want to provide you with the best possible preparation to enter the job market after graduation.
The major part of the master BPS programme involves on-the-job training during research projects and internships. This not allows training of discipline-specific knowledge and skills, but also teaches students to work in a professional environment and fosters the development of an extensive set of transferable skills.
In addition, in the course Advanced Academic Skills and Career Orientation (AASCO, 3 EC) that runs over the 2 years of the master programme students are explicitly trained in several aspects of academic skills and are stimulated to make self-directed, conscious choices for their own professional development and preparation for a successful start of their career on the job market.
Activities contributing to career orientation
All years
Science Skills Platform with a Personal and Professional development domain
Information on career prospects of graduates of our programme and alumni career paths in the Brightspace module “Master Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences”
Guest lectures by (guest) lectures provided by professionals pharmaceutical companies at the Leiden BioScience Park
Career Events (e.g. Science Career Event, L.P.S.V. „Aesculapius” Career Day, K.N.P.S.V. Profession Day, BCF Career Event)
Symposia of LACDR and study association L.P.S.V. „Aesculapius”
Workshops and Career Colleges Science Career Service
Entrepreneurship workshop series focused on research valorisation for societal challenges
Bio Science Park Excursion
First year
Introductory meeting with the study advisor
Meetings with student mentors
Career Symposium with presentations by alumni
Career Orientation reflection assignment 1 – You are here!, to reflect on current profile, expectations and need for orientation
Career Orientation reflection assignment 2 – On Track!?, to reflect on your academic and personal development
Career Orientation reflection assignment 3 – Choosing direction, to evaluate how the career orientation activities helped you to develop a view on the career perspectives of a Bio-Pharmaceutical scientist.
Second year
- Voluntary Career Orientation reflection assignment 4 – Dream Job Ahead!, to learn how to write an application letter and Curriculum Vitae for the dream job that you aspire after your graduation.
Activities to prepare for the labour market co-curricular or outside the curriculum
Every year, also various activities take place, alongside and outside of the BPS 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 the BPS programme, the faculty Career Service, your study association L.P.S.V. „Aesculapius”, or other organizations.
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 Service Centre.
