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Chemistry

The Leiden Institute of Chemistry organises two MSc programmes: MSc Chemistry and MSc Life Science & Technology.

The Master’s programme of Chemistry consists of the following specialisations:

  • Research in Chemistry

  • Chemistry and Education

  • Chemistry and Business Studies

  • Chemistry and Science Communication & Society

Details about their programmes and organisation can be found at:

MSc Programmes at the Leiden Institute of Chemistry

For our current research activities visit:

Leiden Institute of Chemistry

For the course schedule visit:

MSc schedule Chemistry and Life Science and Technology

Programme structure

MSc Chemistry

All master students must follow a basic theoretical training comprising of at least

  • Academic writing 2 EC

  • Science Methodology 4 EC

  • Core courses 24 EC in one of the two research areas of the institute

Futhermore, all students must take the compulsory co-curricular component "WORK" for career orientation.

Additional training within the specialisations:

Research in Chemistry

The research specialisation offers the student the opportunity to spend two full years on training and specialisation not only to become an independent and creative researcher, but also someone who can use their analytical skills to resolve challenges in their career in science or in society. The majority of the students with an MSc in Research in Chemistry will continue their career in a PhD position.

  • Essay & colloquium 6 EC

  • Research training projects 60-80 EC

  • Electives 24-4 EC

Chemistry and Business Studies

The specialisation Chemistry and Business Studies (BS) offers students the possibility to combine chemistry with knowledge, insights and skills in the area of management and business.
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 business opportunities created in science and research.

  • Research training projects 30-50 EC

  • Business Studies programme 40 EC

  • Electives 20-0 EC

More information

Chemistry and Science Communication and Society

The specialisation Chemistry and Science Communication and Society (SCS) offers students the possibility to combine chemistry and science communication. Students are prepared for a career in popularisation of science or for a career as a scientist with a communicating mind-set.

  • Research training projects 30-50 EC

  • Science Communication and Society programme 40 EC

  • Electives 20-0 EC

More information

Chemistry and Education

The specialisation Chemistry and Education (EDU) prepares students for a career as chemistry (scheikunde) teacher qualified to teach in Dutch secondary education.

  • Research training projects 30 or 40-60 EC

  • Education programme 60 or 30 EC

More information

Compulsory courses

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Academic writing (AWR) 2
Research training project 20/60
Science Methodology (SCM) 4
WORK (Career Orientation & Competence Reflection) 0

For Research Only

Essay & Colloquium 6

Chemical Biology Core

The research area Chemical Biology offers eight core courses. Students select at least four core courses.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Supramolecular Chemistry (SUP) 6
Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) 6
Reactivity in Organic Chemistry (ROC) 6
Chemical Biology (CB) 6
Modern Organic Chemistry (MOC) 6
Enzyme dynamics: NMR spectroscopy and kinetics (EDNMR) 6
Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Discovery (MCDD) 6
Computational Techniques for Chemical Biology (CTCB) 6

Energy & Sustainability Core

The research area Energy & Sustainability offers eight core courses. Students select at least four core courses.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Computational Chemistry and Molecular Simulations (CCMS) 6
Surface Science (SUS) 6
Organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis (OCHC) 6
Density Functional Theory in Practice (DIP) 6
Heterogeneous Catalysis (HET) 6
Electrochemistry (ELE) 6
Photochemistry (PC) 6
Photosynthesis and Bioenergy (PBE) 6

Elective courses

  • Dependent on the chosen specialisation, a number of elective courses can be selected from the MSc Chemistry and MSc Life Science and Technology programme.

  • For more information visit the programmes website

  • Students may chose additional core courses as elective courses.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

NOTE All core courses may be chosen as electives!

Biomedical Informatics (BMI) 6
Metals and Life (MAL) 6
Synthetic Organic Chemistry 5
Biomaterials (BMAT) 6
Bionanotechnology (BNT) 6
Genome organization and maintenance in cancer and aging (GCA) 6
Chemistry and Physics of Solids (CPS) 6
Design and Self-assembly of Biomolecules (DSB) 6
Molecular Aspects of RNA Viruses (MRV) 4
Integrated Cell Biology (ICB) 2
Bioinorganic Catalysis (BIOC) 6
Chemical Immunology (CHI) 6
Cross-domain chromatin organisation (CDC) 4
In-vivo biomolecular interactions underlying diseases (IBID) 6
Stereochemistry (STC) 6

Biennial courses given every even year

Solid State NMR (SSNMR) 6
Theory of Spectroscopy and Molecular Properties (TSMP) 6
Quantum Reaction Dynamics (QRD) 6

Biennial courses given every odd year

Scientific Computing and Programming (SC) 9
Dynamics of Molecule-Surface Reactions (DST) 6
Molecules of Life (MOL) 6