MSc in Biomedical Sciences

Are you curious, creative and determined to solve biomedical challenges? Are you fascinated about the fundamentals of biomedicine and do you dream to be a scientist, work in a clinic or be an entrepreneur? Then the master's in Biomedical Sciences (MBS) might be exactly what you are looking for. Through a mix of theoretical courses, practical training sessions and internships, you’ll explore the relationship between human beings and their environment, from molecule, to gene, to cell and organ, to individual and to entire populations. You’ll learn how new scientific knowledge is obtained in basic and applied research areas, and how these insights can be used to benefit patients. Upon graduation you’ll be able to pursue a career as a researcher studying diseases and treatments in both academia and industry.

Fast facts

• Unique collaboration with University Hospital
• Strong emphasis on developing academic and personal skills
• Full year internship of your choice (year 2)
• Flexible curriculum that allows you to personalize your degree
• 2-year, full-time master’s, taught in English
• Starts in September
• Independent study
• you’ll get an MSc in Biomedical Sciences

Why this program?

The 21st century may well be called the century of medical biology. Amid wide-scale investments in life sciences all over Europe, there is a growing demand for highly specialized professionals in a range of life science fields. The master's in Biomedical Sciences focuses on the state-of-the-art methodology and skills that enable researchers to unravel the molecular and cellular mechanisms in health and disease with the ultimate goal to restore health. You'll explore the relationship between human beings and their environment, from molecule, to gene, to cell and organ, to individual and to entire populations.

Biomedical Sciences in Maastricht is a unique program In addition to comprehensive theoretical knowledge, the program provides you with all the universal career skills that are essential for your future work. You will study and practice these skills both with a personal coach and in small groups.

Next to lectures from experts in the field, you will acquire theoretical knowledge via a special student-centered learning program and practice your knowledge in modern, high-end equipment laboratories.

This program also offers you the freedom to tailor your studies to your own interests and ambitions. Develop your own profile in the domain of biomedical sciences by picking one of six specializations and by designing your own research project.

Finally, this unique program enables you to discover your own talents and to develop a successful career, also outside the academy.

Tailor your degree to your ambitions The program is versatile, offering a large variety of courses that provide you with plenty of opportunity to concentrate on specific areas of interest and specialize in a particular field. You will pick a specialization, pursue your own research interest and then apply the skills and knowledge gained during a one-year internship at an approved laboratory of your choice. The internship can be undertaken within academic institutes, clinical labs and the pharmaceutical industry, anywhere in the world. This allows you to personalize your degree and specialize in a topic that fits your interests, under the guidance of top experts in the field.

Over the course of the Biomedical Sciences master's, you will gain practical and professional experience and will rapidly develop from working on assignments in small groups to becoming an independent researcher.

A long internship period Within the master's in Biomedical Sciences, we consider an internship an indispensable experience. You will gain practical and professional experience and will rapidly develop from working on assignments in small groups to becoming an independent researcher. An internship will also give you an advantage when looking for a job. Therefore, as of 2020, the master's in Biomedical Sciences contains an internship of one whole year, which may take place at UM or another approved laboratory, in the Netherlands or abroad.

Perfect your competencies In addition to the theoretical knowledge you'll obtain, you will also improve your practical research skills. An essential focus of the curriculum is developing your own skills and talents: under the guidance of an experienced personal mentor, you will increase and improve your biomedical expertise, communication and networking skills, creativity and professional behavior skills. You’ll practice these skills in all the stages of academic research, from formulating a testable hypothesis all the way down to conducting critical evaluations. You’ll also practice writing grant proposals and scientific articles, and you’ll give poster presentations during a student-led international conference.

These skills guarantee success both in your studies as well as in any career path you may choose.

Develop your management skills During the program, you will also receive unique training that will allow you to develop management skills that will be particularly useful should you choose to have a career within the pharmaceutical industry. In the Biomedical Science master's, you will learn about strategy, resources and management required to run an innovation project. To ensure that these skills are developed, you will go through the whole cycle of project management several times in the curriculum. The emphasis in the first year will be on project design and the skills needed for that, while in the second year there will be ample opportunities for you to practice these skills in carrying out the project, during the internship phase.

Get two master's degrees in one go! As a Biomedical Sciences student at Maastricht University, you can enroll in a double degree program. You'll obtain two Master of Science degrees in considerably less time than it would take to earn them separately.

Double degree in Japan You may opt for a double degree at one of two Japanese universities (Tohoku University in Sendai and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Kyoto). Possibilities exist in the whole field of Life Sciences including neuroscience, oncology, immunology and metabolism. After completing all the requirements of both master's programs, you will be awarded a degree from each university. Almost all double degree programs can be completed with little or no delay in your studies and with no extra tuition fee.

The first year will be in Maastricht and the second year in Japan. The program in Japan starts on 1 September at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and on 1 October at Tohoku University.

If you are interested send an e-mail to AskFHML and put DDP Japan in the subject. Based on your motivation letter which you can send after the meeting a selection will be made depending on the possible spots at the universities in Japan. The selected students will have an interview by video call with the Japanese universities as soon as possible.

Exchange Programs Exchange programs (10 months) have been established with several universities. These programs offer a 10-month stay in various laboratories. After completing the degree is solely from Maastricht University.

The Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences started on 1 January 2007. The faculty was the result of a merger between the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine.

Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine was the first faculty to be established at Maastricht University. The University was officially established on the 9th of January 1976, although the first medical students began their studies in September 1974. The Faculty of Medicine was the second in the world that applied the Problem-Based Learning method. The other faculties of Maastricht University , i.e. Arts and Culture, Economics and Business Administration, General Sciences, Health Sciences, Law, and Psychology adopted educational systems and research organisations akin to that of the Faculty of Medicine.

The Faculty developed into a community with a staff of around 1200 (academics, administrative and support staff), and approximately 1950 medical students. Since 1992 staff and students are based at the complex of buildings of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, and the University Hospital (Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht) which opened in 1991.

Health Sciences

The Faculty of Health Sciences offered a broad range of disciplines that made the faculty unique, not only in the Netherlands but also in Europe. The format allowed students to integrate their discipline and research work into all areas related to society, sickness and health. By way of research and specific (undergraduate and postgraduate) education, the Faculty of Health Sciences contributed to the quality improvement in healthcare.

At the moment the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences has some 2,500 students enrolled in its broad spectrum of educational programmes leading to a Bachelor's and/or Master's degree. Health Sciences examines the relationship between health, lifestyle, disease prevention, care and cure. The Health Sciences curriculum covers the entire field of health sciences: biological, behavioural and social health sciences. Three questions take centre stage throughout the course:

1) What is health? 2) Which factors influence health? 3) How can we influence these factors?

To ensure a good quality of health care not only doctors are needed, but nurses and paramedics are also important, too. But also the expertise of other professionals is essential: the health scientists.