Prospectus

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Biology: General Biology Programme (no research specialisation)

Website Instituut Biologie Leiden – Onderzoeksgroepen

For a description of the full programme read the more information button!
For the timetable and registration in usis and codes, see under files (bestanden)

This MSc specialisation will start on Monday 31 August, 2015 at the Sylvius Laboratory, with an information lecture.

Compulsory elements

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Advanced Statistics 3
Genomic Architecture 6
Book exam 3
Research Project Min. 60

One of the courses:

Orientation on Animal Sciences and Health 3
Orientation on Evolution, Biodiversity and Conservation 3
Orientation on Microbial Biotechnology and Health 3
Orientation on Plant Sciences and Natural Products 3

At least 15 EC of specialisation courses or approved electives, see Tab 'Electives'

Biology Electives

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Specialisation courses of the Biology Master Specialisations:

Conservation Biology 6
Development and Evolution 6
Global Regulatory Networks in Bacteria (GRNB) 6
Mechanisms of Disease 6
Metabolomics 6
Methods in Biodiversity Analysis 6
The Immune system of plants 6

Approved Electives:

Advanced Academic Skills Elite Course 6
Animal Cognition 6
Biodiversity and Conservation (seminar) 4
Economic Botany 4
Plant Families of the Tropics 5
Top Lectures Basic 1
Top Lectures Elite 3
Tropical Biodiversity and Field Methods (South East Asia / Caribbean) 6
Practical Assistance 2-10

Other Electives

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Other approved electives 1-6

Electives Faculty of Science

Science Methodology 4
Science and the public: contemporary and historical perspectives 6

More info

Programme (120 EC)
The MSc programme consists of:

  • a theoretical part (30-60 EC)

  • one or more research projects (60-90 EC).

The programme includes several compulsory components, mostly at the start of the programme, and can be expanded with a wide choice of elective elements. The mandatory components in the 1st semester aim to provide students with the theoretical and practical background needed for an efficient start of the specialisation Research Project at the end of this semester. The Research Projects are the actual core of the MSc programme. Students will be member of a research group of their choice and work full time on a specific project. Each project will be finished with an MSc thesis written in the form of a manuscript for an international scientific journal. At least one but preferably two Research Projects are part of the study programme.
At least one Research Project has to be done within a research area at the Institute Biology Leiden, the Faculty of Science, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, or Leiden University Medical Center. All Research Projects require prior approval by the Board of Examiners through approval of the individual study plan of a student and approval of the research agreement.

Compulsory components:
The compulsory theoretical components consist of at least 30 EC, and the minimum time to be spent on research projects is 60 EC. Each Research Project should be should be at least 30 EC.

Electives/Optional elements:
The optional part of the programme can consist of either additional courses or lectures, or an extension of the duration of a research project. A list of approved elective courses is available on the e-guide. For courses outside the LU biology programme and for all research projects, prior approval of the Board of Examiners is required. Note: maximally 12 EC of optional theoretical elements of level < 400 are permitted and max 15 EC non-biology courses.

Approval of programme
The individual study programme consisting of choices of courses and one or two research projects must have prior approval of the Board of Examiners.