What causes disease? What is the genetic or epigenetic background of disorders? How do microorganisms in the intestine contribute to health and disease? What are the underlying mechanisms of diseases and what novel strategies can we design to cure disease?
During the selective Master's degree programme in Biomedical Sciences you will be trained to find answers to these questions. The programme is strongly oriented towards the scientific background of health, disease and preclinical research. You will encounter an interdisciplinary environment of basic scientific research at the faculty of science and engineering and a more medically oriented environment at the University Medical Center.
We offer tracks related to the biology of cancer and the immune system, the biology of food and nutrition, the biology of healthy ageing and disease, and neuroscience. We also offer the unique option of creating a custom-made biomedical science programme that matches your ambitions. This could be a programme dedicated to virology and microbiology, to regenerative medicine, to genetics or big data science as well as to many other fields in which the University of Groningen occupies a leading global position.
For those who have the ambition to go into industry or policy
making, to become a consultant or to pursue a biomedical career in
any other field NOT related to research, we offer the Science,
Business and Policy (SBP) track. Both the research programmes and
the SBP track are tailored to align with the ambitions and career
perspectives of the individual student and are designed under
supervision of an experienced (associate) professor.
A unique aspect of the research programme is that up to 60% to 70%
of the programme can be spent on independent research projects in
which you join a research group to experience science according to
the principle of 'learning by doing', under the guidance of an
expert in the field. You will be embedded in a research group and
fully experience what it takes to be a researcher. For those that
have the aspiration to become an industrial researcher, there is
also an option to do a research project within a company.
In addition to offering research projects, we provide a variety of courses to learn about microbiota, big data science and any other novel area in the emerging field of biomedical sciences. Apply to our degree programme if you are looking for a dynamic and unique Master's degree with great career perspectives.
This master's degree programme in Biomedical Sciences is selective. If you have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant biomedical area you can apply for our two-year programme and advance your career as a biomedical researcher or biomedical specialist. We offer a pre-master for excellent Biomedical Laboratory students from Universities of Applied Sciences. Only students with a GPA of 7.5 or higher and a strong motivation are admitted to this pre-master.
2-year programme; credits per year: 60 ECTS; most courses are 5 ECTS.
| Programme options |
|---|
| Biology of Healthy Ageing and Disease (track) The track Biology of Ageing provides training as a researcher mainly in the field of ageing and age-related pathologies. For the complete curriculum, please see: https://ocasys.rug.nl/current/catalog/programme/66990-5520 |
| General research programme (track) Tailor-made programme of master modules, electives and research projects in the wide scope of biomedical research. For the complete curriculum, please see: https://ocasys.rug.nl/current/catalog/programme/66990.5518 |
| Biology of Cancer and Immune System (Research track) (track) This track provides courses and internships on cell processes related to cancer and immune defense in different conditions. For the complete curriculum, please see: https://ocasys.rug.nl/current/catalog/programme/66990-5513 |
| Biology of Food and Nutrition (Research track) (track) This is your track if you are interested in how food and nutrition influence metabolism, your gut microbiota, ageing and behavior. For the complete curriculum, please see: https://ocasys.rug.nl/current/catalog/programme/66990-5512 |
| Neuroscience (Research track) (track) This track trains you in all you want to know about how the brain works and influence your behavior and well-being. For the complete curriculum, please see: https://ocasys.rug.nl/current/catalog/programme/66990-5519 |
| Science, Business and Policy (track) Interested in the business side of science? You can combine this Master's programme with the Science Business & Policy profile. The SBP profile includes a six-month internship as a scientific advisor. For the complete curriculum, please see: https://ocasys.rug.nl/current/catalog/programme/66990-5505 |
Exchange: All our science and engineering programmes offer study abroad possibilities at a number of partner institutions. Our partners include top-100 universities in Europe (for example in Germany, UK, and Sweden) and in the USA, China, South-East Asia, and South America.
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
A University Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences or related field focusing on knowledge and skills at the interface of integrative physiology and behaviour, neurobiology, molecular and cellular biology and medical sciences. Information about admission possibilities and requirements for students from a Dutch HBO institute is published on: https://www.rug.nl/fse/msc-admission |
| other admission requirements |
BEFORE YOU APPLY Make sure to visit 'MSc Application Procedure' at https://www.rug.nl/fse/msc-admission for all the necessary information about the procedure and admission requirements. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:You may apply for the Masters programme Biomedical Sciences when you have a Bachelor in Biology with a main focus on knowledge and skills at the interface of molecular and cellular biology, organic chemistry and biochemistry, integrative physiology and behaviour, and medical sciences. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Biomedische Wetenschappen | All Research universities |
No additional requirements More information:You may apply for the Master's programme Biomedical Sciences when you have a Bachelor with a main focus on knowledge and skills at the interface of molecular and cellular biology, organic chemistry and biochemistry, integrative physiology and behaviour, and medical sciences |
The Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be admitted to the Master's degree programme.
Please fill out the checklist to describe your pre-education.
Note that this is a selective Master. This means that an applicant must both meet the admission requirements and successfully complete a selection procedure in order to be admitted to the Master's degree programme.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
A Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences or related field, focusing on knowledge and skills at the interface of immunology and physiology, molecular and cellular biology, possibly with elements of behavioural neurosciences. Laboratory experience and proof of academic scientific writing skills (such as thesis or research report) are required. The Admissions Board determines whether the specific contents of this/these course(s) meet the admission requirements of the Master programme. |
| additional subject |
The Admissions Office will advise the Board of Admissions on your application, after which the board will decide if you meet the admission requirements in terms of general level of previous education and specific background knowledge. Please note that this Master's programme has a selection procedure. |
| language test |
MAKE SURE TO VISIT http://www.rug.nl/fwn/fmns-programme/admissions/msc/language-requirements for all the necessary information about required language tests and minimum scores. |
| other admission requirements |
BEFORE YOU APPLY Note that this is a selective Master. |
The Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be admitted to the Master's degree programme.
Please fill out
the
checklist
to describe your pre-education.
Do you prefer an early decision on your request for admission?
Don't wait until 1 May, but use one of the earlier deadlines for
this Master's programme (for a course starting on 1 September).
Application deadlines with the corresponding decision deadlines are
as follows:
Application - Decision:
1 December– 15 January
1 February – 1 March
15 March – 15 April
1 May - 15 June
Note that this is a selective Master. This means that an applicant must both meet the admission requirements and successfully complete a selection procedure in order to be admitted to the Master's degree programme.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
Your career prospects are researcher in a variety of organizations such as:
Positions linking biomedical sciences to a business or policy strategy in a social organization, such as the Heart Foundation and the Diabetes Fund. You can also work for the government in an advisory position.
Within the Master's degree programme Biomedical Sciences you can conduct research in the following areas of expertise:
- The mechanisms of inflammation and immunity, allergies and
tumours
- The transplantation applications of embryonic stem cells
- How nutrition influences health
- Diseases of the brain and nervous system
- The biological aspects of emotional and affective disorders such
as depression, anorexia nervosa and obesity
- The molecular cellular biology underlying age-related
pathologies.
And much more!
Please have a look at the websites of the research institutes related to the programme such as:
