Biomedical Sciences

Why study this programme:

Radboud University can offer you a programme that coincides with your future plans and professional interests. This is because we offer all our Master’s students a tailor-made programme allowing you to pursue your own field of interest regardless of whether you want a broad knowledge of biomedical sciences or an in-depth specialisation. This study programme is ranked in the top worldwide in its field (2020).

A research base with diverse career options:
This programme offers a solid basis in research with close ties to three research institutes in Nijmegen. All three institutes are located on the campus of the Radboud university medical center which means you will be researching within clinical practise. There is no better way to experience how research benefits the health and well-being of the patient; the ultimate goal of all biomedical research. In addition to research, this Master’s programme offers many other career options. During you programme you can choose between the Research, Communication and Consultancy career profiles. Please read more about our career prospects.

Top-notch guidance:
You’ll be assigned to or choose one of the specialisation coordinators who will be your coach. This specialisation coordinator is an experienced researcher affiliated with the specialisation you choose. He/she will advise and support you during your entire programme.
In year one you will, beside a set of courses, get your first taste of research within your specialisation. The following year you can further develop your research skills or you can choose to also look at other career options within for example communication or consultancy. 

Overview

Biomedical sciences is a broad field ranging from infectious diseases to toxicology, from epidemiology to immunology, and from medical neuroscience to cancer. The field is also broad in its approach to any one of these areas with the common aim to improve the health and well-being of patients. The programme offers a tailor-made programme allowing you to pursue your own field of interest regardless of whether you want a broad knowledge of biomedical sciences or an in-depth specialisation. With our eight different specialisations, we prepare you to become the tomorrow's professional.
 

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Student testimonials
Name
Aarti Ramchandran
Title
Aarti Ramchandran
Testimonial
The programme is very flexible. The students can tailor it according to their own needs. This is what I love about it.
Paid course type
Course details

Our Master’s in Biomedical Science allows you – in the parameters of the programme – to construct a curriculum that meets your research interests and career goals. Important is that all your choices add up to a coherent programme. Your assigned mentor will help you determine your internships and theoretical education. 

In short, the 120 EC of this two-year programme are subdivided as follows: a coherent set of biomedical courses in relation to your chosen specialisation (≥24 EC or ≥ 18 EC + 12 EC profile courses); Internships (≥60 EC); Literature thesis (6 EC); Electives (Remaining study load).
Each specialisation consists up to 6 courses. In addition, each profile has mandatory courses. And last but not least, students can choose more and other courses to personalise their specialisation. There are a few courses associated with your chosen specialisation and chosen career profile. They are part of a broad range of over 70 different biomedical courses that we offer. For students with a research profile, these courses must cover at least 24 EC. Students with a communication or consultancy profile need at least 18 EC of these courses.

Internships (at least 60 EC):
Your programme must contain two internships, one of which must be a research internship and have a study load of at least 30 EC. The second internship depends on your profile. This implies that for a student with a research profile, both internships (a total of at least 60 EC) will involve scientific research. Students in other profiles can, next to their research internship of at least 30 EC, choose a second internship related to their profile choice. This means that students with a communication profile can, for example, perform a project in the field of health communication and students with a consultancy profile a health policy analysis.

Literature thesis (6 EC):
Your literature thesis must focus on a disease, mechanism, or method¬ology. It serves to demonstrate the depth of your understanding on a biomedical topic. It will have a study load of 6 EC.

Remaining study load:
After selecting the minimal required study load of courses, internships and thesis you get to choose on what you want to spend the remaining study load. This could be more courses, extra time on an internship and/or an extra internship. You can also choose additional courses in other programmes at Radboud University or at other universities in the Netherlands or abroad.

Coaching
The seven specialisation coordinators (SC) take responsibility for the content and coaching of students within each specialisation. In addition to coaching the students, the SC represents and evaluates the specialisation and monitors/ensures the coherence, depth and structure of the specialisation. 
 

Entry requirements

Your foreign Bachelor's degree must be equivalent to a Bachelor's degree obtained at a Dutch research university (BA or BSc). Your Bachelor's degree needs to be in the same area of study as the Master's degree that you are applying for. (E.g. Life sciences, Medical Biology, Biomedical Sciences). A Bachelor's degree from a university of professional education is not accepted for direct admission. You may be required to follow a Pre-Master's programme (only in Dutch) first to improve your knowledge of the scientific field, before starting a Master's programme. Further academic requirements include basic understanding of human physiology and major pathophysiologic processes of disease; experience with problem-based learning at academic level; at least two months of hands-on practical experience.

In addition to the prior education or the qualities of the candidate, one member of the admissions committee of the Board of Examiners will hold an individual interview (in English) with the candidate.  This interview assesses whether the background knowledge of the students conforms to the required content and level of the programme. Admission to the programme is dependent on this interview and final overall judgement of the Board of Examiners of the master’s programme Biomedical Sciences.

English Language requirements:
Applicants with a Bachelor's degree from a Dutch research university are not required to prove English proficiency. Applicants  who are native speakers are not required to prove their English proficiency. Applicants from the following countries are considered native speakers of English: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA and South Africa. All other applicants must provide proof of English proficiency for enrolment. This includes applicants with a Dutch HBO diploma (diploma from a university of applied sciences).
To prove English proficiency, applicants must take one of the following English language tests: IELTS Academic score of ≥ 6.5 with sub-scores ≥ 6.0 and the subscore for ""writing"" ≥ 6.5; TOEFL  score of ≥90 (internet based), with all sub-scores equal or above 22; C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) and C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE) score of ≥C. 
 

Career outcomes

This Master’s programme in Biomedical Sciences will teach you refined research skills. However, at Radboud University we understand that not everyone wants to become a researcher. A biomedical scientist has lots of options. To help kick-start your career after graduation we offer you three career profiles. There are mandatory courses connected to each option, but also room to make your own choices: teaching internship, writing project, advisory report for a governmental agency or of course, another research internship.

Option 1: Research profile
This profile provides students with an extensive background in academic research within the field of biomedical sciences. In general, graduates will find employment in scientific departments of universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies or other institutions where fundamental or pioneering research is performed. Others find work as advisors in a wide variety of public sector and commercial organisations, or with private consultants, and regional environmental health services.

Option 2: Communication profile
This profile teaches about the problems that may be encountered when communicating about biomedical sciences, and how such problems may be resolved. Subjects include communication theory and how to apply this knowledge in a variety of ways. A wide variety of organisations employ communication advisors with a background in biomedical sciences, such as research organisations, government (responsible for public campaigns), municipal health services (responsible for local and regional health education), funding organisations, patients' organisations, science museums, and broadcasting companies.

Option 3: Consultancy profile
This profile is aimed at preparing students for a role as a scientific consultant or advisor. Scientific consultants combine ample knowledge of their scientific discipline with insight into the interaction between science, technology, and society. Additionally, they are sensitive to the views and stakes of people involved, and have the analytical and communicative skills to handle these. You will learn to think of consultancy as both a matter of content and a matter of managing human interaction. On this basis, you can help find sustainable and widely endorsed solutions to issues that come along with scientific and technological developments. 
 

Qualification
B. Sc.
Duration
24
Duration period
Months
Study mode
Study level
Attendance
Start Dates
City
Nijmegen
THE Subjects
THE Country
THE Institution
Institution Address
Radboud University
Houtlaan 4
6525 XZ Nijmegen
The Netherlands
Institution Phone Number
+31 24 361 61 61
Institution Email
study-information@ru.nl
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