MSc in Biomolecular Sciences

Are you interested in unraveling essential processes in living cells in order to understand 'life' at a molecular level? Would you like to excel in biomolecular sciences and use frontier know-how to solve fundamental questions or develop biobased industrial applications?

Biomolecular sciences is a very internationally oriented research and business area that profits from strong multidisciplinary expertise on genetics, microbiology, molecular (cell) biology, structural biology, biochemistry, and systems biology. During this Master’s program, you will acquire in-depth knowledge and research skills via upper level theoretical and practical training. You will become highly competent in biomolecular sciences, as well as the more applied side, biotechnology. Thus, you will acquire excellent perspectives for an independent career in an academic, medical or industrial research environment, or as a scientific consultant for the public or private sector.

The program content is organized by the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB) and obviously teaching is closely related to the research performed at this institute. GBB’s research is strongly fundamental and curiosity-driven and contains specializations in the following areas:

• Biotransformation and Biocatalysis
• Cell Biochemistry
• Chemical Biology
• Electron cryo-Microscopy
• Membrane Enzymology
• Microbial Physiology
• Molecular Cell Biology
• Molecular Dynamics
• Molecular Genetics
• Molecular Microbiology
• Molecular Systems Biology
• Protein Crystallography

This selective Master's degree program is designed for students primarily aiming for a career in research, and who are able to keep up with the study pace of the cohort that starts in September. Students who would like to start during the academic year and/or aim for a career that focuses on the business and policy side of science are referred to our Master’s program Biology.

Why study this program in Groningen?

• Connected to research institute GBB, which has an excellent international reputation and covers the field of systems-, chemical-, and synthetic biology;
• Internationally oriented research and business area;
• Possibility to join the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition in Boston;
• Our faculty is the home of the 2016 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry, Ben Feringa, and the Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Frits Zernike.

Program

Curriculum

Program options within the field of Biomolecular Sciences

The selective Master's program is specifically designed for students primarily aiming for a career in research and who are able to keep up with the study pace of each cohort that starts in September.

This is a 2-year program with 60 ECTS credits per year; most courses are 5 ECTS. The program starts with a series of advanced courses on the state of the art in biomolecular sciences, followed by a series of optional specialist-topic or skills-courses that are tailored to the individual preferences of the student. A large part of the program is devoted to two research projects, in which the students are fully embedded in a research group of their choice to conduct their own research. To guarantee optimal supervision and a first-class research environment, the first project (30-40 ECTS) has to be carried out at Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute. The second project (30 EC) should be conducted in a different research group, either at GBB, the University of Groningen or elsewhere, to learn new techniques and scientific approaches, and to extend the scientific network. If desired, this second project also can be done abroad. The Chemical Biology specialization comprises 20 ECTS in dedicated courses.

Study abroad

• Study abroad is recommended
• For an average of 30 weeks
• Maximum of 60 EC

Exchange: All our science and engineering programs offer study abroad possibilities at a number of partner institutions, often as a second research project. Our partners include top-100 universities in Europe (for example in Germany, the UK, and Sweden) and in the USA, China, South-East Asia, and South America.

Admission requirements

Dutch diploma

International diploma

Language requirements

Registration procedure

The Admissions Board will decide whether you can be admitted to the Master's degree program.

Please fill out the application form (for Dutch students or for international students) to explain why you choose to apply for this Master's degree program (questions to be addressed are outlined on the form).

Use the application form to describe your education in:

• Genetics
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Cell Biology
• Practical skills in Molecular Biology

Provide two reference letters (non-EU applicants) or provide the names of those we may contact for reference (EU applicants) using the application form.

Provide a bachelor thesis or another individually written report of an academic assignment. If such a report is not available an assignment will be given by the Admission Board

Application deadlines

Tuition fees

Job prospects

Biomolecular scientists, graduates of the Master's degree program in Biomolecular Sciences, can pursue:

• A Ph.D. in the areas of Biomolecular Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences, Biochemistry and Bio(nano-)technology
• An R&D position in Life Sciences-, Medical-, Pharmaceutical- and Food Industry
• A position as a Scientific Advisor in a company

Research

Become familiar with state-of-the-art developments in Biomolecular Sciences

The Master's degree program Biomolecular Sciences is closely linked to the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB). The GBB is a research institute at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen. GBB also acts as an accredited Dutch Research School and since 2010 is embedded in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

The research institute GBB performs research of the highest standard in the following fields:

Biomolecular sciences

• With a strong focus on proteins in relation to their function in living cells
• Researching the fundamental properties of proteins, genes and other biomacromolecules, and microorganisms that are relevant in health and disease and for application in the areas of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Bio(nano)technology.

Synthetic Biology

• Combined with other disciplines, the goal in this area is to design and develop novel functional biological and semi-artificial systems
• GBB has a strong national and international reputation in protein structure determination and analysis, biochemistry, molecular biology and microbiology, molecular genetics and bioinformatics
• Biotransformation and Biocatalysis
• Cell Biochemistry
• Chemical Biology
• Electron cryo-Microscopy
• Membrane Enzymology
• Microbial Physiology
• Molecular Cell Biology
• Molecular Dynamics
• Molecular Genetics
• Molecular Microbiology
• Molecular Systems Biology
• Protein Crystallography

Various research questions in these key areas related to human health and disease, including:

• Research on peroxisome homeostasis with the aim of understanding the biogenesis, aging, and turnover of peroxisomes in yeast, a suitable model for detrimental peroxisome-related diseases;
• The production and modification of (synthetic) antibiotics with respect to eminent demand for new and better antibiotics;
• The structure-function determination of microbial proteins and cell processes that play a key role in the development of Parkinson's disease and mobility of immune cells, respectively;
• Understanding the role of the microbiome and its metabolites in human health, in particular, the gut-brain axis.