Introduction
Microbiology at Radboud University focuses on the functioning of microorganisms and their potential for improving our health and the environment. Think of applications in energy-efficient societal waste processing or next-generation vaccines. As the programme contains more than one year of academic research, you will gain extensive hands-on experience in microbial research, for example in the leading research department of Prof. Mike Jetten.
You will follow medical as well as general microbiology courses, enabling you to choose the topics that interest you the most. The research of the Microbiology department at Radboud University has been bestowed with the most prestigious science prizes, including three ERC Advanced Grants, a Spinoza Prize, and two Gravitation Grants. You will be able to work with state-of-the-art bio-reactors, electron microscopy and mass spectroscopy equipment, and facilities for molecular methods. We offer internships at multiple related research institutes, such as the Department of Ecological Microbiology, the Department of Pediatrics (Radboudumc), the Department of Internal Medicine (Radboudumc) and the Department of Medical Microbiology (Radboudumc). Teaching takes place in small groups and in a stimulating, personal setting.
Facts and figures
Degree: MSc in Biology
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Croho code: 66860
Duration: 2 years, (120 EC), full time
Start month: September
Language of instruction: English
Enrolled students: 20 - 40 per year
Contact hours: 20 - 30 hours per week
Master's Microbiology: something for you?
Work with state-of-the-art bio-reactors, electron microscopy and mass spectroscopy equipment, and facilities for molecular methods.
Follow medical as well as general microbiology courses, which enables you to choose the topics that interest you the most.
We offer internships at multiple research institutes, including departments at the University Medical Centre (Radboudumc)
The research of our Microbiology department has won many prestigious science prizes, including three ERC Advanced Grants, a Spinoza Prize, and two Gravitation Grants.
Specialisations
Microbiology is a specialisation of the Master’s programme in Biology. The other specialisations are:
Adaptive Organisms
Conservation and Restoration Ecology
Water and Environment
Transnational Ecosystem-based Water Management
Science in Society
Science, Management and Innovation
Science and Education (in Dutch)
The Faculty of Science in two minutes
Admission Requirements
Would you like to know if you are eligible to be admitted to this programme? Take our E-Check and instantly get an insight in your eligibility: echeck.ru.nl
Master's specialisation in Microbiology
Please note that this specialisation involves a selection procedure, in which a maximum of 24 students will be admitted. This selection procedure may include a (skype) interview. Therefore, we need to have your application, including a motivation letter and references. Our other Biology specialisations don’t have a selection procedure.
Admission requirements for students with a Dutch university Bachelor’s degree
A completed Bachelor's degree in Biology, Medical Biology, Molecular Life Sciences, Microbial Biochemistry or related area
All students must have passed preliminary examinations in the following subjects, containing the subject matter of the following well-known international textbooks (or equivalent literature):
Experimental skills: 12 EC of practical courses or an experimental Bachelor’s thesis on Microbial Physiology, Microbial Ecology, or Microbial Genetics or Biochemistry
General microbiology: 6 EC e.g. Brock Biology of Microorganisms (Pearson)
Biochemistry: 3 EC e.g. Principles of Biochemistry by Nelson, Cox & Lehninger (Macmillan)
Molecular Biology: 3 EC e.g. Molecular Cell Biology by Lodish et al. (W.H. Freeman)
Chemistry: 3 EC e.g. Chemistry by McMurry & Fay (Pearson)
Mathematics, statistics or physics: 3 EC e.g. College Physics by Serway, Faughn & Vuille (Brooks/Cole)
Basic understanding of the following subjects is required:
Metagenomics or genomics
Bioinformatics
Immunology
Motivation letter
Please also supply a motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) that includes:
A short description of your previous education
An explanation of why you want to take part in this specialisation
An indication of your future ambitions
Letter of reference
You also need to include at least one letter of reference from an expert in a relevant field, preferably your Bachelor’s thesis advisor.
The motivation and reference letter(s) can be sent to student advisor Conny Mooren.
If you don’t meet the academic requirements
Students who are not educated in Biology, Medical Biology, Molecular Life Sciences, Microbial Biochemistry may be able to follow a tailor-made pre-master's programme. The pre-Master’s may take a maximum of six months and will be evaluated by the Admission Office. In case of doubt, an entrance exam may be required.
Admission for students with a Bachelor’s diploma from a university of applied sciences (Dutch: hbo; German: Fachhochschule)
If you have a degree from a university of applied sciences with a relevant orientation and you would like to proceed with the Master’s programme in Biology at Radboud University, then you can, essentially, qualify for a pre-Master’s programme. You must, in any case, comply with a number of conditions of admission:
You have obtained a diploma from a university of applied sciences in one of the following orientations:
Secondary teacher training with qualifications for biology
A laboratory assistant training that sufficiently links up with the programme of your choice.
You have a pre-university (A-levels) high school diploma with biology and chemistry, or you received training at a comparable level during your university of applied sciences training.
Depending on your preliminary training, you’ll follow a pre-master's programme, which will cover approximately a half-year. The purpose of this pre-master's programme is to have you achieve the level of the academic Bachelor’s in Biology.
Admission requirements for students with an international Bachelor’s degree
A completed Bachelor's degree in Biology, Medical Biology, Molecular Life Sciences, Microbial Biochemistry or related area
All students must have passed preliminary examinations in the following subjects, containing the subject matter of the following well-known international textbooks (or equivalent literature):
Experimental skills: 12 EC of practical courses or an experimental Bachelor’s thesis on Microbial Physiology, Microbial Ecology, or Microbial Genetics or Biochemistry
General microbiology: 6 EC e.g. Brock Biology of Microorganisms (Pearson)
Biochemistry: 3 EC e.g. Principles of Biochemistry by Nelson, Cox & Lehninger (Macmillan)
Molecular Biology: 3 EC e.g. Molecular Cell Biology by Lodish et al. (W.H. Freeman)
Chemistry: 3 EC e.g. Chemistry by McMurry & Fay (Pearson)
Mathematics, statistics or physics: 3 EC e.g. College Physics by Serway, Faughn & Vuille (Brooks/Cole)
Basic understanding of the following subjects is required:
Metagenomics or genomics
Bioinformatics
Immunology
Proficiency in English
In order to take part in this programme, you need to have fluency in both written and spoken English. Non-native speakers of English* without a Dutch Bachelor's degree or VWO diploma need one of the following:
A TOEFL score of ≥575 (paper-based) or ≥90(internet-based)
An IELTS score of ≥6.5
Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), with a mark of C or higher
Motivation letter
Please also supply a motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) that includes:
A short description of your previous education
An explanation of why you want to take part in this specialisation
An indication of your future ambitions
Letter of reference
You also need to include at least one letter of reference from an expert in a relevant field, preferably your Bachelor’s thesis advisor.
*Applicants are considered to be a native speaker of English if they are from Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa.
If you don’t meet the academic requirements
Students who are not educated in Biology, Medical Biology, Molecular Life Sciences, Microbial Biochemistry may be able to follow a tailor-made pre-Master’s programme. The pre-Master’s may take a maximum of six months and will be evaluated by the Admission Office. In case of doubt, an entrance exam may be required.
You can qualify for a pre-Master’s programme if you have a diploma in one of the following orientations:
Secondary teacher training with qualifications for Biology.
A laboratory assistant training that sufficiently links up with the specialisation of your choice.
A pre-university (A-levels) high school diploma with Biology and Chemistry, or training of a comparable level during your university of applied sciences training
Deadlines
Deadlines for students with a Dutch degree
Students with a Dutch university Bachelor's degree who wish to apply for a Master’s programme beginning in the first week of September need to make sure that they have completed their application before 1 September.
In most cases, if you require an admission statement, please request this from the Board of Examiners no later than 1 July. The admission requirements for the specific programme will state when the exact deadline is.
Some (Research) Master's have their own additional deadlines for enrolment. Please go to the programme of your choice to find out about these deadlines.
Deadlines for students with an international degree
Students with an international degree who wish to apply for a Master's programme at Radboud University starting in the first week of September need to adhere to different deadlines depending on their nationality.
Non-EU/EEA applicants
With scholarship application
Non-EU/EEA students must submit a complete application before 1 March if they wish to be considered for a scholarship, for example, Radboud Scholarship Programme, and/or the Orange Tulip Scholarship. Please note that different deadlines may apply for other scholarships. Please check the scholarship website to see if you or your chosen programme is eligible for a scholarship.
Without scholarship application
All other non-EU/EEA applicants must submit a complete application before 1 April, applying after this date is not possible. Applicants will receive a service package that consists of assistance with accommodation and support with the visa and residence permit process.
EU/EEA applicants
Students from EU/EEA countries(1) must submit a complete application before 1 May to receive assistance with an accommodation. Radboud University will still consider EU/EEA applications until 1 July, but we may not be able to offer assistance with an accommodation.
Some (Research) Master's have set their own additional deadlines for enrolment. Please go to the programme of your choice to find out about these deadlines.
This list could be subject to change.
Enrolment deadlines
Students who have been (conditionally) admitted must complete their enrolment by the dates below:
Non-EU/EEA students
Non-EU/EEA students who require help with their visa application need to send legally certified hard copies of their enrolment documents (outlined in the admission letter) before 1 June. The other enrolment criteria must be met before 15 August.
All other students
All other students need to send legally certified hard copies of their enrolment documents and meet the other enrolment criteria before 15 August.
All students will receive an admissions decision approximately 3 weeks after they have completed their application in the online application system OSIRIS Application.
Please note that these deadlines are very strict and must be adhered to. They are set to ensure sufficient time for students to complete the visa process.
(1) EU/EEA countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands (including the Dutch Caribbean), Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or the United Kingdom.
Career prospects
After graduation, our students can take up a position as a:
Researcher at a university or research institute
Researcher in a company, either a large or a start-up company
Researcher at a governmental research institute
Consultant at a governmental agency, like a ministry
Consultant at a consulting firm
Risk analyzer
Policy officer at a governmental organisation or an NGO
Project coordinator in water or ecosystem management
Communications officer at an environmental organisation
Teacher in biology (College or secondary education level)
PhD positions at Radboud University
Every year, Radboud University offers about 5 to 10 PhD positions in this field of research. Of course, many graduates also apply for a PhD position at related departments in the Netherlands, or abroad.
Labour market information in the Netherlands Studiekeuze123*
From the graduates of the Master’s programme in Biology, 68% found a job within their field. The gross starting salary based on 38 hours a week is €2,200. (Source: www.studiekeuze123.nl)
Radboud Career Service
Radboud Career Service Science helps students, PhDs and alumni with advice and counselling, either in an individual interview or in a workshop with fellow students. Career Service Science can introduce you to people at national and international companies and organisations that offer interesting jobs and internships. With their extensive knowledge of the labour market and recruitment experience, they advise you on how to find the job you desire.
