MSc in Microbiology

Virtual Open Day

Do you want to learn more about this program, tour our campus and meet current students and staff from the comfort of your own home? Join us for the Virtual Open Day on 6 February 2020!

Program

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 program 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.

Specializations

Microbiology is a specialization of the Master’s program in Biology. The other specializations 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

Master's specialization in Microbiology

Please note that this specialization 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 specializations don’t have a selection procedure.

Admission requirements for students with a Dutch university Bachelor’s degree

1. 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
2. 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 specialization
     • An indication of your future ambitions
3. 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 program. 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 program in Biology at Radboud University, then you can, essentially, qualify for a pre-Master’s program. 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 program 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 program, which will cover approximately a half-year. The purpose of this pre-master's program is to have you achieve the level of the academic Bachelor’s in Biology.

Admission requirements for students with an international Bachelor’s degree

1. 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
2. Proficiency in English
   • In order to take part in this program, 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
3. 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 specialization
     • An indication of your future ambitions
4. 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 program. 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 program 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 specialization 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 program 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 program will state when the exact deadline is.

Some (Research) Master's have their own additional deadlines for enrolment. Please go to the program 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 program 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 program 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 accommodation. Radboud University will still consider EU/EEA applications until 1 July, but we may not be able to offer assistance with accommodation.

Some (Research) Master's have set their own additional deadlines for enrolment. Please go to the program 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 organization or an NGO
• Project coordinator in water or ecosystem management
• Communications officer at an environmental organization
• Teacher in biology (College or secondary education level)

Ph.D. positions at Radboud University

Every year, Radboud University offers about 5 to 10 Ph.D. positions in this field of research. Of course, many graduates also apply for a Ph.D. position at related departments in the Netherlands, or abroad.

Labor market information in the Netherlands Studiekeuze123*

From the graduates of the Master’s program 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 counseling, 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 organizations that offer interesting jobs and internships. With their extensive knowledge of the labor market and recruitment experience, they advise you on how to find the job you desire.