MSc in Biomolecular Sciences
Groningen, Netherlands
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 May 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 24,200 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Dutch, EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students
** for Non-EU|for EU/EEA EUR 2,530
Introduction
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 or medical applications?
Biomolecular sciences is a very internationally oriented research and business area that profits from strong multidisciplinary expertise in genetics, microbiology, molecular (cell) biology, structural biology, biochemistry, synthetic- 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 Immunology
- 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 (1953)
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 the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB). The second project (30 EC) should be conducted in a different research group, either at the 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 possibilities to study abroad 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. Our exchange programs have a typical duration of one semester and count toward your final degree.
Admissions
Career Opportunities
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, or Bio(nano-)technology
- An R&D position in Life Sciences-, Medical-, Pharmaceutical- or Food Industry
- A position as a Scientific Advisor in a company