MSc in Science Education and Communication
Groningen, Netherlands
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English, Dutch
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 May 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Feb 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 24,200 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Dutch I EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students
** for Non-EU|for EU/EEA EUR 2,530 I Part-time EUR 1,863
Introduction
How does the world of science connect with the worlds of education and society? How do teachers bridge science and education? How are science and its processes communicated in the media? What is the role of informal institutions in shaping the public's understanding of science?
If you are interested in these questions then this program is for you! We aim to bridge the gap between those who know science, those who teach science, and those who communicate science. The program builds upon an international network of existing institutional links, teaching and research experience, and a well-established Master's degree program offered in Dutch for the past 14 years. The international program will provide you with a solid foundation in the science, theory, and practice of innovative teaching and effective communication in science and mathematics.
The Master's degree program in Science Education and Communication is a flexible, two-year program, with six tracks you can choose from. There are five Education tracks (Biology, Informatics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) and Communication. All tracks are based on a highly interactive and interdisciplinary global curriculum that integrates theory, research and practice through a series of contemporary courses and internships.
Through this transformative experience, you will gain deep scientific understandings and develop research, teaching, and communication skills needed to assume a range of roles and succeed in diverse formal and informal workplaces:
- Schools
- Science Museums and Centers
- Media
- Community Organizations
- Research and Academia
Why study this program in Groningen?
- A highly interactive and interdisciplinary global curriculum
- Tracks in education and communication
- The communication specialization is largely practice-based
- An international context
- There have been two Nobel Prize winners in our faculty: Ben Feringa (Chemistry, 2016) and Frits Zernike (Physics)
Research
The Institute for Science Education and Communication.
The Institute for Science Education and Communication conducts research aimed at improving teaching in mathematics and science education. Research projects are carried out in secondary and university education.
ISEC staff members teach courses in science education and communication, among others in the two-year masters’ degree program Education and Communication in Mathematics and Science. This masters’ program is a cooperation with the University Centre for Teaching and Learning.
ISEC works on the development of courses and curricula in the Faculty of Science and Engineering in collaboration with the Undergraduate School of Science and Graduate School of Science.
Curriculum
All tracks start with a joint selection of courses. You conduct a scientific research project within your own science or mathematics expertise. In the course 'Science Communication Skills' written and verbal communication skills are further developed. 'Science Education and Communication Design' covers the design process of a website and teaching and communication materials. 'Introduction to Research in Science Education and Communication' examines methods of scientific research.
Program options
- Education (track)
At this point in time, the Education specialization is only available in Dutch.
- Communication (track)
The Communication specialization teaches students to be able to act as a mediator between science experts and non-experts audiences in international contexts.
You explore the position of mathematics and natural sciences in society, taking into account historical backgrounds and the current state of scientific research in these areas In courses such as 'Science Communication and Journalism' and 'Science and the Public' students orient on the main pathways through which scientific knowledge reaches society. Focusing on the written press, as well as museums, the internet, radio, and television. In hands-on workshops, students learn how to write popular science texts and design exhibits for science centers, based on recent insights from research. In the course 'Science, Communication and Society' students are engaged in risk communication and the role of the public debate in science communication. The program is very much focused on professional training and students' individual development. In your 'External Science Communication Project,' you bring their knowledge into practice with an in-company internship. You are given a large degree of freedom to decide for which client you want to work with. Many students opt to work for popular scientific magazines, museums, websites, or for radio or television programs.
Admissions
Career Opportunities
Job prospects
Possible companies and organizations include: Schools, Science Museums and Centers, Media, Community Organizations, Research, and Academia
Job examples
- A spokesperson at a museum or an institute
- A science journalist for a newspaper or broadcasting company
- Teacher in upper-level secondary education