Neurosciences
Study programme
The Master’s in Neurosciences is a two-year, full-time programme. The teaching comprises lectures, research seminars, work groups, demonstrations, lab visits and practicals.
First year
- Compulsory courses: All students take the compulsory courses to ensure that they receive the same fundamental training in relevant disciplines, irrespective of their previous education.
- Work placement: The first work placement will usually be carried out at VU University Amsterdam or an affiliated institute and will last between five and six months. You will have a wide range of work placement opportunities to choose from.
An overview of the compulsory courses
Principles of Neuroscience (6 ECTS)
This course deals mainly with molecules and cells, but also examines the functional anatomy of the central nervous system, in particular perception and locomotion.
Clinical Neuroscience (5 ECTS)
The primary focus of this course is the neurobiology of behaviour and the neural basis of cognition.
Quantitative Methods in Neuroscience and Genetics (5 ECTS)
Subjects include exercise and depression; measuring stress; the ‘g’ factor; APOE genotypes and ApoE protein levels; potential association of the 5HTTLPR genotype with anxiety; whole genome scans in Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).
Neurogenomics (5 ECTS)
Subjects include forward genetics (‘gene-hunting’); reverse genetics; gene expression profiling; proteomics; simulation of genetic networks in mathematical models.
Behavioural Genetics (5 ECTS)
The following subjects are covered: basic mechanisms of cultural and genetic inheritance; methods of behavioural genetic research; recent developments in behavioural genetics in humans and animals, especially in cognition, psychopathology and addiction.
Scientific Writing in English (3 ECTS)
This course is designed to improve your skills in writing scientific texts in English.
Second year
- Optional courses: During the second year, you will have the chance to specialize in one of the following areas: Neurogenomics, Neuronal Network Physiology, Neuroinformatics, Medical Genetics, Psychophysiology or Clinical Neurosciences.
- Second work placement and literature survey: The programme encourages you to carry out your second work placement outside VU University Amsterdam, and if possible, at an institute outside of the Netherlands.
Optional courses
The optional courses enable you to expand your knowledge of certain areas. You can choose from:
- Advanced Neurogenomics
- Bioinformatics
- Cognition and Attention
- Emotional and Cognitive Neuroscience
- Experimental and Clinical Neuroendocrinology
- Developmental Neurobiology of the Vertebrate Brain
- Experimental Neurophysiology
- Functional Brain Imaging
- Gene Hunting
- in vivo Neurophysiology
- Live Cell Imaging
- Neurobiology of Animal Behaviour
- Neuro- and Psychopharmacology
- Neuroinformatics
- Psychophysiology
- Quantitative Genetics
- Social Psychology
- Statistical Genetics for Gene Finding
- System Neurosciences
Work placements
Your work placements will account for 60 of your credits. One placement should preferably be completed at VU University Amsterdam and the other externally. One placement must deal with a subject within the neurosciences. You are free to choose the subject of your other placement yourself, provided it is related to neuroscience research.
Course descriptions
Further information about the Master’s programme in Neurosciences and course module descriptions can be found online at:
study guide
Literature survey/thesis
As a Master’s student in Neurosciences you are also required to carry out a literature survey. You are expected to complete this task independently to a large extent, though you will, of course, have expert guidance from one of the teaching staff. You can determine your own topic and research question. Your literature survey can focus on a scientific question but may also take a more applied or social approach.
Specializations
The Master’s programme in Neurosciences does not have formal specializations. Students are, however, able to emphasize specific areas of study by means of directed choices in optional courses and the subject area of the thesis and traineeship. Study profiles have been designed for some general subject areas. The subject areas are:
- Neurogenomics
- Neuronal Network Physiology
- Behavioral and System Neurosciences
- Medical Genetics
- Psychophysiology
- Clinical Neurosciences
For more details see: www.cncr.nl
