Master of Science in Biology

The Master in Biology has a far-reaching impact on numerous areas within science and society. The research domain of biology itself is very broad, and covers the entire spectrum of life, its diversity and its formation at all the different organisation levels, ranging from a cell and ecosystem to the level of the biosphere.

Enrol

Master's Programme

2 year 120 credits

Faculty of Sciences

English

download brochure

contact

About the programme

Programme summary

Find out more

Off to a good start

After graduation

Study programme content subject to change

First year

(version 10 )

1 General Courses

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Integrated Research Project	1	year	en	Kenny Bogaert	8

Academic Grant Writing	1	sem 2	en	Matthew Shawkey	3

2 Majors

Subscribe to 40 credit units from 1 major from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Full-time standard learning track: Students can choose which of the Major and Elective course units will be taken in the first respectively the second year of study; a total of 49 credits is taken in the first and a total of 21 credits in the second year of study. Courses for which MT1 mentions '1' must be followed in the first master's year.

Please note: some elective courses are offered only every two years or require specific initial competences. Keep this in mind when choosing your Major and Elective courses.

2.1 Major Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology

2.1.1 Core Courses

Subscribe to no less than 24 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Taxonomy and Systematics	1	sem 1	en	Koen Sabbe	4

Phylogenetics	1	sem 1	en	Olivier De Clerck	4

Spatial Processes and Patterns in Biodiversity	1	sem 1	en	Dries Bonte	4

Paleobiology	1	sem 1	en	Thijs Vandenbroucke	5

Biodiversity Conservation	1	sem 2	en	Ana Rita Giraldes Simoes	4

Evolutionary Morphology	1	sem 1	en	Lars Chatrou	5

Evolutionary Genomics	1	sem 1	en	Frederik Hendrickx	6

2.1.2 In-depth Courses

Subscribe to no more than 16 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Advanced Mycology	sem 1	en	Annemieke Verbeken	5

Ornithology			Luc Lens	4

Phylogenetics and Evolution of Flowering Plants	sem 2	en	Lars Chatrou	5

Evolution of Primates and Paleo-anthropology			Dominique Adriaens	3

Functional Diversity of Prokaryotes	sem 1	en	Anne Willems	4

Multivariate Analysis of Biological Data	sem 2	en	Koen Sabbe	3

2.2 Major Global Change Ecology

2.2.1 Core Courses

Subscribe to no less than 24 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Climate Change	1	sem 2	en	Dirk Verschuren	4

Spatial Processes and Patterns in Biodiversity	1	sem 1	en	Dries Bonte	4

Ecosystem Dynamics	1	sem 1	en	Elie Verleyen	5

Behavioural Ecology	1	sem 2	en	Lucy Mitchell	4

Ecological Modelling	1	sem 1	en	Dries Bonte	4

Human and Political Ecology: Global Perspective	1	sem 1	en	Sander Jacobs	4

Ecophysiology	1	sem 1	en	Nicky Wybouw	4

2.2.2 In-depth Courses

Subscribe to no more than 16 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Individual Based Modelling			Dries Bonte	4

Conservation Genetics	sem 2	en	Philippe Helsen	5

Multivariate Analysis of Biological Data	sem 2	en	Koen Sabbe	3

Limnology	sem 2	en	Dirk Verschuren	4

Marine Ecology	sem 1	en	Carl Van Colen	6

Microbial Ecology			Anne Willems	4

Soil Ecology	sem 2	en	Elie Verleyen	4

2.3 Major Functional Biology

2.3.1 Core Courses

Subscribe to no less than 24 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Physiological Regulation in Plants	1	sem 1	en	Sébastjen Schoenaers	5

Physiological Regulation in Animals	1	sem 2	en	Bart Braeckman	5

Functional Abiotic Interactions: Animals	1	sem 1	en	Bart Braeckman	3

Functional Abiotic Interactions: Plants	1	sem 1	en	Sébastjen Schoenaers	3

Functional Abiotic Interactions: Microbes	1	sem 1	en	Anne Willems	3

Host-Parasite Interactions	1	sem 1	en	Dirk de Graaf	3

Plant Biotic Interactions	1	sem 2	en	Sofie Goormachtig	3

Plant Developmental Biology	1	sem 2	en	Tom Beeckman	5

Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Animals	1	sem 2	en	Paul Witten	5

Plant Evolutionary Developmental Biology	1	sem 2	en	Tom Beeckman	3

Ecophysiology	1	sem 1	en	Nicky Wybouw	4

2.3.2 In-depth Courses

Subscribe to no more than 16 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Biology of Ageing			Bart Braeckman	4

Biological Excursions in the Human Brain	sem 2	en	Robrecht Raedt	5

Insect Physiology			Dirk de Graaf	5

Molecular Plant Physiology	sem 1	en	Thomas Depaepe	5

Advanced Cell Biology	sem 1	en	Geert van Loo	5

Immunology and Pathology			Martin Guilliams	5

Glycobiology	sem 1	en	Nico Callewaert	3

Laboratory Animal Science	year	en	Katleen Hermans	9

Bioethics	sem 1	en	Michiel De Proost	3

Plant Research Technologies	sem 1	en	Hilde Nelissen	3

The Plant Factory	sem 1	en	Frank Van Breusegem	3

Experimental Molecular Cell Biology	sem 2	en	Rudi Beyaert	3

Systems Biology	sem 2	en	Bert De Rybel	4

Animal Cognition	sem 1	en	Frederick Verbruggen	4

3 Elective Courses

Subscribe to 30 credit units from no less than 1 and no more than 5 modules from the following list.

To subscribe for courses from the 3 majors, use module 3.5

3.1 Focus Bio-inspired Innovation and Sustainability

Subscribe to no less than 12 and no more than 30 credit units from the following list, with 12 credit units with reference a.

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Bio-inspired Project	a	year	en	Matthew Shawkey	9

Introduction to Biomimicry	a	sem 1	en	Liliana D'Alba Altamirano	3

Basic Entrepreneurship	UKV	sem 1	nl	Yannick Dillen	3

Dare to Venture		sem 2	en	Johan Verrue	4

Environmental Economics and Policy		sem 2	nl	Brent Bleys	6

Global Minds	UKV	sem 2	en	Ines Keygnaert	5

3.2 Focus Marine Biology

Subscribe to no more than 18 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Oceanography	sem 1	en	Ann Vanreusel	6

Aquatic Food Web Ecology	sem 1	en	Marleen De Troch	3

Marine Policy and Governance	sem 1	en	Klaas Willaert	3

Aquatic Genomics	sem 1	nl,en	Olivier De Clerck	6

3.3 Focus Professional Skills

Subscribe to no more than 31 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Professional Internship I	year	nl,en	Luc Lens	5

Professional Internship II	year	nl	Luc Lens	10

International Project	year	en	Marleen De Troch	5

International Course	year	en	Ann Vanreusel	5

History and Philosophy of Sciences	sem 2	nl	Maarten Van Dyck	3

History and Philosophy of Biology	sem 2	en	Gertrudis Van de Vijver	3

Practical Skills in Academic Biological Education	year	nl	Dominique Adriaens	3

3.4 Focus Education

Subscribe to no more than 30 credit units from the abridged MSc in Teaching in Science and Technology (Biology).

3.5 Elective Courses UGent and other Universities

Subscribe to courses for no more than 30 credit units to be chosen from the majors, the study programmes of UGent including the Ghent University elective courses or from study programmes of other universities of the Flemish Community or (online) courses from Erasmus+ partner universities.

Subscribe to: no less than 20 credit units 'Biology related courses'.

Second year

(version 10 )

1 General Courses

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Scientific Communication	2	sem 1	en	Danny Haelewaters	4

Advanced Biostatistics	2	sem 1	en	Carl Vangestel	5

2 Majors

Subscribe to 40 credit units from 1 major from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Please note: some elective courses are offered only every two years or require specific initial competences. Keep this in mind when choosing your Major and Elective courses.

2.1 Major Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology

2.1.2 In-depth Courses

Subscribe to no more than 16 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Advanced Mycology	sem 1	en	Annemieke Verbeken	5

Ornithology			Luc Lens	4

Phylogenetics and Evolution of Flowering Plants	sem 2	en	Lars Chatrou	5

Evolution of Primates and Paleo-anthropology			Dominique Adriaens	3

Functional Diversity of Prokaryotes	sem 1	en	Anne Willems	4

Multivariate Analysis of Biological Data	sem 2	en	Koen Sabbe	3

2.2 Major Global Change Ecology

2.2.2 In-depth Courses

Subscribe to no more than 16 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Individual Based Modelling			Dries Bonte	4

Conservation Genetics	sem 2	en	Philippe Helsen	5

Multivariate Analysis of Biological Data	sem 2	en	Koen Sabbe	3

Limnology	sem 2	en	Dirk Verschuren	4

Marine Ecology	sem 1	en	Carl Van Colen	6

Microbial Ecology			Anne Willems	4

Soil Ecology	sem 2	en	Elie Verleyen	4

2.3 Major Functional Biology

2.3.2 In-depth Courses

Subscribe to no more than 16 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Biology of Ageing			Bart Braeckman	4

Biological Excursions in the Human Brain	sem 2	en	Robrecht Raedt	5

Insect Physiology			Dirk de Graaf	5

Molecular Plant Physiology	sem 1	en	Thomas Depaepe	5

Advanced Cell Biology	sem 1	en	Geert van Loo	5

Immunology and Pathology			Martin Guilliams	5

Glycobiology	sem 1	en	Nico Callewaert	3

Laboratory Animal Science	year	en	Katleen Hermans	9

Bioethics	sem 1	en	Michiel De Proost	3

Plant Research Technologies	sem 1	en	Hilde Nelissen	3

The Plant Factory	sem 1	en	Frank Van Breusegem	3

Experimental Molecular Cell Biology	sem 2	en	Rudi Beyaert	3

Systems Biology	sem 2	en	Bert De Rybel	4

Animal Cognition	sem 1	en	Frederick Verbruggen	4

3 Elective Courses

Subscribe to 30 credit units from no less than 1 and no more than 5 modules from the following list.

To subscribe for courses from the 3 majors, use module 3.5

3.1 Focus Bio-inspired Innovation and Sustainability

Subscribe to no less than 12 and no more than 30 credit units from the following list, with 12 credit units with reference a.

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Bio-inspired Project	a	year	en	Matthew Shawkey	9

Introduction to Biomimicry	a	sem 1	en	Liliana D'Alba Altamirano	3

Basic Entrepreneurship	UKV	sem 1	nl	Yannick Dillen	3

Dare to Venture		sem 2	en	Johan Verrue	4

Environmental Economics and Policy		sem 2	nl	Brent Bleys	6

Global Minds	UKV	sem 2	en	Ines Keygnaert	5

3.2 Focus Marine Biology

Subscribe to no more than 18 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Oceanography	sem 1	en	Ann Vanreusel	6

Aquatic Food Web Ecology	sem 1	en	Marleen De Troch	3

Marine Policy and Governance	sem 1	en	Klaas Willaert	3

Aquatic Genomics	sem 1	nl,en	Olivier De Clerck	6

3.3 Focus Professional Skills

Subscribe to no more than 31 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Professional Internship I	year	nl,en	Luc Lens	5

Professional Internship II	year	nl	Luc Lens	10

International Project	year	en	Marleen De Troch	5

International Course	year	en	Ann Vanreusel	5

History and Philosophy of Sciences	sem 2	nl	Maarten Van Dyck	3

History and Philosophy of Biology	sem 2	en	Gertrudis Van de Vijver	3

Practical Skills in Academic Biological Education	year	nl	Dominique Adriaens	3

3.4 Focus Education

Subscribe to no more than 30 credit units from the abridged MSc in Teaching in Science and Technology (Biology).

3.5 Elective Courses UGent and other Universities

Subscribe to: no less than 20 credit units 'Biology related courses'.

4 Master's Dissertation

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Master's Dissertation		2				30

Full programme

(version 10 )

Print

1 General Courses 20

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Integrated Research Project	1	year	en	Kenny Bogaert	8

Academic Grant Writing	1	sem 2	en	Matthew Shawkey	3

Scientific Communication	2	sem 1	en	Danny Haelewaters	4

Advanced Biostatistics	2	sem 1	en	Carl Vangestel	5

2 Majors 40

Subscribe to 40 credit units from 1 major from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Please note: some elective courses are offered only every two years or require specific initial competences. Keep this in mind when choosing your Major and Elective courses.

2.1 Major Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology

40

2.1.1 Core Courses

Subscribe to no less than 24 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Taxonomy and Systematics	1	sem 1	en	Koen Sabbe	4

Phylogenetics	1	sem 1	en	Olivier De Clerck	4

Spatial Processes and Patterns in Biodiversity	1	sem 1	en	Dries Bonte	4

Paleobiology	1	sem 1	en	Thijs Vandenbroucke	5

Biodiversity Conservation	1	sem 2	en	Ana Rita Giraldes Simoes	4

Evolutionary Morphology	1	sem 1	en	Lars Chatrou	5

Evolutionary Genomics	1	sem 1	en	Frederik Hendrickx	6

2.1.2 In-depth Courses

Subscribe to no more than 16 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Advanced Mycology	sem 1	en	Annemieke Verbeken	5

Ornithology			Luc Lens	4

Phylogenetics and Evolution of Flowering Plants	sem 2	en	Lars Chatrou	5

Evolution of Primates and Paleo-anthropology			Dominique Adriaens	3

Functional Diversity of Prokaryotes	sem 1	en	Anne Willems	4

Multivariate Analysis of Biological Data	sem 2	en	Koen Sabbe	3

2.2 Major Global Change Ecology

40

2.2.1 Core Courses

Subscribe to no less than 24 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Climate Change	1	sem 2	en	Dirk Verschuren	4

Spatial Processes and Patterns in Biodiversity	1	sem 1	en	Dries Bonte	4

Ecosystem Dynamics	1	sem 1	en	Elie Verleyen	5

Behavioural Ecology	1	sem 2	en	Lucy Mitchell	4

Ecological Modelling	1	sem 1	en	Dries Bonte	4

Human and Political Ecology: Global Perspective	1	sem 1	en	Sander Jacobs	4

Ecophysiology	1	sem 1	en	Nicky Wybouw	4

2.2.2 In-depth Courses

Subscribe to no more than 16 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Individual Based Modelling			Dries Bonte	4

Conservation Genetics	sem 2	en	Philippe Helsen	5

Multivariate Analysis of Biological Data	sem 2	en	Koen Sabbe	3

Limnology	sem 2	en	Dirk Verschuren	4

Marine Ecology	sem 1	en	Carl Van Colen	6

Microbial Ecology			Anne Willems	4

Soil Ecology	sem 2	en	Elie Verleyen	4

2.3 Major Functional Biology

40

2.3.1 Core Courses

Subscribe to no less than 24 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Physiological Regulation in Plants	1	sem 1	en	Sébastjen Schoenaers	5

Physiological Regulation in Animals	1	sem 2	en	Bart Braeckman	5

Functional Abiotic Interactions: Animals	1	sem 1	en	Bart Braeckman	3

Functional Abiotic Interactions: Plants	1	sem 1	en	Sébastjen Schoenaers	3

Functional Abiotic Interactions: Microbes	1	sem 1	en	Anne Willems	3

Host-Parasite Interactions	1	sem 1	en	Dirk de Graaf	3

Plant Biotic Interactions	1	sem 2	en	Sofie Goormachtig	3

Plant Developmental Biology	1	sem 2	en	Tom Beeckman	5

Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Animals	1	sem 2	en	Paul Witten	5

Plant Evolutionary Developmental Biology	1	sem 2	en	Tom Beeckman	3

Ecophysiology	1	sem 1	en	Nicky Wybouw	4

2.3.2 In-depth Courses

Subscribe to no more than 16 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Biology of Ageing			Bart Braeckman	4

Biological Excursions in the Human Brain	sem 2	en	Robrecht Raedt	5

Insect Physiology			Dirk de Graaf	5

Molecular Plant Physiology	sem 1	en	Thomas Depaepe	5

Advanced Cell Biology	sem 1	en	Geert van Loo	5

Immunology and Pathology			Martin Guilliams	5

Glycobiology	sem 1	en	Nico Callewaert	3

Laboratory Animal Science	year	en	Katleen Hermans	9

Bioethics	sem 1	en	Michiel De Proost	3

Plant Research Technologies	sem 1	en	Hilde Nelissen	3

The Plant Factory	sem 1	en	Frank Van Breusegem	3

Experimental Molecular Cell Biology	sem 2	en	Rudi Beyaert	3

Systems Biology	sem 2	en	Bert De Rybel	4

Animal Cognition	sem 1	en	Frederick Verbruggen	4

3 Elective Courses 30

Subscribe to 30 credit units from no less than 1 and no more than 5 modules from the following list.

To subscribe for courses from the 3 majors, use module 3.5

3.1 Focus Bio-inspired Innovation and Sustainability

Subscribe to no less than 12 and no more than 30 credit units from the following list, with 12 credit units with reference a.

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Bio-inspired Project	a	year	en	Matthew Shawkey	9

Introduction to Biomimicry	a	sem 1	en	Liliana D'Alba Altamirano	3

Basic Entrepreneurship	UKV	sem 1	nl	Yannick Dillen	3

Dare to Venture		sem 2	en	Johan Verrue	4

Environmental Economics and Policy		sem 2	nl	Brent Bleys	6

Global Minds	UKV	sem 2	en	Ines Keygnaert	5

3.2 Focus Marine Biology

Subscribe to no more than 18 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Oceanography	sem 1	en	Ann Vanreusel	6

Aquatic Food Web Ecology	sem 1	en	Marleen De Troch	3

Marine Policy and Governance	sem 1	en	Klaas Willaert	3

Aquatic Genomics	sem 1	nl,en	Olivier De Clerck	6

3.3 Focus Professional Skills

Subscribe to no more than 31 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Professional Internship I	year	nl,en	Luc Lens	5

Professional Internship II	year	nl	Luc Lens	10

International Project	year	en	Marleen De Troch	5

International Course	year	en	Ann Vanreusel	5

History and Philosophy of Sciences	sem 2	nl	Maarten Van Dyck	3

History and Philosophy of Biology	sem 2	en	Gertrudis Van de Vijver	3

Practical Skills in Academic Biological Education	year	nl	Dominique Adriaens	3

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Master's Dissertation		2				30

Learning outcomes

Competence field 1: Competence in one or more scientific disciplines

Describes and explains in an integrated and in-depth manner biological patterns and processes within an evolutionary framework.
Integrates the different levels of organisation in biology at which biological patterns and processes are to be situated (from gene to ecosystem).
Applies knowledge and understanding of the most recent developments within a more specialised subdomain within biology (biodiversity, evolutionary biology, fundamental and applied ecology and/or functional biology).
Applies in a creative, interdisciplinary and problem oriented manner the models, theories and methods in biology (as well as those of associated sciences), and further develops them towards specific and specialised biological questions.

Competence field 2: Scientific competence

Estimates the complexity of a biological problem (both from a fundamental and applied nature) in a self-sustained manner.
Relies on the scientific method and builds upon a prior critical assessment of available information to formulate relevant research questions and formulate hypotheses.
Translates biological questions into hypotheses towards a problem oriented and structured research strategy.
Designs in a self-sustained manner a problem oriented strategy, and makes use of the appropriate scientific techniques to perform experiments and make observations within both a field and laboratory context.
Accurately performs focused observations and measurements of complex biological structures, patterns and processes.
Relies on a broad knowledge of computational and statistical techniques to manage and analyse complex biological datasets.
Autonomously follows-up and critically evaluates new conceptual and methodological developments in the international literature.

Competence field 3: Intellectual competence

Frame specialized biological knowledge with a broader scientific context.
Acts through prioritisation, depending on the complexity of the biological question related to research, education and/or a broader scientific and socio-economic context.
Analyses and synthesizes recent developments as part of dealing with a scientific problem within one or more subdisciplines in biology, and addresses this in a critical manner.
Shows an attitude of eagerness to learn (lifelong learning), where biological information is being critically analysed and verified, matching the reliability of the source of information.

Competence field 4: Competence in collaboration and communication

Starting from complex scientific information, extracts the relevant information for proper communication towards a particular target audience.
Communicates own research, as well as research published in international literature towards both a specialized and broader audience.
Uses appropriate formats of communication, depending on the nature, aim and target audience, when communicating about biological themes and related topics (with the goal to inspire, inform, obtain funding, PR, job soliciting, policy advice).
Synthesises scientific information in written and oral fashion in Dutch and Enlgish, and this both individually and as a team.
Organises efficiently and target oriented team work to come to a shared conclusion, through task division and mutual consulting, and reports about it.

Competence field 5: Competence in social responsibility

Develops and communicates a scientifically supported vision with respect to the consequences of human activities on ecosystems and biodiversity.
Acts in a scientific-ethical manner when addressing biological research and teaching, and other affiliated professional activities.
Puts the use and importance of biological research within a broader societal and/or economical context.

Competence field 6: Professional competences

Has the attitude to perform supportive scientific activities in a professional context, and/or applies this in a self-sustained, correct, critical and creative sense.
Minor Education: Apprehends knowledge, insights, practical skills and attitudes when teaching biological patterns and processes.
Minor Research: Functions in a self-sustained manner or as part of a team to solve biological questions in a focused way, and to translate this to useful information within a fundamental and applied context.
Minor Economics and Business Administration: Relies on basic concepts and insights in economy and business management to commercially valorize biological information and/or analytical tools.
Can apply the gained knowledge, skills and attitudes in biological sciences within a broader range of jobs (situated in research, education, services, policy advice and entrepreneurship).