Master of Science in Plant Biotechnology
The Master of Science in Plant Biotechnology is an advanced one-year Master's programme for students with a background in biotechnology who want to shift their focus towards fundamental plant biotechnological research. The programme aims at providing answers to the complex questions of how we will deal with the growing demand for plant-derived products such as feed and food. In Ghent, state-of-the-art science meets industrial entrepreneurship at the largest agro-biotech campus in Europe.
What
The global demand for plant-derived products such as feed and food is increasing dramatically, as illustrated by for instance the increasing prices of most commodity crops. How can we deal with these exponentially growing demands for food, feed and bio-energy? How can we cope with the fact that we will have to produce more food on less arable land, under environmentally more challenging conditions? These are just a few questions that modern plant biotechnology has to solve. Our study programme is embedded in an environment of state-of-the-art science and industrial entrepreneurship where translational research enables knowledge transfer from plant models to crops. Studying at Ghent University means studying at the largest agro-biotech campus in Europe.
For whom
The admission requirements depend on your prior education (type of degree, country of issue etc.) or additional experience.
Structure
The curriculum covers all aspects of modern plant biotechnology related to state-of-the-art technologies, plant growth and development, abiotic stress and biotic interactions, intellectual property and safety regulations. Moreover, by means of elective courses and a substantial Master's dissertation, students can specialise further in their field of interest.
Labour Market
Ghent University in collaboration with the VIB Centre for Plant Systems Biology has a long-standing tradition of converting basic science into successful industrial entities: BASF Agricultural Solutions Belgium NV (previously Plant Genetic Systems and Bayer Crop Science), CropDesign, Syngenta (previously Devgen) and more recently Biotalys, Aphea.Bio and Protealis. Today, these companies together with our plant research centre form the largest European Plant Biotechnology campus. This experience is integrated in our education and will prepare you for various positions in research labs and agro-biotech companies.
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Unique Selling Points
- Plant biotechnology is a worldwide research domain, whose breakthrough innovative results initiate a growing branch of networks and industry for food production, bio-energy and medicines.
- International intake: although our English-taught programme is also taken by Belgian students, the aim is to recruit students from all over the world. Scholarships are available.
- Advanced Master’s programme: The programme is aimed at students who already have a Master's degree or a four-year Bachelor’s degree (including a dissertation).
- The one-year programme (60 ECTS) strives for rapid specialization and meets the relatively limited (financial) resources of some students from developing countries. However, the programme can be spread over two consecutive years with the compulsory courses in the first year and the elective courses and the Master’s dissertation in the second year.
- High level: The students should have sufficient basic knowledge, which is assessed via thorough screening during the intake interview.
Strengths
- The programme is well organized and is supported by internationally very high-ranking researchers with an impressive track record of research and a strong commitment to the student’s learning outcomes through varied education and evaluation methods.
- There is an open-door policy and low threshold guidance, strong administrative support and intense personal contact of the staff with the students, resulting in a good group dynamic amongst the lecturers and the small group of students.
- The students are closely surveyed during formal and informal feedback moments. Our lecturers pay a lot of attention to the students’ diverse backgrounds and often check whether everyone is able to understand the course and achieve the learning outcomes.
- Because biotechnology is by definition a crossroad of different disciplines (i.e. chemistry, biology, mathematics, statistics and computer science), multiperspectivism is inherent in all courses. In addition, the different aspects of ethics, regulatory requirements and IP will be touched on.
- The programme helps students in personal development and in defining future career paths.
Challenges
- Due to the dense programme, there are no courses focusing on transferrable skills and project management. However, where possible, this is addressed by active learning and assignments during the courses. In addition, the education aims to involve the work field as much as possible (e.g. guest lectures, seminars, master’s dissertation in industry).
- Feedback from alumni indicated that the workload is rather high. The programme board will continue to optimize the feasibility of the programme and help students manage expectations during the intake interview (e.g. one- or two-year trajectory).
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found here.
This information was last updated on 01/02/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.