BSc in Biology

Do you want to know how climate change affects biodiversity? Or how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases? Are you fascinated by evolution, the human brain, genetics, and ecology? Then Biology is what you are looking for.

Something for you?

• A challenging and broad curriculum with specialised learning trajectories.
• Strong emphasis on Biology in Society, team-based learning, and lab sessions.
• Excellent and innovative research facilities.
• Possible internships at the RIBES, RIMLS and DCN research institutes.
• Active study association to meet fellow students, alumni, and lecturers.

Why study Biology in Nijmegen?

Biology is an English-taught Bachelor's programme that lays a solid foundation of biology as seen from a variety of perspectives. You develop an understanding of the entire field by following courses from seven learning trajectories: Ecology, Environment and Sustainability, Microbiology, Physiology & Adaptation, Functional Genomics, Human Biology and Neurobiology.

Study duration: 3 years (180 EC)

Each learning trajectory consists of a set of courses, enabling you to specialise in a specific topic. The different learning trajectories are connected to the Master's specialisations in Biology and Medical Biology. This is why the courses are more specialised in the second part of the programme. It enables you to deepen your knowledge and align your courses with your interests. You also get familiar with the philosophical and ethical debates within your field.

Year 1

In the first year, you get a broad introduction to the field of biology and medical biology. You acquire considerable knowledge by following courses from all learning trajectories. You learn about everything from animals, biodiversity, plants, and climate change to parts of a cell and the chemical structures of DNA and RNA. Also develop your research and analytical skills.

• Animal Evolution and Adaptation

• Evolution and Development of Plants

• Introduction to the Bachelor's Programme

• Statistics 1

• Cellular Biochemistry

• Microbiology

• Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA

• Research Skills

• Ecology

• Genomics and Big Data

• Histology

• Biodiversity

• Human Biology

• Mathematics for Biologists

Year 2

You spend the first two periods of the second year finishing the general phase. In the last two periods, course content becomes more specialized and there is a lot of freedom of choice. You can choose a learning trajectory and add courses from other trajectories. This means you can create a program that fits your interests. You can choose courses from all fields of biology and medical biology.

• Animal Physiology

• Brain and Behaviour

• Microbial Metabolism

• Genetics

• Introduction to Environmental Science

• Plant Physiology

• Writing about Science

• Statistics II

• Philosophy and Ethics of Science

Year 3

In the third year, you continue following your chosen learning trajectory. In the first two periods, you have the opportunity to go abroad or follow courses at another university. The final period is spent completing an internship within a research department.

• Biology Essay

• Personal and Professional Development

What will you learn?

Discover biology from every angle over three years in an international classroom. You will focus on how you can put your gained theoretical knowledge into practice. There is lots of room for personal preference. You will learn about all sorts of subjects, from animals and climate change to the chemical structures of DNA and RNA and everything in between.

The first part of the program provides you with a solid foundation to build on. You can then specialize and design your own profile, and choose courses from learning trajectories within both biology and medical biology.

Credits:180 ECTS

What will you learn?

Discover biology from every angle over three years in an international classroom. You will focus on how you can put your gained theoretical knowledge into practice. There is lots of room for personal preference. You will learn about all sorts of subjects, from animals and climate change to the chemical structures of DNA and RNA and everything in between.

The first part of the program provides you with a solid foundation to build on. You can then specialize and design your own profile, and choose courses from learning trajectories within both biology and medical biology.

With a Bachelor's degree in Biology, you can advance to several Master's specializations in Biology and Medical Biology. Or you can get your teaching qualification in biology by doing the Master's in Education (in Dutch).

After your studies

The field of biology is wide and gives you lots of choices on the job market. Work as a researcher, teacher, consultant, policymaker, or manager in a profit or non-profit organisation. The programme provides you with a huge number of opportunities to discover your strengths and to explore all career fields.

Possible occupations

• Researcher in a university, hospital, research institute (for example RIVM, TNO in the Netherlands) or company.

• Teacher in secondary school or higher education

• Consultant for a consultancy company

• Consultant for companies in agriculture or the pharmaceutical industry

• Policymaker for a non-profit organisation, environmental federation, or government

• Project leader or manager

Preparation for the job market

If you choose Biology, you will quickly find that it is a compelling and broad field. However, do you know what you want to do after? Do you want to become a researcher, or do you prefer consulting companies, or maybe teaching? You don't need to know what kind of job you would like to have as a biologist before you start studying Biology. We provide you with all kinds of opportunities to discover your strengths and which direction you would like to pursue. This way, you will be ready to tackle the job market when you graduate.

During the Bachelor’s programme, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the job market. What kind of job would you like? How can you land a job? How do you write a CV and what happens during a job interview? You will learn about this through:

• Meetings with your student advisor

• Guest lecturers from different fields

• A career orientation course

• Following courses at other programmes

• The course Personal and professional development

• Talks with study choice and career officers

• Lectures by alumni

Continue with a Master's

With a Bachelor's degree in Biology, you can advance to several Master's specialisations in Biology and Medical Biology. Or you can get your teaching qualification in biology by doing the Master's in Education (in Dutch).

Biology

• Adaptive Organisms

• Conservation and Restoration Ecology

• Microbiology

• Environment & Sustainability

Medical Biology

• Human Biology

• Medical Epigenomics

• Neurobiology

Society/management specialisations

You can choose to combine one of the research specialisations above with a societal/management specialisation. The first year of your Master's will consist of your research
curriculum, and in your second year you will shift to one of the 1-year specialisations below.

• Science, Management and Innovation

• Science in Society

Educational Master's

The Master's in science education combines biology subjects, didactics and internships, which trains you to become a qualified teacher in secondary or higher education.

• Educatie in de Bètawetenschappen (in Dutch)

Put your studies to work!

To prepare you for finding a job, Radboud University offers various forms of job market orientation, so that you can prepare for your future during your studies. Career Service
Science assists students and young alumni with their journey into the job market. You can contact them for help with job orientation, application tips, and information about
internships and vacancies. Furthermore, students organise the BBB Career Event each year, the ideal place for students and employers to meet.