Master in Environmental Biology
Utrecht, Netherlands
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 24,432 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Non-EU/EEA students (institutional fee) | Dutch and other EU/EEA students (statutory fee, full-time)
Explore life from genes to ecosystems
The research we offer is driven by grand societal challenges such as sustainable food production, the effects of climate change, conservation of biodiversity and the management of natural resources. The knowledge we gain, is applied to address these societal challenges.
Tracks
Within the Master's you have a lot of freedom to tailor your own programme. You choose one of the following tracks to focus on:
- Animal Behaviour
- Plant Biology
- Fungal Biology
Track Courses - Ecology & Conservation
- Ecology of natural resources
- Conservation Science and Impact
- Exploring your research impact
Track Courses - Plant Biology
- Applied plant biology
- Plant-environment interactions
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Exploring your research impact
Track Courses - Fungal Biology
- Fungal biology
- Exploring your research impact
Track Courses - Animal Behaviour
- Evolutionary perspectives on sexual behaviour
- Measuring behaviour
- Exploring your research impact
- Primate social behaviour
- Zoo conservation biology
Electives
There are multiple options to fill your electives. You can do courses from other programmes within the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS), or look beyond, both in and outside the University.
Career prospects
During the Master’s programme, you will be challenged to determine which career perspective best fits your talents and interests. We will guide and support you to focus your programme on obtaining all the skills required for a certain career path.
Academic careers
A number of Environmental Biology Master’s students continue on to PhD studies. Utrecht University provides several opportunities for PhD research, such as the PhD programme in Environmental Biology. However, there are also excellent opportunities to perform your PhD research elsewhere in the Netherlands or abroad.
Non-academic careers
It is also possible to pursue a non-academic career. As a graduate, you can also find employment in:
- research institutes, such as the RIVM, TNO, KNAW-NIOO, NIOZ, Plant Research International
- environmental consultancy firms, such as Arcadis, Royal Haskoning, Witteveen en Bos
- private or governmental nature conservation organisations, such as World Wildlife Foundation, Natuurmonumenten, Wetlands International, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency provincial water boards, or ministries and provincial authorities.
- industry, such as Monsanto, ENZA Seeds, Rijk Zwaan, DSM, Genetwister or Keygene
- zoos, such as Burgers Zoo, ZOO Antwerpen, Vogelpark Waldroden), Stichting AAP, or Noldus.
- We offer a multidisciplinary programme that integrates different levels of biological organisation, from genes to ecosystems.
- We gain fundamental knowledge on the functioning of plants, animals and microbes, and apply it to address societal challenges.
- Freedom to design your own programme, by choosing the track, research project and electives that best fit your interests. You also select one out of 8 thematic profiles which are designed to equip you with skills for your future career in a direction that appeals you most.
- At Utrecht University’s Lili's Proto Lab external link, you can turn your ideas into working prototypes—whether through 3D printing, woodworking, or soldering. Have a research concept you would like to explore hands-on? Bring your idea, and they’ll help you make it yourself.