Biomolecular Sciences

Systems Biology

The full Master’s programme takes two years and is worth 120 ECTS. The programme consist of the following elements:

Compulsory courses

• Bioinformatics and large data sets (6 ECTS)
• Genomes and gene expression (6 ECTS)
• Physical Biology of the cell: life at rest (3 ECTS)
• Mathematical modeling I (3 ECTS)
• Molecular cell physiology and function (6 ECTS)
• Computational biology (12 ECTS)

Optional courses

• Systems data analysis (6 ECTS)
• Laboratory techniques (6 ECTS)

Formative academic skills 

• History of science OR Biomolecular Sciences & Business Innovation (Compulsory, 3 ECTS)
• Ethics (Compulsory, 3 ECTS)
• Scientific writing in English (Compulsory, 3 ECTS)

Research project

• Orientation on a future research project, including literature survey (9 ECTS)
• 2 research projects (30 ECTS each)

A characteristic feature of the program is the collaboration of renowned research institutes in other countries. Consequently, one of the research projects is carried out in an institute of the BioCenter Amsterdam, and another in a collaborating foreign institute. Also, the research projects are chosen such that there is both an experimental part and a modeling part in the project.

Course descriptions

Online course information with respect to Systems Biology can be found at:

Course guide

For more information, contact the programme coordinator

Dr. Douwe Molenaar
Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87738
E-mail: douwe.molenaar@falw.vu.nl
Room: P-122 (W&N-building)
De Boelelaan 1081- 1087
1081 HV Amsterdam