Are you a current student? For the programme of this academic year, check the course guide.

Study programme

The Bachelor's programme of Molecular Life Sciences takes three years and prepares you for a two-year Master’s programme in Molecular Sciences or Medical Biology. The molecular foundation is laid in the first year, after which you can enhance your knowledge of the biomedical side. After a year and a half you are free to choose your own subjects. After passing your exams, you receive your degree and can call yourself a Bachelor of Science (BSc). 

Structure of the study week

As a Molecular Life Sciences student, you have a full-time study week of 40 hours, in which you experience different modes of instruction. Most courses involve both lectures and tutorials, which account for about 40% of your study time. Tutorials involve about 20 students. You also spend about a quarter of your time on practicals, which includes computer practicals. Practicals are done individually, in pairs or in a group as part of a project, allowing you to work together with your student peers. The practicals are linked to the subject matter in the lectures. You are also expected to spend about a quarter of your study week on independent study.

Curriculum

  • Curriculum year 1

    In the first year of the Bachelor's Molecular Life Sciences you study biological and chemical processes from a molecular perspective, following a combination of molecular courses and (medical) biological courses. You can analyse molecules by learning about infrared, UV and NMR spectroscopy techniques, or you can study how our livers discharge alcohol from our bodies. Of course, you also need to gain a mathematical and physical foundation. That's why especially in the first year, you follow challenging courses in physics and mathematics.

     
    View curriculum year 1

  • Curriculum year 2

    From the second year on, the emphasis shifts more towards biomedical research. Knowledge of all fields of chemistry is extended and the relevant physical and mathematical background is deepened. In the second semester of the second year, you start your specialisation phase and compose your own programme. You can choose to specialise in medical biology or move in a biochemical direction.

    View curriculum year 2

  • Curriculum year 3

    The specialisation phase continues in the third year. The first semester of the third year is designated as the Faculty’s minor and exchange semester. You can choose courses ranging from genomics, neurobiology, organic chemistry, pharmacochemistry, nanobiotechnology, biophysical chemistry, sustainable chemistry.

     
    View curriculum year 3

This programme has a binding study advice

Minimum ECTS
39
This study programme consists of 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) per year. At the end of the first year you will need to have accumulated a minimum of 39 ECTS in order to receive a positive BSA to continue your studies in the second year. Failing to meet this minimum requirement and receiving a negative BSA means that you are no longer allowed to continue with your studies. Of course, we will consider outstanding circumstances such as sickness or other personal factors. Your study advisor or mentor will regularly discuss your study results with you so that you are not faced with any surprises.

Study abroad

During your Bachelor's programme, you will have the opportunity to go abroad for your studies, internship and/or thesis. You will learn to look at things from the perspective of a different culture and you will meet new people; it is an experience that will enrich your life. What’s more, it will look great on your CV. Please see the Radboud International web page for information about meetings, scholarships, internships and other practical information.

Additional challenge

Do you want an extra challenge during your studies? Do you find it interesting to think about current, social themes from different academic perspectives? Discover what the Radboud Honours Academy has to offer to achieve your maximum potential during your time as a student.

Minor

In the third year of the Bachelor's, you have the opportunity to do a minor, a coherent package of electives worth 15-30 EC that allows you to broaden your knowledge or prepare for a particular Master’s programme. By doing a minor, you fill in the elective space in your programme in a structured way. This can be within the field of your Bachelor's, but also outside it. Such as physics, computing science or  philosophy, or the educational minor with which you can obtain a (limited) second-degree teaching certificate for secondary education.

You can choose from predefined minor, or you can compose your own minor by choosing electives. See the minor guide for which predefined minors you can take as a student of Molecular Life Sciences.

Studying alongside Science and Chemistry students

The Molecular Life Sciences, Chemistry and Science programmes share a common foundation, which is why they have been brought together in a single cluster. During the first three periods of the first year you take most of your courses together with students of Chemistry and Science. As a result, you can easily switch from Molecular Life Sciences to the Chemistry or Science programme during your first year or once you have successfully completed. You do not have to lose any time, so this is a useful option if you are not sure yet which programme you want to study. International students may only switch from Molecular Life Sciences to Chemistry.