Testimonials
I could challenge myself with subjects I was not familiar with in a short lasting period of time.
- Previous education
- Bachelor Biomedical Sciences, Radboud University
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
What do you like about the programme and why? How has the programme challenged you?
What I like about the program is that I was able to choose subjects I found interesting and were able to help in my career track. I was also able to orientate on subjects for four halve weeks and than decide if it was what I liked. This way I could challenge myself with subjects I was not familiar with in a short lasting period of time.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The international vibe is really nice to experience. People from all over the world come here and then you realise that there are more similarities than differences.
The number of people attending one course is most of the time well balanced and the teachers pick up your name quickly. With the ability to choose the courses of your own interest you are surrounded with enthusiastic students for the subject as well and the teachers/researchers like that very much. The mutual interest in the subject (researchers love to talk about their studies/passion) causes a circular effect of enthusiasm during class.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s?
During every study you encounter deadlines and in this one as well. I subscribed myself for two courses at the time and I could manage the double workload. For your information, during BMS you have can have two courses for a period of 4 weeks. One is planned on Monday and Tuesday and the other course is planned on Thursday and Friday ( Wednesdays are to work at home). I have experienced it as a fair challenging to manage.
Are you currently doing an internship?
I am doing my first master's internship at a research group at the Radboud Institute of molecular life sciences (RIMLS, you should look it up!). I am working at how cellular energy production is disturbed in a mitochondrial disease and what the effects are of this mutation on the level of specific proteins. I have used a variety of techniques during this internship that will provide me with a good basis but more importantly, I have become very independent and the researcher mindset has more developed.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
Yes, of course, I find it important to have people around with a BMS master's degree. I want to aid in understanding molecular basis of diseases in order to develop treatment methods. My first step to do this is to do a PhD.
Almost all classes are with a maximum of 30 students which makes it more personal and easy to interact with both the students and teachers.
- Previous education
- Bachelor Biomedical Sciences, Radboud University
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why?
What is so ideal about this master's is that you can completely design your study plan how you prefer it and you can even change it along the way. What I liked is that you are free to do lots of different things for you elective credits. I chose to do extra courses abroad, but you can also do courses in the Netherlands, do an extra internship or even do some courses that are not related to the programme, it's up to you!
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
Almost all classes are with a maximum of 30 students which makes it more personal and easy to interact with both the students and teachers. The classes only last 4 weeks, so you meet a lot of new people during this time which is actually quite nice. And, since most people follow multiple courses related to one topic, you may even be in the same class for a few months which is great to build a friendship.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s specialisation?
During my bachelor's, I already knew that I wanted to go abroad in my master's. However, since applying for courses or an internship abroad takes quite some time, you have to start thinking about it approximately a year before you want to go abroad. I encountered some difficulty finding the right information about possible universities but the international office helped me out. I would really recommend contacting them if you have any plans to go abroad.
Are you currently doing an internship?
At the moment, I am finishing my internship at the department of orthopedics at the Sint Maartenskliniek in Nijmegen. For the past couple of months, I focused on the effect of mediolateral balance perturbations on dynamic stability in patients with an ankle arthrodesis or an ankle prosthesis. I really enjoyed this internship and am looking forward to my final internship next year.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree?
I think the students that finished this master's degree are crucial in the scientific world because they form the bridge between science and medicine and they are able to better understand and solve some common (bio)medical problems. I am still doubting between focusing on rehabilitation or exercise physiology, but in the future I hope to combine my broad scientific background with a more practical component within the movement sciences.
I love the opportunity of choosing which courses I want to take, when to write my Literature Thesis or when to do my internships.
- Previous education
- Bachelor in Biochemistry, University of Bucharest
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
What do you like about the programme and why? Did you experience things that were especially difficult?
The Master's in Biomedical Sciences is very flexible. I love the opportunity of choosing which courses I want to take, when to write my Literature Thesis or when to do my internships. It's rather easy to adjust the programme to your hobbies and personal life, although it's a demanding programme. What I find the most challenging still is time management. The study load is fair and the difficulty of the information we receive is in accordance to a Master's level of education, as long as you work efficiently and have a very nicely structured schedule. The Master's definitely helps me towards being a more organized student and gives me the chance to experience academia through learning and through practising my skills during internships.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
What strikes me still is how every professor or researcher would ask their students to call them by their name, as if we're friends, that have mutual respect for each other. They're always willing to help students that have a hard time during lectures or assignments, and, once again, they're always friendly.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s?
There aren't any particular obstacles. Still, the Master's in Biomedical Sciences can be challenging at times, mostly when you really need to focus and work efficiently in a short amount of time, but it's what prepares us for being good researchers and medical workers.
Are you currently doing an internship?
I'm currently doing my internship in the Cell Biology department in the RIMLS. The teams are highly inclusive, comprised of researchers from different specialisations and countries, international and Dutch PhDs, Master's students and even Bachelor's students. Everyone is equal and as it stands the employees and the researchers are so enthusiastic to support students in achieving their own personal goals. The research is state-of-the-art work and eye-opening towards innovative projects.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
This degree in particular opens a world full of opportunities either in the work field or in academia. It prepares us for becoming highly trained medical workers in key positions in hospital laboratories and in medical companies. Otherwise, it paves the path towards a PhD and further on a position in the academic field. As I'm approaching the end of the first year of my master's, I'm drawn towards finding a suitable PhD for my interests. Still, to be honest, a job in a hospital like the Radboudumc would be up there with a PhD, as the hospital is always in close contact with the research institutes.
The programme is so flexible. The students can tailor it according to their own needs.
- Previous education
- B.Sc. Biotechnology at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Country of previous education
- India
- Study start date
What do you like about the programme and why? How has the programme challenged you?
The programme is so flexible. The students can tailor it according to their own needs. This is what I love about it. It allows me to explore things that have always intrigued me. At first, it was a bit difficult to adapt to the Dutch education system. The main focus is on applying the knowledge that the course provides you with, which is great! But I was not used to their way of answering a practical question in the exam, it is quite different to where I'm from. So I had to ask around and get feedback in order to improve myself. Once you get the knack of it, everything goes smoothly.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
I think it is the perfect atmosphere for a student to grow and explore new things. The students are inspired to 'think out of the box' which is necessary to bring out their creativity when it comes to thinking about new ideas/research proposals. They are also encouraged to satisfy their own curiosity by asking all the questions that come to their mind. The classes are so much fun and very interactive, which is great because you do not zone out :p. The teachers are down to earth and approachable. They also give the students feedback, which I find very helpful in improving myself."
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s? Have you encountered any obstacles?
I think the most challenging thing was adapting to the new environment. Understanding how the people here think, and what they expect from you.
Are you currently doing an internship?
Yes, I am currently doing an internship at the Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
I hope to do a PhD after my Master's degree, but I haven't figured out the topic yet. I'd say, there is still so much to explore, and this course allows me to do just that! :)
Due to the freedom of this Master's I get challenged to continuously think about what I want and what I need to learn to achieve my goals.
- Previous education
- Bachelor Biomedical Sciences, Radboud University.
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why?
I really like that you are completely in charge of how you want to design your Master's. There are lots of courses organised by the faculty but also you are allowed to do courses at other faculties/cities/countries. You are completely in charge of your own learning track and I think that's appealing.
Also, the fact that you have a low amount of study points you need to achieve by participating in courses and you are able to extend your internship(s) or do more internships for studypoints instead of following more courses is a great opportunity.
Furthermore, I like the short courses as it gives you a chance to get familiar with all kinds of research and different research topics as well. Due to the freedom of this Master's I get challenged to continuously think about what I want and what I need to learn to achieve my goals.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
Most courses are given in small classes by a limited amount of teachers. This combined with the short - but intense - course periods, big amount of projects and lots of lectures/work groups allows to really interact with your fellow students as well as with the lecturers. Therefore, the atmosphere is pleasant and there is room for any question you might want to ask. I think this also allows you to discuss internship possibilities with the lecturers which is a great opportunity.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s specialisation?
The most challenging for me is that the short courses also mean that you get lots of new information in a very small period of time. Additionally, the projects need to be completed in a small amount of time. This makes the workload for me quite high and it does not really allow you to regain strength after a period of deadlines and exams (as the following are already scheduled 4 weeks from the last ones). I think it is doable (I mean I do it too :)) but it asks for a lot of discipline and I think you need to be very motivated and passionate about the courses you are following to be able to succeed (but that is not a bad thing of course).
Are you currently doing an internship?
Currently, I am doing my internship at the Motivational and Cognitive control lab of Roshan Cools. I work on the project of Jorryt Tichelaar, which is in collaboration with the Systems Neurology research group of Rick Helmich. I am doing research towards Reinforcement learning in Parkinson's disease. More specifically, I look into whether there is a difference in brain activation patterns and/or Reinforcement learning capacity between tremor and non-tremor patients.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
What's beautiful about this programme is that the research is really integrated in the big perspective, the patient care. This allows you to get a broad view about why you are doing the research but also for who you are doing research. I think it is very important to always keep the people in mind that would eventually -hopefully- benefit from your intervention. I am convinced that it makes you a better researcher if you keep the persons in mind behind your theories/hypothesis as this also allows you - to some extent - to asses whether your intervention/research is applicable for the population of interest. Furthermore, I think that being aware of the problems the patients experience in daily life gives you a different perspective on the disease and allows you to do research that can benefit the patients in the most optimal way. Therefore, I really would encourage everyone that is interested in research with or for people to take this master's or at least follow a couple of courses.
My (ambitious) plan after this master's is to hopefully find a PhD position to be able to further develop my research skills and to have my own project. Furthermore, I would like to help/teach other starting researchers in any way I can.
The wide range of courses you can choose from ensures that you can learn a lot from many disciplines.
- Previous education
- Health Sciences - Maastricht University
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study end date
What knowledge and skills did you learn during your Master’s that are really useful to you now?
I have had a really good time during my master's, especially during my internship, when I experienced how fun ‘working’ in a team can be. I have also been able to challenge myself. The wide range of courses you can choose from ensures that you can learn a lot from many disciplines, according to your own wishes. Furthermore, the courses are taught in relatively small groups, which makes communication a lot easier.
What did you find most challenging in your Master’s specialisation?
The most challenging thing about my master's was the pace at which the courses were given. You can plan your courses yourself. I used to do 2 courses every 4 weeks. To my opinion, this was quite intensive. The advantage is that you can learn many different new things in a short time. The disadvantage is that you can't take it a bit slower, like with a 10-week course. Fortunately, within the master's, you can decide for yourself when and how many courses you want to take. So ultimately you determine the pace yourself.
Could you say a little about the job you do now?
At the moment I am a PhD student at the Department of Medical Imaging within Radboudumc. My research is about breast cancer screening. I aim to optimize the reading of screening mammograms to improve cancer detection and reduce the number of false alarms. During my PhD, I noticed that I benefit a lot from the group projects performed during my master's. In addition to exams, the master consists of multiple group assignments and presentations. From this, I learned to efficiently scan the literature and to work together within a group, something I believe will benefit you throughout your whole life.
What do you like about your profession and what makes working in your field so interesting and relevant?
I believe biomedical sciences is an exciting field, with new developments and breakthroughs occurring all the time. I have always been fascinated by the human body and love to be able to contribute to human health. The great thing about the field is that it is so broad; you can do whatever you like: consultancy, communication, qualitative research, lab research, and many more.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
I would advise everyone to make an overview of all courses and internships you want to do during your master's. During the master's, there is a lot of freedom to structure your own study plan. This creates many possibilities, which is great but can be difficult sometimes as well. So my tip is to make some sort of study plan. This helped me to register for courses and to start searching for internships on time. Do not hesitate to discuss your plans with your tutor, this will help a lot!
I thought the atmosphere was fantastic and really encouraged logical thinking.
- Previous education
- Bachelor of Science in Medical Science (Ireland)
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
- Study end date
What did you like about the programme and why? How has the programme challenged you in relation to your previous education?
What I found fascinating about the course was the ability to choose what topics you wanted to pursue and study instead of a fixed course rota being implemented. So you could always do varying modules to see what you were interested in, something I appreciated as I did not know what I wanted to follow when I started the course. It was challenging in that there is a quick turnaround time for courses with 4 weeks of 2 courses, an exam at the end of this and then starting new courses the following week. Of course, you make it as difficult as you want but for me, who wants to finish in two years, it can be quite intense.
What did you think about the atmosphere in class?
I thought the atmosphere was fantastic and really encouraged logical thinking. All lecturers were approachable and generally encouraged any feedback about the quality of their lectures, something I was never really used to. The topics were always relevant and quite up to date.
What did you find most challenging in your Master’s specialisation? Have you encountered any obstacles?
I found the workload to be the most challenging of the master's. You have to have good time management and be able to effectively study coursework. You also have to be able to work within groups and get used to group speaking, something I had to learn to improve on.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree?
I think it is such a useful course as you have the potential to learn so much from one degree. And it provides a solid foundation for many different career options whether in academia or industry.
Teachers are often very approachable and eager to help you.
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
What do you like about the specialisation and why?
What I liked most about this Master's programme is that you get a lot of freedom to structure your own study plan. There are so many different courses you can choose from. Additionally, I think it's really nice that this Master's also offers the opportunity to pursue different directions other than research. The consultancy and communication courses were really useful and refreshing.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
Teachers are often very approachable and eager to help you. The courses are often taught in relatively small groups, which I prefer. The only thing I sometimes struggled with was that the course length is quite short and everyone changes courses after 4 weeks. The advantage of this is that you meet new students every course, but you need to get used to working with different students again.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s specialisation?
For many people, including myself, it can be quite hard to think and plan that far ahead when structuring your study plan. The course registration opens and closes quite early and you have to take into account which courses you want to follow in your first and second year. Since the faculty doesn't offer any courses after March you have to either arrange an internship or follow courses somewhere else, which not every student succeeds in. So sometimes this can be a challenge.
Are you currently doing an internship?
I am currently doing my epidemiology research internship at the hospital. Last year I did my internship abroad, which I definitely recommend! Many master students go abroad for one of their internships and this was such a great experience for me.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree?
A Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences is so diverse and gives people so many opportunities to apply for jobs. Even though research is predominant in this field, we also gain knowledge and experience in other fields such as communication and consultancy. I am still not sure whether I would like to do a PhD or pursue a career in business, as there are so many options available.
It is interesting to meet many teachers and other students, since it gives you the opportunity to expand your network and to arrange an internship.
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why?
What I like most about the master Biomedical Sciences is the freedom you have in choosing which courses, internships and thesis suit you. For example, I am interested in immunology, but I also wanted to follow a movement science course. In addition, I really like the different profiles, because my main profile is research, but I also followed some communication and consultancy courses.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
It is interesting to meet many teachers and other students since it gives you the opportunity to expand your network and to arrange an internship. I also developed some really special friendships during my study period.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s specialisation?
I did not really encounter big obstacles during my master's. I only needed to get used to the short duration of courses, which are 1 month instead of 10 weeks (in my bachelor's). Maybe, it might be hard for some people to design their own package of courses and internships, but luckily for these students, there will be more guidance from next year onwards.
Are you currently doing an internship?
At this moment, I am performing my last internship from home due to the Corona crisis. In February I started as an intern in the Inflammation Research Center in Ghent and at this moment I'm writing my report and I'm working on my literature thesis in collaboration with the tumor immunology department of the Radboudumc, which we plan to publish this year!
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree?
I think that Biomedical scientists are really valuable to society since health is one of the most important things in life and we can contribute to a better healthcare system among others. Also, everyone who graduates from the master's is unique in which profile, courses and internships they did, so there are a lot of different professionals added to the workfield each year. At this moment I am searching for a job in a laboratory specialized in immunology, but I am quite confident that I will find one since I learned a lot during my masters.
What is really interesting about the Biomedical Sciences Master's programme is its flexibility.
- Previous education
- Bachelor in Biotechnology at Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPEL)
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Country of previous education
- Brazil
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme and why? How has the programme challenged you?
What is really interesting about the Biomedical Sciences Master's programme is its flexibility. The students can design their own study plan, which was very new to me, and this involves a lot of freedom but also responsibility. Moreover, the courses are very fast-paced and do not have many contact hours, but to keep up with them there is self-study and assignments. In general, I have learned to be way more independent and developed time-management skills.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The student-teacher relationship tends to be horizontal. There is genuine interest in the learning experience of the students. Students are asked to evaluate each course after the exam and the lecturers really take that feedback into consideration, which is amazing.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s? Have you encountered any obstacles?
I have never learned so much in such a short time, and for that, I had to take on much more responsibility to reach my goals both in courses and internships. It is not an easy programme, but students get support from teachers, mentor, study advisors and the International Office when needed.
Have you done an internship?
I have done two research internships during my Master's, one at the Donder's Institute for Medical Neurosciences, and the other at the Human Genetics Department of the Radboudumc.
I love the idea of having the freedom to choose your own track with minimal obligations.
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
What do you like about the programme and why?
Biomedical Science is an interdisciplinary field and hence has a wide variety of sub-fields. This factor has been well taken care of in the programme designed by the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Radboud University. I love the idea of having the freedom to choose your own track with minimal obligations.
There is a huge variety of subjects to choose from, and we can plan and design our track for two years on our own. It has been especially beneficial for me because I wish to work in the pharmaceutical arena in the future as a medicinal biologist. Even though I have an extensive foundation of my biological concepts from my previous Bachelor's studies, I wanted to learn more chemistry and also gain practical experience.
This course gave me the independence to reduce my number of theory credits and convert them into internship credits. Also, the program allowed me to do an internship at a chemistry lab in the Faculty of Science, instead of the medical faculty.
To sum up I would say, I am 100% happy with my decision to join the program. I had my two most important expectations fulfilled.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere within the class is quite warm and comfortable. The teachers give an open space to pursue personal learning goals and also try to make communication a lot easier.
Each course that I took till now had at least one working group assignment along with individual assignments. This helped me get to know other students from different backgrounds and build the spirit of working in a collective manner.
Due to freedom in choosing courses, different courses had different sets of students, which helped even more in knowing more people and working with them.
Are you currently doing an internship?
Yes, I am doing an internship. As I mentioned before, my interests lie in medicinal biology and pharmaceutical sciences So, I took an internship at the Organic Synthetic Chemistry laboratory. My project deals with synthesizing novel compounds, which are analogs of statins, and thus help in treating high cholesterol. Statins have side effects in a few patients. So, scientists are looking for alternatives. I am working on synthesizing a few of those alternatives which would later be tested for their biological activity in collaboration with RIMLS.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
As I discussed before, Biomedical science is an interdisciplinary field. Therefore the Bachelor's curriculum is usually very broad and it's often difficult to choose a specialised stream for a job perspective right after a Bachelor's. One needs more experience to make a sound decision about his/her interests.
I would like to do my PhD after I finish my Master's studies to get more exposure to the research arena and increase my experience in this field.
Studying my Master’s programme teaches me how to think critically, which is very crucial in researching.
- Previous education
- Preventive Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Country of previous education
- China
What do you like about the programme and why?
This programme is very flexible. I could just choose what I want. Meanwhile, my mentor also gives me sufficient help and advice when I cannot make up my mind. There are plenty of group assignments to do in almost every course, which is definitely different from my previous education. But I like it a lot because working in a group gives me opportunities to learn from other students and also to learn how to work together.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
Dutch students are always very warm-hearted. Every time when I am in the group, they always stick to English so I can join in. Because of the culture, sometimes they could be quite straightforward. But I really like it because it makes us work more efficiently.
Are you currently doing an internship?
My internship is about dementia progression.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree?
The Master's programme gives people more independence to think and work compared to a Bachelor's programme. It is like a buffer for people to enter society and complete more difficult tasks in their future work. And one more important thing is that the Master's programme goes deeper into one certain field, which allows you to be more specialised in one area and this is very crucial in researching.
What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
Studying my Master’s programme teaches me how to think critically, which is very crucial in researching. I want to apply for a PhD position after I receive my Master's degree. I find a lot of pleasure in research.
Het lijkt mij heel mooi om bij te mogen dragen aan al het hersenonderzoek dat al gebeurt, we zijn er nog lang niet!
- Previous education
- Biomedische Wetenschappen (Radboud Universiteit/Radboudumc)
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
Ik vind het heel erg fijn dat je je eigen master zelf mag samenstellen. Je zit nu namelijk niet meer vast aan bepaalde onderwerpen, waar je eigenlijk niet op zit te wachten. Nu bepaal je zelf wat jij mag leren. Vind je meerdere onderzoeksgebieden interessant? Dan probeer je ze toch allemaal! Zo kan jij helemaal een pakket samenstellen waar jij het meest van leert.
Hoe ervaar je de sfeer binnen de opleiding?
Het is altijd erg leuk binnen de opleiding. Tussen de studenten vind je veel mensen die geïnteresseerd en gemotiveerd zijn in/voor dezelfde onderwerpen als jij. Daarnaast kan je ook altijd gezellig een drankje doen met je medestudenten. Ook de docenten, vaak zijn het zelf ook onderzoekers, zijn erg betrokken en staan open voor veel ideeën.
Wat vind je het meest uitdagend aan de master(specialisatie)? Zijn er dingen waar je tegenaan loopt?
Het meest uitdagend is denk ik toch wel de diepgang van de vakken. Veel vakken gaan heel diep bepaalde stof in, waardoor je alles kan uitpluizen. Dat is gelukkig wel erg leuk, maar ook soms moeilijk! Voor het uitpluizen heb je vaak niet gigantisch veel tijd, vanwege het 4-weken systeem. Gelukkig houdt dit je wel op je tenen, jezelf vervelen doe je in ieder geval niet!
Kun je iets vermelden over je stage en/of je scriptie?
In principe loop je bij deze master elk jaar een stage van 20 weken. Dat is super interessant, want hier kan je de kennis die je hebt geleerd meteen toepassen in het 'echte' leven. Je krijgt hiermee een inkijkje in hoe je later kan gaan werken. Doordat iedereen verschillende specialisaties en profielen volgt, ben je ook erg vrij in wat voor soort stage je wil kiezen. Een stage met dieronderzoek? Kan! Een stage bij een bedrijf dat medisch consult nodig heeft? Kan! Het kabinet adviseren in een corona-beleid? Kan ook!
Waarom is het belangrijk dat er mensen zijn met deze master(specialisatie) op zak? Wat wil je er zelf mee gaan doen na het afronden van je master?
Wat je 'later' gaat doen, hangt binnen de master erg af van je specialisatie. Zo is het heel belangrijk dat in al deze richtingen mensen afstuderen. Medisch onderzoek zal sowieso altijd doorgaan en daar kunnen nooit genoeg mensen in werken! Je weet nooit wie de volgende ziekte zal genezen, misschien ben jij het. Daarnaast is het dan natuurlijk ook erg belangrijk dat al deze informatie goed vertaald/gecommuniceerd wordt naar 'leken' en ook bedrijven, wanneer zij advies nodig hebben in medische kwesties. Zelf ga ik over ongeveer een jaar lekker het onderzoek in. Het lijkt mij heel mooi om bij te mogen dragen aan al het hersenonderzoek dat al gebeurt, we zijn er nog lang niet!
I believe Radboud University prepared me well for the academia. I had plenty of opportunities to do internships in the great labs thanks to Radboud University
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
Why did you choose to attend Radboud University?
I have done my Erasmus+ program at Radboud University. From that time, I really loved the environment and the education here. The high quality education alongside the vibrant environment attracted me to this university. Therefore, I decided to do my Master's degree here.
Looking back at your time at Radboud, how did it prepare you for your career?
I studied Biomedical Sciences. I believe Radboud University prepared me well for academia. I had plenty of opportunities to do internships in the great labs thanks to Radboud University. I earned practical skills as well as a solid theoretical knowledge. I improved my presentation and writing skills due to numerous lectures and courses. Moreover, the team works during the lectures developed me as a great team player.
What did you like about your programme and what did you find most challenging?
The best part of this program is that you have such freedom to construct your own program. There is no strict curriculum. You can choose different paths such as research or communication and based on your path you can take any course that is relevant.
The most challenging part is probably finding an internship that you are interested in. Since there is huge demand, it can be difficult to find an internship on the desired topic. Therefore, it is good to start looking a couple of months earlier than the start date of the internship.
What did you think of the campus? Did you participate in any extracurricular activities? If so, which ones?
The campus is very vibrant, full of trees, and environmentally friendly. I especially loved the Radboud Sport Center. It is the best sport facility ever with numerous courses, a swimming pool, a huge gym and many other sport activities. My favorite activities were going to the swimming pool and joining AquaBOM classes. I would recommend everyone to join those courses.
Can you tell us about your career journey since graduating from Radboud University and about your current work?
I am a recent graduate from Radboud University. I want to continue my career in academia. I want to do PhD degree first in the field related to Immunology.
What knowledge and skills did you learn during your programme that are really useful to you now?
I have gained such confidence by doing a lot of presentations during courses. I have enhanced my communication skills. By doing internships in different labs, I have expanded my network.
What do you like about your profession and what makes working in your field so interesting and/or relevant?
In research, you do not get bored. There is always something new and exciting. Your findings can have a direct impact on many people which for me is the most important thing. You have the freedom to plan your experiments and change them as you want.
What advice or tips do you have for future students?
Try to use every opportunity that you come across. Do an internship abroad because it will improve your vision. Moreover, Radboud University helps students to find internships and also assists them financially via various scholarships.
Lastly, try the courses and gym in the sport center. Healthy body means healthy brain which leads to productive work. Additionally, it is great entertainment and a nice way of eliminating stress.
You can contact any lab or company around the world and arrange your own internship.
- Previous education
- Biochemistry, University of Navarra
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Country of previous education
- Spain
- Study start date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
What I like most from the Master's in Biomedical Sciences, is that I can design my own programme. I can choose the courses that interest me the most and how I want to organize my internships. This gives you a lot of freedom to decide when to take days off and when to work full time, depending on your personal situation. It is also very nice that we all have one mentor for each specialisation. The mentors are always in contact with you, they even reach out to you before starting the Master's. You can ask them questions regarding your education and they are always available and willing to help you. Another thing I really like from our programme is that you can decide where to do your internships. You can contact any lab or company around the world and arrange your own internship, which gives you a lot of freedom to decide which skills you want to improve and to design your professional career.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
In the Master's, we usually are about 20 to 25 students per class. The courses last 4 weeks. As you can choose your own courses, every month you meet new people. This gives you the opportunity to broaden your network, which is very helpful specially being an international student. From my experience I can say that usually Dutch students talk in English during lectures, but it is true that sometimes is a bit difficult to make connections with Dutch students because they are speaking in Dutch during the breaks. Teachers are usually very close to students and available to help out.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The most challenging thing I encountered in the Master's was adapting to four weeks courses. I was used to having lectures for three months and then one month of final exams. But in the Master's we have 3 weeks of lectures and the final exam in the forth week. That was quite shocking in the beginning as I had the feeling that I did not have time to deepen into the topic. But then you get used to it and I even started to like it because you focus completely in two courses for one month and then you move on to different topics.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I just finished my first research internship at Radboudumc at the Experimental Rheumatology department. I was working on sex differences in osteoarthritis pain and developing a neuron firing model. For my second internship I decided to go abroad (again) and move to Australia. In January I will start my next internship at Children's Medical Research Institute in Sydney. It will be about viral vector bioengineering for cell type specific gene therapy.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
I think it's very important to meet people from your Master's programme to broaden your network in the field. This connects you with opportunities all around the world. Once I finish my Master's, my plan is to continue in academia and do a PhD. It is also in my future plans to do an MBA and create my own science company.
My fellow students are just as motivated as I am and it feels great to be part of a group that has the same interests in research.
- Previous education
- Pre-master Biomedical Sciences, Radboud University Bachelor Physiotherapy, Fontys University of Applied Sciences
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Country of previous education
- Netherlands
- Study start date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education?
One of the best features of this Master's programme is that you can follow literally any course you want, with respect to the Education and Examination Regulations. This is a very distinct feature of this Master's programme at Radboud University compared to other universities. The freedom gives you this feeling like the world is at your feet, which is good, because not every biomedical researcher wants to, for example, do a PhD or invent a cure to cancer.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
Most teachers are very willing to help you and explain the topics until you understand them. My fellow students are just as motivated as I am and it feels great to be part of a group that has the same interests in research.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The pace at which the courses are taught is certainly overwhelming in the first months. The specialization courses are designed to teach you the ins and outs of that domain. That specialized content is put into 4 to 6 courses which last for 4 weeks, each with 2 lecture days per week. Besides the specialization courses you have profile courses, which allows you to emphasize on a specific perspective in research. I chose the Science Communication profile.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I haven't done my internships yet, but I plan on doing my research internship within Epidemiology and my profile internship within Science Communication. My thesis topic will most likely be something about neurodevelopmental disorders in adulthood.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
Doing research in the biomedical domain is essential to improve current care for all stakeholders. I think it is also important that knowledge from research is shared with a broader audience. That is why I plan on conducting epidemiologic research as well as contributing to communicating and disseminating findings with the general public. I most likely will partly work as science journalist or editor of some sort, besides doing research.
I appreciate the informality between students and teachers since it allows you to bridge the gap between you and them and feel more at ease interacting with them.
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
I like how flexible this programme is and that you are not restricted to your choices. Even if you change your mind about enrolling in a course, you can easily deregister from it. This is perfect for someone with a wide range of interests and who wants to be able to determine their study programme. The fact that you have exams every month makes it much harder than in my previous education, therefore you must be careful not to waste your time. However, despite how demanding it is, you learn a lot and you still have some time for yourself.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
The professors/researchers are eager to assist you with anything. Also, I appreciate the informality between students and teachers since it allows you to bridge the gap between you and them and feel more at ease interacting with them.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The new life of moving to a new country, the new way of teaching and learning, and of course studying in a foreign language, all proved to be tough for me as an international student. Even more so because the educational educational system where I come from is completely different from the one in The Netherlands. Finding a method to adjust to all of this without getting stressed out was my primary challenge. However, you will cherish your time spent here as a student once you get a grasp of it.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
As part of this programme you have to do two internships: one research internship and the other depends on your profile. Since I am in my first year I will be doing my research internship over the spring and summer months. It will be in the area of language research, which I find extremely interesting.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
I believe that having a particular degree profile can open up a lot of professional prospects for you. In my opinion, it demonstrates that you not only have acquired the knowledge necessary for this particular field, but also a variety of practical skills that will put you ahead of other applicants in the job market. While I do not have specific plans, I do have an idea of what I would like to do. I want to promote better understanding of the brain in order to decrease the stigma associated with mental health issues. Furthermore, I am certain that after completing my studies and internships, I will be able to better shape and understand my future career path.
As an international student I am super happy to be in a specialization that has a good number of internationals. This way I could easily make friends that relate to my experience abroad.
- Previous education
- Bachelor's Psychology, Université Catholic de Lyon | Master's Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastrich University
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
I already have a one-year Master’s in cognitive neuroscience from Maastricht University. However, I wanted to dive more into the molecular level. So I chose a second Master’s in biomedical science with a specialisation in medical neuroscience. Here at Radboud University, I'm free to choose the courses that interest me the most, even though there are not directly from my specialization. I value the time we can spend on internships during this Master's programme; we can do 3 internships and we can even decide how long they last. It’s very enriching! I have experimented the challenges of building and conducting research, I have strengthened my resilience and learned how to take critics as feedbacks to improve. On another note, the coordinators of my specialization are caring and always available for students that need advice. Finally, as an international student I am super happy to be in a specialization that has a good number of internationals. This way I could easily make friends that relate to my experience abroad.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
There is a very respectful atmosphere! Lecturers are usually happy to answer questions, for a large part of them it seems like they care about their students. As an international student I have met very nice people, welcoming and open minded. Naturally, internationals and Dutch tend to form two different groups, but such implicit rule can easily be offset by personal initiatives.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
I would be lying if I said that it is an easy programme. There have been times where I was overwhelmed by the number of assignments and lessons to learn. Deadlines and exams have pressured me and few times I had to choose to study instead of exercising, cooking or hanging out with friends. But you know, it is also about mindset. I love learning about neuroscience in general and that is an intrinsic motivator. Even though assignments are consequent, they are relevant and fascinating, especially because we can usually choose the topics we want.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I am just starting my first internship at the Donders Institute. I am working on a specific project, a multicenter comparison of sensory evoked fMRI in the rat. I will deepen my skills in data analysis, programming, as well as academic writing skills. With the support and guidance of my supervisor I aim to publish the final paper in a good journal of neuroscience.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
I think we need qualified people to conduct research within neuroscience. The 2 years Master’s seems to be a good option to learn the skills needed for a future great carrier. We dive into the world of research with 2 internships as well as with courses that help us think as researchers.
We can choose from many courses within or outside our specialisation so that we can tailor our studies to suit ourselves.
- Previous education
- Biotechnology Degree, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Country of previous education
- Spain
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
The programme is very flexible. We can choose from many courses within or outside our specialisation so that we can tailor our studies to suit ourselves. My specialisation courses, Immunology and Host Defense, helped me to greatly expand my basic knowledge of immunology, which is much more complex than what I had learned during my Bachelor's degree.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
The interaction with other students is great. I have found really supportive friends in this Master's, both Dutch and international. Also, teachers are very approachable and are always willing to help.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The most challenging aspect for me it the structure of the courses. They are taught in 4 weeks which is something I was not used to. Improving my organisation and time management has help me overcome this.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I will start my internship at the Physiology Department in February 2023.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
I think it is important because it gives you many choices and career paths you can follow after the Master's. Right now I plan on doing a PhD after my Master's.
It is really cool to see all the diverse academic and professional backgrounds, which creates an environment where knowledge-sharing is encouraged.
- Previous education
- Physiotherapy
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you?
Clinical human movement sciences blends aspects of physiology, neuroscience, biomechanics, and rehabilitation. This integration results in a broad and deep understanding of how the human body moves, adapts, and recovers from injuries or conditions, making the study programme both intellectually stimulating and practically impactful. Since I come from a Physiotherapy bachelor, the research aspect really is a valuable addition to my knowledge.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere in the class is often really inspiring and encouraging since we are all in the same boat. We want to learn and pass the exams which creates a bond.
Movement is a passion shared by most of us. It is really cool to see all the diverse academic and professional backgrounds, which creates an environment where knowledge-sharing is encouraged.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
I found it challenging to give a presentation in English because I'm a native Dutch speaker. You have numerous opportunities to learn this and gain insightful feedback during the courses.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I will begin my research internship at Stellenbosch University in South Africa in three months. My research will focus on postural balance in rugby players who have experienced a concussion. This provides me with the chance to enhance not only my English but also my research abilities.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
Clinical Human Movement Sciences alumni fill critical roles in understanding, treating, and optimizing human movement across a spectrum of health conditions. Given the numerous health benefits of movement, a deeper comprehension of subjects can significantly improve the health of the next generation.
I really like that the programme has different specialisations so we can focus on a certain topic from the beginning.
- Previous education
- Comenius University Faculty of Natural Sciences (Bratislava)
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you?
I study biomedical sciences with a specialisation in molecular medicine. I really like that the programme has different specialisations so we can focus on a certain topic from the beginning. Compared to my previous studies, this specialisation was really challenging since the schedule was very busy and all the exams were made to reflect our ability of critical thinking and applying the knowledge.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
There were quite a lot of international students in my specialisation so there was a lot of diversity and we could share our knowledge from our previous studies. I never had any conflict with a teacher, almost all of my teachers were very nice and kind, always trying to help us and guide us.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
It's the amount of work we have to do, including the self study assignments. It can be heavy and stressful, but you have to get through it. In the end it was worth it, because thanks to the flexibility of the programme I finished all my courses during my first year and now I can focus on internships.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
It was a bit stressful to find a place for my internship, but I did mine for 8 months at the Radboudumc Department of Kidney Physiology where I studied the correlation between a certain gene in a rare genetic syndrome and renal magnesium absorption. For the second internship I found a start-up at Utrecht UMC where I am going to work on cancer panels for 6 months. For my literature thesis (1 month), I wrote about the mutation prediction tools reliability for proteins that aggregate in Alzheimers disease.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
I think this degree provides a very good start for the future researchers in many fields of science and since we can choose from three profiles, it also introduces other ways to work in STEM, not only in research. I think when I receive my masters degree I would like to work at a research company.
As graduates of this programme, we can contribute to diverse areas such as research, consultancy, communication, and beyond, making a real difference in science and society.
- Previous education
- Pharmacy (Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Vietnam)
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you?
My programme lets me study more than one specialisation and create my own master’s plan to match my interests and career goals. The teachers are very helpful and always ready to answer questions, which makes learning easier.
However, one of the biggest challenges is the structure of the courses. Each course lasts only four weeks, and group assignments are a mandatory part of the curriculum. This intensive pace can make the initial weeks a bit overwhelming.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
People are very straightforward and responsible in group works. They are also open to discussions to improve the quality of group projects.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The most challenging thing is that you have very little time to make friends with your classmates because each class only lasts four weeks. This means you are constantly changing classmates, making it hard to build strong connections. Just as you start to get to know people, the class ends, and you move on to a new group. It can feel a bit lonely at times, but it also gives you the chance to meet a lot of different people.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
My internship is about association between antacid use during pregnancy with respiratory morbidity and reflux in infants.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
Research in Biomedical Sciences is valuable not only for advancing academic knowledge but also for shaping policies, engaging with the public, and driving innovations in various fields. As graduates of this program, we can contribute to diverse areas such as research, consultancy, communication, and beyond, making a real difference in science and society.
After completing my Master’s degree, I plan to pursue a job in medical research to gain practical experience and deepen my understanding of the field. This hands-on exposure will help me build a strong foundation for the next step in my journey, which is applying for PhD training.
What I like most is the ability to adapt your programme to your own interests and even if you have chosen a specific specialisation you can always switch.
- Previous education
- BSc Biomedische wetenschappen (Radboud Universiteit)
- Programme
- Biomedical Sciences
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you?
What I like most is the ability to adapt your programme to your own interests and even if you have chosen a specific specialisation you can always switch. I started with a combination of Epidemiology and Health Technology Assessment courses, but I found that HTA wasn't what I was looking for. So I did some other courses from Immunology & Host Defence for example. My first choice wasn't something I was stuck with.
What has really challenged me was the many different courses in a short time. Every four weeks you have two new, sometimes totally different, courses with new peers and new groups. This is difficult to get used to but you learn a lot of different skills, adaptability for one and of course the ability to work with a lot of different people.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere in class is really nice, you are able to ask anything at any time. The hierarchy of teacher and student is not really present. While some teachers like to be called sir or miss, others tell us to just use their first name. In either case every single teacher is really approachable, and you are sometimes even able to find them in the bar to get a drink with.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The most challenging is the constant change between different subjects. It is sometimes hard to keep up with all the courses and all the teachers. During some months I got the subjects mixed up making it more difficult during the exam. However, it is really nice to be able to adapt to this and if the course is not really a good one for you, you only have to endure for four weeks.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I am currently finishing my programme in a less traditional way. I finished my two internships already and wrote my thesis last year. Now I am just following a few more courses in my third year to acquire my Epidemiology A registration. My first internship was related to Health Technology Assessment and I went to Indonesia for 20 weeks to do this. My second internship was Epidemiology related at the RIVM. My thesis was on the epidemiology of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever for the High Level Isolation Unit, I was also able to present this work at the ESCMID conference during my programme.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
I think it is really important that there are people with this degree as we are taught a lot of different things, specialised on different topics. While you might only need one of the courses for your future career, you will always have the knowledge of all of the courses and internships. This makes you think in a broader way, always thinking steps ahead.
After I have receiver my Master's degree I will first take some time off to travel. Afterwards I would really like to start working at the RIVM (where I also did my last internship) as an epidemiologist.