Please note: This page is aimed at prospective students. Are you already a student at Radboud University? You can find your current study programme in the Course catalogue.
Curriculum of Human Biology
The first year consists of five compulsory Human Biology courses, personal and professional development courses and at least one writing assignment. You can compose the rest of the programme with specialisation electives, a philosophy elective and free electives. To finish the programme, you have to complete one internship.
About this study curriculum
The curriculum of the programme Human Biology will change starting academic year 2026-2027. Below is the new curriculum.
The structure of your programme is as follows:
- Compulsory courses (27 EC)
- Personal and Professional Development (3 EC)
- Electives (21 EC)
- Philosophy Elective (3 EC)
- Research Proposal or Review Article (6 EC)
- One long internship (60 EC) or alternatively two shorter ones (2 x 30 EC)
Provisional overview for prospective students
This overview provides an indication of the study programme of the academic year 2026-2027 and is aimed at prospective students. It is subject to change and no rights may be derived from it. Already a student at Radboud University? View your current study programme in the Course catalogue.
- P1
- P1
- P1
- P2
- P2
Elective courses
Your core curriculum is supplemented by electives. The elective programme consists of Natural Science electives, a philosophy elective and Free electives. You’re free to compose this programme as you wish, provided that the level and coherence is sufficient for the Examination Board.
Natural Science electives (15 EC)
You need to choose at least one course from a list of selective electives for Medical Biology. The remaining EC can be filled with academic courses within the field of natural sciences. You can also decide to use 2x6 EC as an extension of your internship in case you opt for the option to perform two shorter ones.
Philosophy elective (3 EC)
Choose one Philosophy course from a set list of Science Philosophy electives.
Free electives (6 EC)
You can add 6 EC of electives as any course taught at Radboud University, another Dutch university or abroad.
Internships
During your internships in the second year, you will conduct your own experiments under the guidance of leading researchers from various departments, such as Human Genetics, Physiology, Nephrology, Haematology, and Molecular Pharmacy and Toxicology.
The default option is to perform a 60EC internship. There is the possibility to split this into two shorter (2x30EC) internships.
You also have the option to pursue your research internships at a company or abroad. For example, you can apply for a grant to complete an internship at the Max Planck Gesellschaft, a prestigious global research institute. For further guidance, you can reach out to the teaching staff or the student advisor.
Writing assignment
To improve your skills in scientific writing you will write a Research Proposal (6 EC) and/or a Review Article (6 EC) under the close supervision of a scientist.