Are you a current student? For the programme of this academic year, check the course guide.
Curriculum of Microbiology
The programme of the specialisation of Microbiology consists of compulsory courses, elective courses, a philosophy elective, research proposal, review article, and two internships. It has a course load of 120 EC (two years). In the specialisation you will study the interface between fundamental, applied and medical microbiology. As a Master’s student, you will be part of a Microbiology research department that is at the forefront in the areas of environmental, medical, and molecular microbiology.
About this study curriculum
The course overview is an indication of the study programme of the academic year 2025-2026. If you are a current student, please consult the online course guide for your course overview.
Course overview
The structure of your programme is as follows:
- Compulsory courses (18 EC)
- Electives (18 EC)
- Review article (6 EC)
- Research proposal (6 EC)
- Two internships (2 x 36 EC)
- P2
- P1
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
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 (9 EC)
You need to choose at least one course from a list of selected electives for Biology. The remaining EC can be filled with academic courses within the field of natural sciences. You can also choose to use 6 EC as extension of your internship.
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.
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
At least one internship has to be performed at Radboud University or Radboudumc, whereas the other can also be done at another university in the Netherlands, abroad or in a microbiological research institute outside the university (industry, governmental or non-governmental research institute), with a senior Radboud microbiology staff member as secondary supervisor. Also, it is possible to apply for a grant to perform an internship at the Max Planck Gesellschaft, one of the world's most renowned research institutes.
Recent internship topics are:
- Metagenomic characterisation of a laboratory-scale bioreactor system that mimics wastewater treatment of the Bavaria brewery
- Protein purification and analysis of the volcanic methanotroph Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum
- System level analysis of immune cells upon Candida infection
Review Article or Research Proposal can be replaced by either:
- Field Course Alpine Ecology (NWI-BM040B)
- Field Course (NWI-BM048B)
Both field courses are offered in alternating years.