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 Science, Management and Innovation
During your first year, you focus on either Biology, Computing Science, Mathematics, Medical Biology, Molecular Sciences or Physics and Astronomy, depending on the Master's programme that you follow. The specific content of SMI starts in the second year of your Master’s programme, which consists of some compulsory courses, theme courses and a research project.
About this study curriculum
This course overview presents the SMI-specific course overview, which takes place in the second year of your Master's. The first year curriculum depends on which Master's you choose. You can find the first-year course overview for each Master's at the bottom of this page.
The structure of your SMI year is as follows:
- Compulsory courses (15 EC)
- Theme courses (15 EC)
- Philosophy course (3 EC)
- Research project (27 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
- P2
- P1
- P2
Theme courses
You select a societally relevant theme to focus on and following a total of 15 EC of courses related to this theme. We offer three themes: Biodiversity, Climate and Energy and Health. For these themes, we created courses directly geared to students interested in management and innovation. Students can choose one of the following themes:
Biodiversity
Biodiversity Assessment (3 EC)
Ecological and Environmental Concepts (3 EC)
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (6 EC)
Nature in a crowded country (3 EC)
Climate and Energy
Energy and Climate (6 EC)
Energy Systems Analysis (3 EC)
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (6 EC)
Health
How Health Systems Work (6 EC)
The Future of Health (6 EC)
Free choice (3 EC)
Philosophy course
You select one of the following 3 EC courses with a philosophical character according to what is permitted in your Master's study programme. Computing Science students do not need to take this elective course as a philosophy course is already included in their programme in the Master's.
Philosophy of Evidence and Expertise (3 EC, Q1)
Philosophy of Ecological Restoration (3 EC, Q1)
Philosophy and Physics (3 EC, Q1)
Science and Values (3 EC, Q1)
Environmental Ethics (3 EC, Q2)
Imagining the Anthropocene (3 EC, Q2)
Philosophy and Ethics in Microbiology (3 EC, Q2)
Science and Arts (3 EC, Q3)
Beyond Boundaries: An Introduction to Interdisciplinarity (3 EC, Q3)
Upgrading the Human? (3 EC, Q3)
Philosophy of Mathematics (3 EC, Q4)
Evolution and the Mind (3 EC, Q4)
Bio-ethics for Life Scientists (3 EC, Q4)
- P3
- P4
During your research project, you’ll work primarily outside the university on a real-world research problem in the theme you have chosen. Here, you take the essential step of applying what you have learned in your courses into practice. The project can be done within a company, a governmental organisation or department, the strategy department of a research lab or a non-governmental organisation, both inside or outside the Netherlands or Europe. The staff as well as our Career Service will help you find a tailor-made internship position that meets you future ambition. It is possible to extend the SMI Research Project to a maximum of 30 EC.
Domains
This is an overview of the first-year curriculum if you combine Science, Management and Innovation with one of the Master's specialisations in Biology. During your first year, you follow courses from your Biology specialisation and complete a research internship at one of the Biology research groups. The SMI-courses and activities start in the second year (see above).
The following components are part of the programme when you take the Master's specialisation in Science, Management and Innovation within the Master's in Biology:
- Compulsory courses (15 EC)
- Free electives (6 EC)
- Review article (6 EC)
- Research internship (33 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.
This is an overview of the first-year curriculum if you combine Science, Management and Innovation with one of the Master's specialisations in Computing Science. The SMI-courses and activities start in the second year (see above).
The following components are part of the programme when you take the Master's specialisation in Science, Management and Innovation within the Master's in Computing Science:
- Courses (51 EC)
- Elective courses (6 EC)
- Free electives (6 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.
This is an overview of the first-year curriculum if you combine Science, Management and Innovation with the Master's specialisations in Mathematics. The SMI-courses and activities start in the second year (see above).
The following components are part of the programme when you take the Master's specialisation in Science, Management and Innovation within the Master's in Mathematics:
- Compulsory courses (5 EC)
- Track electives (24 EC)
- Mathematical electives (22 EC)
- Free electives (9 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.
This is an overview of the first-year curriculum if you combine Science, Management and Innovation with one of the Master's specialisations in Medical Biology. The SMI-courses and activities start in the second year (see above).
The following components are part of the programme when you take the Master's specialisation in Science, Management and Innovation within the Master's in Medical Biology:
- Compulsory courses (18 EC)
- Free electives (6 EC)
- Review article (6 EC)
- Research internship (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.
This is an overview of the first-year curriculum if you combine Science, Management and Innovation with one of the Master's specialisations in Molecular Sciences. The SMI-courses and activities start in the second year (see above).
The following components are part of the programme when you take the Master's specialisation in Science, Management and Innovation within the Master's in Molecular Sciences:
- Compulsory courses (15 EC)
- Electives (9 EC)
- Free electives (6 EC)
- Research project (29 EC)
- Career orientation (1 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.
This is an overview of the first-year curriculum if you combine Science, Management and Innovation with one of the Master's specialisations in Physics and Astronomy. The SMI-courses and activities start in the second year (see above).
The following components are part of the programme when you take the Master's specialisation in Science, Management and Innovation within the Master's in Physics and Astronomy:
- Compulsory courses (8 EC)
- Specialisation electives (15 EC)
- Free electives (6 EC)
- Thesis (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.