Masters Degrees in Architecture, Building & Planning, Netherlands

The MSc Programme in Urban Water and Sanitation educates professionals in the fields of water supply, sanitation and integrated urban engineering, particularly in urban areas.

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MSc Forest and Nature Conservation

During the two-year MSc programme in Forest and Nature conservation you will learn about forest management, deforestation, forestry, ecosystem conservation, wildlife management, social aspects of nature and more.

Programme summary

This programme focuses on policy, sustainable management and conservation of forest and nature; i.e. understanding and predicting the effect of phenomena such as global climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss, ecotourism, timber production, hunting and animal reintroduction. Insights into all aspects of forest and nature conservation are required to address these issues with emphasis on both ecological and social aspects. The MSc Forest and Nature Conservation programme represents an integrated approach to natural resource management that can be applied at different scales, to diverse ecosystems and in varying political and social contexts. A tailor-made structure, an outstanding research environment and three comprehensive specialisations contribute to making the programme challenging for undergraduates from both the natural and social sciences.

Specialisations

Policy and society
The central study object is the dynamics between people, organisations and institutions within policymaking and policy innovation processes, referred to as `governance'; relative to forest and nature conservation issues, including spatio-temporal aspects. Issues in the field of economics, public administration, communication and strategic planning are addressed in order to conserve and manage forests and natural areas in a sustainable way. Examples are: recreation, communities and natural resources, deforestation, forest governance, sustainable forestry and certification schemes.

Management
This specialisation aims to design and assess realistic and feasible management options for forests and natural areas. The approach is based on specific knowledge and understanding of wildlife management, management of forests and other terrestrial vegetation. Special attention is given to the following questions: What is the best option for wildlife conservation? Do populations need to be managed or not? How does one determine an optimal population level? How should the effects of various management activities, at different spatial and temporal scales, be evaluated? How should the perceptions of different people be dealt with? What are the best options in forest management for a specific area? How to manage nature? How to deal with abiotic, biotic and social bottlenecks in restoration ecology? What is the role of N and P pollution? How to restore shallow lakes? How to restore tropical forests? It is also possible to focus on specific aspects of natural resource management.

Ecology
The emphasis is on understanding the ecological processes that form the basis for the structure, composition and functioning of forests and natural areas. You can specialise in tropical forestry, landscape ecology, animal ecology, forest resource management, plant ecology, biodiversity conservation or tropical nature conservation.

Your future career

The programme provides excellent preparation for Dutch as well as European and non-European jobs. Career possibilities include positions at research institutes and universities, government ministries and local authorities. Positions are also available at state and private forestry, nature conservation services, and environmental assessment agencies. Examples include the European Forest Institute, Birdlife International, and landscape and animal protection organisations such as RAVON or WWF. In the private sector, graduates find jobs at engineering and consultancy bodies, such as Royal Haskoning, the National Fund for Rural Areas or forestry companies. Graduates often begin their career by carrying out research, computer analysis and modelling of ecological systems, working in knowledge transfer or preparing policy documents. Eventually, their careers usually shift towards advisory work, consultancies, research coordination and project management.

Alumnus Wouter Wubben.
Wouter Wubben works for the municipality Westland and is responsible for matters concerning ecology, landscape and water quality. “When I just started working I could directly apply the ecological knowledge from my master, and I was able to pick up missing knowledge very quickly”. Wouter went to the USA to work on forestry for his internship. “During my internship I worked in the field with a lot of different teams, this experience now helps me to communicate with people involved with the implementation of municipality plans. I have a constantly changing job, I started with executive work but I am now responsible for the development of issues in ecology, landscape and water.”

Related programmes:
MSc Animal Sciences
MSc Biology
MSc Development and Rural Innovation
MSc Landscape Architecture and Planning
MSc Geoinformation Science
MSc International Development Studies.

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MSc Geo-Information Science

The increasing complexity of our society demands for specialists who can collect, manage, analyse and present spatial data using state-of-the-art methods and tools. At Wageningen University we offer a unique, top-quality programme that blends geo-information science methods, technologies and applications within environmental and life sciences for a changing world. Our Geo-information Science graduates usually have a job waiting for them on graduation.

[[Programme summary]
Geo-information has become increasingly important to society as the number of environmental issues continue to rise: Geo-information provides the data we need to manage both the natural and social environment. It is indispensable for a broad range of domains like spatial planning, water management, nature conservation, environment management, agriculture, energy supply, disaster management and traffic and safety. The MSc GIS programme at Wageningen University offers you a blend of geo-information science methods, technologies and applications. The combined use of earth observation techniques (Remote Sensing) and Geographic Information Systems for problem-solving within the environmental and social disciplines is a unique feature of the Wageningen Approach. During your study, you take courses on the acquisition, storage, analysis and visualisation of spatial data. You learn to recognise, describe and analyse problems in relevant environmental application fields; this includes training in the development of prototypes. You also learn about the technical and organisational role of geo-information in institutes and companies: how to communicate well, keep abreast of GI scientific and technical developments, and how to apply these developments in specific fields. Depending on your background, research topics and previous education, you can also choose relevant courses in application domains or ICT.

Specialisations

The Geo-Information Science programme is an intensive programme offering students opportunities to specialise by taking advanced courses in GIS and/or Remote Sensing, and by selecting courses in a range of application fields or geo-information technology. Furthermore, you develop your GIS profile by completing a Master’s research thesis in one of the following research fields:
• sensing and measuring
• modelling and visualization
• integrated land monitoring
• human-space interactions
• empowering and engaging communities
Your choice of internship location is another factor in developing your profile and specialisation.

Your future career

Graduates in Geo-Information Science have excellent career prospects; most have job offers before they graduate. Many of our graduates work in research, either in PhD programmes or for research institutes all over the world; Wageningen UR, including Alterra, has the largest group of GI-scientists in the Netherlands. Many others are employed as technical specialists, consultants or project leaders for global companies like Royal Haskoning, Arcadis and Grontmij. And lastly, others work for local or central government agencies and NGOs, including environmental assessment programmes. Would you like to generate and use geo-information to solve global problems like flooding, planning, or the migration of wild animals? Or do you want to provide geo-information to the public or government? Then join the two-year Geo-information Science Master programme at Wageningen University. You have a Bachelor degree in the field of environmental sciences, geography and planning, landscape architecture, food and agricultural sciences, (geo)- information sciences or even social sciences.

Alumnus Frank Salet.
During his career, Frank worked within fields where the use of GIS is unique, challenging or still developing. After a few GIS positions at mostly commercial companies, he is now working at an NGO in Nigeria on the eradication of polio. For the project he has temporarily moved to Nigeria to set up the GIS work, together with a team of 20 Nigerian GIS specialists. He is now working in a multicultural environment just like during his master in Wageningen. Frank is very positive about the connection between the master and his professional career: “All courses within the master programme have formed the tools that I still use for each job I take on.”

Related programmes:
MSc Geographical Information Management and Applications
MSc Forest and Nature Conservation
MSc Landscape Architecture and Planning
MSc Environmental Sciences
MSc Biosystems Engineering.

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MSc International Land and Water Management

The two-year Master International Land and Water Management programme focuses on the scientific analysis of land and water management issues at various scales. An integration of physical, technical, socio-economic and political dimensions in various approaches is sought in order to critically analyse, understand and tackle land and water management problems.

Programme summary

The MSc International Land and Water Management focuses on the scientific analysis of the physical, environmental, technical and socio-economic aspects of land and water management and their mutual interactions. Students develop comparative insights into the development of land and water management, take a scientific approach to various research paradigms and acquire a problemoriented, interdisciplinary attitude towards land and water management and rural development issues. Graduates will not only be able to study these issues, but also design and propose sustainable solutions to land and water management problems.

Specialisations

Sustainable Land Management
This specialisation deals with the processes, drivers and consequences of land degradation; as well as with interventions and conservation practices for sustainable land management. By providing in-depth knowledge and developing skills in physical and socio-economic aspects, this specialisation prepares students for both research and development jobs. Topics covered range from erosion processes and modelling to impact assessment and strategies, from field scale to watershed and beyond.

Irrigation and Water Management
Students in this specialisation obtain extensive knowledge on water usage in agriculture. Irrigation -from the farm level to the watershed level- is the main focus. Topics include irrigation of agricultural land, design of irrigation systems, water justice, distribution issues, equity and gender discussion, improving the social and technical performance of existing farm irrigation systems and practices, and irrigation in its wider water management context.

Adaptive Water Management
Increasing human induced pressures on water cycles together with growing demands on water resources ask for careful management of water systems. Students in this specialisation acquire the knowledge, skills and capacity to analyse future- oriented issues in water management and to propose and critically assess management strategies and innovations.

Your future career

Graduates find jobs in a wide range of fields including design and implementation, policy making, project management and research and education. Many find a PhD position at universities worldwide. They are employed by international organisations such as the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN (FAO), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), or NGOs involved in international or national development. Some graduates also work for ministries, water boards and other governmental organisations in the field of international cooperation, such as the Dutch DGIS and the German GIZ, while others find jobs in private or public institutes in their home countries. For graduates interested in design and implementation, there are also job opportunities at international consultancies. In the Netherlands this includes firms such as Arcadis, Grontmij, Antea Group, Euroconsult Mott MacDonald and Royal Haskoning DHV.

Alumna Cecilia Borgia.
"After completing my degree, I worked in Mauretania for the Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (CSIC-IAS) promoting both crop diversification and evaluating the performance of irrigation systems in the Senegal Valley. This has also been the subject of my PhD at the University of Cordoba in Spain. Recently, I returned to Wageningen and joined the consultancy firm MetaMeta where I look at water-food-energy linkages and water governance in Yemen. Water access and management, as well as the interactions between local water governance and new forms of organisation, have been central aspects of my work."

Related programmes:
MSc Earth and Environment
MSc International Development Studies
MSc Development and Rural Innovation
MSc Geo-information Science
MSc Landscape Architecture and Planning
MSc Forest and Nature Conservation.

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MSc Landscape Architecture and Planning

The Landscape Architecture and Planning programme stimulates you to reach the top in the field of spatial planning, landscape architecture and landscape research. The study involves the research, planning and design of landscape to create and maintain places to be functional, meaningful, sustainable and beautiful.

Programme summary

Landscapes form our living environment. Natural landscapes are often beautiful in themselves, however most of those we now live in are the result of our complex interaction with the natural world. The new generation of landscape architects and spatial planners understand the challenges we face when shaping and creating the landscapes that form a key component of our living environment. Your goal is to study and design sustainable solutions for important landscape challenges such as climate change, energy needs, health, food security and urbanisation.

Specialisations

The programme offers two specialisations: landscape architecture and spatial planning.

Landscape Architecture
Your primary focus as a Wageningen landscape architect is the design and construction of metropolitan landscapes situated in estuaries and deltas worldwide. Your goal is to create sustainable designs based on a thorough investigation of the ecological, behavioural and aesthetical disciplines.

Spatial Planning
As a spatial planner you develop scenarios for future landscape transformation and evaluate the effectiveness of these scenarios for many different stakeholders. You study planning processes and generate and organise the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for spatial interventions.

Your future career

Once you graduate with an MSc in Landscape Architecture and Planning, you are well-prepared for a career as a landscape architect, spatial planning consultant, project manager, policy adviser and academic or applied researcher. Many of our alumni hold senior positions at consultancy and engineering companies, planning and design bureaus, district water boards, government agencies and universities. A number work for large multinationals, while others have set up their own company or are employed by small and medium sized enterprises.

Students Ruud Tak and Jesper Borsje.
For their thesis, Jesper and Ruud investigated sustainable tourism development in coastal landscapes. They visited the Dubrovnik Rivièra in Croatia for their case study and explored and developed an integrated design strategy for tourism development. Their designs on a regional and local scale show how site-specific landscape identities can function as a base for future sustainable tourism development. “We visited our study area twice. We explored the area ourselves, participated in workshops, and held interviews with local people. This gave us unique insights in the issues that arise when working in a different culture and landscape.”

Related programmes:
MSc Earth and Environment
MSc International Development Studies
MSc Development and Rural Innovation
MSc Geo-information Science
MSc Forest and Nature Conservation

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MSc Leisure, Tourism and Environment

The Leisure, Tourism and Environment programme is one of the few leisure and tourism related studies worldwide that does not focus on management or marketing. It is an academic Master programme involving theories from many different disciplines; it critically reflects on current tourism practices and opens debates about innovative ideas. This combination together with a very international group of students and teachers is unique in the world.

Programme summary

Increasing numbers of people around the world are spending a growing proportion of their leisure time and money on leisure and tourism related activities. The economic and social impact of leisure and tourism services on the environment has grown dramatically in recent years, and this is expected to continue. What motivates tourists to visit remote destinations? How does this travel affect local cultures and economies? And how do issues on sustainability, authenticity, identity and commercialisation fit into the picture? During the two-year MSc programme Leisure, Tourism and Environment you learn the reasoning behind the transformation of certain locations into leisure and tourism environments. The programme pays special attention to concepts such as landscape, space, place, locality, authenticity and sustainability.

Fast growing and dynamic field
By joining the MSc Leisure, Tourism and Environment programme, you study the underlying issues of the fast growing leisure and tourism industry. You look at leisure and tourism from a historical and philosophical perspective, learning about social and cultural theory and how to apply these using advanced research methods and analysis techniques. The MSc integrates the role of governmental, business and ‘third sector’ organisations in the innovation process towards sustainable (tourism) development.

Leading edge learning
It’s an extremely international programme; faculty members from many parts of the world come to Wageningen and give lectures, bringing together an extraordinarily wide range of academic experience. You debate with them and others on globalisation processes as well as on the experience of leisure and tourism within the spatial, natural and social environment.

Challenging international internship
Your internship can take you all over the globe, as we have partner organisations located on every continent. We encourage you to take advantage of these, often, life-changing opportunities. The projects are incredibly diverse, ranging from studying sustainable tourism in Peru to gastronomic culture in Spain and many more. Whatever your internship may be and wherever it may take you, you will both personally and professionally benefit from it.

Develop an international perspective
Another great advantage of studying at Wageningen is that you work together with students and professionals from a wide range of international and cultural backgrounds. You critically discuss contemporary issues in the field of leisure, tourism and the environment, and develop your own international perspective.

Specialisations

Within the MSc Leisure, Tourism and Environment there are no specialisations. It is however possible to specialise yourself by choosing compulsory courses in your minor.

Your future career

You are looking for a career which builds on the knowledge and experience gained in your MSc. This may be in the areas of policy and planning, research, or consultancy, and development, or as an entrepreneur. Many alumni can be found all over the world, working for government agencies and NGOs in the field of policy development and implementation. Others work for consultancy agencies, research institutes or network organisations that link leisure and tourism organisations with conservation institutes, or private business with government organisations and communities. Of course, if you want to continue in research, you can enter a PhD programme, either here at Wageningen or with colleague universities all over the world. We offer you an extensive and well-developed network to move your career forward.

Alumna Ana Raguz.
“I adored and enjoyed working on my MSc! It has given me an amazing diversity of personal experiences, broadening my horizons by working in teams with people from many cultures and disciplines. The programme is so well designed; I could immediately put the theory into practice, and I developed an ability to think critically, inspiring me for creative action. At some point, the right people started appearing, people I could really trust and get along with, and we worked hard together. I was able to take both the harvesThink and IMPACT HUB projects a major step forward – giving me the confidence to move forward myself." (http://www.impacthub.net)

Related programmes:
MSc International Development Studies
MSc Management, Economics and Consumer Studies
MSc Development and Rural Innovation
MSc Applied Communication Studies
MSc Landscape Architecture and Planning

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MSc Urban Environmental Management

The Urban Environmental Management programme is an international and interactive programme providing a balanced curriculum of theory, tools and application. It aims to train students to guide the future along the path of sustainable urbanisation.

Programme summary

The world we live in is an increasingly urban one. Over the past century, a great population shift has occurred from rural to urban areas. Cities now hold half of the world’s population and it is estimated that three out of every five people will live in an urban environment by 2030. This development calls for measures to control the environmental impacts of urbanisation, such as growing traffic, increasing waste emissions, deteriorating air and water quality, and rising energy and resource consumption. Of particular concern are the speed and scale of urbanisation in the developing world as many Asian, African and Latin-American cities are incapable of providing adequate housing and basic urban services. Inadequate water supply, sanitation, waste collection and waste management systems are the cause of serious urban pollution and health hazards. Sustainable management of the urban environment has become one of the major challenges for the future.

The MSc Urban Environmental Management programme aims at equipping its students with the outlook, concepts and tools to manage the urban environment. The programme unites four essential perspectives on the urban environment: environmental quality and health, environmental infrastructure and technology, spatial planning, and governance. Besides integrated theories and views from several disciplines, urban environmental management requires technical and managerial competencies and skills for its implementation. Consequently, the programme provides a balanced curriculum of theory, tools and application. It emphasises the development of an interdisciplinary outlook, critical-thinking, analytical problem solving and practical decision making skills through a combination of teamwork, practical simulation exercises, field trips and an individual research project.

Specialisations

The internship programme offers a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience in a country and organisation as desired. Students can conduct their major thesis research within seven thesis tracks:
• Environmental Economics
• Environmental Policy
• Environmental Systems Analysis
• Geo-information Science
• Management Studies
• Land Use Planning
• Urban Systems Engineering

Experimental thesis research will usually be part of ongoing research programmes of chair groups or research institutes of Wageningen UR. Otherwise, thesis topics originate from the student's own research interests or from discussions with potential supervisors

Your future career

Graduates from the MSc Urban Environmental Management are well-equipped with the skills and knowledge to continue their academic training as a PhD student or to begin careers as researcher, adviser or consultant in for example the utilities companies, the services or manufacturing industries, or in governmental organisations.

Alumnus Indra Firmansyah.
“The MSc Urban Environmental Management helped me a lot in acquiring knowledge of both environmental technology and management. After my graduation in 2011, I returned to my home country Indonesia where I worked for the firm Royal HaskoningDHV on a project that focused on urban sanitation development. Recently, I started a PhD at Wageningen UR on the topic of closing nutrient cycles by reusing treated domestic waste (water) in agriculture and aquaculture, taking the Caribbean island St. Eustatius as a case study. This research is interdisciplinary and requires combining the expertise of spatial planning, new sanitation, agriculture and aquaculture.”

Related programmes:
MSc Environmental Sciences
MSc International Development Studies
MSc Landscape Architecture and Planning.

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Programme features

 Highly international study environment with participants from over 45 different nations
 Lecturers with long-standing international teaching and working experience in the field
 High profile guest lecturers from established institutions such as UN-HABITAT, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Lund University
 Unique training methodology of role-playing games, real-life case study analysis, class debates and on-site visits
 6 different specialisations offering a unique chance to tailor your study and broaden your career path
 Focus on linking theory to real world urban challenges and solutions developed and perfected in IHS’ almost 60 years of experience in the field
 Balanced learning environment of guided training and self-study

A step in your career

The Urban Management and Development master programme enables participants to advance their career opportunities by offering a wide range of career paths in six different areas of urban expertise.
IHS graduates work in the fields of urban academia, international consultancy, local and national governments and non-governmental organisations as lecturers, urban planners, sustainable urban development and design specialists, project managers, architects, government officials, urban policy analysis and development experts, capacity building trainers, land use advisors, renowned NGO heads and specialists and many others.

In the almost 60 years of experience in teaching and applying urban management and development knowledge and practices, IHS has developed an extensive network of urban professionals. Programme participants benefit from the immense IHS network including an alumni association with over 8000 members actively engaged in the field. IHS is engaged in over 100 urban programmes and projects at any point in time offering students a direct contact with donor agencies and training centres worldwide.
Our lecturers have long-standing international experience and continue to work all over the world thus creating a possibility to discuss and initiate links to programmes and projects in countries and cities of the participants.

Course Content

The cities of today are complex with interrelated economic, social, environmental and physical challenges which need to be balanced in the ever-changing urban environment.

The intensive 12-month MSc in Urban Management and Development is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to become competent urban managers by offering an in-depth insight into urban issues, policies and trends around the world through a blend of lectures with case studies, discussions, working groups, group assignments and field visits and field work.
The master programme is divided into three main periods: a core period, a specialization period and a thesis period. Below you can find more information about the programme structure and the knowledge you will gain during each period.

Core period (October - January)

The core period of the Urban Management & Development master programme provides in-depth insight into urban theories, policies and trends worldwide. It will study cities from different multidisciplinary thematic perspectives such as “Complex City”, “Spatial City”, “Sustainable City”, “Green City”, “Livable City”, “Informal City” and “Competitive City”.

Specialisation period (January - April)

The specialization period allows participants to gain an enhanced understanding of a certain aspect of urban management and development depending on their academic and professional orientation and interests.
 Managing & Financing Urban Infrastructure
 Urban Competitiveness and Resilience
 Urban Environment and Climate Change
 Urban Housing and Livelihoods
 Urban Land Governance
 Urban Strategies and Planning

Master Thesis period (April - September)

The thesis period opens with Research Methods workshops which offer the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to conduct academic research and complete the Master’s thesis. The students work under the guidance of their thesis supervisor and with the support of the IHS academic staff.

Training methodology

Throughout the course, students participate in interactive lectures, workshops and discussions, engage in group and individual exercises, analyse cases, give presentations and write papers and essays which aim to deepen their knowledge about the concepts and theory. The training methodology of the programme includes field visits, fieldwork, simulation games, discussions, best practices and case studies.

Important note for Chinese applicants

Chinese applicants are required to apply for a "Nuffic Certificate". This is a document that provides an assessment of the applicant`s English language proficiency as well as of the educational degrees and diplomas that are required to be eligible for an entry visa to the Netherlands. Nuffic sends this certificate directly to IHS once it has been issued.

The Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP)

Applicants who wish to apply for the NFP are kindly advised to apply with IHS at least 4 weeks before the NFP application deadline (14 February 2017) so that they can receive the admissions decision in time for their fellowship application.

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This programme involves studying the interaction between and within groups of neurons in the brain, and how they affect our interactions with the outside world.

The brain is no longer considered a passive response device but rather as a network in which we consider ongoing activity before, during, and after a stimulus. The specialisation Brain Networks and Neuronal Communication deals with brain networks; ranging from the smallest scale, the communication between individual neurons, to the largest scale, communication between different brain areas. Using advanced mathematical tools, this specialisation prepares students for cutting-edge neuroscience research.
Students interested in this specialisation are expected to already have a high level of mathematical skills and/or training in physics, engineering or computer science in their Bachelor’s studies.

A large majority of our graduates gain a PhD position, while other graduates find jobs in the commercial sector or at research institutes. Graduates of this specialisation may more readily find a position within a government institution or specialised companies (e.g. in the pharmaceutical industry).

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/cns/brain

Why study Brain Networks and Neuronal Communication at Radboud University?

- Researchers in Nijmegen combine new techniques for electrophysiological and anatomical measurements of connectivity and activation with data analysis and the experimental application of these techniques. This is done in studies of cognition in not just humans but also non-human primates and rodents.
- Exceptional students who choose this specialisation have the opportunity to do a double degree programme with either Neuroscience or Artificial Intelligence. This will take three instead of two years.
- This competitive programme provides a sound balance of theory and practice. Our selective approach guarantees excellence, especially during the research training period.

Career prospects

If you have successfully completed the Master’s programme in Brain networks and neuronal communication, you will be able to conduct independent neuroimaging and neurobiological research. You will have ample knowledge of the anatomical and neurophysiological aspects of networks in the human brain and the techniques for the computational analysis and modeling of brain networks. This will enable you to conduct independent research into the neurofunctional architecture of key cognitive functions, such as perception, attention, memory, language, planning and targeted actions and develop technologies to measure, characterise and model networks at the whole brain and/or the local cortical circuit level. With this educational background you should be able to find a position with one of the research institutes in the Netherlands or abroad, government institutions or specialised companies (e.g. in the pharmaceutical industry).

Our approach to this field

Research in the field of cognitive neuroscience is one of the spearheads in the research policy of Radboud University. Here, in Nijmegen, hundreds of scientists from various faculties and top institutes have joined forces to unravel the workings of the human brain, step by step . They work together closely, exchange expertise and share state-of-the-art research equipment.

Nijmegen is one of the foremost centres of cognitive neuroscience in the world. We have a high admission threshold to ensure that all of our students are highly motivated and have the ability to work at an advanced level. Top scientists screen all applications to make sure the new students meet our stringent entry criteria and can maintain the current standards of excellence. Once admitted to the programme, you can expect to be trained as a multidisciplinary scientist in the following two years. The research you will undertake addresses crossdisciplinary challenges. The teachers and supervisors you will meet are all experts in their own disciplines. We hope that with this programme, you will outperform your teachers by being able to combine knowledge from different domains. Alongside language processing and perceptuomotor systems, you may also help improve brain/computer interfaces, a hot topic with applications in medicine and information technology. Apart from being very exciting, it is also logical that various disciplines are merging. After all, everything that happens in the brain is interconnected. In Nijmegen we develop sophisticated cognitive models which we test by means of state-of-the-art imaging techniques, thanks to which you can participate in cutting-edge research that will hopefully lead to new insights into the way the human brain and mind work. Finally, we offer our best CNS students excellent career opportunities in challenging PhD projects.

- Unique multi-disciplinary Master’s programme
Are you also interested in the human brain? Would you like to conduct research into the workings of the brain and join an enthusiastic, international group of top researchers? The Radboud University offers a multi-faculty Master’s programme in Cognitive Neuroscience. The programme takes two years and is of a scientific orientation. There is a strong emphasis on experimental research. This Master’s programme is unique in Europe.
The Master’s programme in Cognitive Neuroscience is primarily focused on training you as a researcher because research institutes and businesses around the world desperately need highly qualified and motivated young researchers. Moreover, since cognitive neuroscience is a rather young discipline, much in this field has not yet been explored. There are many challenging questions that need to be answered. So there is plenty of room for new discoveries!

This competitive programme provides a sound balance of theory and practice. We enrol about 50 students per year. Our selective approach guarantees excellence, especially during the research training period.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/cns/brain

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Master's specialisation in Plasticity and Memory

- The connection between the brain and cognition
How does your brain enable you to remember a certain event? What happens in your brain when you listen to music? How does your brain adapt itself to certain changes, such as a haemorrhage or other form of damage? How do you distinguish between important and relatively unimportant information in the world around you? How do you focus your attention on a playing child? How does our consciousness work? These are just a few of the questions that neurocognitive scientists would like to see answered.

- Neurocognition in Nijmegen: the cutting edge
The Radboud University has an outstanding reputation in the field of neurocognition. In 2002, the ultramodern Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging (DCCN) was officially opened on campus. This centre draws many young researchers from all over the world and to a large extent determines the nature of the Plasticity and Memory specialisation. In 2008 the DCCN formed together with the Donders Centre for Cognition (formerly NICI) and the Donders Centre for Neuroscience the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour.

General requirements:

- Bachelor's degree
The graduation date of the last attained BA/BSc degree relevant for this programme must be within five years of applying to the programme.

- English skills
The Cognitive Neuroscience Master's programme (MSc CNS) is an English programme: all courses and examinations are taught in English. For the general language requirements of the Radboud University click here. Foreign students please note that the MSc CNS programme requires the following minimum scores: TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 250 (computer-based test), 100 (internet-based test); IELTS 7.0 or higher.

- Mathematics & Physics
Students who did not follow physics in their highschool curriculum and/or who have not been trained in mathematics at level B (including concepts such as matrix algebra, differentation, integration, complex numbers), are advised before the start of the programme to work on the assignment in Chapters 1, 2, 7, 8 and 11 (three chapters on physics and two on mathematics) of R.K. Hobbie: "Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology", Springer Verlag, New York, 1997; third edition, ISBN 1-56396-458-9).

Career prospects

If you have successfully completed the Master’s programme in Plasticity and Memory, you will be able to conduct neuroimaging and neurobiological research. You will have ample knowledge of the anatomical and neurophysiological aspects of the human brain and theoretical cognition/neurocognition models. This will enable you to conduct independent research into the neurofunctional architecture of cognitive key functions, such as perception, attention, memory, language, planning and targeted actions. With this educational background you should be able to find a position with one of the research institutes in the Netherlands or abroad, government institutions or specialised companies (e.g. in the pharmaceutical industry).

Our approach to this field

Research in the field of cognitive neuroscience is one of the spearheads in the research policy of Radboud University. Here, in Nijmegen, hundreds of scientists from various faculties and top institutes have joined forces to unravel the workings of the human brain, step by step and bit by bit. They thereby work together very closely, exchange expertise and share state-of-the-art research equipment.

Nijmegen is one of the foremost centres of cognitive neuroscience in the world. We have deliberately created a high admission threshold to ensure that all our students are highly motivated and have the ability to work at an advanced level. Top scientists screen all applications to make sure the new students meet our stringent entry criteria and help maintain the current standards of excellence. Once admitted to the programme you can expect to be trained as a multidisciplinary scientist in the following two years. The research of which you will become a part addresses crossdisciplinary challenges. The teachers and supervisors you will meet are all experts in their own disciplines. We hope that with this programme you will outperform your teachers by being able to combine knowledge from different domains. Alongside language processing and perceptuomotor systems, you may also help improve brain/computer interfaces, a hot topic with applications in medicine and information technology. Apart from being very exciting, it is also logical that various disciplines are merging. After all, everything that happens in the brain is interconnected. In Nijmegen we develop sophisticated cognitive models which we test by means of state-of-the-art imaging techniques, thanks to which you can participate in cutting-edge research that will hopefully lead to new insights into the way the human brain and mind work. Finally, we offer our best CNS students excellent career opportunities in challenging PhD projects.

- Unique multi-disciplinary Master’s programme
Are you also interested in the human brain? Would you like to conduct research into the workings of the brain and join an enthusiastic, international group of top researchers? The Radboud University Nijmegen offers a multi-faculty Master’s programme in Cognitive Neuroscience. The programme takes two years and is of course of a scientific orientation. There is a strong emphasis on experimental research. After all, what counts is hands-on research experience. This Master’s programme is unique in Europe.

The Master’s programme in Cognitive Neuroscience is primarily focussed on training you as a researcher and if possible, a top researcher, because research institutes and businesses around the world desperately need highly qualified and motivated young researchers. Moreover, since cognitive neuroscience is a rather young discipline, much in this field has not yet been explored. There are many challenging questions that need to be answered. So there is plenty of room for new discoveries!

This competitive programme provides a sound balance of theory and practice. We enrol about 50 students per year. Our selective approach guarantees excellence, especially during the research training period.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/physicsandastronomy/physics

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The master History of Architecture and Town Planning (Healthy Cities, new Perspectives on History and Theory of Architecture and Town Planning) explores the evolution of cities, villages and landscapes in Europe within the framework of changing geopolitical conditions at the global scale.

Are you interested how architecture and urbanism can improve our conditions, and how they contribute to public health? Wish to gain knowledge about the global dimension of architectural and urban theories and practices? Starting with a profound historical overview, this Master prepares students for an active role in debates and policy making processes involved in the renaissance of the European city. It analyzes physical and spatial phenomena as historical documents conveying the motives underlying their continuous changes, as instruments to pursue specific policies, and as works of art. Starting with the Enlightenment, and paying attention to issues related to public health, the program investigates tensions between global and local, gaps between formal and informal, the post-socialist condition in former Eastern Europe, and architectural and urban strategies aiming at sustainable living conditions and their historical precursors. Part of the courses is provided by the Thomassen a Thuessink Chair, a joint venture of Groningen University Medical Center, the University of Groningen and Delft University of Technology; the chair focuses on the public health dimension of urban interventions.

Job perspectives

The master opens a myriad of career opportunities, in the Netherlands and abroad, as has been proved over the years. For instance:
- jobs in the field of urban history and consultancy for municipal agencies and scientific institutions
- jobs for private or public architectural and urban platforms
- jobs in the field of journalism and public relations
- the master prepares students for a scientific career
- jobs as advisors for healthcare institutions

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Environmental and Infrastructure Planning (EIP) focuses on the sustainable planning of infrastructure. It does so from a spatial planning perspective. This means that you will not only explore infrastructure planning, realization and management concerning roads, utilities and water systems; you will also learn about the relationship between societal and political processes.

The Master's degree focuses on students with an academic interest in designing policy solutions for problems in the field of environment, such as climate change. It will also give you the chance to learn more about issues concerning water, like flooding, and infrastructure project, for example the growth of mobility. The programme emphasizes the integration of technical knowledge with knowledge of planning and planning processes.

The interdisciplinary character of EIP is reflected in the contents of its curriculum. Several courses will strengthen your knowledge of issues in EIP and the tools you use in this discipline. To satisfy your individual academic interests, a number of electives are available. You complete the programme by writing a thesis.

Why in Groningen?

- Urban areas and issues of infrastructure, environment and water;
- Thinking (policy strategies) and doing (practical work on projects and plans);
- Compare international theory and practice;
- Program linked to international (e.g., AESOP) and national (e.g., Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment) institutes;
- Groningen offers a wide range of English-language course options and facilities;
- Optional: double degree programs (e.g. Bandung, Indonesia and Oldenburg, Germany).

Job perspectives

The diversity and complexity of EIP opens up a wide field of potential careers. The government is an important employer. Many EIP graduates start as a policy adviser within international, national, provincial and local offices in charge of spatial planning, transportation or water management. You can also find a job in the private sector where especially consultancy firms are keen to hire our graduates. It is also possible to start your own business or go into research.

The Msc Environmental and Infrastructure Planning (EIP) program follows a research agenda at the Department of Spatial Planning and Environment.

This research agenda concentrates on the relationships between institutional innovation (improved policy making) and spatial transformation (changing cities and regions). As a result, the lecturers in EIP try to:

CLARIFY notions of sustainability, capability, quality of life (wellbeing), adaptiveness, and resilience.EXPLAIN spatial transformation in terms of urban and regional change;CONCEPTUALIZE these insights for input to the theoretical debate and the empirical understanding of (mainly) Dutch, European and Asian planning practice.PROPOSE innovative realistic strategies and policy improvement for issues of infrastructure, water, and the environment;

The research questions underpinning EIP are:
- how do we establish possibilities for the sustainable development of our cities and regions?how do we integrate roads, water, environment and energy in comprehensive decisions?

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Would you like to study topics in development planning and infrastructure management in two different countries? Then this double degree is the right choice for you.

The Faculty of Spatial Sciences in Groningen and the Department of Regional and City Planning in Bandung combine their strengths in this double degree. The course lasts for twenty-four months. You will spend the first twelve months in Indonesia and the second twelve months in the Netherlands.

The programme is designed to provide individuals and government officials with the professional capability to deal with planning related activities. You will focus on local as well as central levels in both the developed and the developing world. You will be trained to address spatial problems and to tackle complicated situations in an efficient and effective way.

The curriculum focuses on theories in the field of planning, for example in planning and management of natural resources. In addition, you will be trained to handle decision-making processes. Furthermore, this degree will provide you with the skills to improve and develop infrastructure planning and management in the context of urban and regional development.

Degree: MSc in Environmental and Infrastructure Planning

Job perspectives

As a graduate, you can work in governmental agencies, consultancies, and non-profit organizations as an expert in the field of developmental planning and infrastructural management. It is also possible to expand your knowledge as a researcher at a university or other knowledge institute.

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What can this Master Interior Architecture offer you?

Perception and expression in the architecture of the interior
What makes a certain place so characteristic? Is it the light, falling in a specific angle through the glass windows? The material and colors of the chairs, tables, curtains, walls, floor? The specific sounds of the room? The touch, the smell of things? The people …? Phenomenological aspects determine the atmosphere of an interior.

The core
Interior at our Master Interior Architecture is no niche, nuance or aspect of architecture, but a fundamental attitude towards the surrounding world. The core of this Master is the understanding of a place in all its manifestations, before you start to transform it because of changing needs and requirements.

What will you learn?
You will learn to develop a concept for a space based on your own ideas and artistic vision and realize that concept. Important part is how to present your conclusions as an essential component of your architectural design. At each assignment you will be asked to draw connections between your own work and that of others and between your work and the audience. Also you will make an active contribution in collaborative projects. In the two years you study in Maastricht you will get the chance to deepen your design skills, personal interpretation of the professional situation and artistic talent. You will obtain subject matter knowledge, insights and skills based on your own applied research.

Language
English/Dutch. The lecturers also speak German.

Study Programme

The first year
Your own atelier
In the first year you will work in your own atelier, where you fulfill hypothetical assignments and where you evaluate your design process step-by-step with your lecturers. In these assignments you will explore materiality, light, time, scale and composition.

Assigments
We start an assignment with excursions to different places, where you test these with your senses and explore it with our time’s state of mind, from within. You research the place’s anatomy, induce empathy and construct understanding. You formulate an intention of how to rebalance the choreography meaningfully and you exemplify the intended meaning as a built structure of explicit materiality. In these assignments the theoretical research and analysis play a key role.

Your graduation project
Final master assessment
In the second year you will focus on your thesis and final work piece. Your graduation project is the final master assessment. With this assessment you will proof that you are able to practice the profession. You will position yourself as an interior architect and present you to the outside world so that you can build the foundation for a future career. It also offers the possibility of a critical contribution to the debate on topical issues, and is valuable for the further development of the field.

Free to choose
The subject of your final project is free to choose but still fairly close in the broad sense of the interior. It is a hypothesis in a built-up area context. The selection and motivation of your graduation project is part of the graduation plan that is submitted. You will have to conclude the place and the primary idea of the intention.

Thesis and anatomical model
Your graduation project consists of two connected layers: the thesis and the anatomical model. The thesis should form the foundation of your project, based of language and theoretical research in historical, philosophical, cultural and socio-political sense. The anatomical model is the concrete implementation of your intention and includes all spatial elements.

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The Masters specialisation in Cities, Water and Climate Change discusses the relationship between city planning and development, climate mitigation and adaptation. Cities, because of high levels of energy consumption and mobility, are the main contributors to climate change. At the same time, cities, because of their population density, are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Questions that will be addressed in this specialisation are: How can city planners contribute to a reduction of CO2 emissions, and how can cities adapt to the consequences of climate change

To answer these questions, possibilities for mainstreaming climate change into urban planning will be discussed as well as examples of carbon free cities and transition towns. It is expected that in 2050 more than 70% of the world’s population lives in delta areas. Because of the rapidly urbanizing delta areas, special attention will be paid to issues of flood risk management and multi-layered water safety. Which infrastructure is needed to protect delta areas, what is the potential of ecosystem engineering (‘building with nature’), and what are possibilities for flood proofing urban areas?

To learn more about these strategies, students will study case studies from the Netherlands (Delta programme, Rotterdam, and Nijmegen) as well as international cases (New Orleans, Miami, New York, Jakarta, Hamburg). Students will learn more about both strategies to enhance cities’ adaptive capacity (the capacity to adapt to changing climate conditions), and cities’ resilience (the capacity to respond to shocks, such as floods).

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