Masters Degrees in Veterinary Sciences, Netherlands

MSc Animal Sciences

The two-year MSc programme Animal Sciences is a continuation of a BSc in Animal Sciences or an equivalent programme in the field of livestock, companion animals and wildlife.

The focus is to deliver skilled professional animal scientists who are well equipped to tackle problems related to sustainable livestock development as well as to the management of livestock and companion animals. The animal-human interaction plays an important role in this study programme. Themes like animal nutrition, animal health, animal welfare, levels of management, genetic diversity and socio-economic factors are all widely discussed.

Programme summary

Humans interact with animals in many different ways, ranging from raising livestock for food to keeping pets for companion. Animal husbandry and livestock development are not only constrained by technical factors, such as feed supply, animal health, management and genetics, but also by infrastructural and socio-economic factors. Consequently, today’s animal scientists need in-depth scientific training combined with a critical attitude towards all factors that limit the sustainable development of animal husbandry. Our individually tailored programme trains students to become expert animal scientists, well-equipped to tackle relevant issues of livestock and animal management.

Specialisations

Within the MSc Animal Sciences you can choose from various specialisations. Each of the specialisations trains you to become an expert in the field. The specialisations in MSc Animal Sciences are:

Animal Breeding and Genetics
Understanding how genetic differences work and how they can be used in a sustainable manner in a wide range of species plays a central role in this specialisation. Students learn how breeding and genetics can contribute to safe and healthy food from animal origin and how it contributes to the health and welfare of animals.

Animal Nutrition
This specialisation deals with the interaction between animals and their nutrition. Students learn about the way animals digest and convert food by studying the nutrient flows and the physiology of the animals in relation to the composition of feeds. They also learn about the effect of feed in relation to health, welfare and behaviour of the animal.

Applied Zoology
Understanding the relationship between structure and function of all systems within the body is the main focus of this specialisation. Students look at organ structures, hormones, bone structure or the immune system of animals and learn how these systems respond to external influences.

Animal Health and Behaviour
Knowledge of the adaptive capacity of animals is required to be able to determine how to keep an animal healthy and how changes affect the animal. Students learn to study behaviour, stress or immune parameters or energy metabolism to determine e.g. which housing system or feed regime is best for animal health and welfare.

Animal Health Management
How can the risk of transmission of infectious diseases be quantified between and within groups of animals? And which factors are of influence on this process? In this specialisation, students learn to combine animal health management at population level with socioeconomic aspects by studying aspects of veterinary epidemiology.

Animal Production Systems
In this specialisation, students will look at animal production systems in relation to the environment worldwide. Students learn about human and animal interaction. They will also study the environmental, economical and social impact that animal production has on the world.

Professional Tracks and International Programmes
In addition to a specialisation, students can choose a professional track that leads to a specific type of career. You can focus on Research, Education, Communication & Policy, or Business & Management. We also offer international programmes that lead to a double master degree, i.e. in Animal Breeding & Genetics, Sustainable Animal Nutrition & Feeding, European Animal Management, or Animal Welfare Assessment.

Your future career

Our graduates work as nutritionists, policymakers, breeding specialists, advisors, managers, researchers or PhD students. They work for feed manufacturing companies, pharmaceutical companies or breeding organisations but also within regional and national governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations or research institutes and universities.

Alumna Linda van Zutphen.
"I work as a Communication Officer for the Research & Development and Quality Affairs department of Nutreco. This company is a global leader in animal nutrition and fish feed. I am involved in marketing and group communication about innovations, quality and sustainability. During my MSc Animal Sciences, I did my internship at Nutreco’s research facility in Spain. The MSc programme provided me with multidisciplinary knowledge on animal production and the skills to apply this. My job gives me the opportunity to combine my scientific background with my passion for communicating about the applications of our research in products for animal health."

Related programmes:
MSc Biology
MSc Forest and Nature Conservation
MSc Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management
MSc Biosystems Engineering
MSc Organic Agriculture.

Read less

Epidemiology

The Master's in Epidemiology focuses on biomedical research, examining the distribution of health and the spread of disease in both human and veterinary medicine.

In the Master's in Epidemiology you acquire extensive knowledge and practical skills in epidemiologic research design and implementation, quantitative analysis and its application to human or veterinary medicine and public health. The knowledge and skills gained form a solid basis for health research and disease control programmes, including applications in developing countries.

This two year research programme comprises such core theoretical courses as 'Study Design' and 'Modern Methods in Data Analysis.' You choose from five specializations: Clinical Epidemiology, Veterinary Epidemiology, Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Pharmacoepidemiology or Environmental & Occupational Epidemiology. You undertake a practical research project (which may be completed at an external company or research institute), that results in a publishable scientific paper. A final Master's thesis based on a literature review of a relevant topic completes the programme. Graduates may go on to a PhD programme, or a position as an epidemiologist in various settings. This programme is also offered in a 1.5 year post graduate format.

Read less

One Health

This new Master's programme starts in September 2017.

The One Health concept recognises that health of people is connected to (the health of) animals and the environment and vice versa. The One Health approach in research involves interdisciplinary research by collaborations between physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, microbiologists and ecologists, to monitor, study, evaluate, model and control public health threats. This is realised by studying how diseases spread among people, animals, and the environment. One Health is not a new concept, but it has become more important in recent years.

This is the first European Master’s programme in One Health with a clear focus on research;
As a student you will have the opportunity to carry out two hands-on research projects at renowned research groups;
A unique interconnection between Medicine and Veterinary Medicine;
Collaboration with partners in innovative research projects allowing students to do their internship at prestigious partner institutions.

Read less

Toxicology and Environmental Health

In the Master's in Toxicology and Environmental Health you gain knowledge and skills in the recognition and evaluation of human or animal exposure to potentially hazardous factors in the environment.

The Master's programme in Toxicology and Environmental Health deals with the health risks of exposure to potentially harmful agents in the environment, in the workplace and through the food chain. Possible effects on ecosystems are also examined.This two year research programme is comprised of theoretical courses, a major and minor research project to gain practical skills, and the writing of a final Master's thesis. This programme is organised by the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), an inter-faculty institute of Utrecht University; for your research projects it is therefore possible to work within one of the divisions of IRAS. Your minor project may also be carried out at an institute outside Utrecht University or abroad; or depending upon the career you find most appealing, you may replace your minor research project with a professional profile, including Management, Communication & Education, or Drug Regulatory Sciences. Graduates of the programme are prepared for further PhD studies in fundamental or applied research, or for a post at an academic level; they may work as toxicological risk assessors, occupational hygiene consultants, or forensic specialists.

Read less

In MSc Epidemiology Postgraduate and MSc Epidemiology Postgraduate Online, you will examine the distribution and determinants of health and morbidity in specific populations. With evidence-based medicine setting new standards, there is a growing need/demand for specialists working on the design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of epidemiological and health research. This scientific discipline is increasingly in demand in clinical research (human, pharmaceutical, and veterinary), industry, and policy making.

Epidemiology Postgraduate is offered in two variants:
- MSc Epidemiology Postgraduate:

- MSc Epidemiology Postgraduate Online:

The difference between both master's programmes is the learning method. The course content of the face-to-face programme (Epidemiology Postgraduate) is identical to the online programme (Epidemiology Postgraduate Online). All courses within Epidemiology Postgraduate Online are offered by the platform of Elevate Health.

Please note this Master’s programme is not state funded. This means that the programme has a total tuition fee of € 18,182 for EU students and a total fee of € 27,000 for non-EU students.
For the online Master's programme Elevate Health offers scholarships for talented and motivated students. Please contact [email protected] to find out if you are eligible for such a scholarship.

Programme objective
In both variants of the Epidemiology Postgraduate programme you will learn to operate as an epidemiologist and clinical researcher.
The program consists of core courses (20 EC), specialization courses (14 EC), and a research project (56 EC).

- MSc Epidemiology Postgraduate: In this programme, you will spend about six months completing compulsory theoretical courses, the core courses. You will spend 13 EC (face-to-face programme) or 14 EC (online programme) to the specialization courses. Research Project (56 EC).You are required to complete a research project during your studies.

- MSc Epidemiology Postgraduate Online: In the online variant you choose between specializations in Clinical Epidemiology, Veterinary Epidemiology and General Epidemiology. The research project can be conducted at your own location in cooperation with one of the participating institutes and supervised by a faculty staff member from Utrecht University.

The programme is taught by internationally renowned lecturers such as professors Rick Grobbee, MD PhD FESC and Arno Hoes, MD PhD, both famous within the field of epidemiology. Our online programme gives you maximal flexibility and time-efficiency to learn at the time and location most convenient to you, what makes this programme very practical in combination with a career. Utrecht University and the University Medical Center Utrecht have an outstanding academic reputation and are reputable partners that Elevate Health is proud to work with. MSc Epidemiology, the regular, 2 years face-to-face master programme is evaluated as #1 Master's programme in the Dutch Master's Selection Guide 2015!

Read less

One image tells more than a thousand words
It is not surprising that in biomedical sciences traditionally illustrations are created to enable communication between scientist and author, teacher and student, or physician and patient. Art and science come together in scientific illustration.

Your future expertise
When you graduate, you are a specialist who makes accurate visualisations of topics from the clinical, medical and biological domain. You have the skills to use a wide range of traditional and digital visualisation techniques.

Best of two top universities
The Master Scientific Illustration is an international study programme in which you will meet students from European countries and beyond. Unique in Europe. It is cooperation between the Faculty of Arts at Zuyd University of Applied Science in Maastricht and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at Maastricht University.

Language
English/Dutch. The lecturers also speak German.

The teaching programme

Training in technical skills
Your training has a strong emphasis on the application of conventional imaging techniques in conjunction with photography, video and computer techniques for accurate two-dimensional display of three-dimensional structures. Additional training in digital three-dimensional reconstruction and modelling is given in workshops. You acquire a broad theoretical basis as well as practical experience in working with medical techniques such as dissection, processing of microscopic and macroscopic serial sections and working with medical imaging techniques such as Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Becoming a scientific storyteller
To be able to create a scientifically correct image, you must not only be a good craftsman, but also an outstanding 'storyteller' and communicator. You must be capable of communicating with specialists from different scientific fields, understanding the scientific problem and then be able to convert it into visualisation for a specific target audience. Creating images for patient education requires a different approach than creating images for a group of medical specialists. For this reason you will not only be trained in anatomy and medical nomenclature but you’ll also be guided in the field of communication. Furthermore, by means of practical assignments (including illustrating a surgical procedure) you will build up experience in making abstractions and schematisations of the reality to create an image that tells the scientific story in the best possible way.

The themes
The teaching programme is build up in three themes:

- Man
- Animal
- Human and Animal Surgery

Each of the themes consists of three to five components and each component involves one or more assignments, which deal with various aspects of scientific illustration and in which various traditional visualisation techniques are practised and applied. The assignments are graded in terms of complexity, leading up to the level required for professional practice.

Read less