Programme overview

Neuroscience

The research master Neuroscience aims to teach and train talented students in the rapidly expanding field of Neuroscience 

Leaning Objectives


Knowledge and understanding  

Research Master’s graduates are able to explain:  

  • the biophysics of neurons and how they integrate and relay information;  
  • the anatomy of the central nervous system, and its development and aging;  
  • sensorimotor systems and complex brain functions;  
  • new theories, processes, instruments and current challenges in the field of Neuroscience;  
  • how computational neuroscience tools can obtain new insights on neuroscientific principles and mechanisms, and understand how they can aid the progress in neuroscientific research.  

Research  

Research Master’s graduates have demonstrated the ability to:  

  • acquire, structure and integrate information in the field of the Neurosciences to generate novel hypotheses;  
  • translate a scientific question from the field of Neuroscience into a scientific experimental protocol and/or into a neuroscientific research proposal;  
  • reflect on ethical aspects of neuroscience research, and include these in decision-making processes;  
  • perform, critically analyze and interpret their own neuroscientific research;  
  • compose a Master of Science thesis in the field of Neuroscience, which can be further developed into a neuroscientific manuscript suitable for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal.  

Professional identity  

Research Master’s graduates have demonstrated the ability to:  

  • work in a team and to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines and/or countries in order to set up and carry out a research project;  
  • present the research findings from research projects in a scientific meeting;  
  • evaluate and discuss neuroscience related criticism from internal and external evaluators on the Master of Science thesis, both orally and in writing;  
  • critically review and assess relevance of scientific results of professionals in the field of Neuroscience.  

Curriculum

After the introduction week, the core of the first year program consists of 10 modules of 3 to 8 weeks each, with lectures, self-study problems with group discussions, and training of practical skills. Textbooks used are Principles of Neuroscience, written by Nobel prize winner Eric Kandel and colleagues, and Neuroscience by Dale Purves et al. In addition, selected review and methodology papers reflecting the state-of-the-art in a particular area of neuroscience will be studied and discussed. Presentation skills are trained in journal clubs and tutor sessions.

During the second semester you will elaborate on the research proposal you prepared during the first semester. Guided by your supervisor you will do an extensive literature search,come up with relevant and related novel questions, and design an experimental plan how to tackle these questions.   

Please see here for our course offerings

Curriculum Overview

Research Master in Neuroscience – 2024 - 2026
Year 1
Course CodeCourse Name EC Points
RMNS-1.0Introduction Week0
RMNS-1.1
(consists of)
Basic (Neuro)Science: Scientific Method + 2 Elective Courses3.5
REMA01This Thing Called Science (compulsory)1.3
RMNS-1.1.1Scientific Method (compulsory)  0,2
RMNS-1.1.2Basic Statistics (elective, 1 EC)  
RMNS-1.1.3Basic Molecular Biology (elective, 1 EC) 
RMNS-1.1.4Basic Neurophysiology (elective, 1 EC) 
RMNS-1.2Neural Signaling and Neural Computation6
RMNS-1.3Structure and Organization of the Nervous System3
RMNS-1.4Sensorimotor Systems7
RMNS-1.5-v01The Changing Brain7
RMNS-1.6-v01Complex Brain Functions6
RMNS-2.9/2.10Animal Welfare / Genetics and Neurological Diseases3
RMNS-1.8Labtalks en Seminars - Year 12
RMNS-1.9Research Training - Year 115
RMNS-1.10Writing / Presenting a Research Proposal8
Total Year 160

Year 2

Attend workshops of your choice. Workshops are indicated below. Three of the 10 points can be obtained outside of the RM Neuroscience programme offer. One of these 3 points can be obtained by attending a neuroscience conference and presenting data at the conference.

Research Master in Neuroscience – 2024 - 2026
Elective Workshops*
Course CodeCourse NameEC Points
RMNS-2.3Neuro Histology and Neuro Pathology2
RMNS-2.4Eye Movements of Mice and Men1
RMNS-2.5Statistics Advanced Level1
RMNS-2.6f-MRI Analysis Techniques1
RMNS-2.7Linear Systems2
RMNS-2.8Molecular Neurobiology/Advanced1
RMNS-2.10Genetics and Neurological Diseases1
RMNS-2.14AIntroduction of Matlab/Beginners1
RMNS-2.14BData analysis with Matlab/Advanced1
RMNS-2.15Career Outside Academia1
RMNS-2.16Modelling Neural Networks using NEURON1
RMNS-2.17Introduction to Labview2
RMNS-2.18Nerve Conduction Studies1
RMNS-2.19High-Performance Brain Simulation2
RMNS-2.20Optical Imaging (Live Cell Microscopy)2
RMNS-2.21History of Neuroscience1
External Elective Workshops**
Course CodeCourse NameEC Points
RMNS-2.1Poster Presentation at Conference1
RMNS-2.2External Workshop1-3
Mandatory components
Course CodeCourse NameEC Points
RMNS-3.1Research Training - Year 237
RMNS-3.2Labtalks and Seminars - Year 23
RMNS-3.3Writing / Presenting a Master Thesis
Thesis - 7 EC (70%)
Defense - 3 EC (30%) 
10

Remarks                      

3.2  Lab talks, seminars and journal club (3 EC)
Before every seminar of the Neuroscience seminar series, students will discuss one of the papers of the seminar speaker during a supervised journal club.

Workshops (10 EC)                   
*) A total of 10 EC points need to be obtained by following workshops and courses.
**) External course items. 3 of the 10 points can be obtained outside the RM Neuroscience program offer. 1 of these 3 points can be obtained by attending a neuroscience conference and presenting data at the conference.

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