ÀÖÓãºǫ́

Discover what (former) students say about their study choice and experiences with the programme.

Thomas van Schaik, Student

"As an Environmental Biology student, you are able to completely shape your own Master’s experience."

What makes this programme unique in your eyes?

This programme is unique in the freedom and flexibility it offers. As an Environmental Biology student, you are able to completely shape your own Master’s experience. Very early on, you get to choose between a variety of research projects where you get the chance to work closely together with professionals and gain some extremely valuable practical experience. Additionally, you get to pick from a wide range of theoretical courses, and get to pursue a second research project, or a profile, with perhaps even more freedom.

What is your favourite subject of this programme? Could be a course, a project, an assignment, the thing you like most?

My favourite component of this programme would have to be the major research project. It is a chance to spend nine months working on a research topic within your own field of interest, creating a project of your own in the process.

And on the contrary: what is the biggest challenge of this programme?

While I personally love the freedom and flexibility that this Master’s programme offers, it can also be a very challenging component. Having to plan far ahead can always be difficult, especially when your thoughts are still occupied with the course or project you are working on at the moment. Add having to make sure you fit all required components of your Master’s into your planning and arranging them in such an order that you are able to follow all theoretical courses you want, and you’re faced with a task that is definitely not easy. 

Anything else you would like to share with prospective students, you would like to have known before you started?

Definitely feel free to reach out to current or former students by using the Unibuddy system if you have any questions about what it’s like to follow this programme here in Utrecht!

Thyra Balborda, Student

"This programme allows you to fully dive into your interests, meet others with similar interests and similar mindsets"

What makes this programme unique in your eyes?

It’s a very interdisciplinary and flexible programme in which you have relatively a lot of freedom to explore your specific interests and work on specific skills. This freedom keeps you motivated throughout the entire programme as you are essentially only learning about topics you are interested in.

Are there any misconceptions about this programme, can you name them?

Also, the track Ecology & Natural Resource Management might give the impression that it’s all about plants, but there are many opportunities to work on subjects like animal conservation, insects, sustainability, water management, microbes etc.

What is your favourite subject of this programme? Could be a course, a project, an assignment, the thing you like most?

I really liked the writing assignment because, for the first time, I had absolute freedom to research a topic I was interested in, without being bound to any specific prompts or contexts. It was just lots of literature research and being creative with compiling a scientific text, without any hard deadlines.

Anything else you would like to share with prospective students, you would like to have known before you started?

This Master’s programme is a great opportunity to develop yourself not only as a scientist but especially as a person within the scientific community. You will get to learn more about yourself without the academic pressure of a Bachelor’s programme. This allows you to fully dive into your interests, meet others with similar interests, and similar mindsets and create a community of people who can help you learn and grow as a scientist and person. This programme will definitely encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone and into a world of possibilities.

Alysha Somer, Alumna

"This programme gives students the possibilities to explore other sides of plant biology, like science communication, data science or education during the minor internship. The possibilities to explore what you enjoy and what you would like to do in your future are endless within this programme. "

What makes this programme unique in your eyes?

The large number of practical skills learned during the programme is unique to me. During my bachelors, I’ve learned mostly biological theories and concepts on plant research. During the master, I learned how to apply these to experimental research. For the first time, I could answer my biological questions and explore the possibilities in experimental research. If you realize experimental research may not be for you, this programme gives students the possibilities to explore other sides of plant biology, like science communication, data science or education during the minor internship. The possibilities to explore what you enjoy and what you would like to do in your future are endless within this programme. So don’t worry, you have this Master to figure out what you like about plant sciences!

What is your favourite subject of this programme? Could be a course, a project, an assignment, the thing you like most?

I liked the writing assignment the most. During the internships, you will work on an existing research subject, but with the writing assignment you can choose your subject. I dove into the world of plant-microbe interactions in nectars to attract pollinators. This subject is not currently studied at ÀÖÓãºǫ́, but I had the freedom to learn and write about it.

What is the biggest challenge of this programme?

You have to trust your own knowledge on biology and what you have learned the past years in your studies. Most courses are practical courses, so you will not have many lectures on plant biological theories.  In the beginning, I felt that my knowledge was too limited for my internship subjects, but I quickly realized that I knew enough about basic biology to learn new concepts and techniques. I learned about new findings or theories during my internships from other researchers or by reading articles. You know enough for experimental research and what you do not know yet about biological theories, you will learn by doing.

Anything else you would like to share with prospective students, you would like to have known before you started?

Learning is a curve. The first internship in the lab was a bit difficult to me due to everything being very new. The idea of these internship is to learn how to work in the lab, so it doesn’t matter that I didn’t know or understood the techniques. Most importantly, you need to be willing to learn and then you can do anything. In my second internship, I was way more confident, and I could apply the skills I had learn before. Don’t be apprehensive about having to work in a lab, you will learn.

Sam Kuppens, Alumnus

"My internship provided valuable insights into the differences and similarities between industry and academic research, making it an essential experience for students who have not yet encountered industry research"

During my Master's programme in Environmental Biology (Plant Biology Track), I truly appreciated the freedom for students to discover their own skills and interests. The two-year curriculum includes two research projects: one at the ÀÖÓãºǫ́ and the other at an institute of your choice. I chose to explore the differences between academic research and the plant biotechnology industry, completing my second research project at the BASF Innovation Center in Gent.

It's important to begin arranging internships within companies 6 to 9 months in advance, as these organizations may not be accustomed to hosting students for extended periods. This means navigating the complexities of internship contracts and insurances, especially when going abroad. This internship turned out to be a good match and ultimately led to my current position as a research technician at the ICG. It provided valuable insights into the differences and similarities between industry and academic research, making it an essential experience for students who have not yet encountered industry research—especially since many graduates continue in the private sector after their academic careers.