Biodiversity offers a rich source for a sustainable exploitation of the natural resources in the world, e.g. for development of various fine chemicals such as drugs. Universiteit Leiden offers several MSc courses which aim at teaching the students knowledge of the disciplines involved in the exploration and exploitation of biodiversity. These courses are for students with a degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology or pharmacy.
The major aim of this MSc programme is to provide students with a theoretical background to multidisciplinary research in biodiversity, natural products and plant cell biotechnology, and make them familiar with the various theoretical and experimental tools by doing a research project utilising state-of-the-art equipment. The students should develop into independent researchers who are able to go on to a PhD programme, or take the responsibility for projects in an industrial or institutional research environment.
MSc in Natural products and BiodiversityThis programme is concerned with different aspects of the exploration and sustainable exploitation of biodiversity. Methods for phytochemical screening and testing of biological activity of plant extracts will be dealt with, as well as the isolation and identification of natural products, including structure elucidation. Courses will deal with chemotaxonomy and the role of secondary metabolism. Basic knowledge of plant cell culture as a tool for biosynthetic studies and plant cell biotechnology is included in the programme. The programme should give the student a basis to develop further as a researcher. It can lead to a PhD course.
MSc in Biodiversity and SystematicsThe Master's programme focusing on biodiversity issues is linked to the specialisation courses on "Systematics and Evolution" and/or "Biology and the Environment" offered in the Biology curriculum of Universiteit Leiden, and/or to the training programme of the Graduate School "Biodiversity". It provides basic knowledge on the theory, methodology and practice of systematics and taxic biodiversity studies, and enables the student to develop into an independent researcher, but it also qualifies the student for positions in nature management and conservation policy.
MSc in PharmacognosyThis programme particularly deals with aspects of the production and quality control of drugs from natural origins, including the use of chromatographic methods. It will also include courses on drug discovery. The student should be able to develop into an independent researcher, who could go on to a PhD or become responsible for the quality control of drugs of natural origins.
MSc in Plant Cell BiotechnologyPlant cell culture as a method for studying biosynthesis and for the production of secondary metabolites will be the major focus of this programme. Strategies to improve production such as metabolic engineering will be dealt with. Plant tissue culture as a method for micropropagatin will be included in the programme. This programme should be a good basis for a further specialisation (PhD-degree) in biotechnology.
CoursesSome examples of the courses offered :
Biodiversity and Pattern analysis Molecular Techniques Taxonomic data processing Enzymology Pharmacognosy Drug development Bioprospecting Preparative chromatography Biosynthesis Structure elucidation of natural products
Plant cell biotechnology Biotechnology: from genetics to final
products
Structure and duration of the programme
The programme lasts at least 18 months and consists of two parts: a series of courses (20-30 credit points, depending on the student’s academic background) lasting about 6 months and 12 months of laboratory work in one of the organising institutions. The student may choose to participate in one of the on-going research projects, depending on their specialisation. All courses are taught in English.
Education systemThe study load is specified in credit points. One credit point is the equivalent of one week’s work (40 hours) and includes lectures, reading, preparing for tests and exams, the writing and assessment of papers.
The Dutch grading system runs from 1 (very poor) to 10 (outstanding). The lowest passing grade is 6 (satisfactory), while grades 9 and 10 are rarely awarded. Students will receive a copy of the transcript from each course, signed by the lecturer.
DegreeStudents who pass the examinations will receive an MSc diploma in their specialisation.
PhD programmeAfter obtaining the MSc degree it is possible to go on to do a PhD course which will take another 3-4 years; it could be a continuation of the MSc research-project. It will involve more research and courses, which are to be agreed upon with the supervisor of the thesis.
Introduction programmePrior to the first and second semesters, an introduction programme will be organised for newcomers, This two-day programme consist of a general introduction to the university, the city of Leiden, and the student societies. Leiden students will act as guides and introduce their international colleagues to sports, study and social events.
AccommodationAs with most Dutch universities, students in Leiden live in the town rather than on campus. Accommodation can be arranged through the co-ordinator of the MSc programme.
RegistrationPlease register as soon as possible. Preferably before the 15th of April, as the program will start at the 1st of September of each year.
FeesThe application fee is NGL 250 (credited towards tuition if admitted). The tuition fee for the MSc programme is NGL. 30,000.- (about $ 15,000) for the programme starting September 1998. After this date the tuition fee may be subject to change.
FinancesProspective students must be able to finance all their study and living expenses. This is one of the requirements for being granted a residence permit. A single student needs a minimum of NGL 18,000 (US $ 9,000 ) per year in addition to the tuition fee in order to cover his/her living expenses. With several organisations one can apply for grants and/or scholarships. Keep in mind that these organisations have closing dates for the applications. Usually around the end of March or April they close the application.
Organising institutesThe MSc programmes are organised by the Leiden branch of the National Herbarium of the Netherlands (NHN) and the Division of Pharmacognosy at the Leiden Amsterdam Centre for Drug Research (LACDR). The Leiden branch of the NHN used to known as the Rijksherbarium/Hortus Botanicus of Leiden, which combined two institutes with a long history: the Hortus Botanicus (founded in 1590 as the earliest scientific garden in Western Europe) and the Rijksherbarium (founded in 1829). The NHN, as one of the 10 largest systematic botanical institutes in the world, is a leading centre of expertise on NW European and Malesian plant diversity and an international centre for research and training in plant systematics. Its mission is to generate and transfer knowledge on the nature, extent and origin of the botanical diversity. It thus helps to provide a comparative basis for all botanical science and to contribute to the conservation and sustainable utilisation of the biosphere. The LACDR is a Graduate school in the field of bio-pharmaceutical sciences. This internationally well-known school consists of the Centre for Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences in Leiden, and the department of Medicinal Chemistry of the Free University in Amsterdam. All pharmaceutical disciplines are included in the LACDR. The Division of Pharmacognosy is specialised in plant cell biotechnology for the production of pharmaceutically important natural products and in developing methods for finding new leads for drug development from plants. The Division has extensive collaboration with the department of Biochemical Engineering at Delft University of Technology, for the large scale culture of plant cells, the Institute of Plant Molecular Sciences at Universiteit Leiden on gene technology, and the department of Plant Ecology at Universiteit Leiden on the study of the role of plant secondary metabolism.
Sports and recreationSeveral student organisations offer possibilities for social, cultural and recreational activities. The University Sports Centre offers outdoor facilities such as tennis, rugby, hockey and football, as well as indoor facilities such as badminton and fencing. The Leiden Academic Art centre organises courses on drama, music, dance, literature, photography and visual arts, as well as performances.
Further informationFor further information or to receive the brochure on the MSc Programmes, contact:
P. de Graaf[Top of this page] [Nationaal Herbarium Nederland] [NHN-Leiden]
Last updated: april 24, 2006