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Expand your perspective on the human brain

Neurosciences

Toekomst
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Take an integrative approach to the brain and its disease mechanisms

During the programme, you’ll get to grips with all facets of neurosciences – ranging from genes to behaviour, from both fundamental and clinical perspectives. The expert teaching you’ll receive comprises a combination of lectures, research seminars, work groups, demonstrations, lab visits and practicals.

The VU Amsterdam brings all areas of neuroscientific expertise together in Amsterdam Neuroscience. Its mission is to study the brain and its disease mechanisms through an integrative approach that covers everything from molecule to bedside. In Amsterdam Neuroscience, innovation takes place at all levels of study, from molecular to cellular studies, and from circuitry to intact brain and behaviour, both at individual level and at population level. 

To prepare for a career in the academic or scientific world, you can also work on your own professional development plan together with a tutor, throughout both years of the programme.

To know when the programme is starting, please consult the academic year calendar for the starting date.

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Thursday 26 November 2026

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In the first year, you’ll take compulsory core courses

These courses give you a thorough grounding in the relevant neuroscientific disciplines. These include neurogenomics, statistics, genetics and clinical neurosciences, as well as a skills course in academic writing. In the second half of the year, you’ll follow a five-month internship. 

You can read more about the programme and course descriptions in the study guide.

Compulsory courses

  • Internship Neurosciences I
  • From Molecule to Mind
  • Statistics in Neurosciences
  • Clinical neurosciences
  • Genetics in Neuroscience
  • Neurogenomics

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the study guide. 

Which study path do you choose?

The second year consists of advanced coursework to expand your knowledge of key research areas. These elective courses are subdivided in two study paths, namely 'Clinical and translational neurosciences' and 'Fundamental neurosciences'.

If you are a prospective student or would like to know more about this program, please go to https://masters.vu.nl/en/programmes/neurosciences/

Please note that some elective courses may have a capacity restriction. Alternative courses are offered in parallel within the programme (possibly as part of another study path).

During the last six months of the programme, you will complete your second internship in the Netherlands or abroad.

Summary

The fundamental neuroscience study path aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge and hands-on experience with state of the art neuroscience technology to prepare for a PhD in fundamental neuroscience. You will study the effect of genes and gene mutations in systems of increasing complexity, from single neurons to networks and whole organisms using the latest technologies in molecular neurobiology, stemcell and human neuron preparations, and live cell imaging.  

Compulsory courses

  • Career and Academic Skills and Portfolio year 2 Neurosciences
  • Final Year Project Neurosciences
  • Neurophilosophy and Ethics

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the study guide. 

Summary

The Clinical and Translational Neurosciences study path makes use of all fundamental knowledge and understanding gathered in the first year in order to evaluate, improve and design clinical research in neuroscience, neurology and psychiatry. Translating from fundamental to clinical, you will link pathophysiological properties to symptomatology and treatment outcomes. Translating from clinical to fundamental, you will learn how to navigate the clinical realm of brain disease and disorders, define knowledge gaps, and create experiments that might fill those gaps.

Compulsory courses

  • Career and Academic Skills and Portfolio year 2 Neurosciences
  • Final Year Project Neurosciences
  • Neurophilosophy and Ethics

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the study guide. 

  • Fundamental Neurosciences

    Summary

    The fundamental neuroscience study path aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge and hands-on experience with state of the art neuroscience technology to prepare for a PhD in fundamental neuroscience. You will study the effect of genes and gene mutations in systems of increasing complexity, from single neurons to networks and whole organisms using the latest technologies in molecular neurobiology, stemcell and human neuron preparations, and live cell imaging.  

    Compulsory courses

    • Career and Academic Skills and Portfolio year 2 Neurosciences
    • Final Year Project Neurosciences
    • Neurophilosophy and Ethics

    You can find the complete course overview for this year in the study guide. 

  • Clinical and Translational Neurosciences

    Summary

    The Clinical and Translational Neurosciences study path makes use of all fundamental knowledge and understanding gathered in the first year in order to evaluate, improve and design clinical research in neuroscience, neurology and psychiatry. Translating from fundamental to clinical, you will link pathophysiological properties to symptomatology and treatment outcomes. Translating from clinical to fundamental, you will learn how to navigate the clinical realm of brain disease and disorders, define knowledge gaps, and create experiments that might fill those gaps.

    Compulsory courses

    • Career and Academic Skills and Portfolio year 2 Neurosciences
    • Final Year Project Neurosciences
    • Neurophilosophy and Ethics

    You can find the complete course overview for this year in the study guide. 

Internships

For your first-year, five-month internship, you’ll have a wide range of  opportunities to choose from within Amsterdam Neuroscience and affiliated institutes.

For your second-year, six-month internship, you’re encouraged to go further afield. You should carry out this more extensive internship at an external institute, preferably abroad.

Change your future with the Neurosciences programme

On graduating from the Master’s in Neurosciences, you’ll have plenty of opportunities ahead of you. Around three-quarters of graduates go on to join a PhD programme either at VU Amsterdam or at another academic institute in the Netherlands or abroad.

But you can also pursue a career that embraces your multidisciplinary training within the healthcare, biotech or education sectors. 

Explore your future prospects

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