Intrigued by the complexity of viruses and pandemics and viruses? As a biomedical scientist you'll trace back the causes, generate possibilities for the prevention of, and develop new diagnostic treatments for different types of diseases. Are you ready for this challenge?

What do you learn on the master's programme? 

The master of Science in Biomedical Research spans two academic years. In the first semester, you’ll follow a number of compulsory courses (e.g. academic English for life sciences, laboratory animal sciences and biostatistics, bio-ethics). These will arm you with the necessary scientific skills and ethical awareness to perform as a professional internationally-orientated researcher. In the second semester, it’s time to start writing a review paper on the research topic of your second internship and you’ll complete a short laboratory internship. Your optional courses (24 ECTS in total) can be followed in all four semesters of the programme. And the grand finale? Your master's thesis, based on the scientific results obtained during the second internship. At the end of the fourth semester you’ll defend it with a 10-minute oral presentation followed by a 10-minute discussion before a jury.

The strenghts of the Biomedical Research master's programme:

• A highly practical programme focused on academic scientific research training, along with education in small groups.
• The VUB Health Campus has an excellent reputation in innovative biomedical research demonstrated by the presence of 10 research clusters.
• A very thorough hands-on training thanks to two internships, and proven in a master's thesis.

What have you learnt?

You’ll be properly prepared for the challenges ahead, thanks to the hands-on experience gained in internships, our multidisciplinary training and working with clinicians and colleagues trained in other domains such as pharmaceutical sciences or bioengineering. Your mission, as a biomedical scientist, is to try and trace back the cause of diseases, opening up opportunities for prevention and the development of new diagnostic methods and treatments. Reducing symptoms, but above all really curing the patient. A challenge, whose success depends on intensive international and cross-disciplinary collaboration at the crossroads of biomolecules, in vitro and in vivo preclinical research, clinical trials and patient care.

After graduation:

Our master in Biomedical Research offers excellent career opportunities. In the last 10 years, 56% of our graduates started a PhD track and 30-40% launched their career in biotech companies or the pharmaceutical industry. Belgium offers a wealth of job opportunities in biomedical research too, with the highest number of clinical studies per capita.