Master in Ecology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

How do organisms and their environment interact at both a molecular level and a global level?

If this is an area that interests you, and you want to make a contribution to science and sustainability, a Master’s program in Ecology and Evolution at VU Amsterdam is for you.

You'll study ecology from a plant, animal, fungal, bacterial, and systems perspective. You’ll also explore ecological and evolutionary processes at a molecular level and on a regional and global scale. In addition, you’ll carry out field observations and experiments to identify evolutionary and/or ecosystem patterns and functions.

The Master's takes two years and is taught in English. In the first year, you’ll study ecology and evolution, as well as undertake your first internship. In the second year you’ll choose one of the following specializations:

• Ecology & Evolution
• International Master Biodiversity, Ecology & Evolution (IMABEE)
• Science Communication
• Science in Society
• Science Education

The expertise of two universities is combined

This Master's program in Ecology and Evolution combines the expertise of two universities: the VU and the UvA (University of Amsterdam). The VU organizes half of the courses, and the UvA the other half. Lecturers from both universities are involved in all courses. You will carry out two research projects and create your personal scientific profile dependent on the courses and specialization you choose.

You will be taught in English. The two-year program offers you a broad package of courses and research projects, forming the theoretical foundation of the Master's degree and providing you with the necessary professional skills. You’ll share classes with students from the partner university. The teachers are enthusiastic and will motivate you and tell you about their field with a lot of passion. Due to the small scale of the program, there is a lot of personal contact between teacher and student.

Students of each university are automatically registered as ‘bijvakstudent’ (external students) at the other university.

Degree

If you have registered at the VU and successfully completed the program, you will obtain an MSc in Ecology and Evolution. If you’ve registered at UvA, you’ll obtain an MSc in Biological Sciences. In both cases, the specialization that you have chosen will be indicated on your degree, for example, Research Specialisation in Ecology & Evolution.

The two-year program is full-time, covering 120 EC (European academic credits); it has four components:

1. Compulsory courses (18 EC)
These include experimental design, statistical analysis, and training in scientific writing as well as master classes.

2. Elective courses (12-18 EC from the list in the handout/study guide)
Instead of these elective courses, you can opt for courses from other Master’s programs that have an ecological or evolutionary focus or otherwise fit your profile; these will need to be approved by the Examination Board.

3. Research projects (total: 72-78 EC, depending on your credit points from the elective courses)
You’ll carry out two research projects/internships, with a minimum duration of 30 EC. The two research internships account for 60-65% of the Master’s program. By actively participating in a current research project, you’ll be able to put your newly acquired knowledge and research skills into practice. You’ll also gain valuable work experience and obtain a good impression of the future field of action; this will also form the starting point for a future professional network. You will have access to extensive guidelines to help you organize and complete your internships.

To ensure quality, your first internship will be carried out at the VU or the UvA. While it is not obligatory, we encourage you to complete the second internship at a university or research institute elsewhere, either in the Netherlands or abroad. Both projects should address an ecological or evolutionary issue. You might want to focus on a project that takes a molecular approach for example, or an ecophysiological or behavioral approach, one that is theoretical, or based on ecosystems; or a combination of different approaches. A socially oriented project is also possible, as long as it deals with an ecological or evolutionary problem, and conforms to the required academic level, including clear research questions and proper supervision.

4. Literature thesis (12 EC)
You’ll write a literature review that focuses on a fundamental ecological question; this may take a more applied or societal approach.

1st year

After the first year, you choose your specialization. Most coursework takes place in the first five months of each academic year; the rest you’ll spend writing a literature review and carrying out two research projects – all focusing on topics within your own area of scientific interest.

Compulsory courses

• Current Trends in Ecology & Evolution UvA
• Employability, Skills, and Career
• Masterclasses in Ecology and Evolution
• Research Project Ecology and Evolution I
• Current Trends in Ecology & Evolution
• Ecological Data Analysis
• Scientific Writing in English

2nd year

Next to the specializations Ecology & Evolution and International Master Biodiversity, Ecology & Evolution (IMABEE), you can also choose for:

• Science Communication
• Science in Society
• Science Education

Research specialisation: Ecology & Evolution

Research Specialisation: International Master Biodiversity, Ecology & Evolution (IMABEE)

Science Communication

Science in Society

Secondary Education Teacher Training for STEM Disciplines

Discover a versatile field during the Master's program Ecology and Evolution

Since this Master’s program has a strong research bias, it gives you the skills, knowledge, and insight you need to work independently, either to carry out professional research in a Ph.D. program or embark on one of the many career paths outside academia.

What can you do after your Master's degree?

Start a Ph.D. research project

You can build on your knowledge with a Ph.D. position. About 50% of our students continue with a Ph.D. after graduation, in the Netherlands or abroad. With the VU’s Master’s degree in Ecology and Evolution, you will have access to a number of national and international Ph.D. degree programs. Our department’s Ph.D. program is part of the graduate school Production Ecology & Resource Conservation (PE&RC) and consists of a research project that leads to a Ph.D. thesis/dissertation, and several compulsory or optional course modules. You can find more information about Ph.D. programs and Research Schools here:

Start working

With a Master’s degree in Ecology and Evolution, you can follow a broad range of career paths. Some find a position in R&D-related research and others in organizations for policy development, nature management, education, or environmental consultancy. Its scientific nature gives this Master’s many career applications outside academia.