MSc in Medical Epigenomics

Programme Overview

In this specialization, you’ll look at a cell as one big and complex system. You’ll study epigenetic mechanisms during development and disease from different angles. This includes studying DNA and RNA by next-generation sequencing (epigenomics) and analyzing proteins by mass spectrometry (proteomics). In addition, you‘ll be trained to design computational strategies that allow the integration of these multifaceted, high-throughput data sets into one system. You will learn how to work with state-of-the-art technology in combination with biological software tools to study complete networks in cells in an unbiased manner.

Radboud University integrates various state-of-the-art technologies – such as quantitative mass spectrometry and next-generation DNA sequencing – with downstream bioinformatics analyses. This is unique in Europe. This program allows you to work with researchers from the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), one of the leading multidisciplinary research institutes within this field of study worldwide. We have close contacts with high-profile medically oriented groups on the Radboud campus and with international institutes (EMBL, Max-Planck, Marie Curie, Cambridge, US-based labs, etc). As a Master’s student, there is ample opportunity to perform an internship in one of these groups. Radboud University coordinates multiple large epigenetics projects, including projects on leukemia, skin development, pluripotency, embryonic development, malaria, and organoids. Master’s students have the opportunity to participate in these projects.

Facts and figures

• Degree: MSc in Medical Biology
• Faculty: Faculty of Science
• Croho code: 60610
• Duration: 2 years (120 EC), full time
• Start month: September
• Language of instruction: English
• Enrolled students: 30 - 50 per year
• Contact hours: 20 -30 hours per week

Master's in Medical Epigenomics: something for you?

• Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) is world-leading in studying the epigenome.
• We offer state-of-the-art technologies with downstream bioinformatics analyses in one department, which is unique in Europe.
• We have close contacts with high-profile medical groups on our campus and with international institutes.
• Do your internship in one of our large epigenetics projects, including projects on leukemia, skin development, pluripotency, embryonic development, malaria, and organoids.

Why study Medical Epigenomics at Radboud University?

• Radboud University integrates various state-of-the-art technologies – such as quantitative mass spectrometry and next-generation DNA sequencing – with downstream bioinformatics analyses. This is unique in Europe.
• This program allows you to work with researchers from the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), one of the leading multidisciplinary research institutes within this field of study worldwide.
• We have close contacts with high-profile medically oriented groups on the Radboud campus and with international institutes (EMBL, Max-Planck, Marie Curie, Cambridge, US-based labs, etc). As a Master’s student, there is ample opportunity to perform an internship in one of these groups.
• Radboud University coordinates multiple large epigenetics projects, including projects on leukemia, skin development, pluripotency, embryonic development, malaria, and organoids. Master’s students have the opportunity to participate in these projects.
• Researchers that are trained to generate and integrate high-dimensional data are in high demand both in the academia and in the industry. Many of our former students are pursuing their Ph.D. studies in renowned institutions.

Specializations

Medical Epigenomics is a specialization of the Master’s program in Medical Biology. The other specializations are:

• Human Biology
• Neurobiology
• Science, Management and Innovation
• Science in Society
• Science and Education (in Dutch)

Faculty of Science in two minutes

Admission Requirements

Master’s specialization in Medical Epigenomics

If you want to enter this specialization, you have to be admitted to the Master in Medical Biology. The Admission Office will consider whether or not you have met the requirements.

Admission requirements for students with a Dutch university Bachelor’s degree

In order to get admission to the Master’s in Medical Biology, you’ll need a completed Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields of science:

• Medical Biology
• Biomedical Sciences
• Biology, with a minor in Medical Biology, Neurobiology or Medicine
• Molecular Life Sciences
• Science (Radboud University)
• or equivalent

Admission requirements for students with a Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch University College or University of Applied Sciences (HBO)

It’s possible to start with this Master’s specialization after a completed HBO Bachelor’s degree, with a relevant minor or pre-master's. Relevant Bachelor’s degrees are for example:

• Laboratory assistant training (all specializations)
• Secondary teacher training (with qualifications for Medical Biology)

In advance, please make sure to:

• Contact the student advisor of this Master’s program and discuss the options for a minor or pre-Master’s.
• Follow a minor (30 EC) or pre-Master’s for your specific Master’s program during or after your HBO study program.

A pre-Master's may take a maximum of five months and will be evaluated by the Admission Office.

For those who don’t meet the requirements

If you have queries about whether your prior education will give admittance to this Master’s specialization or to the pre-Master’s, you can contact the student advisor.

Admission requirements for students with an international Bachelor’s degree

1. A completed Bachelor's degree
   • An international degree has to be equivalent to a Dutch university diploma. The Admission Office will determine if an international student has the required knowledge to be admitted and if the student is required to follow specific courses from the Bachelor's program to eliminate possible deficiencies.
   • Entering the Master’s specialization in Medical Epigenomics requires a Bachelor’s degree in:
     • Medical Biology
     • Biomedical Sciences
     • Biology, with a minor in Medical Biology, Neurobiology or Medicine
     • Molecular Life Sciences
     • or equivalent
2. Proficiency in English
   • In order to take part in this program, you need to have fluency in both written and spoken English. Non-native speakers of English* without a Dutch Bachelor's degree or VWO diploma need one of the following:
     • A TOEFL score of ≥575 (paper-based) or ≥90 (internet-based)
     • An IELTS score of ≥6.5
     • Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a mark of C or higher

For those who don’t meet the requirements

If you don’t meet the academic requirements it might be possible to take a bridging program, called a pre-Master’s. You can qualify for a pre-Master’s program if you have a diploma in one of the following orientations:

• A laboratory assistant training that sufficiently links up with the specialization of your choice.
• A pre-university (A-levels) high school diploma with biomedical, molecular or microbiological content, or training of a comparable level during your university of applied sciences training.

It may take a maximum of five months and will be evaluated by the Admission Office. For more information on pre-Master’s programs, please contact student advisor Conny Mooren.

*Applicants are considered to be a native speaker of English if they are from Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa.

Deadlines

Deadlines for students with a Dutch degree

Students with a Dutch university Bachelor's degree who wish to apply for a Master’s program beginning in the first week of September need to make sure that they have completed their application before 1 September.

In most cases, if you require an admission statement, please request this from the Board of Examiners no later than 1 July. The admission requirements for the specific program will state when the exact deadline is.

Some (Research) Master's have their own additional deadlines for enrolment. Please go to the program of your choice to find out about these deadlines.

Deadlines for students with an international degree

Students with an international degree who wish to apply for a Master's program at Radboud University starting in the first week of September need to adhere to different deadlines depending on their nationality.

Non-EU/EEA applicants

With scholarship application

Non-EU/EEA students must submit a complete application before 1 March if they wish to be considered for a scholarship, for example, Radboud Scholarship Programme, and/or the Orange Tulip Scholarship. Please note that different deadlines may apply for other scholarships. Please check the scholarship website to see if you or your chosen program is eligible for a scholarship.

Without scholarship application

All other non-EU/EEA applicants must submit a complete application before 1 April, applying after this date is not possible. Applicants will receive a service package that consists of assistance with accommodation and support with the visa and residence permit process.

EU/EEA applicants

Students from EU/EEA countries(1) must submit a complete application before 1 May to receive assistance with accommodation. Radboud University will still consider EU/EEA applications until 1 July, but we may not be able to offer assistance with accommodation.

Some (Research) Master's have set their own additional deadlines for enrolment. Please go to the program of your choice to find out about these deadlines.

This list could be subject to change.

Enrolment deadlines

Students who have been (conditionally) admitted must complete their enrolment by the dates below:

Non-EU/EEA students

Non-EU/EEA students who require help with their visa application need to send legally certified hard copies of their enrolment documents (outlined in the admission letter) before 1 June. The other enrolment criteria must be met before 15 August.

All other students

All other students need to send legally certified hard copies of their enrolment documents and meet the other enrolment criteria before 15 August.

All students will receive an admissions decision approximately 3 weeks after they have completed their application in the online application system OSIRIS Application.

Please note that these deadlines are very strict and must be adhered to. They are set to ensure sufficient time for students to complete the visa process.

(1) EU/EEA countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands (including the Dutch Caribbean), Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or the United Kingdom.

Career prospects

As a Master’s student of Medical Epigenomics, you’re trained in using state-of-the-art technology in combination with biological software tools to study complete networks in cells in an unbiased manner. For example, you’ll know how to study the effects of drugs on the human body.

When you enter the job market, you’ll have:

• A thorough background of epigenetic mechanisms in health and disease, which is highly relevant in a strongly rising field of epi-drug development;
• Extensive and partly hands-on experience in state-of-the-art ‘omics’ technologies: next-generation sequencing, quantitative mass spectrometry, and single-cell technologies;
• Extensive expertise in designing, executing and interpreting scientific experiments in data-driven research;
• The computational skills needed to analyze large ‘omics’ datasets.

With this background, you can become a researcher at a:

• University or research institute;
• Pharmaceutical company, such as Synthon or Johnson & Johnson;
• Food company, like Danone or Unilever;
• Start-up company making use of -omics technology.

Apart from research into genomics and epigenomics, you could also work on topics such as miniaturizing workflows, improving experimental devices, the interface between biology and informatics, medicine from a systems approach.

Alternative future jobs include:

• Biological or medical consultant;
• Biology teacher;
• Policy coordinator, regarding genetic or medical issues;
• Patent attorney;
• Clinical research associate.

Ph.D. positions at Radboud University

Each year, the Molecular Biology department (Prof. Henk Stunnenberg, Prof. Michiel Vermeulen) and the Molecular Developmental Biology department (Prof. Gert-Jan Veenstra) at the RIMLS offer between five and ten Ph.D. positions. Of course, many graduates also apply for a Ph.D. position at related departments in the Netherlands, or abroad.

Radboud Career Service

Radboud Career Service Science helps students, PhDs and alumni with advice and counseling, either in an individual interview or in a workshop with fellow students. Career Service Science can introduce you to people at national and international companies and organizations that offer interesting jobs and internships. With our extensive knowledge of the labor market and recruitment experience, we’re here to advise you on how to find the job you desire.