The first year mostly consists of courses which will prepare you for writing your thesis and research practice or internship in the second year.

Courses (60 credits)

Which courses you will take, depends on several factors: your previously acquired competences, your basic knowledge and your choice of specialisation. The exact course programme of the MSc Animal Sciences depends therefore for the majority on the individual student. Some courses are general like advanced statistics or academic skills courses (ranging from scientific skills to consultancy skills). Others prepare you for your chosen specialisation.

Information on the courses within the Animal Sciences programme and their planning can be found in the online course catalogue.

Specialisation

Each of the specialisations trains you to become an expert in that field (check the side-bar for information on each specialisation). Within your specialisation you choose at which research group to write your thesis. The two major parts of your specialisation are the (thesis-preparing) courses and a major thesis. You can extend your specialisation with an internship or a research practice.

During the second year you write a major thesis in combination with a research practice or an internship. Whether you will do a research practice or an internship depends on your previous education. Besides our specialisation, you could also choose to follow a professional career interests and/or participate in an international exchange programme.

Major thesis (36 credits)

The major thesis is the final piece of work a student delivers prior to graduation. In a major thesis, you will perform a scientific research project, usually at one of the research groups of the Animal Sciences department. The major thesis consists at least of a literature study, writing a research proposal, performing scientific experiments, data analysis, writing a scientific report, and presenting results orally. Your own interest is very important in choosing a research topic for your major thesis. The websites of the Animal Sciences chair groups provide much information on possible thesis subjects. There are multiple collaborations between research institutes within Wageningen University & Research, as well as with national and international universities and companies active in the field of Animal Sciences.

Find out more about the research chair groups of the Animal Sciences department.

Internship (24 credits)

The aim of an academic internship is that students experience what it would be like to work in that future academic positions. Proper internships require that students apply their scientific knowledge, exercise their professional skills, learn to work independently with a sense of responsibility for the organisation and can expand their personal network. Many students conduct their internship at a university or a research institution abroad, but an internship can also be conducted at a company in the Netherlands or abroad. The choice of an internship location is based on the interests and wishes of the student and the (worldwide) contacts of the staff of the chair group.

Research practice (24 credits)

A research practice is comparable to a major thesis with respect to the learning goals and composition. It is also a research project, but of a shorter duration. In addition, students also reflect on their career perspective. A research practice can be used to deepen and extend your knowledge on the topic of your specialisation. In that case it is usually performed at or via the chair group from your specialisation.

A research practice can also be used to broaden your expertise, for instance by choosing a thesis subject in a specific professional direction. Then it is performed at a chair group outside the Animal Sciences department. You can read more about it under the tab: Professional career interests.

Are you interested in a specific role in society after graduating? Then you may choose -next to your specialisation and instead of an internship- a research practice in a specific field, think of research, education, communication or economy, that helps you to focus towards your future career.

You can deepen your knowledge on topics outside the domain of animal sciences. You can choose from five different chair groups to orient yourself towards a professional job. To follow a research practice at any of these chair groups, students may have to follow advanced courses in that field.

Interest in (agro)industry

• Business Economics group (BEC): Students receive training in business economics providing them with the knowledge to address research questions in the area of the economics of farms and agribusinesses, animal health, plant health, food safety and sustainable agriculture.
• Marketing and Consumer Behaviour group (MCB): Students receive training focusing on marketing (management) and consumer behaviour issues related to food and agribusiness, and institutions interested in food and agriculture.
• Business Management & Organisation group (BMO): Students receive training in innovation and entrepreneurship in chains and networks, focusing on the agri-food industry.

Interest in (higher) education

• Education and Learning Sciences group (ELS): Students will learn to understand and facilitate the enhancement of human potential in response to global challenges (specifically in the domain of food and life sciences).

Interest in (semi)governmental organisations

• Public Administration and Policy group (PAP): Students receive training in the governance of wicked problems in the interrelated domains of water and climate; food and agriculture. The generated insights will be used to develop governance arrangements.
• Communication, Philosophy and Technology section (CPT): This section consists of three chairgroups: the Strategic Communication group, the Philosophy group and the Knowledge, Technology and Innovation group. All work together to develop a better understanding of the relations between the life sciences and societal change. Their starting point is that technical issues in agriculture, food, health and ecology are closely connected with social issues, such as human relations, democracy, equity and ethics.

Interest in research

Students with a strong interest in research can choose a research oriented track. Within this track, the focus will be on a future career in science.

The master's Animal Sciences is a very internationally oriented programme. There are many different nationalities within the student population as well as within the employee population. The master's programme of Animal Sciences offers one international study programme, in which students and universities from different countries are involved.

European master's in Animal Breeding and Genetics

The European master's in Animal Breeding and Genetics (EMABG) offers high quality training, both in terms of scientific knowledge as well as didactic skills, provided by six excellent university groups within the EU. This programme is a response to the need of highly qualified graduates in the internationally operating area of farm animal breeding and genetics. If you are well motivated and interested in animal breeding, statistical genetics and genomics this is the right programme for you. For specific questions please take a look at the EMABG programme or contact Dieuwertje Lont (dieuwertje.lont@wur.nl).

"I am really proud of myself that I made it into this programme. I will not take this for granted!"

The programme is a two-year master in which 60 credits (ECTS) can be obtained per year. The total study load is therefore 120 ECTS. It is a fulltime study programme on which you are expected to devote 42 hours per week.

The academic year in Wageningen is divided into 6 teaching period. Periods last 8 weeks (period 1, 2, 5 and 6) or 4 weeks (period 3 and 4). Each eight-week teaching periods is worth 12 ECTS, usually including two courses. Each four-week teaching period is worth 6 ECTS, usually including one course.

Calender academic year

The Animal Sciences programme has an education team consisting of a programme director, three bachelor study advisers, two master study advisers and a study recruiter.

For a conversation or counselling you can always contact our study advisers. They can help you plan your study, with choosing specialisations and subjects, study problems or private matters that affect your study.