Neuroscience (Research Master)

The major objective of the Master of Science in Neuroscience program is to teach and to provide training for talented students in the rapidly expanding field of Neuroscience. The program prepares students for future fundamental research in various medical fields in which neuroscience becomes increasingly important; these include neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, neuro-oncology, otolaryngology, psychiatry and gerontology. The program combines a broad range of tutorials and workshops in neuro-anatomy, neurophysiology, molecular biology, psychology and psychiatry.

First Year

The first year starts with the Summer School, which is a general introduction course in Neuroscience. The core of the first year program consists of 10 modules of 3 weeks each. Each module provides in-depth theoretical and practical training. Typically each module consists of 3 to 4 lectures, several self-study problems with workgroup discussions and training of practical skills. Each module ends with an exam and/or oral presentation. The content of the modules is to a large extent based on chapters in the book "Principles of Neural Science" by Eric Kandel, James Schwartz and Thomas Jessel (Fourth Edition). In addition, selected review and methodology papers reflecting the state-of-the-art in a particular area of neuroscience will be studied and discussed. Presentation skills are trained in the first year in journal clubs and tutor sessions.

During the second half of the first year the students will elaborate on the research topic they have selected at the end of the first half year. Under the supervision of their tutor they have to do an extensive literature search and they have to come up with relevant and related novel questions and to design an experimental plan how to tackle these questions. All of this will be described in a research project that should be finalized before the beginning of the second year.

Second Year

During the second year the students conduct the experiments as proposed in their project description. After completing the research project they should be able to successfully finish their project with a presentation and with a Masters thesis, which is in the format of a paper that is of sufficient quality to be published in an international peer-reviewed journal.

The program is open to both national and international students. Therefore, all tuition will be done in English. Eligible are students with a bachelor's degree or equivalent in one of the Life Sciences disciplines including medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, psychology and biology. For medical students who are trained at an academic medical center at which no bachelor's degree can be obtained at present (e.g. Erasmus MC) we will consider successful completion of the third year of their medical curriculum as its equivalent. All national and international students who want to enter the Master of Neuroscience program must follow the Neuroscience Summer School at the Erasmus MC. Final decision for admission to the first year of the Master of Neuroscience course will be made based on the outcome of the exam of the Summer School in combination with a judgment of the student's motivation revealed by an interview.

Students will be selected based upon their motivation and ability to do research in the field of neuroscience. Students who fulfill these criteria can subscribe for the Summer School, which starts in August 2006.

The Summer School lasts three weeks at the end of which there is an entry exam. Based upon the outcome of this exam students are admitted to the Neuroscience Master Program. Expectedly, about ten students will enter the program. The maximum number of participants to enter is fifteen. The deadline for application for the academic year 2006-2007 is March 1, 2006. Summer School fee is ? 500,-.

The positioning of this Master of Science in Neuroscience program within the Neuroscience Institute of the Erasmus MC provides an excellent basis for training in the fundamental Neurosciences. Students will become acquainted with all facets of modern Neuroscience research. Within the Neuroscience Institute brain functions are studied at many levels varying from individual genes to complex systems, from peripheral nerves to the central nervous system, from autonomic functions to consciousness, and from synaptic transmission to neuronal firing patterns. In addition, integration with clinical departments of the Erasmus MC and the faculty of Psychology of the Erasmus University offers the opportunity for the students to be introduced to all clinical and cognitive disciplines of Neuroscience.