Programme Structure

Discover your programme

The Master's programme in Biological Sciences at the UvA offers five different tracks:

Ecology and EvolutionFor expert training in biodiversity science, choose the Ecology and Evolution track and become a specialist in topics such as origin and evolution of species, modelling community dynamics, biodiversity change at global and geological time scales (e.g. bird migration, the effect of climate change), urban ecology and wildlife conservation.

Freshwater & Marine Biology If you are eager to expand your knowledge and skills in freshwater or marine ecosystems, dive into the Freshwater and Marine Biology track.

Green Life SciencesIf your focus is on plants and their interaction with the environment at a molecular level, become part of the Green Life Sciences community. 

Evolution of Behaviour and MindThe aim of the track Evolution of Behaviour and Mind is to promote understanding of the origins of behaviour and the mind from the integrative perspective of biology, psychology, economics, and other sciences. 

General BiologyStudents in this track combine, for instance, chemical ecology with primate behaviour and eco-evolutionary dynamics, or microbiology with genome editing and extraterrestrial biology, or adaptation to antibiotics by bacteria with interactions between sea grasses and their microbiome as well as plant breeding to aid biological control of their arthropod pest. Students are also welcome to create their own combination of microbiology, biotechnology and systems biology.