BSc Programme Biology
The Biology bachelor programme at Leiden University is tightly linked with the research programme of the IBL and provides a solid three-year education in Biology, continuously upgraded to the modern standards of today, covering all essential disciplines from cell biology and genetics to ecology and evolution. All scientific staff of the IBL and several staff members of NCB Naturalis and of the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) contribute to the BSc Biology programme.
- First Year
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In the first year all students follow a programme that gives a broad overview of all research areas in Biology. The subjects are organized under five themes:
• Fundaments of Life
• The Cell in Action
• Evolution and the Tree of Life
• Biology of the Organism
• The Organism and its Environment
The teaching programme varies from lectures to practicals, work groups, and excursions.
- Second Year
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In the second year students can choose from a variety of courses in two main streams of the education programme:
• Evolutionary Biosciences
• Molecular Biosciences
Courses in Evolutionary Biosciences focus on subjects such as Behavioral Biology, Ecology, Developmental Zoology, and Environmental Sciences. Courses in Molecular Biosciences include subjects such as Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Microbiology, Cell Biology, and Systems Biology. Students are also free to combine courses from the two main specialisations.
- Third Year
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In the first half of the third year students have the possibility to further specialize in the chosen direction, or they can choose to follow a minor. During this period it is also possible to participate in an exchange programme with a foreign university. The second half of the third year starts with a course on General Research Skills, followed by a 5-months research internship which can be performed with any of the research groups at the IBL, but also at NCB Naturalis, at the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), or at the Leiden University Medical Centre (see for examples of internships under ‘student’s view’ at the right side of this page).
