Chemistry of Life

In this specialisation, you’ll focus on complex molecular systems in a biological context. The first step is to understand how a cell works: which processes are essential to the functioning of a cell? Which proteins are involved? And what is the relation between their structure and functioning? Next, you can start to modify the working of the cell, addressing challenging problems, such as wound healing and drug delivery. Chemistry of Life offers education in connection with top-level research in the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM) and the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), enabling you to participate in organic chemistry, biomolecular or pre-clinical research groups.

Unique characteristics:
• You’ll work on projects that run ‘from molecule to man’; or in other words, from the fume cupboard to the patient.
• At Radboud University, all (bio)chemistry and chemical biology research groups work closely together, allowing you to tackle a wide range of exciting problems during your internship
• The IMM Molecular Life-like Systems theme participates in a 27 million Euro NWO Gravity programme grant.
• Among the teaching staff are two ERC advanced grant winners and one ERC starting grant winner.
• Besides fundamental research, the Molecular Life-like Systems theme is also heavily involved in public-private collaborations,
in which the academic groups jointly with industrial partners, provide solutions for societal challenges. As a student of Chemistry for Life, you’ll get the chance to participate in these challenging research projects.

Key courses: Chemical Biology; Systems Chemistry; Organic Chemistry of Biomolecules; Instrumental Analysis in (Bio) Molecular Chemistry; Omics.

A completed Bachelor's degree

Entering the Master’s specialisation in Chemistry of Life requires a Bachelor’s degree in one of the subjects below. Please note that an international degree has to be equivalent to a Dutch university diploma. The Examination Board 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 programme to eliminate possible deficiencies. Relevant subjects are:

• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Molecular Life Sciences
• ...or equivalent

A proficiency in English

In order to take part in this programme, 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

* 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.

There are various scholarships available for studying at Radboud University. Some of the opportunities are described below. A full list, including detailed information, can be found on our scholarships and grants page at our website. 

Radboud Scholarship Programme

Open to a select number of excellent international students. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,083 in 2019/2020). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Orange Tulip Scholarship

Open to students from Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia, South-Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,083 in 2019/2020). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships

Open to excellent American students. The grant will be paid in 12 monthly instalments of 1,050 euros. International travel and the cost of the residence permit will be covered, and an extra allowance of €1150 will be paid on arrival.

Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange Scholarship

Open to excellent students from China. Consists of a contribution of € 16,113 towards the total costs of one year of study or research in the Netherlands.

DIKTI-Neso Scholarships

Aimed at lecturers at higher education institutions in Indonesia who wish to pursue a PhD or Master's at a university in the Netherlands. A DIKTI scholarship includes allowances for living expenses, insurance, travel costs, tuition fees and more.

Indonesian Education Scholarship (LPDP)

Open to excellent Indonesian students under the age of 35. Involves a full scholarship.

Holland Scholarship Programme

Open to excellent students from Canada, America, India and Turkey. Scholarship consists of 5,000 euros payed at the start of study.

Dutch Student Finance

EU/EEA students and Swiss students under 30 years of age are eligible if they are working at least 56 hours per month in the Netherlands, or have been living in the Netherlands for five years or more. Dutch student finance consists of four components: a basic grant, a supplementary grant (depending on the parental income), a student travel product, and a loan.