Biological research at the UvA is carried out at the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) and the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS).
We aim to unravel how organisms and ecosystems function in all their complexity, and how they change because of natural processes and human influence.
As a student you participate actively in increasing our understanding of the diversity and dynamics of ecosystems, from the level of molecules and genes to entire ecosystems.
There are four specialised study tracks, each with its own focus within the larger field of biology research, and one more general track.
Discover your programme
The Master's programme in Biological Sciences at the UvA offers specialised tracks in:
- Ecology and Evolution
For 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 (bird migration, 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 Sciences
If your focus is on plants and their interaction with the environment at a molecular level, become part of the Green Life Sciences community.
- General Biology
Students 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.
- Evolution of Behaviour and Mind
The aim of the two-year track Evolution of Behaviour and Mind in the Master's programme Biological Sciences is to promote understanding of the origins of behaviour and the mind from the integrative perspective of biology, psychology, anthropology, and other sciences.
