Course and Examination Regulations. Valid from Master s Programme Biomedical Sciences

Transcription

1 Course and Examination Regulations Valid from Master s Programme Biomedical Sciences

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3 Course and Examination Regulations Valid from Master s Programme Biomedical Sciences These course and examination regulations have been drawn up in accordance with Section 7.13 of the Higher Education and Research Act [Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek] (WHW) 1 and additional quality marks as set out in the framework document Leiden University Register of Study Programmes [Leids universitair register opleidingen]. Pursuant to Section 7.14 of the Act the faculty board regularly evaluates the course and examination regulations and assesses, for the purpose of monitoring and, if necessary, adjustment of the study load, the time it takes students to comply with the regulations. In conformity with Section 9.18 of the Act is assigned the task of assessing how the course and examination regulations are implemented. Contents 1. General Provisions 2. Description of the Programme 3. Curriculum 4. Examinations, the Final Examination and Further Education 5. Admission to the Programme 6. Student Counselling and Student Advice 7. Transitional Provisions 8. Final Provisions Appendix I Final attainment levels of the master s programme Appendix II Contents of the programme Appendix III Frontiers of Science courses Appendix IV Specialisation Research Track in Epidemiology Appendix V Specialisation Research Track in Neurosciences Appendix VI Specialisation Research Track in Immunity, Infectious Disease and Tolerance Appendix VII Premaster s programme Biomedical Sciences Health Appendix VIII Electronic study guide (not included) Appendix IX Procedures Training Periods/Research Projects (not included) 1. The Dutch Higher Education and Research Act [Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek] came into effect on 1 September It is sometimes referred to by its acronym WHW. 3

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5 Chapter 1 General Provisions 1.1 Scope of the Regulations These regulations apply to the teaching and examinations of the master s degree programme in Biomedical Sciences, hereinafter referred to as the programme. The programme has been accredited until 31 December 2013 under ISAT-code 66990, and is instituted by the by Faculty of Medicine of Leiden University, also known as Leiden University Medical Center, hereinafter referred to as: the LUMC. [Red. Re-accreditation of the programme until 31 December 2019 is still under consideration of the Netherlands Flemish Accreditation Organisation at the time of determination of these regulations]. 1.2 Definitions In these regulations the following definitions apply: a. board of admissions: the committee that, under the aegis and on behalf of the Executive Board, and in accordance with the admission requirements, advises which students are to be admitted to the programme; b. board of examiners: the board of examiners of the programme, established and appointed in accordance with Section 7.12a of the Act; c. component: a study unit of the programme as defined in Section 7.3 of the Act. The course load of each component is expressed as whole credits. Every component involves an examination; d. credit: the unit expressing the course load of a course component pursuant to the Act. According to the ECTS, one credit equals 28 hours of studying; e. ECTS: the European Credit Transfer System; f. examination [tentamen] 2 : an evaluation of the knowledge, understanding and skills of the student in respect of a particular component, and an assessment thereof, in accordance with Section 7.10 of the Act, by at least one examiner appointed to this purpose by the board of examiners. An examination can consist of more than one component; g. examiner: the person appointed by the board of examiners to conduct examinations and examinations, in accordance with Section 7.12 of the Act; h. final examination [examen] 2 : i. Leiden University Register of Study Programmes (Leids universitair register opleidingen) evaluation whereby the board of examiners, in accordance with Section 7.10 of the Act, verifies whether the candidate (student) has successfully completed all components and other requirements of the master s degree programme; register 3 of the programmes offered by Leiden University, kept under supervision of the Executive Board; referred to in Section 7 of the Executive and Management Regulations; j. level: the level of a component according to the abstract structure as defined in the framework document of the Leiden University Register of Study Programmes; k. practical: practical assignment as defined in section 7.13 (2) (d) of the Act, in one of the following forms: - the writing of a thesis, 2. The examen is actually a review of the student s academic achievements to decide whether or not (s)he has completed all requirements for graduation. The Dutch term used for a test of the student s knowledge or skills in respect of a particular programme component is tentamen. 3. The framework document Leids universitair register opleidingen [Leiden University Register of Study Programmes] can be found at the following website: 5

6 - the writing of a paper, the design and implementation of a project, or the creation of a technological design, - the implementation of a research assignment, - the participation in fieldwork or an excursion, - the completion of a traineeship, or - the taking part in another educational activity aimed at acquiring particular skills; l. programme: A coherent set of components, aimed at the realisation of well-defined goals in the area of knowledge, understanding and skills that a graduate of the programme is supposed to have acquired. Each programme ends with a final examination. m. prospectus: a paper or digital document containing details and binding information on the programme (in case of LUMC it concerns the university s e- prospectus in combination with the educational pages of the LUMC website). The university s e-prospectus is considered as an attachment to these regulations; n. student: a person registered with Leiden University for the purpose of taking courses, and/or the sitting of examinations and the taking of examinations of the programme; o. the Act: the Higher Education and Research Act [Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek ] (WHW). p. working day: Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays; Other terms have the meaning given to them by the Act. 1.3 Codes of Conduct The Code of Conduct for Teachers and Students in ICT-supported Education ICT and Education [Gedragscode docenten en studenten binnen ICT en Onderwijs] 4, as well as (additional) LUMC codes of conduct, shall apply to the programme and its courses The Code of Conduct relating to the Behaviour of Teachers and Students 5 applies and is intended to create a framework for a good, safe and stimulating work and study environment within Leiden University, in which teachers and students associate with each other respectfully and in which mutual acceptance and trust are important values. 4 The Code of Conduct for Teachers and Students in ICT supported education [Gedragscode docenten en studenten binnen ICT en onderwijs] was adopted by the Executive Board on 30 June 2005 and can be found at the following website: The Code of Conduct for the LUMC network can be found at: 5 The Code of Conduct for the Behaviour of Teachers and Students was adopted by the Executive Board on 19 October 2010 and can be found at the following website: The general LUMC Code can be found at: 6

7 Chapter 2 Description of the Programme 2.1 Objectives of the Programme The programme has the following objectives: 1. to impart to students academic knowledge, insight, skills, and methodology in the field of biomedical sciences; 2. to encourage students to adopt an academic attitude by acquiring the ability to: - engage in individual and independent academic thinking - analyse complex issues - write academic reports - apply specialist knowledge and skills in a philosophical and social context; 3. to prepare students for an academic career and postgraduate education, or to prepare them for a career in teaching or another career outside academia. 2.2 Specialisation(s) The programme offers the following specialisation(s): - Research - Management - Communication - Education - Health (for students also enrolled in MSc in Medicine) 2.3 Achievement Levels The final achievement levels which apply to the programme are described in Appendix I. 2.4 Structure of the Programme The programme offers full-time tuition only. 2.5 Study Load The course load of the programme is 120 credits. 2.6 Start of the Programme and Uniform Structure of the Academic Year The programme starts on 1 September of each year. Students will also be given the opportunity to join the programme at several moments later in the academic year. The uniform structure of the Leiden academic year does not apply to the programme. 2.7 Final Examinations The programme includes a final examination. 7

8 2.8 Language of Instruction In compliance with the Code of Conduct regarding Foreign Languages [Gedragscode Voertaal 6 ] the language of instruction and examination in the Research and Management specialisations is English. The languages of instruction and examination in the specialisations Communication, Education and Health are English and Dutch. Students are required to be sufficiently proficient in the language or languages of instruction used in the programme. 2.9 Quality The programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) and complies with the applicable national and international quality requirements, and with the quality standards with regard to education set out in the framework document Leiden University Register of Study Programmes. 6 The code of conduct regarding Foreign languages [Gedragscode voertaal] was adopted by the Executive Board on 11 July 2002 and can be found at the following website: of instruction.pdf 8

9 Chapter 3 Curriculum 3.1 Compulsory Components The specialisations of the programme include compulsory components which are listed in appendix II and in the e-prospectus. These compulsory components include the optional courses from which a student is obliged to choose [e.g. Frontiers of Science (FOS)-courses].The study load (in credits) and level have been stated for each of the components. The number of credits is stated to indicate the study load The prospectus (e-study guide) includes more detailed information on credits, level, content and structure of each compulsory component. 3.2 Freedom of choice In addition to the compulsory components referred to in 3.1.1, students select elective components The scope of the elective area of the specialisation programmes mentioned in Appendix II, involves opting for FOS-courses or Guest Lectures (GL) not yet taken within the scope of the compulsory (14- credit) FOS/GL area, opting for an extension of a Junior Research Project under prior permission of the examining board, or opting for other elective courses indicated in the prospectus/ study guide As an alternative, the elective area may also be partly or completely fulfilled by taking selected components from Master s programmes at Karolinksa Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, or at Ruprecht Karls Universität, Heidelberg, Germany The elective area may also be partly or completely fulfilled by taking components from other university Master s programmes. This latter alternative requires the prior permission of the examination board. Before granting permission, the examination board will evaluate the content and cohesion of the programme Any student enrolled in the programme may, with the permission of the board of examiners, compose a curriculum from components offered by an institution that has an examination attached to it. When granting permission, the board of examiners specifies to which degree programme offered by the institution that curriculum is deemed to belong. 3.3 Practicals The prospectus lists the courses which include practicals, as well as the nature of and study load for these practicals. It also indicates whether participation in these practicals is mandatory for entry to the examination of the component. The examining board may grant exemption from a practical; in that case, the board may or may not impose alternative requirements. The board may authorise the examiner in question to grant the aforementioned exemption. 3.4 Registration for Courses Participation in courses is in order of registration, with the provision that students who are registered in a programme are guaranteed access to compulsory courses of that programme. The number of participants per course may be subject to a minimum or maximum. Access to Frontiers of Science (FOS) courses, Laboratory Animal Course, How to Write a Research Proposal, and Scientific Conduct is secured by a lottery procedure which allows for equal and fair participation possibilities to all students. 9

10 3.5 Duplication of course materials Students are not allowed to make audio or video recordings of lectures without explicit prior permission from the relevant course coordinator. Should such permission be granted, the student is only legally allowed to use the recording for his/her own use; all forms of duplication or publication of the recordings are prohibited Students are prohibited from all forms of duplication or publication of course materials. The materials are for students own use only. 3.6 Thesis/Research Project/Traineeship reports The e-prospectus states the size and study load of the research or traineeship reports. Furthermore, said prospectus refers to the Procedures Training Periods/Research Projects which describe the standards that the final report(s) must meet and the further procedure applying to the final report(s)/research projects, including the manner in which the supervision is organised. The procedures include e.g. - the procedure involved in the appointment of the thesis supervisor by the board of examiners; - the supervisor s responsibilities; - proof of permission to start on the thesis or graduation report; - the assessment; - criteria for writing of the final report. 10

11 Chapter 4 Examinations, the Final Examination and Further Education 4.1 Frequency of Examinations For each component offered in an academic year, examinations will be held twice during that year If a component contains a practical part, students may only sit the examination as referred to in paragraph if they have successfully completed the practical, unless the board of examiners provides otherwise If the mark for a component results from several partial marks, deviation is possible from the number of sits as referred to in When applicable, this is stated in the e-prospectus In accordance with Section 7.13 (2) (h) of the Act, the examination dates have been included in the prospectus and/or are published at LUMC s roistering webpages Not applicable Without prior permission from the Examination Board, students may sit a given examination no more than three times. When the maximum of three examinations has been reached, without successful completion of the examination in question, the Examination Board will determine under what conditions the candidate can be admitted to future examinations. Requests for admission should be submitted in writing In special cases, the Board of Examiners may allow for an additional resit, at the student s request If an examination has been passed successfully, the opportunity to do a resit lapses. Should a student nevertheless take part in a resit without explicit permission from the Board of Examiners, no grade will be given. The result of the first test will remain valid The conditions stipulated in article only apply to examinations sat by students who started the programme from September 2009 onwards. 4.2 Obligatory Order Entry to examinations of the components listed below is conditional on the student having successfully completed the examinations/assessments of other, specified course components: - Reflection course Scientific Conduct: having experience in research of at least some months at the bachelor s level; - How to Write a Research Proposal: having experience in research of at least some months at the bachelor s level; - Junior Research Project II: having passed How to Write a Research Proposal; - Participation in some Frontiers of Science courses is conditional on the student having sufficient prior knowledge and/or skills at the bachelor s level. Entry requirements, if applicable, are stated in the e-prospectus For the components and their attendant examinations which must be completed in a given sequence, the Board of Examiners may in special cases, and upon motivated written request of the student, decide on a different sequence. 4.3 Methods of Assessment and Examination Formats The prospectus states whether assessment (or components thereof) may take place by means of either a written or an oral examination or a skills test. 11

12 4.3.2 In special cases, on request of the student, the board of examiners may allow the student to take the examination in a manner that deviates from the one prescribed in the prospectus Students with a disability may take examinations in a manner that has been adjusted to their particular disability, in order to accommodate their disability as much as possible. These adjustments may not affect the quality or level of difficulty the examination. If necessary, the Board of Examiners will seek expert advice, as provided for in the Protocol on Studying with a Disability, before reaching a decision The Board of Examiners decides upon requests to adjust the manner in which examinations are taken The examinations shall comply with the code of conduct on the language of instruction and examination [Gedragscode voertaal 5 ] Students will be assessed on an individual basis if a component involves presentations, research, reports or other course activities that require students to work in groups. 4.4 Oral Examinations An oral examination may involve only one student at a time, unless the board of examiners has provided otherwise Oral examinations are public, unless the board of examiners or the examiner concerned has decided otherwise, owing to special circumstances, or unless the student objects. 4.5 Rules and directives of the board of examiners In accordance with Section 7.12b (3) of the Act, the Board of Examiners has set out rules concerning the execution of their tasks and responsibilities and the measures they can take in this respect. The Board of Examiners has formulated a number of rules and regulations for this contingency The Board guarantees the right of a student to appeal against decisions of the Board or the examiners Furthermore, the board shall set out the procedure involved in the appointment of the supervisor of the final report (and a second reader /referee) by the board of examiners, and the procedure regarding the assessment of the final report(s) and the division of responsibilities between the thesis supervisor and the second reader / referee. 4.6 Assessment Immediately after the oral examination, the examiner shall inform students of their result and hand them a written notification of that result The examiner shall mark any written or other test within fifteen working days after the date of the examination. Interim tests/ partial examinations shall be also marked within fifteen working days; results thereof are not registered in usis but are published anonymously on blackboard, or promptly communicated to the students by any other means. Final marks are promptly provided to the administration office of DOO with the information necessary to present the student with a written notification of the result of the examination If the examiner is unable to comply with section , which provides that results must be submitted to the department s administration within fifteen working days, the student shall be notified thereof within said time limit. The student shall also be informed of the relevant procedure in such cases The result of the examination shall be expressed as a whole or half number with one decimal between 1.0 and 10.0, including both limits. The result shall not be expressed as a number between 5 and 6. 12

13 4.6.5 The examination is considered to be successfully completed if the result is 6.0 or higher Successful participation in and completion of a practical may count as a successful completion of an examination as specified in Section 7.10 of the Act The examination candidate receives from the examiner or examiners appointed by the Board of Examiners a written or electronic notification of the examination result The written or electronic notification of the examination result informs students of their right to view their marked examination scripts referred to in article 4.8 below which provides for the access of students to examination scripts and of appeals procedure The Board of Examiners formulates regulations which specify the conditions under which the Board may exercise its authority as specified in Section 7.12b (3) of the Act to determine that not every examination needs to be successfully completed and/or what the conditions are under which the results of partial examinations can compensate for one another. These regulations, if formulated, are included in the Rules and Directives of the Board of Examiners At the request of the student, a written proof of the examination results shall be sent to the student The research project or traineeship report shall be presented and/or defended in public. 4.7 Period of Validity of Results Every examination and exemption granted has a validity period of 6 years The Board of Examiners may, in accordance with the rules and directives it has formulated, and at the request of the examination candidate, extend the period of validity. 4.8 Access to Marked Examination Scripts and Evaluation Students have the right to view their marked examination script, at their request, for a period of thirty days following the publication of the results of the written examination During the period referred to in , the examination questions and assignments, as well as if possible the marking criteria may be inspected The marked test will be evaluated with the examiner if the student so requests. An opportunity for evaluation will be announced together with the examination results The board of examiners is authorised to decide whether the test will be evaluated collectively or individually The board of examiners determines where and when the evaluation will take place Students who, due to circumstances beyond their control, are unable to attend the evaluation referred to in paragraph shall be granted another opportunity for evaluation, if possible within the period referred to in Exemption from examinations and/or Practicals At the student s request and after consultation with the examiner involved, the board of examiners may grant the student exemption from one or more examinations or practicals under the following conditions: The student has successfully completed, at a university or an institute of higher professional education, one of a programme s components that is similar in content and level to the component for which the student requests exemption; 13

14 The student has demonstrated, through relevant work or professional experience, sufficient skills and knowledge in relation to the component The Final Examination The student is awarded the diploma by the board of examiners when all components of the final examination have been passed. Furthermore, the student must have earned a bachelor s degree as referred to in Article 5.1, or possess proof of admission as referred to in Article As part of the final examination, the board of examiners is entitled to perform an additional test of the knowledge, understanding and skills of the student and assess the result Graduation will take place 11 times per academic year on dates set by the board of examiners Graduation does not take place before the Executive Board of Leiden University has declared that all procedural requirements have been met. For each programme, no more than one diploma will be awarded. It is recorded on the diploma that the programme or the specialisation has been delivered by Leiden University Pursuant to the regulation referred to in Section 7.11 (3) of the Act the student who is entitled to graduate may ask the board of examiners to postpone the event, as long as the enrolment period for the programme in question has not exceeded the nominal duration of studies plus one year This request must be submitted within five working days of the student receiving his or her examination results. In this request the student must state when he or she wishes to graduate The Board of Examiners can also approve the request if not approving it would lead to extreme unfairness A supplement written in English complying with the agreed European standard format is attached to the degree certificate. The certificate also includes a translation of the certificate and a Latin certificate The Master s Degree The degree of Master of Science is awarded to those who have passed the final examination of the programme The degree certificate states the degree awarded Further Education Persons awarded a master's degree are eligible to pursue a doctorate/ PhD Persons awarded a master's degree are eligible to pursue a specialist postgraduate course under the auspices of the Netherlands Foundation for Medical Biological Research [Stichting Medisch Biologisch Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek] Training Period/Internship Regulations The programme is subject to training period/internship regulations for course components in which the student carries out research tasks more or less independently, and which are concluded with the writing of a report or thesis. These regulations are drawn up by the programme committee The training period/internship regulations govern the programme components listed below: 14

15 Junior Research Project I Junior Research Project II Scientific Review Biomedical Sciences Journalism and New Media: Training Period Science Based Business: Specialisation and Training Period Additional training periods within the elective area of the master s programme The procedures with respect to the Specialisatie, Praktijk and Portfolio in the Education specialisation (lerarenopleiding) are governed by the ICLON portfoliohandleiding and specialisatiehandleiding The procedure associated with the Training period/internship regulations is published on the Education website of LUMC. 15

16 Chapter 5 Admission to the Programme Section Direct Admission Direct Admission Requirements for direct admission to the master s programme are: - a bachelor s degree obtained after completion of the Biomedical Sciences programme at Leiden University Medical Center - proof of admission as referred to in article 5.2 below. Section 5.2 Board) Conditional Admission (by or on behalf of LUMC s Executive 5.2 Confirmation of Admission A confirmation of admission can be issued by the Executive Board of LUMC if the student fulfils the entry requirements specified in Article 5.3 in so far as the maximum number of enrolled students as determined by the Executive Board for the programme is not exceeded Students must apply for proof of admission in accordance with the rules laid down in the Regulations for Admission to Master s Programmes [Regeling toelating masteropleidingen] Entry Requirements Without prejudice to the provision in paragraph regarding the capacity, those will be admitted to the programme who: possess the skills, understanding and knowledge that are required for earning the bachelor s degree referred to in Article 5.1. This implies a bachelor s degree obtained at a high-level university, with sufficient education (about a month of full-time study per subject) in the following subjects: Molecular Cellular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Anatomy, Pathology, Physiology, Microbiology, Neurosciences, Epidemiology, and Statistics. Several months experience of working in a laboratory is required. Insufficient education in a number of these subjects may be compensated by sufficient education in other subjects relevant for a Biomedical Science education (e.g Biochemistry, Pharmacology) on the grounds of a decision to that effect taken by the board of admission. The board of admission may, in case of educational deficiencies, make additional demands of the student s programme with respect to granting admission to the Master. are sufficiently proficient in the language(s) of instruction, to be assessed by the Board of Admissions. o For English this means: vwo-6 English, or; IELTS score 6.5; TOEFL score 232 (computer-based), 575 (paper-based) or 90 (internet-based); C1 level within CEF (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). The Language Advisor to the Board of Admissions may conduct an interview with the applicant by telephone to verify his/her level of English. o For the Health and Communication specialisations, which require additional knowledge of Dutch (see article 2.8), this means vwo-6 Dutch, an NT2-II certificate, or equivalent qualification in the Dutch language. 7. The Regulation for Admission to Master s Programmes [Regeling toelating masteropleidingen Universiteit Leiden] was adopted by the Executive Board on 27 April 2005 and reviewed on 20 December 2005; it can be found at 16

17 o For the Education specialisation, which requires additional knowledge of Dutch (see article 2.8), this means vwo-6 Dutch, or: a level 6 Leiden examination for the regular teachers training programme, or a level 4 Leiden examination for the bilingual World Teachers Training Programme (WTTP), or equivalent qualifications in the Dutch language Students may apply for proof of admission in accordance with the rules laid down in the Regulation for Admission to Master s Programmes [Regeling toelating masteropleidingen] Deficiencies Students who have obtained a bachelor s degree or an equivalent degree, but who nevertheless have a deficiency of x (ranging from 1 to 15) credits, may be admitted to the programme if it can be reasonably expected that they will meet the admission requirements within one year Students with the deficiencies referred to in paragraph may participate in the programme after admission, but will not be allowed to take examinations nor the tests named by the executive board of LUMC when granting admission to the programme For the admission referred to in paragraph 5.4.1, the board of admissions will compile a bridging programme with examination opportunities If on the grounds of a student is admitted to the programme, the tests which must be completed in order to meet the entry requirements cannot be part of the curriculum of the master s programme In special cases the Executive Board of the LUMC can admit a student to the programme who is preparing for the final examination of the bachelor s programme at the student s request if reasons beyond his or her control hampered his or her progress and a disproportionate study delay would arise if he or she were not allowed to start the master s programme The executive board of LUMC considers the request on the basis of the rules in Article 2.5, second paragraph of the Regulations for Admission to the Master s Programmes Once he or she has passed the final examination of the bachelor s programme, his or her admission will be converted into definitive admission Students who are considering appealing to the hardship clause must submit the request to the Executive Board of the LUMC at least one month before the foreseen start of their master s programme. 5.5 Bridging Programmes De department has compiled bridging programmes in order to make up deficiencies for the following target groups: o students with a bachelor s degree from the Hogere Laboratorium School. o Medical students (LUMC) (see appendix VII) Information on the bridging programmes may be obtained from the Directorate of Education. 8. The Regulation for Admission to Master s Programmes [Regeling toelating masteropleidingen Universiteit Leiden] was adopted by the Executive Board on 27 April 2005 and reviewed several times afterwards (latest review: 29 May 2012); it can be found at 17

18 Chapter 6 Student Counselling and Study Advice 6.1 Student Progress Report The Directorate of Education keeps records of the results of individual students The Directorate of Education provides year-round electronic access to the registered individual study results If the Directorate of Education concludes that a student is experiencing a significant delay in comparison to the nominal study progress, it shall request the student to draw up an individual study plan and inform the student of the support available in drawing up this plan. 6.2 Introduction and Student Counselling The Directorate of Education takes care of the student s introduction to the programme and student counselling. 6.3 Supervision of Research Projects/Internships/Master s Thesis The student draws up a graduation plan together with the supervisor referred to in 3.5. This plan is based on the study load laid down in appendix II The plan referred to in includes details on the frequency of sessions with the thesis supervisor and the manner of supervision. 6.4 Professional Sports Students who play sports at a professional level are offered the opportunity to adjust their study programmes to their sporting activities wherever possible. The faculty follows the guidelines drawn up by the Executive Board to determine who fits into this category. 6.5 Permanent Disabilities Where possible, students with a disability or chronic illness are offered the opportunity to adjust their study programmes in accordance with the limitations resulting from their disability or illness. These adjustments will be made as much as possible in accordance with the limitations resulting from their disability or illness but may not affect the quality or level of difficulty of a course unit or the examination programme. 18

19 Chapter 7 Transitional Provisions 7.1 Provisions concerning Students Previously Enrolled in the Programme As of 1 September 2012, for students who are enrolled in the programme for the first time, the Course and Examination Regulations apply for a duration of one year For students who before 1 September 2012 were newly enrolled in the programme no longer than two years prior to the date these Regulations came into force, Chapters 3 and 4 of the Course and Examination Regulations remains applicable as they were formulated at the time of first enrolment For students who before 1 September 2012 were newly enrolled in the programme more than two years prior to the date these Regulations came into force, or at the student s request, the board of examiners may declare the Course and Examination Regulations applicable as they were formulated in any year no more than two years prior to the date these Regulations came into force In case components as referred to in and 3.2 of the Course and Examination Regulations applicable pursuant to and are no longer on offer, the board of examiners will indicate components to replace them. If necessary, components may be indicated that are offered by another institution. 8 Final Provisions 8.1 Amendments Amendments to these regulations are implemented by a separate order of the LUMC Executive Board, with the prior consent of the Student Council Amendments to these regulations which also apply to a particular academic year shall be implemented before the beginning of that year and published in the prescribed manner, unless earlier implementation of an amendment to the regulations is strictly necessary and in all reasonableness does not harm students interests Furthermore, amendments to the regulations may not adversely affect any prior decision pertaining to students taken by the board of examiners on the basis of these regulations. 8.2 Publication The Directorate of Education takes care of the appropriate publication of these regulations, of the rules and guidelines set by the board of examiners, and of any amendment to these articles via LUMC s website. 8.3 Entry into Force These regulations will enter into force on 1 September Determined by the Dean, member of the Executive Board of the LUMC on 6 May

20 Appendices Appendix I Final attainment levels of the Master s Programme in Biomedical Sciences General final attainment levels (applicable to all specialisations), in accordance with the Dublin descriptors. Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences has state-of-the-art knowledge and understanding of the development, structure, growth and functioning of the healthy human body; He or she has in-depth and current knowledge and understanding of the main developmental disorders and diseases of the human body, as well as of the endogenous and exogenous factors that play a part in the development of such disorders and diseases; He or she possesses subject-specific knowledge in the following fields: molecular and cellular biology, genetics, immunology, anatomy, pathology, physiology, microbiology, neurobiology, endocrinology and epidemiology; as well as in a number of specialist fields; He or she actively makes (new) connections between above fields in both healthy and diseased bodies; He or she has knowledge of both the most common and the most recent analytical techniques (in biochemistry, molecular biology, cellular biology, histology and radiation techniques) and of different research methodologies (epidemiological, statistical, clinical) in the field of biomedical sciences; He or she has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the social aspects of the biomedical field, such as medical and scientific ethics, as well as legislation and rules related to conducting his/her own research; He or she has adequate knowledge and understanding of the measures for promoting and protecting general health, as well as measures for avoiding or reducing complications and/or recurrence of diseases. Applying Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to implement quantitative and statistical techniques appropriate for his/her own research; He or she is able to conduct independent biomedical research in those scientific fields that bear relevance to enhancing knowledge and understanding of fundamental and application-focused aspects of medical science; He or she is able to draw up a scientifically sound research plan and to evaluate this plan against the opinion of fellow researchers; He or she is able to think in multidisciplinary terms and to make connections between his/her own research and (international) research results; He or she is able to use for his/her own research such computer programmes as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, statistical processing and graphic visualisation. Making Judgements The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to estimate the value and applicability of laboratory and clinical results obtained within the context of his/her own research; He or she is able to select appropriate biomedical laboratory techniques or clinical research models for his/her own research; He or she is able to stay abreast of scientific developments in his/her field and to ensure his/her knowledge remains up to date; He or she is able to relate research within the field of Biomedical Sciences to relevant associated fields (such as Medicine, Biology, Pharmacology); He or she is able to systematically collect biomedical data for his/her own research and interpret this data in order to form a judgement that is also based on a consideration of relevant social, scientific or ethical aspects; 20

21 He or she is able to place his/her own research within a historical and philosophical perspective of (biomedical) science; He or she is able to formulate judgements based on incomplete or limited information while taking into account the social and ethical responsibilities related to the application of his/her own knowledge and judgements; He or she is sufficiently aware of the social and ethical implications of scientific research, as evidenced by his/her own responsible conduct. Communication The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to communicate scientific data, conclusions from his/her own research, as well as the knowledge, motives and considerations underlying this research clearly and unambiguously to a specialist and non-specialist public, both in Dutch and in English; He or she is able to defend and debate his/her own position regarding his/her own research; He or she is able to participate in organisation and management of (project)teams; He or she is a mediator between the natural sciences and medical science by working with medical doctors and advising them on matters of health and health care from the perspective of scientific research; He or she has, with respect to scientific and academic skills, also developed the capability to formulate questions in such a way that responding to such questions not only increases knowledge, but is also accessible in practice and relevant to medical science. Learning Skills The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to acquire knowledge and understanding independently and efficiently for the purpose of his/her own research, including through independent study of specialist literature written in Dutch and in English; He or she is able to reflect on his/her own actions as well as on the actions of others, and to assimilate the judgements of others to improve his/her own product or approach; He or she is able to adopt a professional and critical position during research projects; He or she has an academic level of thinking and working within his/her field and is able and willing to further improve upon this level; He or she is able and aware of the necessity to keep abreast of relevant developments in the field, and furthermore is able to assess where his/her own research can contribute to the field; He or she is capable of making a conscious choice in favour of a possible further specialist training or of a position in the job market. Additional Final Attainment Levels: Research Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences has a broad overview of the natural sciences; He or she has knowledge of interdisciplinary aspects, such as ethics, the philosophy of science and laboratory animal science. Applying Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to develop a scientifically sound research plan and protocol and to evaluate this plan against the opinion of fellow researchers; He or she is able to critically analyse and consider experimental results and data from his/her own research, process this data into presentations and construct databases of relevant specialist literature. 21

22 Additional Final Attainment Levels: Management Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences has a broad overview of the natural sciences; He or she has knowledge of interdisciplinary aspects, such as ethics and the philosophy of science; He or she has an understanding of the structure of businesses and organisations in the health care sector as well as the biomedical sector; He or she has adequate basic knowledge and understanding of strategic and marketing management, financial management, project management, organisational science, patent policy and quality management. Applying Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to plan and execute organisational research within a business, relevant to a biomedical research domain; He or she is able to analyse and consider results and data from his/her own research, process this data into presentations and construct databases of relevant specialist literature. Making Judgements The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to call attention to, characterize and describe problems in projects and organisations, and is capable of developing policies to address and resolve these problems. Communication The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to manage multidisciplinary teams, both in the private and public sector. Additional Final Attainment Levels: Communication Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences has knowledge and understanding of modern information and communication technology; He or she has knowledge of ethical, historical and social aspects in the field of the natural sciences; He or she has an understanding of human learning processes. Applying Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to analyse and consider the results and data from (his/her own) research, process this data into presentations/publications and construct databases of relevant specialist literature. Communication The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to apply different methods of communicating knowledge; He or she is able to place developments in (biomedical) science within a social perspective and to make these developments understandable for a wider audience; He or she is able to interest a wider audience in such developments, and to motivate this audience to participate in a social debate on such developments; He or she is able to communicate research results comprehensibly to non-specialist interested parties, and to advise judiciously on the implications of such research results; He or she is able to translate questions from the public into a scientific research question and to formulate research projects on the basis of this. 22

23 Additional Final Attainment Levels: Education Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences has a broad overview of the natural sciences, specifically of biology; He or she has knowledge of interdisciplinary aspects, such as ethics and philosophy of science; He or she has an understanding of human learning processes. Applying Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to familiarise students with the most important features and contents of the field, as well as the position of the field within society; He or she is able to help students form contacts with other fields, including as a means of supporting them in their choice of education and occupation; He or she is able to develop and evaluate an educational product on workability and relevance. Making Judgements The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences has a vision of biology as a school subject and of its place in society, as well as in relation to other natural sciences. Communication The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences is able to apply different methods of communicating knowledge. For more information on the final attainment levels for the purpose of a function in secondary education see: Final Attainment Levels/ Initial Competence Requirements ICLON Teacher Education (Eindtermen/ Startbekwaadheidseisen ICLON Lerarenopleiding) and the Decision on Competence Requirements for Teaching Staff (Besluit Bekwaamheidseisen Onderwijspersoneel) ( under Title 4: Competence Requirements havo and vwo upper school, in Dutch). Additional Final Attainment Levels: Health Knowledge and Understanding The holder of a Master s Degree in Biomedical Sciences has a broad overview of the medical and natural sciences; He or she has knowledge of interdisciplinary aspects, such as ethics and the philosophy of science. Applying Knowledge and Understanding He or she is able to critically analyse and consider experimental results and data from his/her own research, process this data into presentations and construct databases of relevant specialist literature; He or she is able to critically analyse medical data and able to integrate this data in his/her own research. 23

24 Appendix II Contents op the programme Students within all specialisations are required to earn a minimum of 60 credits from courses pertaining to biomedical sciences. Of these 60 credits, at least 1 credit is to be accumulated by attending Guest Lecture(s). The compulsory components of the Research specialisation are: code course component credits practical level PPY Clinical Research in Practice 4 yes PPY Junior Research Project I 29 yes variable choice of: Frontiers of Science and Guest 14 yes 500 Lectures (minimum 1 credit guest lecture) PPY Laboratory Animal Course 4 yes PPY How to Write a Research Proposal 2 no PPY Research Proposal Biomedical Sciences 5 yes PPY Junior Research Project II 40 yes PPY Scientific Review Biomedical Sciences 6 yes PPY Reflection Course: Scientific Conduct 1 no 400 Elective area The compulsory components of the Management specialisation are: Code course component credits practical level PPY Clinical Research in Practice 4 yes PPY Junior Research Project I 29 yes variable choice of: Frontiers of Science and Guest 14 yes 500 Lectures (minimum 1 credit guest lecture) 4603SBBFSY Science Based Business Fundamentals (MSc 15** yes 400 edition)* 4603SBBMNY Science Based Business Management 3 no PPY Project Proposal: Science Based Business 3 yes PPY Science Based Business: Specialisation and yes 600 Training Period PPY How to Write a Research Proposal 2 no PPY Reflection Course: Scientific Conduct 1 no 400 Elective area * Students with prior education in management, business and entrepreneurship (e.g. students who have completed the Science Based Business (SBB) Fundamentals course Bachelor edition) may be exempted from following the SBB Fundamentals MSc edition in the master s Management specialisation. This course then needs to be substituted by at least an equal number of EC of other SBB master modules, offered by the Faculty of Science, or elsewhere. ** For students who took the SBB Fundamentals-course before 2010 a study load of 17 EC may apply. The components of the Communication specialisation are: Code course component credits practical level The following compulsory components in Biomedical Sciences: PPY Clinical Research in Practice 4 yes PPY Junior Research Project I 29 yes