Is this the right programme for me?

MSc Animal Sciences

René Kwakkel, Programme Director MSc Animal Sciences

Anet van den Biggelaar, Student Coach MSc Animal Sciences

www.mas.wur.nl

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Academic education in Animal Sciences

● Advanced and in-depth knowledge

Develop scientific skills

● Explore modern approaches in scientific research

● Critical attitude towards scientific results

Train yourself in asking the “why-question” (vs. “how”)

Become a specialist!

A ‘tailor-made’ approach!!

Why MSc Animal Sciences?

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Domain of the programme

Animals kept by humans

1. Animal Physiology: gene organism Health and adaptation Behaviour Welfare

1 2 3

2. Human: care taker Breeding programmes

Farm management Economics

Nutrition

3. Society Government (policy) Consumer perception Food safety and quality Sustainable development

4. World Food security Epidemiology

Global variations Environmental impact

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Livestock companion, zoo and

semi-wild animals

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Animal Breeding and Genetics (ABG)

Animal Nutrition (ANU)

Animal Health & Behaviour (ADP,BHE)

Animal Health Management (QVE,HMI)

Animal Production Systems (APS)

Applied Zoology (CBI,EZO,HAP)

MSc specialisations (chair groups)

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Mix of thesis preparing & optional courses (60 credits)

Minor thesis/internship (24 credits)

Major thesis (36 credits)

• English

• Different methods of teaching

• For MSc graduation: 120 ECTS credits

Internet: ssc.wur.nl/handbook

Outline of the Programme (1)

Year 1:

Year 2:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

12 credits12 credits6 credits6 credits12 credits12 credits

Period 5: Period 6:Period 1: Period 2: Holi-

days

Period 3: re-

exam

Period 4:

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Year 1 ● Scientific Skills Training (3+3 credits) or Academic

Consultancy Training (9+3 credits)

● Deficiency courses (≤18 credits):

Advanced Statistics (compulsory) + maximal two BSc Animal

Sciences courses

● Advanced specialisation courses (≥ 12 credits)

● Optional courses (e.g. as preparation for your Minor thesis)

Year 2 ● Major thesis (36 credits)

● Minor thesis (24 credits)

/ Internship (discuss with your study advisor)

Outline of the Programme (2)

Internet: ssc.wur.nl/handbook

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1. Specialisation = major thesis (and minor thesis)

2. Professional Track = broadening;

minor thesis in a professional field:

• Research Master Track

• Business & Management Track

• Education Track

• Communication & Policy Track

Specialisation and Professional orientation

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ABG: Genome-wide association analysis for minerals found in milk of dairy cattle

ANU: Improving nutrient utilization by synchronization using the pre-ruminant calf as a model

ADP: Relation between behaviour and immunity in chickens

QVE: Effect of vaccination against Porcine Circo Virus in pigs

APS: Relative value of feed efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emission along the dairy chain in the Netherlands

EZO: Swimming performance in pregnant live-bearing fish

Example of thesis topics

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European MSc-programmes:

• Animal Behaviour and Welfare Assessment (SLU-Sweden)

• EURAMA (European MSc Animal Management & Economics)

• EMABG (European Master in Animal Breeding & Genetics)

• EM-SANF (European Master in Sustainable Animal Nutrition

& Feeding)

Something extra

These joint programmes lead

to a Double Degree

(= two diplomas!)

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Researcher (scientific and applied):

● PhD

Companies:

● Commercial or technical

Knowledge transfer:

● Teacher, advisor

Policy (government, NGO):

● Policy maker

Often further development to management within the Netherlands or abroad

Job opportunities

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Follow a tailored Minor at Wageningen University

• Good preparation for your MSc

• Way to experience Wageningen University

• 24-30 credits

• MSc-preparing Minor or thematic Minor

• Contact Egbert Kanis, egbert.kanis@wur.nl

Preparation for MSc

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Admission criteria:

• Bachelor degree in related field

• Grade Point Average (GPA) ≥ 70%

• Fluency in English, written and spoken

(HAVO 7; VWO 6; Oxford Online Placement Test > 60 %)

• Skills in mathematics and/or statistics

• Basic computer skills

Admission committee judges on an individual basis!

(If your GPA is not 7: you need 2 recommendation letters!)

(admitted? acceptance registration package)

Admission procedure

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Apply online via www.mas.wur.nl:

Click banner “Apply for Master programme”

Advise:

- Don’t wait for HBO graduation (deadline Aug 1st)

- Check specialisation(s) of interest on www.mas.wur.nl

- Make preliminary schedule (ssc.wur.nl/Handbook)

- Make appointment to discuss your tailor-made programme

(with classroom mates)

Application

Contact René Kwakkel (via secretary)

T +31 (0)317 483147 or education.animalsciences@wur.nl

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Academic education

Unique in the Netherlands

Animals in relation to humans (function)

Optional courses

International (programme ánd student community)

Wageningen no. 1 study city

MSc Animal Sciences is ranked as top education!

Animal Sciences, in a nutshell

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Anet van den Biggelaar

Student coach MSc Animal Sciences

Choosing MSc Animal Sciences

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Background:

Professional bachelor Animal Husbandry

(University of Applied Science, HAS Den Bosch)

Why follow a master programme?

Gain more knowledge

Specialisation

Discover the research part

Challenge myself

Develop more skills and competences

Why I chose to do a master

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Positive reactions from other students

Pleasant atmosphere

Connection with previous study

Possibility to create your own programme

Good (international) reputation

Why Wageningen University?

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YEAR 1

Compulsory skills courses

Courses for specialisations:

• Major thesis: Animal Nutrition 4 courses (24 credits)

• Minor thesis: Business economics 3 courses (18 credits)

Grassland Sciences

My Study

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YEAR 2

Focus on dairy cattle

Minor thesis in Business Economics:

Optimizing selective dry cow therapy using in-line SCC monitoring from an AMS

Major thesis in Animal Nutrition:

Implementing a reticular sampling method for getting an estimate of Microbial Protein Yield, aiming to identify treatment differences as well as model validation

My Study

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HBO vs. University

University of Applied Sciences (HBO)

• Dutch

• Group learning:

project oriented

education

• Broader education

• ‘Management-attitude’

Wageningen University

• English

• Individual learning:

practicals, lectures, self-

study

• Education towards in-

depth knowledge

• ‘Scientific/ critical

thinking’

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Live in a house with 5 other students in Wageningen

Study association ‘De Veetelers’

● Board of the ‘Social evening’ commission

Next to my study

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How to find a room?

Student housing Wageningen: www.idealis.nl

Kamernet: www.kamernet.nl

Ask around!

Living in Wageningen

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Know why you sign up for an MSc programme

Think about doing courses in advance, e.g. “Introduction

Statistics”

Visit open days or attend “student for a day” activities of

Wageningen University

Check us out on Facebook & Twitter

If you decide to follow a

master, join the AID in August!

Some suggestions

More information

• www.mas.wur.nl

(also for this ppt)

• Programme director

René Kwakkel

Tel. 0317–483147 (secretary)

education.animalsciences@wur.nl

• Student coach Anet

studentcoachmas@wur.nl

www.wageningenur.nl

/dierwetenschappen

@AnimalScienceWU