Which organisms are able to adapt to global change? How do birds decide when and where to migrate? When and why do individual differences in physiology or behaviour evolve? How can we best conserve nature and bend the curve of biodiversity decline?
This Master's programme has a selection procedure. The application deadline is 1 May 2026. For more information about the selection procedure, please check here.
During the two-year Master's programme Ecology and Evolution, you will gain insight into the living organism in relation to its environment. Ecology and evolution are strongly interdependent: without ecology, we cannot really understand natural selection; and without evolution, we cannot really understand the properties of organisms and their interaction with the environment. Ecology and evolution are relevant for all domains of the life sciences.
Ecology and evolutionary biology play a crucial role in facing the grand challenges of our time. This includes the development of realistic plans for coping with the implications of global change, for stopping the alarming biodiversity loss, for designing evolutionarily stable strategies to set up a sustainable society, and for developing evolution-informed medical treatment. The research fields of ecology and evolution are highly dynamic. Powerful new techniques (e.g. GPS-tracking of birds and mammals over the whole planet; remote sensing; tracking of individual cells in a culture of micro-organisms; genome-wide sequencing; individual-based simulations; new methods to analyse ‘big data’) allow us to resolve long-standing puzzles.
These new approaches lead to new insights and concepts that change our way of thinking, including a range of new integrative disciplines (e.g. evo-devo; evolutionary medicine; evolutionary community ecology; ecological immunology; evolutionary systems biology; adaptation and conservation genomics; evolutionary psychology). With this Master's programme, we aim to educate the new generation of scientists in ecology and evolution, both those who want to study the big fundamental questions in all domains of the life sciences and those who want to contribute to solving the grand challenges of our time.
The Master's degree programme Ecology and Evolution is offered by the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), which conducts internationally recognized research in a unique diversity of areas relevant to ecology and evolution, including conservation biology, community ecology, microbial ecology, marine biology, evolutionary genetics and genomics, evolutionary systems biology, ecophysiology, neurobiology, chronobiology, evolutionary medicine, behavioural ecology, animal personality research, social evolution, and theoretical biology. We study a wide array of species, from microbes, algae, plants, and insects to vertebrates such as fish, birds, rodents, marine mammals, large herbivores, and humans.
The selective Master's programme offers 2 specialized research tracks:
1) Evolutionary Biology, which is strongly research-oriented and designed to provide optimal preparation for a subsequent PhD and eventually a career in academic research;
2) Ecology and Conservation, to educate the new generation of ecologists to contribute to understanding and solving the global ecological problems, as a scientist and practitioner in the field. In this programme, you will learn how organisms, populations, and communities are affected by changing environmental conditions, and how this knowledge can contribute to successful ecological conservation and restoration programs, as well as to sustainable land-use and a nature-positive society.
You can choose between the two tracks:
1) Evolutionary Biology
2) Ecology and Conservation
The programme tracks start with a series of mandatory courses on the advanced theory and state-of the-art in the research field of the tracks (20-30 EC), followed by a series of elective specialist-topic or skill courses, tailored to the individual preferences of the student (10-20 EC). A large proportion of the programme is devoted to two research projects in which the students are fully embedded in a research group of their choice, to conduct their own research. To guarantee optimal supervision and a first-class research environment, the first project (30-40 EC) has to be carried out at the University of Groningen. The second project (30 EC) is to be conducted in a different research group, either at the University of Groningen or elsewhere, to learn new techniques and scientific approaches, and to extend the scientific network. If desired, this second project can be done abroad.
| Programme options |
|---|
| Evolutionary Biology (track) This programme is for students with an interest in understanding all facets of evolution. It offers advanced theoretical and practical training to provide students with a head-start in a subsequent PhD, and eventually a career in scientific research. During the first year, students follow a set of multidisciplinary courses that are developed to provide an overview of the fundamental principles underlying modern evolutionary biology, including developing the scientific, methodological and academic skills required for conducting research. During two major research projects, students receive individually supervised research training, while working on their own research questions. During these projects, students are fully embedded in leading research groups where they and can make use of state-of-the art research methods and facilities. Research projects can be conducted in all areas related to ecology and evolution. There are options for students to follow part of their programme at one of our partner universities: Uppsala, Montpellier or Munich . Under strict mobility requirements, students can study at two of these partner universities, and in the end receive MSc degrees from two universities (a "double degree"). |
| Ecology and Conservation (track) This programme is designed for students that strive to become an ecologist that can contribute to an understanding of the global ecological problems, and help to solve them. In this programme, students will learn how organisms, populations and communities are affected by changing environmental conditions, and how this knowledge can contribute to successful ecological conservation and restoration programs. This track will equip students with the knowledge and skills to work in scientific research, conservation & restoration, ecological consultancy, management, education, private corporations and (non-) governmental organizations. The first semester consists of three mandatory advanced courses, and the option for a series of elective courses. In the two major research projects, students are individually supervised while working on their own research questions. Research projects can be conducted in all areas related to ecology, conservation and evolution. |
Exchange: All our science and engineering programmes offer study abroad possibilities at a number of partner institutions. Our partners include top-100 universities in Europe (for example in Germany, UK, and Sweden) and in the USA, China, South-East Asia, and South America. Our exchange programmes have a typical duration of one semester and count toward your final degree.
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
This Master's degree programme has a selection procedure; read the information below! An academic Bachelor's degree in Biology with a specialization in Ecology, Evolution or another related field. This is merely an indication of required background knowledge. The admissions board determines whether the specific contents of this/these course(s) meet the admission requirements of the Master's programme for which you applied. Information about admission possibilities and requirements for students from a Dutch HBO institute is published on: https://www.rug.nl/fse/msc-admission |
| other admission requirements |
The Ecology and Evolution research master is selective. Selection will be based on academic performance and motivation to determine if you will be selected for the master's programme. After you have registered via www.rug.nl/fse/msc-admission your application will be requested to pass on to the Board of Admissions of the programme. BEFORE YOU APPLY |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | All Research universities |
Additional requirements Additional requirements:
This Master's degree programme is selective, please read the information about the selection procedure. A Bachelor's degree in Biology is required, with specialization in Ecology or Marine Biology. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements Additional requirements:
This Master's degree programme is selective, please read the information about the selection procedure. |
This Master's programme has a selection procedure, the Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be admitted to the Master's degree programme.
For a more elaborate explanation of the selection procedure, please have a look here. You will need to fill out the checklist to explain why you choose to apply for this Master's degree programme (questions to be addressed are outlined on the form).
You can use the checklist to describe your pre-education. Please provide two reference letters (non EU applicants) or provide the names of those we may contact for reference (EU applicants) using the application form. Please also provide a bachelor thesis or another individually written report of an academic assignment. If such a report is not available an assignment will be given to you by the Board of Admissions.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
This master's degree programme has a selection procedure; read the information below. An academic Bachelor's degree in Biology with a specialization in Ecology, Evolution or another related field. This is merely an indication of required background knowledge. The Admissions Board determines whether the specific contents of this/these course(s) meet the admission requirements of the master programme for which you applied. |
| language test |
MAKE SURE TO VISIT http://www.rug.nl/fwn/fmns-programme/admissions/msc/language-requirements for all the necessary information about required language tests and minimum scores. |
| other admission requirements |
The Ecology and Evolution research master is selective. Selection will be based on academic performance and motivation to determine if you will be selected for the master's programme. After you have registered in www.studielink.nl your application will be requested to pass on to the Board of Admissions of the programme. BEFORE YOU APPLY Make sure to visit 'MSc Application Procedure' for all the necessary information about the procedure and admission requirements. |
This Master's programme has a selection procedure, the Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be admitted to the Master's degree programme.
For a more elaborate explanation of the selection procedure, please have a look here. You will need to fill out the checklist to explain why you are applying for this Master's degree programme (questions to be addressed are outlined on the form).
Provide two reference letters (non EU applicants) or provide the
names of those we may contact for reference (EU applicants) using
the application form.
Provide a bachelor thesis or another individually written report of
an academic assignment. If such a report is not available an
assignment will be given by the Board of Admissions.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
Graduates of the programme who have chosen for the selective research master often enter a PhD programme, join a research team in a company or research institute, are active as ecological consultant, or work for a nature conservation organization.
For an overview of the different fields our students find jobs in: https://www.rug.nl/fse/beta-studie/testimonials/first-job-ees-students.png
The Master's degree programme is coordinated by the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES; http://www.rug.nl/research/gelifes/).
GELIFES focuses its research on the level of the individual
organism (behaviour, physiology, morphology, genetics, development)
and on higher levels of organisation (population, communities,
ecosystems). The research is being done on a broad range of
organisms (terrestrial-marine; microorganisms-plants-animals) with
a broad range of methods and approaches (field, lab, theoretical).
A hallmark of GELIFES is that we strive to integrate mechanistic
approaches (how does an organism function?) with evolutionary
approaches (why does the organisms function as it does?). We
specifically aim to integrate these fields that are traditionally
studied in isolation.
GELIFES is part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and
embraces six research groups:
