Masters in Cardiovascular Research (RM)

Cardiovascular Research: Are you a researcher at heart?

Do you have a biomedical background and an interest in working in a multidisciplinary environment in a team of highly educated colleagues? Do you enjoy working with people who dare to challenge each other in order to get the best results and to give top-notch presentations to the scientific and clinical world? If so, the Cardiovascular Research Master’s program was made for you.

You probably know someone in your surroundings who has suffered a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Cardiovascular disease is a leading causes of death in the Western world. In the Netherlands more than 100 people die every day due to cardiovascular disease. To reduce this number, scientific research is needed. In the MSc cardiovascular program, you will contribute to this crucial research.

This Master’s program offers challenges in the areas of improving imaging techniques for early diagnosis and follow-up care in the event of cardiac diseases. If you have a medical background and an interest in translational cardiovascular research, this Master’s program can offer you a highly stimulating environment in which to expand your knowledge and advance your skills and opportunities for future cooperation from researcher to practitioner.

The program in a nutshell

The cardiovascular research Master’s is a two-year program (120 credits) providing students with tremendous opportunities to fulfil their personal ambitions. The program is research-oriented and has a multidisciplinary character. Students are trained in state-of-the-art techniques in cardiovascular research and diagnosis and therapy.

This Master’s program aims to provide the general background for clinically oriented research. It offers a number of cardiovascular core courses to prepare for and complement the practical training in original major and minor research projects. The major research projects are carried out at VU Medical Center, in affiliated hospitals, or in the research units of our partners in industry and government. Staff members of the Institute for Cardiovascular Research supervise these research projects. The Institute for Cardiovascular Research is involved in a number of international networks, facilitating internships in Europe or further afield.

A selected group of students will be offered the opportunity to take extra advanced courses with the added duty of taking on a research placement in a renowned research centre abroad. These programs are known as topmasters in the Dutch system.