Adaptive Organisms (specialisation)

Entry requirements

A completed Bachelor's degree

Entering the Master’s specialisation in Adaptive Organisms requires a Bachelor’s degree in Biology or a related field of science.

An international degree has to be equivalent to a Dutch university diploma. The Examination Board will determine if an international student has the required knowledge to be admitted, and if the student is required to follow specific courses from the Bachelor's programme to eliminate possible deficiencies.

A proficiency in English

In order to take part in this programme, you need to have fluency in both written and spoken English.This requirement has been satisfied when the student meets the conditions, listed on our website.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Programme overview

How do plants adapt in areas with regular flooding or drought? What are the consequences of an increase of water acidity for a fish or a micro-organism? In the Adaptive Organisms specialisation, you’ll become an expert in stress adaptation of individual organisms. The programme provides a fascinating overview on the adaptability of plants, animals and micro-organisms to sub-optimal conditions, and conveys crucial information for an understanding of the effects of environmental change. This information is applied in nature management, but also in biotechnology and breeding programmes.

The application deadline is listed on our website here.

What will you learn?

• Get in-depth knowledgeabout molecular physiology, ecophysiology and quantitative biology
• Gain experience designing, performing your own experiments, and working with advanced equipment including electron microscopes and mass spectrometers
• Develop a critical research mentality.

Career prospects

Knowledge about stress adaptation is crucial for our society. Think of animal well-being, nature conservation, agriculture and biotechnology. Radboud University connects fundamental research to these real life situations, by collaborating with governmental organisations, NGOs and biotech companies. These are also the organisations where most Adaptive Organisms students end up after graduation or after obtaining their PhD, either as a researcher or in a research-related job such as policy officer or consultant.

*This is an specialisation of the Master's in Biology.

If you have any questions, email us here: study-information@ru.nl

Learn more via the Radboud University contact form.

Information for international students

Application deadlines

Non-EU/EEA students

• The deadline for non-EU/EEA students who wish to apply for a scholarship is 31 January prior to the September intake. For the requirements and selection procedure for scholarships, please check our scholarship overview.
• The deadline for those not applying for a scholarship is 1 April for non-EU/EEA nationals for the September 2026 intake. You can apply for the September 2026 intake from 1 October 2025.

EU/EEA students

• The application deadline for EU/EEA students with housing assistance for the September 2026 intake is 1 May, and the deadline without housing assistance is 1 July. You can apply from 1 October onward for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The application deadlines for Master’s starting in February are 1 November for non-EU/EEA citizens and 1 December for EU/EEA citizens.

Fees and funding

Radboud University offers 3 different scholarships that are open to prospective Master's students from non-EU/EEA countries and who want to follow an English-taught Master's programme.

Radboud Scholarship Programme

The Radboud Scholarship Programme offers talented, highly motivated, non-EU/EEA students with outstanding study results the opportunity to be awarded a partial scholarship for an English-taught Master’s programme.

NL Scholarship (for prospective students)

The NL Scholarship (formerly known as Holland Scholarship) is a partial scholarship for non-EU/EEA students who want to do their Master’s in the Netherlands.

Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships

The Fulbright Commission, sponsored by Radboud University, is offering scholarships for talented American students to study at Radboud University.