Course Structure

Course description

Goal of the course:

The English-language one-year Master’s programme in Medical Sciences - Cardiovascular Research will serve to educate small cohorts of basic scientists in medically relevant content, with the aim of training the next generation of translational scientists.

Successful translational medicine requires a combination of clinical and basic research. To achieve this we need to acquaint basic researchers with medical content. The core phase of professional orientation and development for junior basic scientists is immediately after graduation during the PhD. Internationally successful biomedical training centres follow a 1+3-year model of graduate training where in year-1 junior scientists obtain a broad range of thematically relevant insight, acquire practical skills, and experience potential PhD supervisors during project work, before they select their PhD project and commence comprehensive doctoral research.

In keeping with this model we offer this MSc as a preparation year for a PhD in cardiovascular science. This programme will enable candidates to communicate across real or perceived boundaries between basic science and medicine, by familiarising them with vocabulary, concepts, and key approaches, and by developing an awareness of the opportunities and limitations of medical practice in general, and of cardiovascular medicine in particular.

Course structure:

The English-language Master’s programme in Medical Sciences - Cardiovascular Research has been designed to offer a broad knowledge-base in cardiovascular medicine, and the opportunity to specialise in a subset of cardiovascular research.

The one-year curriculum is divided into two parts: the first consisting of a taught course to develop breadth and depth of understanding in the subject matter and in advanced laboratory and clinical techniques; the second dedicated to implementing an individual research project (= MSc Thesis).

Module components cover theoretical and practical aspects, with a mix of seminars, tutorials, practical classes, and demonstrations including clinical shadowing. Students will receive a comprehensive introduction to cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, molecular/ cell biology, biochemistry, and biophysics. This is followed by an exploration of pathology and pharmacology, as well as imaging and diagnostics relevant for examining the heart and vessels. A clinical module addresses cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, followed by biomathematics, biostatistics, and Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) accredited laboratory animal education and skills training.

The course puts strong emphasis on hands-on training. All modules contain practical classes: from derivation and evaluation of one's own stress ECG over single cardiomyocyte contraction and action potential measurements, to observing open-chest surgery and study size planning for own MSc project. In addition to knowledge acquisition, this offers a broad-based introduction to prerequisites, opportunities, and consequences of medical activity, as well as a setting for extensive networking with colleagues from various institutions involved in basic and clinical research.

Details on the curriculum can be found here and in the Module Handbook.

The MSc Medical Sciences – Cardiovascular Research is focused on student-centred implementation and therefore makes use of supervision in small groups. The small cohort enables an individual teaching and learning concept that actively integrates the different student expertise so that students learn effectively with and from one another.