Sustaining natural biodiversity and protecting the environment is impossible without extensive knowledge of ecology and evolution. The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) offers a state-of-the-art Master's programme in Ecology and Evolution. The aim of the programme is to promote understanding of

• the relationships between living organisms
• the extinction and evolution of species
• the functioning of ecosystems 
• how organisms live, interact and disperse on earth

Evolution Biologist Prof. Steph Menken talks about 'biological fitness' in the UvA video series 'The Fascination'. Watch the video (in Dutch) via the link below. 

Professional specialization within the Master’s programme

In general, Master’s students are trained to become independent researchers. But at the UvA Faculty of Science you can also choose to complete your Master’s programme with a professional specialization, that focuses on other skills than doing research. In that case you will follow the programme of your chosen scientific discipline during the first year of your Master’s, and the programme of the specialization during the second year. You will graduate as a Master of Science.

There are three professional specializations available:
    ·     Science Communication
    ·     Teaching
    ·     Management, Policy Analysis & Entrepreneurship.

A note to readers who don’t speak Dutch: Only the specialization Management, Policy Analysis & Entrepreneurship is described in English, because the other two specializations are only taught in Dutch.