Molecular and Biophysical Life Sciences

Are you fascinated by life at the molecular and cellular level? Do you have a broad interest in the natural sciences? The interdisciplinary Bachelor’s programme Molecular and Biophysical Life Sciences (MBLS) combines biology, chemistry, physics and the pharmaceutical sciences to study life from different perspectives. The MBLS programme will equip you to make meaningful contributions to our understanding of life and to address life science related societal challenges.

Studying MBLS allows me to learn about all of these aspects on a molecular scale and really get to understand the key processes taking place in life around us.

MBLS is an international English-taught programme with a strong link to modern life science research. MBLS may just be the right programme for you if you are curious to find out how biomolecules function in health and disease and how we can make molecules to fight infectious diseases. You will discover how proteins act as molecular motors and will look for molecules at atomic resolution inside cells. Using computers to model life at the molecular and cellular level is another essential part of this programme.

A solid foundation 

In the first three semesters (1½ years) of the programme you learn fundamental concepts and research methods of the various disciplines. In the wet lab and during computer practicals you will become familiar with techniques to study biomolecules in isolation or inside cells and even in atomic detail. You will learn the basics of programming and bioinformatics to explore the vast amount of data produced in the modern life sciences. 

Shape your own programme 

After completing your basic training you have substantial freedom to follow your own interests and ambitions by choosing subjects both within and outside this Bachelor’s. To assist you in shaping your own programme MBLS elective courses have been grouped in four different themes: 

• Genes to Organisms 
• Molecules and Cells 
• Molecules and Medicine 
• Biophysics and Modeling 

The crown on your Bachelor’s is a three-month research project in which you put all skills and academic competences you acquired into practice. MBLS provides an excellent basis for a broad range of Master’s programmes in the Netherlands and abroad. 

Community building & support 

We value that you feel a sense of belonging right away. To achieve that we organise a set of activities to make you feel at home as quickly as possible. There will be social activities during the first two weeks of your study. Via personal guidance by a mentor (student) and tutor (teacher) we help you in the transition from high school to university and in making choices during your study programme. Study association Amino organises the selling of textbooks, social activities, workshops and excursions, and a buddy programme for international students.  

As an MBLS undergraduate student you will study and perhaps live in the Utrecht Science Park, a vibrant environment where academic teaching, research, biotech, and entrepreneurship come together. 

Why in Utrecht 

• A well-connected curriculum with freedom to shape your own programme.
• Hands-on research training through lab practicals
• Collaboration in small groups on real-life projects and problems in the Life Sciences  
• Study in an international classroom 
• International collaborations with other universities to study or perform your thesis research project abroad.  

I am currently in my last year of MBLS, enjoying a full semester abroad at Monash University, and I am excited to tell you all about it!

Studie in Cijfers

Would you like to compare this programme with the national average? View the results of Studie in Cijfers (in Dutch). Source: Studiekeuze123