Study programme

Innovation Sciences is a two-year Master’s programme taught in English that includes both taught courses and research, awarding a total of 120 points in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). On this page you will find information concerning the curriculum, courses, educational methods, examinations and extracurricular opportunities.

Curriculum

You will be taking courses throughout the whole first year and the beginning of your second year. In the first year, you will be trained in innovation theories and research methods to teach you how to analyse complex innovation processes and develop innovation strategies. Most of your second year will be spent on your Master's thesis for which you will work on your individual thesis/internship project, specialising in your field of interest.

Courses

Course Types

There are four kinds of courses in the programme: conceptualising innovation through theories and models, innovation research methods, innovation practices and elective courses.

• Innovation theories and models
  You will follow three courses on a wide range of dominant innovation theories. These theories will provide insights into the mechanisms responsible for technological dynamics, the innovative behaviour of companies and institutions in a broader innovation system.
• Innovation research methods
  Three innovation research methodology courses will give you the tools you need to understand and tackle innovation challenges. You will learn both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Innovation practices
  To help you plan the right interventions and strategies, you will learn how to understand innovation processes in practice throughout the programme. You will also learn skills to communicate your expertise to different audiences, such as by presenting, writing a policy report and online publication.
• Elective courses
  The curriculum offers you two elective courses. This allows you to specialise in a field of your interest, possibly related to your graduation topic. You can take courses from other Master's programmes, or courses at other universities under certain conditions. The most important restriction on the choice of elective courses is that their relevance for the field of Innovation Sciences has been made clear and that they are part of a Master's programme or of a comparable level.

Schematic overview

Year 1

Year 2

*Of the electives, at least 7.5 EC should be a Natural Science course. Below you will find recommended electives for the Innovation Sciences programme.

Educational Methods

• Lectures and seminars
• Consultancy project (work in a small group on a project assigned by a real life company and working part-time in the company)
• Independent research
• Internship (optional)

Examinations

• Research papers
• Short papers or written exams
• In-class presentations
• Active participation and concluding reports
• Thesis