Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Enrolling for this study plan is possible after having obtained one of the following degrees:
Academic Bachelor's programme biologie
AANBEVELINGSBRIEF / LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION 1
AANBEVELINGSBRIEF / LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION 2
MOTIVATIEBRIEF / LETTER OF MOTIVATION
PUNTENLIJST / TRANSCRIPTS (NIET VOOR VLAAMSE DIPLOMA'S)
Enrolling for this plan is also possible having completed the Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Biology.
Semester 1 (S1): Basic and specialised introductory courses
Semester 2 (S2): In situ experience and specialised field courses
Semester 3 (S3): In-depth specialisation semester
Semester 4 (S4): Joint masters thesis
In the first semester, students start at the VUB/ULB to acquire similar competences. In the second semester field experience and courses will take place in a university in a non-EU country. The third semester will cover a specialisation in a European university, different from the first one. Courses vary at this semester. In the fourth semester students return to where they started out for their thesis research.
In each semester, the student is able to choose a course outside the list and in relation to the specialisation provided approval of the jury and of the Tropimundo Steering Board.
For more information visit the website at http://www.tropimundo.eu
The courses of the first semester in Brussels are all comprised of a number of basic courses and a limited selection of specialised courses based on local expertise present and on expertise needed in the second semester.
Brussels Courses
These are the compulsory courses of the first semester in Brussels (ULB/VUB).
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 15 ECTS credits.
| 5ECTS credits - The Earth System and its Interactions |
| 5ECTS credits - Social-Ecological Systems |
| 5ECTS credits - Analysis of Biological Data |
| 6ECTS credits - Analysis of Biological Data |
Brussels Courses
15 ECTS to choose
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 14 ECTS credits.
During the second semester in situ field experience and courses will take place in one of the universities in the south with their specific expertises::
- Université des Antilles (UdA), France: Insular ecology in the tropics (biogeography, terrestrial and semi-terrestrial forests);
- Université de Dschang in Dschang, Cameroon (UDsch): African tropical rainforests and woodlands (sustainable management of forests resources, identification, characterisation and domestication of non-timber forest products, biodiversity evaluation and characterisation);
- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT): tropical coastal forests, mangroves, seagrasses, coral reefs;
- Université d'Antananarivo (ANIVANTA): Ecology of fauna and flora of Madagascar (systematics, physiology, anatomy, evolutionary ecology and adaptation), socio-ecological and behavioural science (primatology, ethnobotany);
- University of Hong Kong (HKU): Rocky shore ecology (behavioural and physiological adaptations of fauna), coral reef ecology (anthropogenic impacts on coral reefs), mangrove ecology (crab and vegetation ecology), seagrass and subtidal ecology (impact of ocean acidification), terrestrial ecology (entomofaunal ecology), freshwater ecology (pollution and other human disturbance), urban ecology (animal biodiversity in cities and behavioural consequences);
The courses heavily depend on the regional and geographic settings of the third-country Higher Education Institutes in the south, which in part shapes the specialisation of the student.
To complete this module, students must obtain 30 ECTS credits.
Compulsory
All courses are compulsory in the second semester of the first year.
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 15 ECTS credits.
| 3ECTS credits - Geomatics |
| 3ECTS credits - Thesis Proposal |
| 9ECTS credits - Skills and qualifications in tropical biodiversity |
Field School
1 optional choice of 15 ECTS-credits depending on the Tropimundo trajectory
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 15 ECTS credits.
Other eligible courses
Provided approval of the jury and of the TROPIMUNDO Steering Board, all other courses listed in a university program and in relation to the specialisation of the student. The total ECTS of the year must not be larger than 64.
During the third semester specialisation will be sought at a European university different from that where the respective student started. The Sorbonne Université, Paris (SU) and the Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN) have a solid expertise on botany (plant taxonomy, phylogeny, bioinformatics and man-plant interactions, and on the management of biological collections, incl. nearly 4 centuries of collection of plant and animal specimens). Università degli Studi di Firenze (UNIFI) has a profound expertise in zoology (faunistic aspects and plant-animal interactions particularly applied to terrestrial and semi-terrestrial ecosystems). The Université de la Guyane focuses on amazonian ecosystems (biodiversity, landscape processes, socio-cultural diversity of Amazonian rainforests and wetlands).
The fourth semester is entirely dedicated to original research in the framework of a Masters thesis.
To complete this module, students must obtain 60 ECTS credits.
SU, UPMC and MNHN
These are the courses of the third semester in Paris, the Université de Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) and the Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN).
Florence, Università degli Studi di Firenze
These are the courses of the third semester in Florence, Università degli Studi di Firenze (UNIFI).
Université de la Guyane
These are the courses of the third semester in the Université de la Guyane.
Other eligible courses
Provided approval of the jury and of the TROPIMUNDO Steering Board, all other courses listed in a university program and in relation to the specialisation of the student. The total ECTS of the year must not be larger than 64.