30 April 2020

MSc Animal Sciences Is this the right programme for me?

Rene Kwakkel, Programme Director Animal Sciences

Tessa van Soest, Study Advisor Animal Sciences

Anne Hoogeveen, Student MSc Animal Sciences

www.wur.eu/mas

Welcome to the Master Open Day of Animal Sciences! We hope that this presentation will help you decide if Animal Sciences is the right programme for you. If you have any remaining questions after you have read this presentation, please contact us: during the Open Day we are available via chat, or later via email/phone (see contact details at the end of this presentation).

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▪ High quality academic education

▪ To develop scientific skills

▪ “why-question” (vs. “how”)

▪ To become a specialist!

Why MSc Animal Sciences?

Agricultural University

A ‘tailor-made’ thesis-oriented approach!!

Why would you apply for a Master’s Animal Sciences?

• The MSc Animal Sciences is an academic programme which provides you with a fundamental scientific training, combined with a critical attitude towards all aspects constraining sustainable development of animal husbandry. You will learn to formulate and answer research questions in the area of Animal Sciences. For this you will learn in-depth knowledge of the biological functioning of animals. The Master’s programme Animal Sciences offers you a multidisciplinary and individual study programme.

• To be able to perform research you will learn scientific skills, for example: • Explore modern approaches in scientific research (like using physiological knowledge of nutrient dynamics in the gastro-intestinal tract to determine the nutrient requirements of the animal). • Critical attitude towards scientific results (like judging research mythologies and research questions).

• A large difference with professional education (like HBO) is that during an academic master you learn to answer the “why questions”, instead of “how?”: • Why did they do this research? • Is this the right experiment to answer this question?

• By following this Master’s programme you will become a specialist in a certain area of animal sciences. • Our master is for a large part tailor-made, which means that everyone has their own programme, tuned to their interest. You will finish your Master’s specialisation by doing a thesis in the second year. In the first year you will work towards your thesis by following thesis oriented courses.

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Domain of the programme

Animal Sciences is a scientific programme that studies the biological function of domestic and captive animals and their utilization by people, with focus on modern, efficient and humane ways to care for and make the best use of the animals who share our lives. It is a knowledge discipline oriented programme. This means our education and research is organized based on knowledge domains, and not on animal species. During your Master’s you will specialize into one of the mentioned subdomains (see slide). You will take courses where you will learn to work and think as a geneticist, nutritionist, behaviourist, immunologist or as a physiologist for example. As you can see on this slide, some of the subdomains are at a higher aggregation level (like Global & Sustainable Production, which focusses on topics like environmental issues and food safety), where other subdomains concentrate on lower levels like physiological processes inside the animal (like Molecule Cell and Organ Functioning, where for example you can study the effect of diet on the animal’s immune system).

Preventive use of antibiotics in animals

An example of what Animal Sciences is about:

Two newspaper articles about antibiotic use in livestock: - In the Netherlands we do a lot to reduce antibiotic use in livestock farming. For example, the use in the Netherlands decreased by more than 58% between 2009 and 2014 - Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide problem for both animals and humans

Use of antibiotics in animals

The society

Food Safety

The world

The animal

Immune system

Health

Antibiotics resistance

Housing system

The care-taker

Stress

Global health

Hygiene

Use of antibiotics Antibiotics are drugs that kill bacteria or inhibit their growth. This gives the immune system time to clean up an infection. The use of antibiotics in livestock farming can entail risks for humans and animals.

What an animal scientist can contribute to this problem?

Problem of the animal As an animal scientist you can research the reaction of the immune system of individual animals against bacterial infections. By means of genetics, nutrition, good health and little stress, the robustness of an animal can be influenced. In this way you can contribute to limiting infection risk on the basis of animal biology. Less sick animals means less antibiotic use.

Problem of the care-taker The government aims to reduce antibiotic use as far as possible. As an Animal Scientist you research what measures the farmer must take in his management, feeding or husbandry system to reduce the number of sick animals. You also look at which hygiene measures are most effective to reduce the spread of the disease, when animals do get sick.

Societal problem Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics. Resistant bacteria can end up in humans via animal products. In order to prevent the transfer of antibiotics, strict requirements apply to the use in relation to consumption of the animal or its products. An Animal Scientist looks through mathematical models for possible transfer routes.

A global problem It is important to remember that measures at national level alone are not sufficient. Resistant bacteria do not stick to national borders. A broad international approach is therefore required to find effective solutions for the antibiotic resistance problem.

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Mix of courses (60 credits)

Minor thesis/internship (24 credits)

Major thesis (36 credits)

• English

• Different methods of teaching

• For MSc graduation: 120 ECTS credits

Outline of the programme

Year 1:

Year 2:

Internet: ssc.wur.nl/handbook

The study programme is an individually tailor-made thesis-oriented programme. Our Master’s programme consists of two years (in total 120 credits). In the first year you follow a mix of courses: thesis preparing courses within your Animal Sciences specialization, free choice courses in any area that you are interested in, etc. In the second year you will do a major Master’s thesis of at least 36 credits and an internship or a minor (second) thesis of 24 credits (in another area than your major thesis).

Furthermore: We are an English taught International programme. So, you will follow classes with many internationalities. The courses consist of different methods of teaching, for example: lectures, practicals, group work and excursions.

If you want to know more about our programme in more detail please look into the WUR study handbook: https://ssc.wur.nl/Handbook/Programme/MAS

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Type of courses 1st year

Skills courses (max. 12 credits) Scientific Skills or Academic Consultancy Training

Deficiency courses (max. 18 credits) Deficiency courses e.g. Advanced Statistics, BSc Animal Sciences courses

Thesis preparing courses (≥ 12 credits) Advanced specialisation courses

Optional courses (max. 18 credits) Free choice within or outside Animal Sciences

Internet: ssc.wur.nl/handbook

The courses in the first year will consist of: • Skills courses to teach you the needed scientific skills. • Deficiency courses if you are lacking some of the competences that are required to follow the thesis preparing courses. • Thesis preparing courses (Animal Sciences specialisation) to prepare you for your thesis. • Optional courses, which you can choose freely within your own interest, also outside animal sciences.

https://ssc.wur.nl/Handbook/Programme/MAS

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A. Genetics and Biodiversity

B. Nutrition and Metabolism

C. Global and Sustainable Production

D. Adaptation, Health and Welfare

E. Molecule, Cell and Organ Functioning

F. Animal Ecology

MSc specialisations

Students follow advanced courses in their first year to prepare themselves for the thesis in the second year. The thesis can be chosen from different disciplines, distinguished in specialisations. Within specialisations students can choose a thesis track at a specific chair group, that matches their interest in terms of level of study, animal species or topic. Students can choose from one of six specialisations:

Genetics and Biodiversity focuses on the genetic improvement of animals in relation to their environment, by integrating quantitative, biological and molecular approaches. Focus can be genetic management of domestic or wildlife populations to ensure optimal health and performance, or on the genetic basis of specific behaviours or characteristics in various animal species. Nutrition and Metabolism aims to understand the relation between nutritional demands, diet formulation, digestion and metabolism in animals, and their responses in terms of growth, production and waste. The aim is to optimize nutrition for the production of safe and healthy foods for human and welfare and to prevent negative effects of nutrition on the emission of waste to the environment. Global and Sustainable Production combines knowledge from different disciplines (such as animal sciences, economics and social sciences) to study the development of sustainable animal systems across the world. The aim is to guarantee sufficient food supply for mankind in a responsible way, without compromising culture and the environment. Adaptation, Health and Welfare studies the effects of the immediate environment on physiological responses of individual animals, and what these responses mean for animal health and welfare. Immunological status, energy metabolism, thermoregulation, reproduction and behaviour are major responses of animals, being studied in this specialisation.

Molecule, Cell and Organ Functioning is a fundamental specialisation looking into mechanisms and processes at all levels of physiology: from molecules to organs to whole animals. In this specialisation the functioning of animals is studied to acquire animal or computer models for health, disease resistance, growth and aging.

Animal Ecology focuses on the interaction between animal populations and their wider environment, the ecosystem. The environment can be natural or affected by human intervention, i.e. an agro-ecosystem. Mechanisms that underlie the impact of animals on their environment, by food intake behaviour, by interaction with other animals, are studied to understand animal and aquatic ecological systems.

All specialisations focus on national and global issues. It should be underlined that in all specialisations students may either focus on livestock, companion animals or wildlife.

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Student choice examples (2019- 2020)

Specialisation Thesis Track

Thesis preparing courses Thesis

B. Nutrition and Metabolism

ANU-30806 Animal Nutrition and

Physiology

ANU-30306 Nutrient Dynamics

ANU-80436 Thesis Animal

Nutrition

orADP-30306

Health, Welfare and Management

ADP-30806 Adaptation Physiology

ADP-80436 Thesis Adaptation

Physiology

HAP-31306 Development and

Healthy aging

HAP-30806 Integrated

Neuroendocrinology

HAP-80436 Thesis Human and Animal Physiology

or

CBI-30306 Human and Veterinary

Immunology

HAP-31306 Development and

Healthy aging

CBI-80436 Thesis Cell Biology and Immunology

or

An example of different thesis tracks within a specialisation: in the specialisation Nutrition and Metabolism you can follow a track which focusses more on the nutrition part, the metabolism part, or more on the adaptation physiology that is related to nutrition & metabolism.

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• EURAMA, European MSc Animal Management & Economics (France) • EMABG, European MSc Animal Breeding & Genetics (Norway, France, Austria,

Germany, Sweden)

• Make your own specified exchange program!

InternationalThese joint programmes lead to a Double Degree:

Other exchange programmes (no Double Degree):

If you would like to go abroad there are plenty of opportunities during your Master’s:

• You can follow a Double degree programme into Animal Management & Economics or Animal Breeding and Genetics , where in the end you will receive degrees from both universities. • You can follow a few courses at another university of your choice, this can be a university which is more specialized into your area of interest for example. • You can do your thesis or internship abroad (guidance will be a cooperation between the host university/organisation and WUR).

More about our international exchange programmes: https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/master/MSc-programmes/MSc-Animal-Sciences/International-programmes-within-the-MSc-Animal-Sciences.htm

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Broaden your programme, minor thesis in a professional field

Professional Tracks

Research Master

Communication & Policy

Business & Management

Education

You may choose besides your specialisation a professional track. A professional track is a broadening track next to Animal Sciences. You will follow courses and do a minor thesis in a professional field.

More about the professional tracks: https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/master/MSc-programmes/MSc-Animal-Sciences/Professional-Tracks-in-MSc-Animal-Sciences.htm

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Denkavit is looking for:

A Researcher with

knowledge of Animal

Nutrition, preferably

nutrition for young

animals.

Job opportunitiesVersele-Laga is looking for:

A R&D employee with knowledge on and experience with PetFood.

Cargill is looking for:

Senior Scientist Swine at

the Cargill Animal Nutrition

Platform

Hendrix Genetics is looking for:

Quantitative Geneticist Aquaculture with a master in Animal Genetics

University of Massey, New Zealand is looking for:

PhD studentship about Welfare of dairy goats in New Zealand

Aeres Hogeschool is

looking for:

Lecturer Animal Physiology

and Behaviour with a

diploma in Animal Sciences

University of Limerick, Ierland is looking for:

Een PhD studentship about Sheep Reproductive physiology with interest in modern molecular biological tools.

Animal Sciences is a broad programme, so there are many different jobs our students end up in, depending on their tailor-made programme. On this slide you find some examples of vacancies looking for animal scientists in the past year. You can read our career booklet for more examples: https://www.wur.nl/upload_mm/9/6/5/ab104180-e531-4e85-a355-67448a90842c_Dreamfuture_asg.pdf Or read some alumni stories on our website: https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/master/MSc-programmes/MSc-Animal-Sciences/Future-career-Animal-Sciences.htm

Some more career booklets (in Dutch):

https://issuu.com/educationanimalsciences/docs/dromenboekjeed3 https://issuu.com/educationanimalsciences/docs/dromenboekjeed2 https://issuu.com/educationanimalsciences/docs/dromenboekjeed1

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Follow a tailored minor at Wageningen University: • Experience Wageningen University & academic education • 24-30 credits • MSc-preparing minor or thematic minor

Contact: Francine Wartena francine.wartena@wur.nl

Preparation for MSc

You can already follow a minor into Animal Sciences at Wageningen University during your current bachelor (applied or academic). This can already prepare you for our Master’s and it gives you some experience with studying at an academic level. The minor can be about general animals sciences or more thematic and consists of 24-30 credits (in 1st or 2nd semester).

If there are questions about this topic you can contact Francine Wartena (our minor coordinator)

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•Bachelor degree in related field •Grade Point Average (GPA) ≥ 70% •Fluency in English (HAVO 7, VWO 6, IELTS 6.0*, TOEFL 80*, RATEr*) •Skills in mathematics and/or statistics •Basic computer skills •Recommendation letters

Admission committee judges on an individual basis!

*minimum criteria for speaking part!

Admission criteria

Applicants for the MSc programme of Animal Sciences should have a relevant BSc degree in animal sciences, biology, ecology, aquatic/marine sciences, fisheries, or natural/technical sciences related to animals. A Dutch bachelor degree (HBO) related to one of the topics mentioned above is also relevant for admission to the MSc programme of Animal Sciences.

GPA is calculated based on all grades of the BSc programme. GPA is not weighed, so all grades contribute equally to the GPA

The full requirements for RATEr are: OOPT 60, Writing borderline >65%, Speaking borderline >65% Next to the mentioned requirements also Cambridge tests are allowed: Cambridge FCE pass at grade B or above, Cambridge CAE pass at grade C or above, Cambridge CPE pass at grade C or above pass

Recommendation letters are not obligatory unless your GPA is just below 7.

Read more about our admission criteria: https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/master/MSc-programmes/MSc-Animal-Sciences/Application-and-admission-Animal-Sciences.htm

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Advise: - Don’t wait for your graduation (deadline 1 July [1 May non-EU]) - Check specialisation(s) of interest on www.wur.eu/mas - Make preliminary schedule (ssc.wur.nl/handbook) - Make appointment to discuss your tailor-made programme

Application

Contact René Kwakkel (via secretary) T +31 (0)317 483147 or education.animalsciences@wur.nl

Apply online via www.wur.eu/apply www.wur.eu/mas – application and admission

Redirected to Studielink

Our Master’s programme starts in September 2020. Application deadlines campus programmes NL/EU/EFTA students 1 July 2020 non-EU/non-EFTA students 1 May 2020* *If you wish to qualify for OKP the deadline was 1 February 2020.

Deadline proof of English proficiency for non-EU students: 1 June 2020! (because of Corona outbreak) Deadline proof of English proficiency for HBO students: 1 July 2020!

Application via Studielink

Read more about application and admission for our Master’s: https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/master/MSc-programmes/MSc-Animal-Sciences/Application-and-admission-Animal-Sciences.htm

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▪ Academic education

▪ Unique in the Netherlands

▪ Animals we care for

▪ Optional courses

▪ International (programme ánd student community)

▪ Wageningen no. 1 study city

▪ MSc Animal Sciences is ranked as top education!

Animal Sciences, in a nutshell

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Anne Hoogeveen

First year student MSc Animal Sciences

MSc Animal Sciences Choosing the right track

Hi everyone! My name is Anne, I am 22 years old and I am in my first year of the MSc Animal Sciences. In this presentation I will explain more about my experiences so far.

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▪ Grown up in Weert on a beef and Livar pig farm ▪ HBO Applied Biology at HAS University of Applied Sciences in Den

Bosch

Background

I grew up in Weert on a farm where we keep beef cows and finishing pigs from Livar. We sell the beef meat at home and our pigs from Livar are living outside on straw! My interest in animals started at a young age and after getting my HAVO diploma at high school, I went to HAS University of Applied Sciences in Den Bosch to study Applied Biology. Here I discovered my interest in doing research on animals. After getting my degree in 2019 I started the Master’s Animal Sciences in Wageningen last September.

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▪ Internship 1: VIC Sterksel (Pig Innovation Centre in Sterksel, former pig research institute of WUR)

▪ Internship 2: University of Guelph (Canada)

▪ Graduation project: Collaboration with Wageningen Livestock Research, ZLTO and HAS University

Background

During my previous internships I realised that I liked doing research. My first internship was at VIC Sterksel. This was the former pig research institute of WUR. My project was about giving farmers tools to optimise free farrowing pens. I visited about 8 farms in the Netherlands and I collected data from the animals, climate, labour, housing and technical results. I compared the different farms and presented my findings and advices during network meetings with the farmers and feed and housing specialists. For my second internship, I decided to travel to Canada. At the University of Guelph, I did a research study about the associations between rumen pH, sorting behaviour and feed intake, which was part of a MSc thesis. I also got to assist in another research study at commercial farms. I went to many farms in Ontario and there were also many Dutch farmers that moved there in the past! In my last year I did a graduation project that was in collaboration with Wageningen Livestock Research (WLR), ZLTO (Dutch cooperation between farmers and specialists) and HAS University of Applied Sciences. The project was part of a large PhD project from WLR that monitored veal calves from birth to slaughter, and the main question was if calves should be transported to the veal farm at 2 weeks or 4 weeks of age. For my graduation project, we collected data mainly on the dairy farms to see what farmers could improve regarding housing, colostrum management, and bio-security to optimise health of the calves.

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• Gaining more in-depth knowledge • Interest in scientific research • Nice and green city and campus

Why I choose MSc Animal Sciences

The main reason I started my Master’s is that I wanted to gain more in-depth knowledge about livestock animals. During my previous study, I realised that I liked doing research and I felt like I could develop my skills and interests even more during a Master’s in Wageningen. I also like that Wageningen is a nice and green city and that is relatively small compared to other cities with Universities.

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▪ First year student ▪ Professional track Education (Education and Learning

Sciences) ! minor thesis ▪ Interest in Adaptation Physiology (ADP) and Animal

Production Systems (APS) ! major thesis

My Study

I started my Master’s last September, and in the first year you have to follow courses that prepare you for your thesis. If you have a HBO diploma in stead of a BSc in Animal Sciences, you have to do two theses in stead of one thesis and one internship. Within the master, you can choose to do your minor thesis in another field outside animal sciences. I am interested in a job as a lecturer at a University of Applied Sciences in the future, and therefore I chose to do the ‘Professional Track’ Education. This includes that you have to follow some courses of the chair group in which you would like to do your thesis. I will therefore do my minor thesis at the Education and Learning Science (ELS) chair group next year. For my major thesis, I will either do it at the Adaptation Physiology (ADP) group or the Animal Production Systems (APS) group and I am most interested in ruminants and pigs.

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HBO vs. University

University of Applied Sciences (HBO)

Wageningen University

Dutch English

Dutch students Dutch and international students

Broader Education Education towards in-depth knowledge

Applying theories Developing theories

Decent workload High workload

Strong connection with sectors Connection with sector via study association

When you have your HBO diploma and you want to get your MSc degree, you are probably wondering what the differences are. These are shown in the table. The main difference I experience is that the theory you have to learn is not per se more difficult, but the work pace is much higher compared with HBO.

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▪ Weekend job at a dairy goat farm ▪ Walking my dog ▪ Swimming & gym ▪ Teaching kids how to swim ▪ Riding my horse ▪ Going out/get together with friends

Next to my study

Fortunately, I still have time to do other things besides studying ☺ . During the weekends I usually go back to my parents, as I work there at a dairy goat farm and I like to go to the forest with our dog or horse. Furthermore, I do swimming and also teach kids how to swim every week. I also like to gather with friends and do fun things together.

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▪ Housing: ● www.room.nl (! sign in early!) ● Facebook group: Wageningen Student Plaza ● www.kamernet.nl

▪ Facilities: ● Campus ● Sport Centre the Bongerd ● City centre ● Student and

sport associations ● Nature

Living in Wageningen

I hope you have a better idea now what it is like to study here (as a ‘’HBO’er’’). I can definitely recommend it! If you are looking for a room you should definitely sign in at ROOM (https://www.room.nl/) (early) and check the facebook group ‘Wageningen student plaza’ often. Kamernet (https://kamernet.nl/) could also work. In Wageningen, you have multiple facilities and nice things to do! Besides a green and quiet campus, you can do a lot of different sports at the Bongerd for a very reasonable price. During the week there are several cafes you can go to or student associations that organise parties in the city centre.

• www.mas.wur.nl

Programme director: René Kwakkel 0317–483147 (secretary) education.animalsciences@wur.nl

Student Coach: studentcoachmas@wur.nl

www.wur.nl

/animalsciencesWU @WURanimal

Questions?

We hope that this presentation helped you decide if Animal Sciences is the right programme for you. If you have any remaining questions please contact us: during the Open Day we are available via chat, or later via email/phone (see slide).

Master Animal Sciences website: https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/master/MSc-programmes/MSc-Animal-Sciences.htm

What else can you do at this open day?

▪ Chat with study advisers and students

▪ Check our FAQ’s about application, housing, scholarships, visa, costs, introduction days, Wageningen, student for a day, corona and more

▪ Take a virtual tour with one or more of our students who will show you their life

▪Watch videos with tips for choosing a study programme, about student life and study experiences