Science Education and Communication

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

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Deze opleiding

How does the world of science connect with the worlds of education and society? How do teachers bridge science and education? How is science and its processes communicated in the media? What is the role of informal institutions in shaping the public's understanding of science?

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locatieGroningen
diplomaMSc
typeeducational, 120 EC
start1 februari, 1 september
taalvolledig English
volledig Dutch
opleidingsduur2 jaar voltijd, deeltijd
accreditatiesNVAO
croho-code60708
numerus fixusnee
honoursnee

If you are interested in these questions, this programme is for you! We aim to bridge the gap between those who know science, those who teach science, and those who communicate science.
The programme will provide a solid foundation in the science, theory, and practice of innovative teaching and effective communication in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The Master's degree programme in Science Education and Communication is a flexible, two-year programme, with six tracks you can choose from (five Education tracks and a Communication track).


Education tracks
There are five Education tracks. Students who complete the Education track are awarded a first-grade teaching qualification in physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology or computing science. In this track, coursework is combined with internships at high schools. In the courses pedagogy, didactics and class management are discussed.

Communication track
The programme aims to train students in the Communication track to become professionals whose knowledge of the history and philosophy of science and the awareness of the relations between science and society enables them to form an informed and critical opinion about current developments in science, technology and science communication.
You will gain an understanding of science and the scientific process and develop research, teaching, and communication skills needed to assume a range of roles and succeed in diverse formal and informal workplaces such as science museums and centres, media, community organisations, research and academia.
The Communication track is partly bilingual: the course units are taught in English, but you can choose to do your assignments in Dutch or English for some courses.

All tracks are based on a highly interactive and interdisciplinary curriculum integrating theory, research, and practice through contemporary courses and internships.

Listen to our podcast with our student Maihly about her experiences in the Education track.

Please look at our student website Bridging Science, where students publish their work and share their experiences.

Want to learn more?


Waarom aan de University of Groningen?

- A highly interactive and interdisciplinary curriculum.
- Tracks in education and communication.
- Largely practice-based and focused on your professional career.
- Students have a background in different science, mathematics or engineering disciplines.
There have been two Nobel Prize winners in our faculty: Ben Feringa (Chemistry, 2016) and Frits Zernike (Physics, 1953)


Studieprogramma

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tracks

track Education

The Education track is only available in Dutch.

Year 1 will start with courses from the Teacher Training programme, where
coursework is combined with an internship at a high school. This part of the Teaching Training programme is equal to the Education minor, which can be chosen during the Bachelor Programme. If you have done this Education minor you can get an exemption for this part of the Teaching Training Programme. In Semester 2, courses of the Science Education and Communication Programme are given. In 'Skills in Science Communication' the fundamentals of science education and communication are addressed. In 'Design for Science Education and Communication' you will design science education products in the course. The course 'Research Methods in Science Education and Communication' will prepare for the Research Project which will be conducted in the second year.

Year 2 starts with the Research Project, where semester 1 is fully dedicated
to this project. You can choose between a disciplinary and science education variant. In the disciplinary variant you will conduct research within your own STEM discipline, in the science education variant you will perform research within science education. Semester 2 is given by the Teacher Training Programme, in which you deepen your teaching practice, with courses on didactics, pedagogy, learning theory and class management. You will do again an internship at a high school.

For more information, visit the website of the Teacher Training programme and Ocasys (both links in text above) for the Master Programme of Science Education and Communication.

The Education track is given by the Teacher Training Programme and
Science Education and Communication Programme. The courses from the
Science Education and Communication Programme are shared with the
Communication track.

track Communication

In the Communication track, you will learn to act as a mediator between science and technology on the one hand and a non-specialist audience on the other.

In the courses 'Skills in Science Communication' the fundamentals of science education and communication are addressed. Students design science education products in 'Design in Science Education and Communication'. In the course 'Research Methods in Science Education and Communication' students learn to conduct research in science communication. These courses are shared with the Education Track. In the communication track, you will learn about the position of science in society within a historical context and the current status of scientific research in the courses 'History and Philosophy of Science' and 'Nature of Scientific Disciplines'. You will discuss risk communication and the role of public debate and dialogue in the course 'Science, Communication and Society'. In the course 'Citizen Science' you will familiarise yourself with the foundations of citizen science. In the courses 'Science Communication and Journalism' and 'Science and the Public', you will discover the main channels through which scientific information reaches the public. These include media (such as news media, social media, video, television, radio and podcasts) and museums.
In the second year of the programme, you will do a research project in either your own STEM discipline or science communication. In the 'External Science Communication Project' you bring your knowledge into practice with an in-company internship. You are given a large degree of freedom to decide for which client you want to work. Many students opt to work for popular scientific magazines, museums, websites, or for radio or television programmes.

Onderwijs

taal van onderwijs100% en
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avondonderwijsn.v.t.
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objectives
Both tracks share a selection of courses. In the course 'Skills in Science Communication' written and verbal communication skills are further developed. 'Design for Science Education and Communication ' covers the design process of education and communication materials. 'Research Methods in Science Education and Communication ' discusses methods of scientific research in science education and communication.
In addition, in both tracks, students will do a research project in either their STEM discipline, science education (Education track) or science communication (Communication track).


Toelating en kosten

startmomenten

1 februari 2026

aanmelding deadline : 15 oktober 2025
wettelijk tarief : € 1984 (€992 in het eerste jaar)
instellingstarief : € 11300
niet-EU/EER studenten : € 24900

1 september 2026

aanmelding deadline : 1 mei 2026
wettelijk tarief : € 1984 (€992 in het eerste jaar)
instellingstarief : € 11300
niet-EU/EER studenten : € 24900

Submit an admission application via the 'Apply now' link.
The Admission Office will inform the admission committee of your application, after which the committee will decide whether you meet the admission requirements regarding previous general education and specific background knowledge.

If you opt for the Education track, you must also have a sufficiently broad previous education in the subject where you want to become a teacher. This is decided in consultation with the faculty programmes. The admissions committee may require you to pass additional bachelor's subjects first so that your previous education is sufficiently broad and you are admissible.

Would you like a quick decision on your admission application? Don't wait until 1 May, take advantage of the earlier deadlines for this master's programme. If the University of Groningen submits your complete application before the dates below, you will be notified of the decision a month later.

Application - Decision:

1 December– 15 January

1 February – 1 March

15 March – 15 April

1 May - 15 June





toelatingseisen

vooropleiding
University bachelor's degree in mathematics, computer science, artificial intelligence, physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, pharmacy, biomedical engineering, engineering, or related disciplines.

The Master's programme in Science Education and Communication is open to anyone who has obtained a bachelor's degree in a STEM programme from a university in the Netherlands. As there is a great diversity of such programmes, the Admissions Board will always decide on admission

An admission request is always required for both the Education and Communication tracks.
In some cases, you may have to take additional courses for the Education track to have sufficient (broad) knowledge; the Admissions Board will decide which additional courses are required.
Information about possible admission after HBO can be found at: https://www.rug.nl/fse/msc-admission.

basiskennis
Additional requirements, to be determined by the Admissions Board, may apply for the Education tracks.

aan het woord: studenten en docenten

Cristina Pop (communication track)
This programme has prepared me to work in science communication, whether within organizations or on freelance projects.

Discovering the Power of Communication
Coming from a background in Biology and Ecology, I realized that education and communication are key to solving today's challenges. That's why I chose the MSc in Science Education and Communication at the University of Groningen. The wide-ranging curriculum gave me the chance to explore new skills and perspectives.

Hands-On Learning Experiences
One highlight was the Science and the Public course, where we had to produce a video on a scientific topic...
It was challenging, but I grew a lot and discovered how rewarding science communication can be.

Real-World Projects
Currently, I'm working on a project with a researcher who organizes public engagement events on neurotechnology and AI. I create illustrations that spark conversations about ethical issues; an opportunity to combine creativity with science while learning about topics outside my background.

Looking Ahead
This programme has prepared me to work in science communication, whether within organizations or on freelance projects. The most valuable lesson? Always define your audience and your goal, everything else builds from there.


lees verder ...
Caya Muijs
During the programme, we learn a lot of different skills that are useful for future careers.

Caya Muijs - Student of the MSc Science Education and Communication (Communication track)

After finishing a Bachelor’s in Chemistry, I realized that I wasn't really into the research side of the programme but wanted to do something more related to people...
Some examples that I liked the most: I have made a video as if it was for the Dutch TV programme Het Klokhuis, I have written an article that has been published in the university paper, and I am currently doing an internship at Science Linx, where I am developing course material for primary schools.During the programme, we learn a lot of different skills that are useful for future careers. Because of the diversity of courses, I feel that I have a good base from which to start the next step: a career in science communication!


lees verder ...
Delân Çağlar,
Cees Draaijer
Hugo Bronkhorst
Het mooiste is wanneer leerlingen de stof begrijpen en meer plezier krijgen

studenten
Mattijs Hooghwinkel

Keuzehulp

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Studievergelijker

1/2 Utrecht University
Science Education and Communication
€ 336 gemiddelde kamerhuur
5 eerstejaars
60% vrouw
? uur contacttijd/week
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2/2 Utrecht University
Leraar VHO informatica
€ 336 gemiddelde kamerhuur
5 eerstejaars
60% vrouw
? uur contacttijd/week
100% Nederlandstalig
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Na de studie

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The Communication track prepares students for a career in the field of science communication and education. It offers students a large variety of career perspectives. Our alumni have obtained careers as spokespersons or consultants at scientific institutes. Others have become editors or journalists for popular science magazines, newspapers, television programmes, radio shows or institutes. Alumni work at science museums or science centres, become freelance science communicators or pursue academic or scientific careers. The broad scope of the degree programme makes our students also suitable candidates for positions in policy making or knowledge transfer.

The Education track (in Dutch) prepares students for a career as a teacher of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology or computer science, qualified to teach in upper-level secondary education. A position in educational development or educational research is also a possibility.



Beroepsperspectief / arbeidsmarkt

Possible companies and organisations include: schools, science Museums and centres, media, community organisations, NGO's, educational publishers, research and academia.

Potentiële beroepen

docent
onderzoeker binnen de wetenschapscommunicatie of -educatie
wetenschapsjournalist bij een krant of omroep
woordvoerder bij een museum of instituut
bron: StudieData

Contact

Academic Advisors FSE
W: Academic Advisors FSE
studyscience@rug.nl Study Science

For students who are interested in a Campus Tour or who have other general questions

E: studyscience@rug.nl
Meer informatie?
Bezoek de website van deze opleiding.

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