Programs/Master/Mathematics, natural sciences and computer science
Master

Ecology and Evolution

★ StudyPath verdict
?/10
No verdict yet — the score, best-for / skip-if and match score are editorial signals we generate once the underlying outcome data is collected.
Tuition · Intl
€24,900
EU: €2,694/year · click ↗
Duration
2 years
120 ECTS
Start
Sep 26
apply by May 26
Language
English
IELTS 6.5+
Accred.
NVAO
NVAO 2022
Admission
Open
no intake cap
Enrolled/yr
178
DUO ↑73% ↗
Intl. %
?
no data yet
S:F ratio
25:1
institution-wide ↗
Min. English
6.5
IELTS required
Entry route
Bachelor
1 bachelor routes ↗
Satisfaction
4.5/5
NSE 2026 ↗
Employment
88%
field est. ↗
Median salary
€3,155
/mo gross · field ↗
Alumni
?
no data yet
↗ Real values are sourced; tiles marked “?” aren’t collected yet · Enrolled/yr is live from DUO · Satisfaction/outcomes are live from StudiekeuzedatabaseLast sync: 9 Jun 2026
About this program
How can we bend the curve of biodiversity loss? How do animals and plants respond to climate change? Why do species evolve differently? If you're eager to understand life from genes to ecosystems and help solve urgent environmental challenges, the Master's degree programme in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Groningen is for you. What to expect from the Master’s programme in Ecology and Evolution✔ Learn cutting-edge techniques like GPS-tracking, genome-wide sequencing, remote sensing, or individual-based simulations ✔ Conduct independent research in one of Europe’s top evolutionary life science institutes ✔ Work on real-world challenges like biodiversity loss, sustainability, and conservation This international two-year Master’s programme trains you to become a critical thinker and researcher in ecology and evolution. Whether you're interested in ecosystem restoration, bird migration, the microbiome, or even evolutionary medicine, you'll gain the tools to investigate the interaction between organisms and their environment. The programme is offered by the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), home to world-class research in conservation ecology, behavioural ecology, chronobiology, evolutionary genetics, marine biology, and more. You can focus on fundamental questions or apply your knowledge to address biodiversity crises and sustainable
Institution’s own description (HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase)
English120 ECTSMaster of ScienceField area: Natural SciencesSector: Aarde en MilieuCode of Conduct (intl.)Full-timeMaster
About University of Groningen
Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen is the second oldest university in the Netherlands with over 33,000 students. Known for its vibrant student city atmosphere (1 in 4 residents is a student), excellent research output, and 4 Nobel Prize laureates including Ben Feringa (Chemistry 2016).
Living in Groningen
Student cost of living
Rent · room
€450/mo
Monthly total
€800–€1,400
Cost of living
Medium
Population
234k

Young, vibrant, and welcoming. Groningen has a laid-back northern Dutch charm combined with the energy of a true student city. The compact city center is easy to navigate by bike, and the local community is known for being friendly and open to international students.

View city guide →
Specializations
Tracks from HOVI
Ecology and ConservationSpecialisation
This programme is designed for students that strive to become an ecologist that can contribute to an understanding of the global ecological problems, and help to solve them. In th
Source: HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase
Curriculum
Course structure by year
?No curriculum data yet
Career outcomes
Graduate surveys · field-group level
Below average job-market outlookfield: milieukunde
Median starting salary (field)€3,155/mo gross
Employed ~1.5y after graduating88%
Months to a substantial job5
Working in their own field70%
Permanent contract47%
Satisfied with their job3.8/5
Top graduate occupations (field)
Professoren en andere onderwijsgevenden in het hoger onderwijs15%
Milieudeskundigen14%
Bedrijfs- en organisatieanalisten12%
Specialisten op het gebied van beleidsadministratie9%
Field-group estimates from national graduate surveys via Studiekeuzedatabase — not measured per programme
Progression & cohort
Official register statistics
Complete this degree58%
Women among first-years56%
Say workload is “just right”76%
Official register statistics (1cijferHO · 2025) via Studiekeuzedatabase
Student voices
National Student Survey (NSE) — first-party reviews coming
4.5/5overall satisfaction · NSE 2026 · 21 respondents
Content & set-up4.4
Teachers4.5
Atmosphere4.7
Involvement & contact4.3
Study guidance4.2
Testing & assessment4
Facilities4.3
Career preparation3.7
Teachers' English4.8
Would choose again4.6
Source: Nationale Studenten Enquête via Studiekeuzedatabase (Studiekeuze123/LCSK)
Application timeline
Application deadline
2026-05-01
Non-EU deadline
2026-05-01
Application deadline
2027-05-01
Non-EU deadline
2027-05-01
Application deadline
2028-05-01
Upcoming open days
Open day
27 Nov 2026
Open dayonline
7 Dec 2026
Open day
12 Mar 2027
Open dayonline
15 Mar 2027
Admissions
Minimum language scores · from StudyInNL
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • TOEFL iBT: 90
Internships
?No data yet
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