Ecology and Evolution

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 land use. Whichever path you choose, you’ll be supported by expert supervisors, multidisciplinary labs, and a collaborative international community.

Choose from the following tracks

• Evolutionary Biology
• Ecology and Conservation