About Biology
Biology is a natural science that studies life and living organisms. Biology studies life and living organisms, including their physical structures, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development and evolution. It aims to investigate organisms in detail while examining their structural and functional evolution. Although modern biology is a relatively new development, the sciences related to and included in it are studied from ancient times to the present day. Natural philosophy has been studied as early as the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indian subcontinent, and China. However, modern biology's origins and approach to the study of nature mostly date back to ancient Greece. Biology is derived from the Greek word “bio” meaning “life” and the suffix “ology” meaning “study”.
Career Paths for Biology Degree Majors
Since biology is a science, it constantly brings scientific studies and experiments with it. Apart from laboratory studies, it is a department that has a response in the field of education. Apart from all these, in the 1950s, the biology department was the first branch of science to be trained under the name of "biology institute" in our country, which is also a field within the Faculty of Medicine. This shows that biology graduates can find a place for themselves in the health sector.
Biology graduates;
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Ministry of Health,
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Hospitals,
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Medical Faculties,
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In hydrobiology research centers,
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Ministry of Environment and Forestry,
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In organizations affiliated to the ministries of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,
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In the private sector,
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Greenhouse,
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Pharmaceutical industry,
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Food industry
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Education
They can find opportunities to work in many fields such as
What Skills Do I Need to Become a Biologist?
To become a biologist, one must have certain skills. Numerical skills are at the top of the skills that biologists should have. Having analytical thinking and reporting skills is also an important skill for people considering the profession. Biologists must be a little more meticulous and careful than any other profession. The sensitiveness of the profession brings together the planned and disciplined people who want to be biologists. Along with all this, biologists are the people who should follow the current developments.
Is the Biology Department Right for Me?
People who want to be biologists should have advanced analytical and numerical thinking skills. In addition, it is necessary to have a disciplined and detail-oriented personality and to be prone to teamwork. Biologists must have the ability to write and present reports, have written and verbal communication skills, and be skilled in project design and time management.
Along with all these professional requirements, people who will be satisfied with low salary in the first years of the profession should be biologists. Biologists should be those who can withstand few days off, find motivation for continuous research, and desire to benefit their species. While being a biologist is very suitable for people who have these features, it will not be a suitable profession for people who do not have these features.
Study Biology in Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the countries with the best university education in Europe. There are generally two types of university systems for undergraduate education in the Netherlands. One of them is the type of university that is more focused on raising workforce for the sector called "University of Applied Science", sees the practical importance at a high level, does not keep the theoretical and research budgets very high, while the other is the universities known as "research" universities and their world rankings are quite high. Research universities keep the entry requirements for all foreign students a little more challenging; diploma type, course success, language skills are very important.
Advantages of Studying Biology in Netherlands
The Netherlands gains the appreciation of students with the advantages it provides to students who come for education. The Netherlands is a very economical country in terms of education and social life. It is possible for students to study in the Netherlands without experiencing financial difficulties. It is also possible for students to benefit from different opportunities during their education in the Netherlands. There are two different university education systems in the Netherlands. One of them is a special system based on sector-oriented training. It is known that students who receive education in this system spend more time for practical lessons. Universities that adopt this system allocate lower budgets for theoretical training. A student who studies biology in the Netherlands, which facilitates the work of students and institutions with its result-oriented university education structure, will have a diploma that is valid almost everywhere in the world. In addition, the language of instruction in the Netherlands is mostly English and most of the people speak English. This provides great convenience for students. At the same time, since the biology education taken at one of the research universities is quite prestigious, an academic career can be continued in the world's leading universities.
How Long Does It Take to Study Biology in Netherlands
Undergraduate education in the Netherlands has become a highly preferred option for students who want to study in Western Europe to get their undergraduate education and to make exchange programs. DELFT, which is among the top 200 universities in the world announced every year by Times Higher Education, attracts attention all over the world with its quality, and has very high levels such as TU Eindhoven, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Amsterdam, Vrije, Groningen, Maastricht, Leiden, Twente. Dutch universities offering undergraduate education also clearly reveal the quality of education and why these universities are preferred by international students. The English undergraduate and graduate programs they offer with a quality education especially accelerate the workforce placement in the sector and are career-oriented. Undergraduate education in the Netherlands is not an option offered at every university. For example; While the University of Amsterdam and DELFT offer relatively few options in this regard, they can provide more graduate education opportunities. However, there are many options at undergraduate level in the Netherlands, especially for students studying business, economics, engineering, psychology, social sciences and alternative sciences. In the Netherlands, the duration of undergraduate education is 3 years and the duration of master's degree is 1 to 2 years. A student who wants to study biology in the Netherlands needs at least 3 years of undergraduate education excluding preparation.
The Best Universities to Study Biology in Netherlands
It is possible to find private universities as well as public universities in the Netherlands. Most universities are supported by the state. In the QS World University Rankings, there are 2 universities in the top 100 and 11 universities between 100 and 500. In the worldwide ranking made by Times Higher Education, there are 7 universities in the top 100, and 6 universities between 100 and 250. The top 3 universities to study biology are as follows.
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Tilburg University
Tilburg University is a successful educational institution located in the Netherlands. It offers a number of Bachelor's, Master's and Research Master's programs taught in English in the fields of economics, business, law, social sciences, communication, culture and religion. The university is also internationally recognized: currently students from 85 different countries study at this institution.
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Leiden University
Founded in 1571, Leiden University is the first university in the Netherlands. It is also one of Europe's leading research universities. This distinguished position makes an important contribution to the University's graduates in orientation to academic positions and to show themselves in areas outside the academy. The university offers education opportunities in health, arts and many different fields.
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Maastricht University (UM)
Maastricht University is an international university located in the Netherlands. It stands out with its international stance and innovative approach to education. With 14,500 students, Maastricht University offers education in a wide variety of fields, from psychology to international business. It sets itself apart from other universities with its European-oriented and international programs. Most of the programs it offers are taught in English; this contributes to the creation of an international atmosphere that is attractive to Dutch students as well as international students.
Biology Admission Requirement in Netherlands
There are 14 research universities in the Netherlands, and almost all of these universities have very high education quality and world-class rankings. Dutch universities generally require international diplomas such as IB, A Level, Baccalaureate or AP exam scores in addition to high school diplomas from foreign students applying to undergraduate programs. If students do not have one of these diplomas, they are required to read the 1-year Foundation Program. Students can be accepted to programs called Foundation with lower English and grade point averages. Foundation year is an extra year and both English and field courses are taken. Students who successfully complete the Foundation program continue their university education by transferring to the first year.
Students who want to study undergraduate education in the Netherlands must also achieve a minimum score of 6.0-6.5 in the IELTS exam, which is a foreign language proficiency exam, and a score of 80 and above in the TOEFL.