Course Programme - Overview

EUMAINE is a 2-year MSc degree programme (120 credits). It is strongly multidisciplinary and mobility oriented and offers 2 major disciplines (Nematology applied to agro-ecosystems and Nematology applied to natural ecosystems). The programme provides an international networking and is embedded in ongoing research programmes at the different participating Universities/Institutes. Upon successful completion the students are awarded a joint Masters degree from the consortium partner Universities:

• Universiteit Gent, Belgium
• Universität Bielefeld, Germany
• Universidade de Evora, Portugal

The language of instruction is English

FIRST SEMESTER (30 CREDITS)
Six compulsory basic courses providing essential theoretical and practical information as well as a more in-depth and broader multidisciplinary knowledge of Nematology – including nematode morphology, systematics and molecular phylogeny, general and molecular techniques, nematode biology and interactions and nematodes as model organisms – independent of the major the student has chosen. The common courses also level the knowledge and skills of the students with diverse background.

SECOND SEMESTER (30 CREDITS)
A series of specialised Nematology courses allow the student to specialize in specific sub-fields (majors or modules) of Nematology. These courses generally bring the student to a level of knowledge where he/she can read and understand most of the scientific literature in the given sub-field and can start doing independent research.
Choice between 2 majors:

• Nematology applied to agro-ecosystems
Focuses on nematodes important as a pest for crops or as a biological control agent for insects. At the end of the course students are able to identify plant-parasitic and entomopathogenic nematodes and understand: (i) how basic knowledge can be translated into solutions for nematological problems in agriculture or (ii) how nematodes can be used to control pest insects.

• Nematology applied to natural ecosystems
Focuses on the identification and ecology of free-living nematodes from marine/estuarine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats, and on their use as environmental bio-indicators. At the end of the course, students are able to identify free-living nematodes, and to use nematode community composition data in the assessment of fundamental and applied ecological issues.
Elective courses are taken according to the chosen major. They can be chosen from a list of subjects directly related to Nematology or from a list of supporting courses. The supporting courses are an important component of the master programme. They allow the student to enter a field different from pure Nematology, but with a potentially large relevance for a nematologist; they further offer possibilities for improving language proficiency. The student can elect subjects according to his/her wishes or needs (often related to the choice of the major). By enforcing the student to take multidisciplinary courses it is ensured that the EUMAINE is a broad degree and that its holders are able to bridge the field of Nematology to the wide variety of domains in which Nematology can play a role.

SEMESTER 2: SUMMER COURSE (5 CREDITS)
The compulsory summer course Networking and Seminars provides the students a more advanced knowledge on current research in a broad range of Nematology fields and brings them into direct contact with prominent international experts in Nematology. Visits to different European Nematology laboratories expose students to up-to-date research agenda and the way the research is realized (infrastructure, projects, funding). Additional visiting scholars in diverse fields related to Nematology give seminars on their research or n actual topics in the field.

THIRD SEMESTER (30 CREDITS)
Elective courses can be chosen from a list of subjects directly related to Nematology or from a list of supporting courses.

FOURTH SEMESTER (30 CREDITS)
In the fourth semester students will undertake a research project as a master thesis at any of the participating institutes : University of Bielefeld, University of Bonn, University of Evora, Ghent University, University of Jaén, North-West University, Federal University of Pernambuco, KULeuven, E-nema, James Hutton Institute, Wageningen University, Plant Protection Service at  Wageningen or at the Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries.  This will allow students to gain experience of performing scientific research in a specialized area of their choice.