Climate change, shifts in water and land use, changes in biogeochemical cycles, pollution, invasive species and biodiversity loss: global change is one of the defining challenges today. In the Master in Biology: Global Change Biology, you’ll explore how these changes threaten the viability of our planet – for humans, organisms and entire ecosystems. You’ll develop the skills and competences to investigate the consequences of global change and to help mitigate its effects.

As a prospective Global Change Biology student, you are interested in how the Earth system functions. You wish to take a deep dive into all the aspects of global change, from the molecular to the ecosystem level, as well as the societal impact.

Students who wish to register for this master should have an overall strong scientific background including basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, and inorganic and organic chemistry, as well as the basic principles of statistics.

More specifically, familiarity with ecology is a necessity. General knowledge on plants, animals and other organisms, along with an understanding of the physical environment (soil, water, air) is also extremely useful.

• High quality, student-centred teaching: at the University of Antwerp, you aren’t just a number.
• Numerous options to go abroad: Erasmus, field courses, field work for your master thesis, Summer Schools…
• Multiple labs leading in climate change research, as well as the Global Change Ecology Research Centre of Excellence​
• Access to high‑end research infrastructure: climate‑controlled facilities, field stations, ecological monitoring networks and state‑of‑the‑art analytical equipment.
• Ideal location: Antwerp’s port, river systems, wetlands and urban ecosystems offer unique living laboratories for your research.

The programme offers a mix of theoretical courses, field work and laboratory work, in addition to your own Master project.

Key insights

• Drivers of global change
• Effects at molecular, cellular and physiological levels
• Effects at organismal and population levels
• Effects on terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems
• Environmental stress and ecotoxicology
• Coping and adapting to global change
• Laboratory skills for climate change biologists

Courses

The programme includes a combination of mandatory courses, electives and research-focused modules. The entire first semester, and also the main part of the second semester, of the first year consists of compulsory courses.​

During your 2-year Master, you will be trained in a variety of research methods, through both practical and theoretical courses and through specific courses on skills relevant for global change biology. Laboratory skills are sharpened during a 12 credits worth integrated practical class. Field work skills are also acquired during a two-week field course on ecohydrology in the Scheldt estuary.

You’ll conduct your Master thesis at one of the research groups of the Department of Biology, where you may join international collaborations, ongoing EU projects or long‑term ecological research initiatives, or at an external research institution. Explore the possible research topics.​

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies, NGOs, consultancy firms, governmental organisations or education: our graduates go on to work in a wide variety of sectors, both nationally and internationally. With your strong theoretical background and well-developed research skills, you are ready to make your mark in the field of global change mitigation – whether that is in research, policy-making, business or teaching.