New Master Course for Nematologists

Exciting changes at the MSc Nematology course at Ghent University, Belgium.

The Postgraduate International Nematology Course (PINC) at Ghent University has now been running successfully since 1992. In the past 15 years 153 students from 49 countries have obtained the degree Master of Science in Nematology. Of these, 36 have completed a PhD degree and another 37 are currently on a PhD programme. The list of publications from the students exceeds 100 and one alumnus is editor of the book on ‘Freshwater nematodes: ecology and taxonomy’.
This year there are some important and exciting changes to the course, enabling it to develop and expand.

Ghent University is now coordinator of a consortium of universities and a research institute who are combining to provide a European Master of Science in Nematology through EU funding via the Erasmus Mundus programme. The core partners are Ghent University (Belgium, acting as host University), University of Ēvora (Portugal), University of Jaén (Spain) and University of Bielefeld (Germany). The satellite partners are University of Leuven (Belgium), University of Wageningen (The Netherlands), University of Kiel (Germany) and the Scottish Crop Research Institute (UK). Students will start their course at Ghent but will be able to select one of the core universities to attend for specialised courses. The research projects can be undertaken at any of the institutes of the core or satellite partners and, thus, can link in effectively with the research interests of the institute partner. This EU funding provides an exciting opportunity for the partners and the students to consolidate and expand the enormous teaching and research opportunities offered by the Nematology course. Moreover students from all over the world can apply for an EU grant and there are a few grants available for scientists to come to teach or cooperate in research for a period of up to 3 months. The Masters course will become a truly European one from September 2008 onwards, whilst also retaining its historical base at Ghent University.
More information can be found at EUMAINE page.

Students from developing countries can apply for a VLIR-UOS-grant; see here.
Students from all over the world can apply for an EM-grant; see here.

This is really a great opportunity for nematologists! Do not miss it!