Medical Informatics – (M.Sc.)

Contents

This focus of this master´s degree programme lies at the interface between pure and applied scientific research, with a strong emphasis upon interaction between insight, innovation and development on the one hand and practical applications on the other.

An integrated view of issues in Medical Informatics

The curriculum takes an interdisciplinary approach to issues in medical informatics, framed within the overarching context of the healthcare organisation. The curriculum encompasses three closely related fields:

• Medical treatment and patient care;
• Healthcare organisation, processes and logistics;
• Information and communication technology.

It is by studying these subjects as a coherent package that you gain an integrated view of issues in MI during the course.

Lectures, case studies and work placements

Tuition is in the form of lectures and case studies, organised into modules on a semester-based system. The programme also features short multidisciplinary work placements, during which you learn to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to practical working situations at a department of the AMC involved directly or indirectly with patient care.

Alongside its compulsory core components, the programme allows you some freedom to select relevant optional ('elective') courses that provide you with more in-depth knowledge of the themes associated with your chosen research project.

Professional skills on the academic work placement

The MSc programme ends with an academic work placement. You can take this either within the AMC itself or elsewhere, at an institution or company involved in medicine, healthcare or their organisation. This may be in the Netherlands or abroad. Under the auspices of the International Partnership in Health Informatics Education (IPHIE), talented students can take up placements at partner institutions in Europe and the United States.

As a master´s student, you demonstrate your professional skills by conducting a research project resulting in a thesis. This involves exploring an issue in health or medical informatics, analysing and investigating the problem in a theoretically and methodologically sound way.

Course overview

The Master´s degree programme lasts a total of two years (120 European Credits). The curriculum is summarised in the table below.

First year

First semester

• Current Issues in Medical Informatics I (6 EC)
• Knowledge representation & reasoning in medicine (6)
• Advanced data analysis in medicine (6)
• Biomedical information systems engineering (6)
• Work placement I (6)

Second semester

• Biomedical Research & Evaluation Methodology (6 EC)
• Organisational Settings of Healthcare (6)
• Healthcare Logistics & Information Systems (6)
• Information & Process Modelling in Healthcare (6)
• Work Placement II (6)

Second year

First semester

A choice of two from the following three courses:

• Current Issues in Medical Informatics II (6 EC)
• Health and Medicine (6)
• Medical Records, Classification & Registries (6)

The programme is taught entirely in English.

Accreditation

The quality of this master's programme has been positively assessed by the Accreditation Organisation of The Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) under the Dutch name of 'Medische informatiekunde'. This means that upon successful completion of the programme students will receive a legally accredited master's degree and the title Master of Science (MSc).

Funding details

Huygens scholarship

The Dutch government has allocated a vast amount for excellent students coming to the Netherlands under the HSP Huygens Programme. The Nuffic is administrating the Huygens scholarship. Please find all all necessary information about application and selection on their website.

! The Faculty deadline for receiving Huygens scholarship requests is: 31 December 2010. On the online application form please mention the Huygens scholarship request by thicking the relevant box.

The International Office will make a first selection of most excellent students. For this students we will write a nomination letter. Applicants that are part of this selection will receive the nomination letter by e-mail before 1 February 2011 which is the Nuffic deadline for application.

Amsterdam Merit Scholarship

The Faculty of Economics and Business provides a limited number of scholarships for excellent students in the Master's programmes. There is no fixed number of available scholarships. The actual number will be determined by the amount that will be allocated to the Faculty.

Selection procedure

1) Applicants should write an AMS motivation letter (tell us in not more than 300 words your motivation to get the scholarship).

2) Applicants should upload the AMS digital motivation letter to their online application for the MSc programme before March 1st 2011.

3) Before the end of May 2011 we will inform all applicants about the results by e-mail.

Ahold Scholarship Programme

Ahold, an international food retailing group based in the Netherlands offers scholarships for non-EU students in the MSc in Accountancy and Control programme. Applicants should have an outstanding academic record and have special interest in retail and the intention to work and live in the USA or Europe after graduation. All non-EU applicants accepted to the MSc in Accountancy and Control programme will receive supplementary information on this Scholarship.

Colfuturo Scholarship

Students from Columbia can apply for this scholarship through their website.

Ford Foundation Scholarship

Scholarships are provided for students from a selection of countries worldwide. For more information see the Nuffic website.

Netherlands Fellowship Programmes

This programme provides funding for women and members of priority groups or marginalized regions. For more information see the Nuffic website.

Other scholarships

Further information on scholarships can be obtained from Nuffic, please refer to their website. Click on the link 'Grantfinder' to search for Dutch scholarships for foreign students.

Studentgrant

In certain cases it is possible for EU students to receive a monthly studentgrant from the Dutch government (i.e. IB Group). Please check their website for further information.