CAPHRI has developed a Research Master for outstanding students, which has been acknowledged by NVAO (Governmental accreditation organisation). The HSRM reflects in its name a research master’s programme that covers the width of the Health Sciences field and also represents the research and educational divisions with the MUMC+/FHML at Maastricht University (UM) and the researchschool CAPHRI.In the Research Master, students follow a two year training, which prepares them for PhD research in the field of Primary Care and Public Health.
Brochure about the Health Sciences Research Master (HSRM)
Three separate tracks
The Health Sciences Research Master (HSRM) offers training at the MSc level and distinguishes three separate tracks:
- (Clinical) Epidemiology
- Health Technology Assessment (HTA)
- Social Sciences
First year
All profiles have a common initial phase strongly related to the Health Sciences Research disciplines. The research master starts with a core curriculum of mandatory modules reflecting knowledge that is considered important for a common foundation of health sciences researchers. In the second half of the first year the various specialties are shaped by means of profile specific modules.
The programme as a whole offers breadth, as illustrated by the variety of topics, as well as depth, thanks to its offer of profile-specific modules. In addition, it offers a mandatory track in professional skills, a toolset for future researchers, and the opportunity to write a grant proposal in the chosen profile field as well as 12 months’ practical training in this field. As interdisciplinary knowledge is also needed within the profiles, part of the programme is built upon fundamental and collective modules.
Second year
The second year is devoted to individual research, supervised by one or more university staff members. Students report their findings in a master’s thesis written under the guidance of a senior researcher. The thesis, written in the form of a manuscript admissible for publication, may serve as a starting point for a PhD thesis. If the grant proposal which has been written in the first year gets funded and the student has shown to excel, the student will be a candidate for a PhD position.
Separate modules
The modules of the HSRM are open to PhD students of the School for Public Health and Primary Care: CAPHRI, the research School Care and other professionals in the field and can be followed as such as short courses.
Student-satisfaction
Much attention is paid to student-satisfaction: the Master-programme has its own evaluation system. An internal evaluation shows that the Research Master has been assessed by students with an average of more than 8 (out of 10). An external evaluation in 2009 as published in Elseviers Keuzegids showed that the HSRM scores an 8.2 and ranks the highest in its field. Moreover, the prospects for graduates are good: 60 % of the students acquire a subsidy for their doctoral degree immediately after graduation.
Future researchers
In the supervision of the PhD students future plans and ambitions are monitored and evaluated. When appropriate the PhD-students/junior researchers are stimulated and supported to apply for internal research funding of the faculty (Kootstra fellowship and Talent) which may result in a post-doc appointment. A following step is to stimulate and support the post-doc researcher to apply for a next grant (when possible a Veni-grant).
Junior researchers are stimulated to have foreign research experience during these periods. The programme leader has a very important role in this process as he may decide to stimulate this process by granting extra financial means for talented researchers.