Amsterdam University College
Published 9 September 2008

Health and Well-being

Image of Sciences
An overview of the courses in the Health and Well-being theme: click on the magnifying glass to enlarge.

Health and well-being, both on an individual and societal level, is an important matter for our global society and human mankind in general.

The introductory course in this theme focuses on a number of issues that are relevant to ongoing research in the disciplines of biomedical sciences, health sciences and social sciences. The course provides an interdisciplinary approach to study and discuss the present and future challenges in the field of health and disease prevention, both on a local and global scale.

A medical symptom or disease phenotype will be the starting point of this course. Examples include HIV/AIDS, diabetes, multiple sclerosis. Based on that particular disease, you will explore the current questions in the various disciplines and discuss possible strategies to tackle this specific health problem.

We will start off exploring the molecular basis of the disease and therapeutics, and discuss the impact of public health policy and social movements.

  • Molecular basis of disease
  • Diagnosis and treatment
  • Drugs
  • Lifestyle, risk factors and prevention
  • Ethics
  • Health economics
  • Health organisations and movements
  • Human rights and health

You will visit relevant institutions in Amsterdam that play an important role in the health sector related to the course subject, and be encouraged to participate in related community services.

Pre-med track

AUC's curriculum includes a 'Health and Well-being' theme that intends to support students who would like to go on to study at postgraduate programmes in the health and life sciences. In particular, AUC in collaboration with both Amsterdam Medical Centre (AMC) and VU University Medical Centre (VUmc) has developed a so-called "pre-med track" for those students who would like to enter a (Dutch) medical master programme after graduation from AUC. The pre-med track consists of a set of eight courses in the medical sciences, which cover subjects relevant for admission to the medical master programmes of VUmc and AMC (see minimum exam requirements, below).

AUC pre-med courses:

 100 Level:    The Human Body I
  Mechanisms of Disease
   
 200 level: Metabolic Biochemistry 
  Hormones and Homeostasis
Molecular Cell Biology
Immunology
The Human Body II
   
 300 Level: Infection and Tropical Diseases

After completion of the AUC pre-med track, students will be eligible to apply to either the VUmc or AMC medical master programme. Please note that the entrance requirements for both medical master programmes are highly selective and competitive, so although AUC graduates will be eligible there is no guarantee they will get a place.

General admission criteria for the medical master programme at VUmc or AMC include:

  • Legal high school requirements (Dutch N&T,N&G or equivalent)
  • International students: NT2 Dutch language proficiency
  • BSc degree (AUC degree; pre-med track)
  • Entrance exam*
  • Interview

*Minimum Exam Requirements:

  • Physiology of heart, kidneys and lungs
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Metabolism (carbohydrate, protein, fatty acid)
  • Anatomy and Embryology
  • Histology
  • Infection and Immune system
  • Hormonal Regulations

(see also AUC pre-med courses above)

For further information on other postgraduate programmes in the health and life sciences at the VU and UvA for which AUC students will also be eligible, we recommend that you visit their websites (see links below).

Source: AUC