Master’s in Health Management in Aquaculture (double degree)

All students start at Ghent University. In the first semester, you will learn about the basic principles of health and welfare management in aquaculture. You will follow courses on aquaculture techniques, diseases, immunology, microbial community management, genetics and statistics.  

For the second semester, you can choose a learning path at one of the four universities: 

• Ecosystems & Health at NTNU, Trondheim
• Health and Impact on the environment at Wageningen University
• Animal Health and Welfare at Universitat Autonoma Barcelona & Universitat de Barcelona
• Aquaculture Health management in the Global South at Ghent University 

In the first semester of year 2, you will continue the learning path started in the second semester of year 1. If you chose to follow the path at WUR, you will write your master's thesis in this semester.  

After completing your thesis at WUR, you will do an internship. During your internship you will work at an organisation outside of the university and gain valuable work experience. We have connections with interesting intership locations all over the world.  

Throughout your studies, you will be part of the ‘AquaH journal club'. This is a seminar series and a digital meeting place for all students staying at the different universities.   

For more details on the programme at the other partner universities, please visit the AquaH website.

This master's offers three learning paths: 

• Ecosystems & Health at NTNU, Trondheim
• Health and Impact on the environment at Wageningen University
• Animal Health and Welfare at Universitat Autonoma Barcelona & Universitat de Barcelona  

The learning path at WUR focuses on the sustainable production of aquatic organisms while addressing the interconnected challenges of fish/animal health, environmental impact, and food security. You will develop expertise in designing ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable aquaculture systems, with a strong emphasis on circularity and resource efficiency. A key component is understanding how nutrition influences health and disease resistance, enabling students to develop strategies that enhance immune responses and reduce dependency on antibiotics, including the use of innovative tools such as next-generation vaccines. 

This learning track integrates cutting-edge research with practical applications, preparing you to contribute to resilient and environmentally responsible aquaculture practices. 

To read more about the other learning tracks, please visit the AquaH website.

The programme consists of:

• Lectures: a lecturer covers the course material in class.
• Practicals: work in our state of the art laboratories
• Tutorials: you complete an individual or small-group assignment.
• Problem-Based Learning (PBL): you work with a group and a supervisor on a case study that you must solve.
• Self-study: self-study is included in your schedule, but you can also schedule it outside of it. 

At WUR, we value personal guidance and contact. That's why we have significantly more support staff (lecturers, study advisors, and student counsellors) available to help you progress through your studies than at other universities in the Netherlands. It reduces the risk of you dropping out and adds a personal touch that enhances your academic experience. This demonstrates our genuine commitment to you.   

At Wageningen University we offer two master's programmes that are related to Health Management in Aquaculture:  

• MSc Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management 
  In the master's in Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management you can specialise in Aquaculture, Ecology or Society. In this master's programme you will be based in Wageningen, but you can choose to go abroad for your electives, thesis and internship.
• MSc Animal Sciences 
  Animal Sciences also focuses on worldwide sustainable and responsible animal husbandry. It focuses on many types of animals, like cows, pigs and chickens, but you can also choose to focus on fish.  

The AquaH programme will prepare you for a range of diverse career options, including: 

• Head of R&D teams in one of the leading aquaculture pharma companies.
• Self-employed consultant in fish disease issues.
• Governmental veterinary officer responsible for farmed fish health and welfare, quarantine regulation, food quality and security control. 

Over the last two graduated AquaH cohorts, 4 out of 5 alumni found relevant employment within a couple of months. 

Student Career Services facilitates WUR students towards the labour market. If you need help in your orientation towards your future career. 

Academic requirements:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree of min 180 ECTS (equivalent to 3 years) from a university or recognised equivalent institute.
• A Grade Point Average (GPA) for this BSc of at least 70% of the maximum grade
• Demonstrate through their transcripts of records to have successfully acquired basic science training in at least 5 out of 7 of the following fields: 
  1. Mathematics 
  2. Physics 
  3. Chemistry 
  4. Biochemistry 
  5. Biology 
  6. Microbiology 
  7. Engineering
• Statistics qualifications at level 1 and 2*
• Some academic or professional background in aquaculture is recommended

(*) see Wageningen University study guide for details 

The applicant must be proficient in English. English language proficiency can be met by providing a certificate (not older than 2 years) of one of the following tests:

• TOEFL IBT 92, with subscore for speaking 23
• ACADEMIC IELTS 6,5 overall score, with a min. of 6 for writing and 6 for speaking
• CAMBRIDGE English CAE (Advanced) score between 176-210 or Grade C
• Cambridge FCE/B2 Certificate, score between 176-190 or Grade A
• note! TOEFL/IELTS predictive tests and TOEIC will not be accepted

Language of instruction is not accepted, except for:

applicants who are nationals from or have obtained a bachelor and/or master degree in a higher education institute with English as the mode of instruction in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Canada (when graduating from a Canadian institute a student must have a certificate that the mode of instruction was English).

You can apply for this master's via this link. 

Studying requires money. Interested in what expenses you should prepare for?:

All information about the costs of this programme can be found on this page. 

Studying is just one part of your student experience. It also means finding a room, joining exciting parties and socials, relaxing in cozy pubs, and getting involved with student associations. With numerous festivals and sports clubs, Wageningen always has something going on. All information about student life in Wageningen can be found on this page.