Sixty percent of all diseases are still incurable. To reduce this percentage, scientists specialising in fields related to (early) drug development are needed.

The Drug Discovery Sciences (DDS) master’s programme at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers a unique and interdisciplinary programme focused on the fundamental and applied principles of early drug discovery and drug development. The programme is ideal for students who want to understand how new drugs are developed, from insights into biological systems to designing compounds with therapeutic potential. Students learn to identify new molecular drug targets, design and synthesize drug candidates, and investigate their interactions within biological systems. This programme prepares them for different roles within the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, such as researcher or consultant.

The DDS programme emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together various fields to cover the entire drug design process. Students specialise in one of the following areas: Molecular Pharmacology, Synthesis of Drugs, Molecular Toxicology, Bioanalysis, and Computer-Aided Drug Design. The flexible curriculum allows students to tailor their education to their career goals. Whether aiming for a career in the pharmaceutical industry, education, government, consultancy firms, or hospital laboratories and research institutes, the programme offers versatile career opportunities.

The curriculum combines core drug discovery courses with specialisation-focused courses and research-oriented internships. Emphasis is placed on both practical and fundamental scientific applications. From the start of the programme, students are encouraged to approach drug discovery with a scientific mindset. To stimulate this, students work on case studies and explore current trends in the field to better understand the complexities of studying drug targets and designing, synthesizing, and analysing new drug candidates. A key aspect of the programme is the extensive laboratory experience through academic and industry internships, both in the Netherlands and internationally, which are highly valued by employers. Ultimately, students are prepared to tackle real-world challenges in drug discovery research.

At Vrije Universiteit, collaboration, personalized guidance, and innovation are central values. The DDS teaching team consists of renowned researchers and industry experts who guide students through the latest developments in the field. The programme provides a research-oriented, collaborative learning environment where students work closely with peers, faculty, and industry partners. The connections and network that students build during their studies often serve as valuable resources when launching their careers.