Plant Breeding

The exchange programme Plant Breeding spans one semester and consists of two minors. In each minor you will carry out a professional task, gain knowledge, learn practical skills and go on field visits.

The first minor, called Plant Breeding and Seed Production, focuses on more conventional plant breeding. Here you will design a breeding programme and execute the different steps in developing new cultivars. To this end, you will follow courses on genetic variation and breeding methods, biology of seed production, breeding for resistance, experimental design and analysis of field trial data.

The second minor is called Advanced Breeding Methods in Plant Breeding. Here you will search for genetic markers to select for different traits and identify the possibilities for genetic modification in the different stages of breeding programmes – variation, recombination, selection and propagation. A course on molecular breeding, as well as training in data analysis, clonal propagation and in vitro techniques will provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills.

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• Completion of at least three years of university study in a related subject relevant to the study programme in such a way that the resulting combined study pathway is plausible in its entirety.
• A minimum score of 550 in the TOEFL English test or a formally recognized equivalent, such as the IELTS (level 6.0) or IBT (79).
• The ability to formulate coherently in written English, and to have a vision of plant breeding Essay writing is part of the admission procedure.
• Strong motivation for success in the sector.
• Team spirit and a flexible attitude in an international working environment.

On successful completion of the Plant Breeding exchange programme, you will be awarded a certificate.

The exchange programme will:

• Enable you to design, organize and implement a breeding programme
• Enable you to analyze large data sets of selections trials, determine germ plasm resources and identify markers for a trait
• Provide you with knowledge of new breeding techniques and how to apply them in the different stages of the breeding programme in order to speed up the development of new cultivars.

This programme will prepare you for a career as:

• An assistant breeder
• A research assistant at a seed company
• A seed production specialist

• The NL Scholarship
• Lifelong Learning Programme: Erasmus