Welcome to the website of the Master in Nematology

The Postgraduate International Nematology Course (P.I.N.C.) or Master of Nematology programme is a 2-year Master course programme taught in English at Ghent University, Belgium. The nematology section at Ghent University is an internationally renowned centre for education and research on free-living and plant parasitic nematodes.
The Master of Nematology programme includes training and research on the morphology, systematics and biology of plant parasitic, insect parasitic and free-living nematodes. It also covers fundamental as well as applied aspects of Nematology and concerns different groups of nematodes in all possible environments: natural soils, agricultural soils, aquatic sediments of freshwater, brackish or marine habitats, temperate and tropical regions.
The course programme consists of a 2-year program of 120 credits divided over 4 semesters (2 semesters per year).
The first semester comprises compulsory basic and introductory courses in Nematology.
The second semester is composed of specific nematological courses related to one of the 3 following majors:

•  Nematology applied to agro-ecosystems 
•  Nematology applied to natural ecosystems
•  Nematode systematics: taxonomy, phylogeny and biodiversity.

The third semester is composed of a few compulsory courses and elective courses.
The fourth semester the students work on their personal research topic (the master thesis).

Applicants must at least have a Bachelor degree in Zoology, Botany, Biology, Agronomy or any related to these. A very good proficiency of the English language is a prerequisite. Proof of at least 1 year of comprehensive English-based instruction at a University or recognized equivalent. If not, a TOEFL test is required: a minimum total score of 500 on a paper based test (PBT), or 80 on an internet based test (IBT). Or an IELTS test is required with a minimum overall band score of 5.5. Or a Cambridge ESOL test: first certificate in English.

Evaluation is based on exams, laboratory and field work, reports and thesis. The participants, who successfully pass the exams and complete a personal research, will be awarded the degree ‘Master of Nematology’.

We aim to train people from all over the world into high qualified nematologists taking leading jobs in plant protection, sustainable management of natural resources, biocontrol of crops, biomonitoring and conservation of aquatic and terrestrial environments, and estimating biodiversity.