Explore the biological roots of health — from genes and microbes to human physiology and disease.

This minor brings together fundamental knowledge of genetics, microbiology and physiology with applied insights in nutrition, metabolism and human health. You will study how genetic and microbial factors shape human physiology; how nutrition, metabolism and lifestyle influence wellbeing; and how fundamental biological principles are essential to understand health, disease, and therapy. This interdisciplinary minor is ideal for students aiming to bridge life sciences and human health — whether your ambitions lie in biomedical research, public health, food & nutrition, or beyond.

You dive into core biological disciplines: Zoology, to understand organismal biology and evolutionary context (EZO10306, 6 credits, period 5 afternoons); Genetics (GEN21803, 3 credits period 6 mornings), for insight into the molecular basis of heredity and variation; and the Human Microbiome (MIB12301, 1 credit, flexible) — investigating how microbial communities influence human health and how diet and environment modulate the microbiome.

Complementing this, the courses Metabolic Aspects of Nutrition (HNH28305, 5 credits, period 5 mornings) and Microbiology for Nutrition and Health (MIB11306, 6 credits, period 6 afternoons) deepen your understanding of metabolism, nutrient processing, and microbial‑nutrient interactions. In addition, Basic Sensory Science (HNH29803, 3 credits, period 6 mornings) and a broad health‑oriented course such as General Medicine (HNH27806, 6 credits, period 4) provide perspectives on disease aetiology and sensory aspects of nutrition.

Together, this combination equips you with a holistic view: from genes and microbes, through biochemical and physiological processes, to diet, metabolism and health outcomes.

After successful completion of this minor students are expected to be able to:

• Describe foundational biological principles ranging from organism-level biology, microbial diversity, to molecular genetics and inheritance and understand how these biological levels relate to human health.
• Analyse interactions between nutrients, metabolism, microbes and human physiology
• Interpret genetic and microbial determinants of health and disease
• Apply research methods to study biology, microbes and health
• Integrate multidisciplinary knowledge to address health-related questions
• Communicate and reflect on biological and health-related evidence

HBO Nutrition and Dietetics, HBO physiotherapy or other health-related programmes

Textbooks used in the courses are listed in de detailed course descriptions listed above.

In many cases e-book versions of textbooks are available for students, once enrolled, through the Wageningen University Library.

Courses in Wageingen are offered throughout the week Monday-Friday. 

Period 4 has 6 credits and runs for 4 weeks, with usually 1 course of 6 credits.
Peirod 5 and 6 both have 12 credits, run for 8 weeks and usually have one course in the morning and another in the afternoon. 

The detailed schedule of each course is published on TimeEdit, and linked from the course-links given above.  

The annual calendar can be found online.  

Each course has it's own set of assessment methods. This is outlined in the course description linked above.

Upon passing all courses of the minor, the minor is successfully completed.

Written tests of courses can be taken twice each academic year. Once when the course is attended, and once in a subsequent resit period. 
Details on when a written test of a course can be re-taken, are listed in the linked course-descriptions.    

For questions about this minor, contact the Programme Team Nutrition and Health  @ mnh@wur.nl