Unlock the molecular and medical foundations of human health: from genes and microbes to nutrition, metabolism, toxins, and clinical mechanisms — all with a strong laboratory focus designed for HLO students or HBO/WO students from biology-related programmes.

This minor combines courses in General Medicine (HNH27806, 6 credits, period 4), which provides essential knowledge of human anatomy, organ systems, physiological regulation, and disease mechanisms, with Metabolic Aspects of Nutrition (HNH28305, 5 credits, period 5 mornings), covering nutrient metabolism, energy pathways, and metabolic regulation. Students then explore Microbiology for Nutrition and Health (MIB11306, 6 credits, period 6 afternoons) and Human Microbiome (MIB12301, 1 credit, flexible), gaining hands-on insight into microbial structure, metabolism, host–microbe interactions, and the role of microbes in digestion and health.

The minor also integrates Principles of Genetics (GEN21803, 3 credits, period 6 mornings) and Basic Sensory Science (HNH29803, 3 credits, period 6 mornings) to understand heredity, genetic variation, and molecular techniques, while General Toxicology (TOX20303, 3 credits, period 5 afternoons) and Human Infectious Diseases (VIR20303, 3 credits, period 5 afternoons) teach how toxins, viruses, bacteria and parasites affect cellular and organismal function.

Together, these courses provide a multidisciplinary perspective, linking molecular, microbial, nutritional, toxicological, and medical knowledge to human health outcomes.

Throughout the minor, you develop the analytical competencies important in biomedical and nutritional sciences labs: interpreting biochemical data, assessing toxicological and microbial risks, understanding disease mechanisms, and linking molecular outcomes to human physiology.

Completing this minor provides excellent preparation for advanced study in the MSc programme Nutrition and Health.

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

• Explain human physiology and disease mechanisms
• Analyse nutrient metabolism and nutritional physiology
• Evaluate microbial, viral and toxicological impacts on health
• Apply genetic and molecular biology concepts to health contexts
• Design and interpret multidisciplinary health-related laboratory studies
• Communicate scientific findings and reflect on their health‑implications

HLO students or HBO/WO students from a programme related to biology/biomedical sciences

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