Master Scientific Illustration
Scientific Illustration

Master Scientific Illustration

In this international study programme you will learn to make accurate visualizations of topics from the clinical, medical and biological domain. You will get the skills to use a wide range of traditional and digital visualization techniques.

It is unique in Europe! 

  • Location Maastricht
  • Duration 2 years
  • Degree Master of Arts
  • Language English
Online open day
Can't visit our open day on 27. January? Follow the online presentation at 11.00 a.m. or 1.30 p.m. (Dutch CET)
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Highlights

About the Education

About the education

One image tells more than a thousand words 

It is not surprising that in biomedical sciences traditionally illustrations are created to enable communication between scientist and author, teacher and student, or physician and patient. Art and science come together in scientific illustration.

Best of two top universities

The Master Scientific Illustration is an international study programme in which you will meet students from European countries and beyond. It is a cooperation between Zuyd University of Applied Science and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at Maastricht University.

Language
This study programme is in English. The lecturers also speak Dutch and German.

Study load
Normally you will study and work at the university for about 20 hours a week. In addition you will have to study at home for about 20 hours a week.

Duration
Full-time for the duration of two academic years from September till July.

Location
Scientific Illustration has it's residence at the attic of a beautiful restored former mansion in the city centre of Maastricht. In addition you will quite often have lectures or workshops at Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences of Maastricht University.

Lecturers

A small team of dedicated professionals, who all have their own specialism, like scientific and medical illustration, anatomy, software, facial reconstruction etc., will train you. Input from their work experience and their involvement in issues from the professional practice keep the programme up-to-date, educationally justified and closely connected to this professional practice. They all regularly publish imagery, contribute to congresses and take part in the debate about the profession of scientific and medical illustration. External professional experts contribute as guest speakers in lectures, workshops and in the final graduation projects. 

  • Rogier Trompert MA

    Programme Director
    Associate Professor
    Scientific and Medical Illustrator

    ”Anatomy in both men and animal is, in my opinion, the most beautiful art ever made. It is a privilege to be able to study and visualize it.”

  • Arno Lataster MSc

    Associate Professor
    Senior Anatomist and Biologist

    "As a biologist and clinical anatomist I will always oblige myself to emphasize the importance of clear and functional illustrations in science. What better circumstances than to work in this field and to teach and interact with talented students in scientific illustration?”

  • Greet Mommen MA

    Associate Professor

    "Having enjoyed multidisplinary training and experience,I feel privileged to educate prospective medical artists with a holistic view.”

  • Dirk Traufelder MA

    Professor
    Scientific and Medical Illustrator

    "To create convincing medical illustrations, I think you equally need your eyes, your brain and your hands. This institution tries to equally train your way to perceive nature, the skills to convey the essence of a problem and the technical skills to visualize its (sometimes unexpected) inner beauty."

     

     

Tuition fees

The tuition fees for this master differ from the usual institutional tuition fees because this is a non-funded study programme. The fees are based on the actual costs.

Education and Examination Regulations

The education and examination regulations provide all the information you will need about the content of the study programme, the academic support provided, and the way in which examinations are organized. 

study-structure

Study structure

The themes

The study programme consists of three themes:

  • Man
  • Animal
  • Surgical intervention in man and animal 

Each of the themes consists of three to five components and each component involves one or more assignments, which deal with various aspects of scientific illustration and in which various traditional visualization techniques are practised and applied. The assignments are graded in terms of complexity, leading up to the level required for professional practice. Read more about the study programme (pdf). 

Training in technical skills

Your training has a strong emphasis on the application of conventional imaging techniques in conjunction with photography, video and computer techniques for accurate two-dimensional display of three-dimensional structures. Additional training in digital three-dimensional reconstruction and modelling is given in workshops. You acquire a broad theoretical basis as well as practical experience in working with medical techniques such as dissection, processing of microscopic and macroscopic serial sections and working with medical imaging techniques such as Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Becoming a scientific storyteller

To be able to create a scientifically correct image, you must not only be a good craftsman, but also an outstanding 'storyteller' and communicator. You must be capable of communicating with specialists from different scientific fields, understanding the scientific problem and then be able to convert it into visualization for a specific target audience. Creating images for patient education requires a different approach than creating images for a group of medical specialists. For this reason you will not only be trained in anatomy and medical nomenclature but you’ll also be guided in the field of communication. Furthermore, by means of practical assignments (including illustrating a surgical procedure) you will build up experience in making abstractions and schematisations of the reality to create an image that tells the scientific story in the best possible way.

Graduation

Final examination and graduation
The programme ends with a final examination, consisting of two components:

  • A graduation project in which you write, illustrate and design a publication.
  • An oral examination.

In addition, you exhibit your work in a graduation exhibition and you compose a portfolio of your representative artworks you produced during the programme. The publication and the portfolio serve as masterpiece that helps you to find work in a professional practice.

Visiting adress:
Herdenkingsplein 12
6211 PW Maastricht