What is the Tesla Minor?

Tesla is a 30 EC minor for research master students from the FNWI (Faculty of natural sciences, mathematics and informatics) of the University of Amsterdam). Students work in small groups on complex client projects that combine science with a business or society challenge. If you are interested to know how Tesla-alumni experienced the Tesla minor, then please visit the former Tesla student page.

In the Tesla minor, most of your time will be spent on your project. However, you will also participate in a wide variety of training sessions, workshops, lecturers and assignments to help you with your project work and to prepare you for life after university. A few examples of these activities are:

  • Lectures: Guest speakers from all sorts of disciplines visit to speak and provide insights on science, business, and society. Tesla students partially organize the lectures themselves and are welcome to invite inspiring individuals.
  • Workshops and training sessions: Theater, Storytelling (by Robert Wolfe), Visual thinking (by Jongens van de Tekeningen) , Efficient meetings (by TAQT), Project Management, Communication, Project Planning, Sales, and many more.
  • Sports: On top of the normal work week, students participate in a specialized Tesla sports program, designed in cooperation with the University Sports Center to encourage physical health and team building.

An example of a typical week of Tesla can be found here.

If this sounds like the minor for you, click here to apply.

 

Do you want to: 

  • Apply your scientific and academic background in business and society;
  • Work on a project for a real client;
  • Develop your professional skills;
  • And engage in intensive training in different environments?

Then the Tesla minor might be something for you!

Tesla is a minor programme (30 ECTS) for Master’s students from science faculties (UvA or other university). During the programme, you work on a complex challenge for a company or organisation. This allows you to apply your scientific skills and academic background to a project on the interface of science, business and society. You will learn how to manage a project, communicate effectively in different situations, and create value in non-scientific settings.

You:

  • Are enrolled in a 2-year MSc programme at a science faculty (at the UvA, or another university)
  • Have the ambition to utilise your science background in non-scientific environments
  • Are motivated to take up a challenge for a real client
  • Have a strong drive to improve your professional and interpersonal skills
  • Are keen to work in interdisciplinary teams
  • Are attracted to unusual challenges
  • Are motivated to enter a highly intensive 5-month programme
  • Have demonstrated these qualities during and next to your studies.

You can find more information on the application process here.