Heidelberg University aimed to provide comprehensive, high-quality training in scientific communication to all its students. The goal was to support researchers throughout the entire research lifecycle—from formulating ideas to publishing impactful results. A key requirement was finding an accredited e-learning provider that could deliver scalable, flexible, and expert-led training tailored to the needs of early-career researchers.
To meet this challenge, Heidelberg University integrated Nature Masterclasses into its Graduate Academy—a central hub for coordinating academic and professional development services.
Nature Masterclasses, developed by Springer Nature editors and research experts, offers a suite of online courses and workshops covering critical skills across the research pipeline. Topics include:
Courses are delivered through on-demand modules and live workshops, allowing researchers to learn at their own pace and fit training around busy schedules.
By choosing Nature Masterclasses’ online format, Heidelberg University ensured accessibility and scalability, enabling thousands of students across disciplines to benefit from expert-led training.
The university launched the Nature Masterclasses program with a well-attended event hosted by a Nature Partnerships account manager, sparking immediate interest and a surge in registrations.
Feedback from researchers was overwhelmingly positive—many had been aware of Nature Masterclasses but lacked individual access. The institutional subscription removed this barrier.
Importantly, usage extended beyond STEM fields. Students in the humanities and social sciences also found value in courses focused on communicating and disseminating research findings.
Heidelberg University has committed to providing access to Nature Masterclasses through 2030, underscoring its long-term dedication to researcher development.
The university continues to promote Nature Masterclasses training to its students via newsletters, social media, and a series of seminars and networking events, ensuring continued engagement and awareness across the university.
Heidelberg University’s strategic partnership with Nature Masterclasses exemplifies its commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers.
We are conscious about our time and resources, but we are even more conscious about the time and resources of those who take the courses. Being able to offer a modular training solution such as Nature Masterclasses, meaning people could really pick and choose exactly the parts of training where they wanted to fill any knowledge gaps or drive their specialisation forward, is really important to us and those we provide training for at the Graduate Academy.
Dr. Heike Hillebrand Director of the Graduate AcademyHeidelberg University
