- Degree
- Master of Science
- Course location
- Oldenburg
- Teaching language
- • English
- Languages
- Courses are held in English. The Master's thesis must be written in the English language.
- Full-time / part-time
- • full-time
- Programme duration
- 4 semesters
- Beginning
- Winter semester
- Additional information on beginning, duration and mode of study
- This Master's programme cannot be studied online.
Courses start yearly in mid-October. For international students, it is highly recommended to arrive in Oldenburg by 1 October and take part in the international orientation week (first week in October) and the programme-specific orientation week for first semester biology students (second week in October).
- Application deadline
- • General application deadline: 15 June for the following winter semester
• We appreciate earlier applications from international applicants (e.g. by 15 April) because applications via uni-assist need additional processing time.
• Application deadline for entry into higher semesters: 15 July and 15 January
- Tuition fees per semester in EUR
- None
- Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
- No
- Joint degree / double degree programme
- No
- Description/content
- The Biology Master’s degree programme is a research-oriented course of studies that aims to provide in-depth training in the techniques and methods used in modern biology and related fields. The course of studies enables students to create a clear specialisation profile in the areas of biodiversity, ecology and evolution as well as neurobiology, molecular and cellular biology and genetics. The course of studies lays the groundwork for PhD work and thus forms the basis of education for the next generation of academics in the institute of biology and environmental sciences.
The programme takes an interdisciplinary approach necessary for adequately conveying the complexity of biological sciences. It thus prepares students to work independently in industry, business, research or at other private or public institutions. Students acquire in-depth, interdisciplinary knowledge of mathematics and biological systems spanning the molecular and organism levels. The programme uses a methodological and practical approach to enable students to conduct independent research in accordance with scientific and ethical standards and to interpret and present research results appropriately. The international nature of the scientific community demands not only sound knowledge of subject matter but also well-developed communication skills, especially in English. Structured, hypothesis-driven thinking, communication skills and social competences form the basis of successful professional practice.
The Master's degree programme in Biology has the following learning outcomes:
• in-depth biological expertise
• in-depth knowledge of biological working methods
• data analysis skills
• interdisciplinary thinking
• critical and analytical thinking
• independent research and knowledge of scientific literature
• ability to perform independent biological research
• data presentation and discussion in German and English (written and spoken)
• teamwork
• ethical and professional behaviour
• project and time management
• statistics and scientific programming
Reasons for studying biology in Oldenburg:
• Flexible: individual study plans, no mandatory courses, wide range of biology modules, optional choice of courses from related MSc programmes (e.g. Landscape Ecology, Marine Environmental Sciences, Neuroscience or Molecular Biomedicine)
• Intensive: block courses with a focus on one topic at a time
• Hands-on: Almost all courses include lab time or field trips and fieldwork.
• Science-oriented: individual student projects in research groups
• Personal: small groups, close contact to teachers and scientists
• Future perspectives in Oldenburg: graduate school, collaborative research projects