Biochemistry, M.Sc.
The University of Tübingen, home to Germany's oldest biochemistry degree, introduces a new, flexible, and research-focused Master of Biochemistry (MSc). The modular 2-year degree in English will provide you with knowledge of the very latest developments in biochemical, molecular, and cellular biology as well as with cutting edge laboratory and communication skills. Come join us in Tübingen at one of Germany's top universities and an institute that counts Nobel laureates like Hartmut Michel among its alumni.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Summer semester, winter semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 31.05, summer semester until 15.01 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | €1,500 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €199.80 per semester |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
The programme has an admission restriction: the average grade of your certificate, converted to the German scale, decides. The cut-off changes every year — last year's value shows the order of magnitude, not a promise.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →About the programme
What sets this program apart is its broad approach. It offers you an in-depth look at the full scope of molecular life science without excluding subtopics as in more specialized degrees like molecular medicine or neuroscience. At the same time, the Master of Biochemistry allows you to dig deeper in areas of your choice.
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The course is highly modular and adaptable to your personal preferences. Few elements of the degree are fixed and there is a wealth of options. Topics range from biochemical, structural, cellular and molecular biology to neuroscience, cell signalling, plant physiology as well as cancer biology.
We have a strong focus on practical skills and research. You will be given the opportunity to work in several different labs to hone your skills and develop your preferences. Unlike other degrees we allow you to choose your labs freely. You are not limited to Tübingen and our students regularly do rotations all over the world.
The master is organized by the Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry (IFIB) which is a tight-knit community of a dozen research groups. Like the degree, the local labs cover a broad range of research topics from structural biochemistry to model organisms. On top of the in-house expertise, several excellent research institutions working in the fields of developmental biology, biocybernetics, neuroscience, and molecular medicine are located in the immediate vicinity and our students frequently train there.
We are looking for highly motivated bachelor students from all over the globe and various life science backgrounds to join us for a stimulating scientific experience. Admission will be granted based mainly on bachelor grades, supplemented by extracurricular merits and a written examination taking place in Tübingen.
What you study
Year 1 - introduction, modules, first labs
The 1st year kicks off with a joint lectures series by all the research group leaders of the institute. Departing from the basics you have acquired in your previous degree, this series takes you into the advanced topics of biochemistry and to the research frontier. In parallel, you will choose your first modules and your first lab placements. One of many possible arrangements is shown on the right.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Baden-Württemberg), international students | €1,500 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €199.80 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | A bachelor's degree in a related field. |
|---|---|
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 31.05, summer semester until 15.01 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 3Application directly to the university until 15.01Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 4Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.01.2027 (93 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.