Integrated Life Sciences: Biology, Biomathematics and Biophysics, M.Sc.
The international Integrated Life Sciences master's program was initiated jointly by the departments of biology, physics and mathematics at the Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg. With theoretical and practical courses in modern techniques at the interface between biology and the neighboring life science disciplines, the program takes into account the rapidly developing research in molecular biology, biophysics, systems biology or synthetic biology. All these modern fields require the integration of techniques and methods from different disciplines on different length and time scales, e.g. the function of individual biomolecules can be studied with X-ray diffraction and computer simulations, novel high-resolution microscopy methods are used to track individual molecules in cells, the wealth of data obtained e.g. in modern genomics and metabolomics is processed in the development of modern computer codes.
Research in Integrated Life Sciences at FAU covers areas ranging from single molecule analysis to intact cells and organisms to describe and design biological systems.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Required English | B2 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Summer semester, winter semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.06, summer semester until 15.12 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | Set by the university for international students — the amount is on the programme's official page |
| Semester contribution | €82 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 →What you study
The curriculum of the MSc "Integrated Life Sciences" is research-oriented and closely linked to the current research of the participating research groups at FAU and the MPI for the Physics of Light. Building on a solid foundation in biology, physics and mathematics, it intensifies training in selected modern biophysical methods in small groups of 2-6 students and offers a smooth transition to cutting-edge research within the master's thesis in the second year of the master's program.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
The ILS master's program qualifies you for a doctorate in the fields of molecular biology, biomathematics, bioimaging, or biophysics and for career opportunities in the fields of:
• Industrial and commercial companies
• Public or private research institutes
• Offices and private laboratories
• Administration
• Media company
Cost of study
| Semester contribution | €82 |
|---|
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Ability to work on various science subjects Passion for mathematics and physics Great interest in understanding complex biological systems |
|---|---|
| Language | English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.06, summer semester until 15.12 |
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 15.12Send 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?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.12.2026 (62 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.