Life Science, M.Sc.
By studying Life Science at the University of Konstanz, you will acquire a sound, high-quality scientific education that equally builds on chemistry and biology. You will be equipped with particular competence in the field of modern bio-molecular research. Life Science is an interdisciplinary study programme. In addition to the focus areas of classical biology and chemistry it includes the following areas: biochemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics, immunology, pharmacology and medicine. Biology focus areas are: biochemistry, biochemical pharmacology, biophysics, molecular genetics, immunology, microbiology and cell biology. Chemistry focus areas are: biochemical and biophysical analytics, bioorganic chemistry, cellular chemistry, proteomics as well as carbohydrate, protein and nucleic acids chemistry.
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 | winter semester until 15.07, 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 | €164 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 standard period of study for the master's programme is four semesters. The first two semesters you attend modules, followed by several weeks of exam preparation and six to nine months for writing your master's thesis. In the master's thesis you independently work on a larger scientific project. After you have completed the thesis, you will present your findings in an colloquium, open to the department, and defend them in an expert discussion. To successfully complete the master's programme, you need to acquire 60 ECTS credits in the modules. Additionally, you have to complete an internship of two months (10 ECTS credits) You can work with e.g. private or public institutions in Germany or abroad. This internship is a great help for your career planning. You can acquire a total of 120 ECTS credits in the master's programme. One ECTS credits corresponds to 25 - 30 working hours. You can individually select your specialisation area with an equal proportion of biological and chemical subjects, or with a focus on the biological or chemical area. You cannot focus only on chemical or only on biological subjects.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
As a graduate you will be prepared for a career in basic research within or outside the university context. A large variety of career possibilities open up in industry and the world of science.
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Typical work areas include:
- Biotechnological or industrial research and productionBasic research and applied research
- Quality control and patent offices
- Project management and marketing
- Environmental agencies or consulting companies
- Environmental protection
Master’s graduates who want to work in research and development will continue studying for a doctorate. Above-average students can take the Fast Track option with direct admission to doctoral studies, thus shortening the overall study period. You can take up doctoral studies in either chemistry or biology.
Particularly talented doctoral students can apply for admission to our Graduate School Chemical Biology. Here you can pursue doctoral studies in an interdisciplinary environment.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Baden-Württemberg), international students | €1,500 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €164 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | The consecutive Master's Programme Life Science requires a bachelor's degree in Life Science at the University of Konstanz or a bachelor's degree in a similar study programme at another university. |
|---|---|
| Language | English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | winter semester until 15.07, 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 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?
What language level do I need?
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.