Life Sciences Biology

Biological aspects permeate every facet of everyday life and are of enormous importance to the future of humanity – climate change and viral infections are only two particularly relevant areas. Biology deals with the totality of life processes and is therefore at the center of the life sciences. The Bachelor's program in Life Science Biology at the TUM offers a foundational scientific education, in which you will learn to analyze and abstract complex biological systems and interrelationships, formulate questions and develop solutions.

You will deal with all areas of biology – from the biochemistry of living cells to organs, organisms and ecosystems. During the numerous research internships, you will learn to work independently as well as in the laboratory or in the field. The broad approach allows you to get involved in a wide variety of projects and to have a consistent and comprehensive understanding from the molecular perspective to the overall system.

The Bachelor's program in Life Science Biology opens up a wide range of career opportunities. The majority of students continue their studies with a consecutive master's degree in order to take on managerial positions later or to continue their academic career with a doctorate. Due to your broad education in the Bachelor's program, you can choose from a variety of different master's programs such as Molecular Biotechnology, Nutrition and Biomedicine, Neuroengineering, Sustainable Resource Management, Biochemistry, Agricultural Biosciences and of course Biology.

In addition, it is possible to work on research projects in the industry or at public research institutions, to work for technical authorities, to provide scientific input for expert evaluation in the environmental sector or to work in patent offices. The booming biotech industry also has an increasing demand for skilled workers.

However, the breadth of the study program enables biologists to apply their personal interests in order to become application specialists for research techniques or to work in science journalism.

In the first two semesters, the focus is on scientific fundamentals such as chemistry, mathematics and physics, naturally paired with the first biological modules. From the third semester onwards, the life sciences will dominate with modules such as microbiology, bioinformatics, genomics, plant and animal physiology or developmental biology.

From the fifth semester onwards, you can form your own profile through elective courses. You must choose and successfully complete three of the five specializations offered (genetics and biochemistry, microbiology, ecology, plant sciences, animal sciences). Extra-curricular and general education modules such as languages and soft skills complement your profile.

Throughout your studies, theoretical lectures are accompanied by practical units and prepare you for your Bachelor's thesis, which is written in the sixth semester.

Interested? Take a look at the curriculum.

After completing your studies in Life Science Biology, you will have a deep knowledge of the scientific fundamentals of chemistry, mathematics and physics. You will be able to combine this knowledge with life science content and identify complex relationships.

You will have practical skills in the fields of biochemistry/bioanalytics, zoology, botany, microbiology and genetics and be able to apply a wide range of scientific methods to analyze biological problems. Accordingly, you will be able to formulate technical questions, evaluate experimental approaches and implement them in the laboratory or in the field.

You will be familiar with laboratory work and know all the regular requirements. You will be able to scientifically evaluate and interpret the results of the experiments and communicate them to the public. You will think and work in a networked and analytical manner and apply your methodological skills in a goal-oriented manner. Due to the freedom of choice in the later semesters, you will also have individual expertise. Furthermore, you can take a stand on social and ethical issues in the life sciences.

All students must pay a semester contribution to the Studierendenwerk. 

++ NEW ++ International students from third countries, i.e. from countries that are not part of the European Economic Area, will be charged tuition fees from the winter semester 2024/25. All information on fee levels, waivers and scholarship programs can be found on the website on tuition fees for international students.
 

Application requirements and admission requirements

The prerequisite for studying is a general higher education entrance qualification or a comparable qualification. 
A pre-study internship is not required for admission.
 

Language certificate

For all German-language degree programs, such as BSc Life Sciences Biologie, you must provide proof of sufficient German language skills by the end of the application period.

You automatically have this proof if

1. you have a German university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur)
2. you are a German citizen with an international higher education entrance qualification who has attended a German-speaking school for at least 2 years

If necessary, you can also find recognized language certificates at our website.

Semester fees and tuition fees at TUM

All students must pay a semester contribution to the Studierendenwerk. 

++ NEW ++ International students from third countries, i.e. from countries that are not part of the European Economic Area, will be charged tuition fees from the winter semester 2024/25. All information on fee levels, waivers and scholarship programs can be found on the website on tuition fees for international students.

Application period and start of studies

The application period is from May 15 to July 15 of each year for the following winter semester. First-year students can only begin their studies in the winter semester. Applications for a higher semester are also possible for the summer semester, provided that sufficient suitable modules for the corresponding study progress can be demonstrated (application period is 15.11 - 15.01). You can find the semester dates here. 

Online application

You can only apply via our online application portal, for which you must set up an applicant account. You can find here the instructions for your online application.
You upload your documents for the application to the Bachelor's degree program in Life Sciences Biology directly in the portal. Only when you receive a letter of admission do you have to send your documents in paper form by post to the TUM Center for Study and Teaching. 
 

Study orientation process 

Depending on the average of the assessment points from the grade of the university entrance qualification ("Abitur grade") and the weighted individual subject grades (mathematics 2x, German, English, natural sciences of the last 2 school years, if available), you will receive "immediate admission" or an invitation to an interview. Based on the interview, you will then receive a "suitable" or "not suitable" recommendation. You will receive but if you attend the interview regardless of the recommendation in any case an admission.
 

Enrollment

Once you are admitted to this program, you have to accept your study place in your applicant account. Subsequently you have to submit your certified paper copies for enrollment and pay the semester fees. All relevant information will appear in your TUMonline applicant account. See here for details on the enrolment process and here for the glossary of documents.

Please note that from the time where you receive admission, we will only contact you via your tum.de/mytum.de email address, that you find in your applicant account. Make sure that these emails can be received by you. See here for instructions how to set up your email address at TUM.

• Curriculum
• The degree chart gives you an overview and recommendation, which modules you should take in which semester according to academic and examination regulations (FPSO).
   
• Timetable (TUM ID required for login):
  This timetable is intended to give you an overview of the planned compulsory and elective modules of a semester. It is for orientation purposes only and will not be updated during the semester! 
  
  Via TUMonline you can have a timetable created for each semester according to FSPO.
  
  Selectable specialisation modules B.Sc. Biology 2020 (expiring course)
  Selectable specialisation modules B.Sc. Biology 2019 (expiring course)
  
  You can also create your own individual timetable, which can contain not only the dates of the selected courses but also your personal appointments.
  
  In case of a regular course of studies, the curricula are required for the registration of the Scientific Project Planning and the Master's Thesis. In individual cases, it may also be necessary to discuss individual study progress. If you are unsure whether you have planned your studies in accordance with the statutes, you can of course always make an appointment to discuss the study plan. If you are unsure about anything, please contact the student advisory service. A final study plan is required at the latest when the certificate is issued. You have to fill out the study plan elective modules independently according to the FPSO. You can use TUMonline as database. You make the appointment with the student advisory service by phone. Before this date you have to send your study plan by mail to the student advisory service.
  
  First steps with TUMonline

Your individual study plan for your statutorily correct study planning. To be used ONLY for the start of studies until summer semester 2022/23.
The statutes from incl. winter semester 2023/24 (start of studies 2023W) are completely mapped via TUMonline, a study plan is no longer necessary. Please edit only with Windows-PC and only with MS-EXCEL!

• General Academic and Examination Regulations at TUM (APSO)
• Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO)

• Examination dates & registration via TUMonline

  In TUMonline you can register for the module examinations that accompany your studies. 

  Important: You can only take most of the exams if you have actively registered yourself via TUMonline within the registration period. The registration and deregistration period will be displayed at the exam date.

  Please note! In the basic and orientation exams (GOP) in the 1st and 2nd bachelor semester you will automatically be registered for all examinations during the respective semester, i.e. independent registration is not necessary in the 1st academic year.

• Further examination matters
  • Academic progress check
  • Examinations
  • Recognitions
  • Theses
• Board of Examination
  The board of examination is a committee consisting of university professors and lecturers of the degree program. The chairperson of the board of examination of your degree program is Prof. Dr. Philipp Benz. Applications to the board of examination are received by the secretary and submitted to the board of examination for decision. You can reach the secretary by sending an email to examination.co(at)ls.tum.de.

Module WZ0207 Scientific Project Presentation (ger: „Wissenschaftliche Projektvorstellung“, short: WPV)

Only for students in the FPSO 20191 (start of studies from WS 19/20 up to and including SoSe 2023)

The scientific project presentation (WPV) is a mandatory module for Bachelor's students of Life Sciences Biology and must be successfully completed before starting the Bachelor's thesis. The WPV must be registered with the examination board and approved by them together with the thesis. This means that the thesis must be registered in the portal around the same time. Registration of the WPV is done using the form linked below. Thesis and WPV must be registered at least 4 - 6 weeks before the WPV.

The WPV examination itself – after getting approved by the examination board - will be created and graded in TUMonline by the examiner of your thesis.

Further information on the WPV can be found in the module description in TUMonline, as well as in §49a of your FPSO.

• Form for the notification of scientific project presentation (WPV)

A pre-study internship before the start of the course is not required for admission.

Bus connection Weihenstephan – Garching

More information about

• Internships
• Excursions