Molecular Biotechnology

The TUM Bachelor’s program in Molecular Biotechnology deals with the production or construction of natural and artificial biomolecules with the help of cells or organisms. In times of genetic engineering and synthetic biology it has become much easier to reprogram or optimize the construction of natural and artificial biomolecules with the help of cells or organisms. It is also possible to create artificial biomolecules with improved or innovative functions. Through protein design but also proteomics, metabolomics, animal and plant biotechnology, cell culture technology, and modern microbiology you can create new molecular "tools". For example, you can develop new active ingredients and antibodies for medicine, biocatalysts for use in industrial biotechnology or make your contribution to climate protection through applied biotechnology. To do this, you use genetic engineering, protein biochemistry, and biophysical methods in conjunction with databases and computer simulation methods (bioinformatics).

In the foreground of this interdisciplinary course is the scientific construction and manipulation of biomolecules, cells and organisms in connection with modern biotechnological production processes. Get into new technologies and change the future.

Still not had enough of molecular biotechnology? Most graduates follow a consecutive master's program that enables them to carry out scientific work with professional decision-making competence. Still not enough? A doctorate allows you to become scientifically active independently.

Not looking for an academic  career? The Bachelor of Science is of course already a first professional qualification, which allows you to start your career directly in an industrial company. In addition to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, the biotechnology sector is of particular relevance to your skills. This industry is currently showing strong growth, giving you very good chances in the job market.

The goal of the Molecular Biotechnology program is a comprehensive education in molecular biology, biotechnology, and biochemistry. At the beginning of the program, the focus is therefore a thorough grounding in the core subjects of natural sciences, especially chemistry, as well as bioinformatics and statistics. For this reason, the lectures are initially also held across faculties, both at the TUM School of Life Sciences, the TUM School of Natural Sciences, and the TUM School of Engineering. You will benefit from the fact that you will always be taught by the respective specialists in the field and thus be at the cutting edge of science.

Compared to the traditional study of biochemistry, which has many similarities with molecular biotechnology, you will focus on constructive-synthetic research approaches in contrast to the deductive-analytical research approaches of biochemistry. Thus, you do not focus on analysis, but rather on the construction of molecules to solve medical or biochemical problems.

In addition to your compulsory modules such as Biochemical Analysis, General Pharmacology and Molecular Genetics, the elective modules allow you to pursue your own interests and thus build your own profile.

In the sixth and final semester of your studies, you will complete a Bachelor's thesis on a topic of your choice and conclude it with a presentation.

Interested? Take a look at the curriculum.

At the end of your studies you will have strong fundamental knowledge in the fields of biotechnology, mathematics, statistics, bioinformatics, chemistry, physics and biology and will be able to further apply this knowledge. The degree program prepares you for an independent scientific working environment with experimental methods through a close interlocking of theory and practice. You will be a specialist in the fields of genetic engineering, protein engineering, and metabolic engineering and your knowledge will help you to solve scientific problems. Due to your numerous laboratory internships you will be skilled in the use of modern analytical instruments, handling of microbial and human cell cultures, ELISA tests, cell staining, real-time PCR, purification of proteins, molecular biological DNA techniques and will have methodical and technical competence.

You will be familiar with the different fields of application of molecular biotechnology in research and industry. You will be able to familiarize yourself with new biotechnological topics of research relevance and work on them using your professional competence based on the current state of scientific knowledge. You will then be able to evaluate, explain, and interpret the results and place them in their scientific context.

In addition to your biotechnological knowledge, you will learn entrepreneurial thinking and trading methods, have expertise in soft skills, project management, patent law and bioethics, among others.

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 Molecular Biotechnology, 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. EXCEPTION: Due to the planned revision of the aptitude assessment statutes for BSc Molecular Biotechnology, applications will probably only be possible from June 1, 2024). First semester students can only start 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 proven (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 instructions for your online application here.
You upload your documents for the application to the Bachelor's degree program in Molecular Biotechnology 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.
 

Aptitude assessment procedure

For applications for a study place for the winter semester 2024/25, the new "Statutes on the aptitude assessment" of 27.05.2024 apply. 

In the aptitude assessment procedure, the first step is to calculate an average of assessment points from the grade of the university entrance qualification ("Abitur grade") and the assessment points from the weighted individual subject grades (Mathematics 2x, German, English, Natural Sciences of the last 2 school years, if available). You will receive "immediate admission", "immediate rejection" or an invitation to an online test. 

On the basis of the online test (45 minutes, 15-20 questions), you will receive an acceptance or rejection after offsetting the assessment points from the university entrance qualification.

You can find the date for the online test here. 

The application procedure is described in the relevant aptitude assessment regulations for the degree program.
 

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.
  
  You can also create your own individual timetable, which can contain not only the dates of the selected courses, but also your personal appointments.
  
  First steps with TUMonline

• 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.

• 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. Brigitte Poppenberger. 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.
•  

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

More information about

• Internships
• Excursions

Bus connection Weihenstephan – Garching