Pharmaceutical Bioprocess Engineering

In the master's program in Pharmaceutical Bioprocess Engineering, as in the preceding bachelor's degree, everything revolves around the combination of engineering, natural sciences and economics. In this interdisciplinary orientation, the program is unique in Germany.

The focus of the course is on the one hand on plant engineering, process engineering and process control and on the other hand on molecular biology, bioprocesses and pharmaceutical technology. Your studies cover everything from the development of new production and fermentation processes to the optimization of existing production methods or the analytical control of drug properties to the introduction and control of quality assurance methods.

Thanks to a wide range of electives, you can develop freely within the specializations and follow your interests and inclinations. In doing so, you will already form an initial profile for your future career path. The biopharmaceutical industry is comparatively young and is waiting for innovative minds like you to drive the industry forward.

Expertise in biotechnological production is in high demand worldwide. Graduates of pharmaceutical bioprocess engineering can apply their skills in a variety of ways thanks to the broadly based degree program. You will primarily find job opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry – but with your master's degree, you will also be in great demand in related industries such as the cosmetics, biotechnology or chemical industries. Depending on your taste, you can work in areas such as production, research and development, or quality management.

Today, many pharmaceuticals are produced biotechnologically. A combination of engineering skills and biotechnological knowledge is therefore also in high demand in plant engineering, so this area also offers opportunities for you. Other core tasks include planning, monitoring, controlling and evaluating fermentative processes and ensuring product quality.

Finally yet importantly, of course, you have the opportunity to continue your scientific career with a doctorate at the university.

Basically, the Master Pharmaceutical Bioprocess Engineering builds on the fundamentals of the previous Bachelor. In the compulsory modules, there is an in-depth study of subjects such as protein engineering, pharmaceutical technology, bioreactors, bioreaction technology, and automation and control technology. Here, the usual combination of process engineering and bioprocess engineering material is evident for this degree program. In order to create sufficient practical relevance, you can also choose from a wide range of laboratory practicals in addition to the lectures.

Compared to the bachelor's degree, you have a much greater freedom of choice in the master's degree. You can take 50 credits in modules according to your interests. The versatile subject areas are bioprocess technology and biotechnology, engineering and process technology, and economics. Take advantage of this freedom and shape your own personal profile that matches your interests and makes you unique on the job market. Possible specialization topics include production and fermentation processes, reactor technology, process development and optimization, bioprocess engineering, protein chemistry and analysis, hygiene, quality management and legal requirements in the production of pharmaceuticals. You can also choose up to 10 credits through an industrial - and research internship and thus get a practical reference to the theory.

We are also happy to support you in the selection and supervision of research topics for a research internship that contributes to your individual profile. You can also organize your studies flexibly and, for example, gain additional experience and skills by spending a semester abroad.

In order to successfully complete your studies, you will decide on a topic of your choice in the fourth semester as part of your Master's thesis and demonstrate that you can independently and purposefully answer a complex question from the field of pharmaceutical bioprocess technology.
Here, too, you will be supervised by our internationally recognized lecturers and professors. You can also work on and write your thesis in English.

Interested? Just take a look at an exemplary curriculum!

After graduating with a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Bioprocess Engineering from the Technical University of Munich, you will impress with your in-depth knowledge in the fields of process engineering and bioprocess engineering. Thanks to the great freedom of choice in your studies, you have formed an individual profile. This allows you to combine fields of activity and apply your knowledge in a problem-solving manner. In order to prepare you for a career in research and science, you have learned in your master's degree how to work correctly and scientifically and how to comply with all safety standards in the laboratory.

In the field of engineering and process technology, you have learned to plan and implement biotechnological plants and to protect pharmaceutical products from environmental influences. Knowledge of the various basic process engineering operations, the process steps involved in drug production and everything to do with industrial plant utilities round out your profile.

In the bioprocess engineering concentration, you will acquire a wide range of skills: for the production and characterization of biotechnological products, for the assessment of processes, for product safety measures, for mechanisms of action of pharmaceuticals, for the biotechnological manipulation of microorganisms, for the microbiological, chemical-technical and structural assessment of products and for pharmaceutical technologies.

All students have to pay a semester fee for the student union (Studierendenwerk).

++ NEW ++ International students from third countries, i.e. countries that do not belong to the European Economic Area, will be charged tuition fees as of 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.

During the application period, you can easily apply for a place in the winter semester via the application portal TUMonline. You just need to upload your documents for admission to the  Pharmaceutical Bioprocess Engineering program, directly on the portal.

The prerequisite for application is a qualified bachelor's degree of at least six semesters or an at least equivalent degree in the fields of pharmaceutical bioprocess technology, food technology, brewing and beverage technology, molecular biotechnology or a comparable course of study that you have obtained at a domestic or foreign university.

In a subsequent aptitude assessment, we check whether you have the necessary prerequisites and motivation for the study program.

The application procedure is described in the appendix to the Academic and Examination Regulations of the study program. If you are subsequently admitted to the program, you will need to submit a few certified paper copies for enrollment.

• Curriculum
  • Curriculum 20221
  • Curriculum 20191 (expiring)
    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)
  • Academic and Examination Regulations 20221 (from start of degree program WS 22/23)
  • Academic and Examination Regulations 20191 (from start of degree program WS 19/20)

• 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.-Ing.Heiko Briesen. 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.