Masters Degree in
"Molecular Biosciences"
 
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In the winter semester 2009/2010 students will be able to enrol in our Masters Course which will offer participants the opportunity to choose a major for their study. Teaching language in this course will be English so that students without knowledge of the german language are also welcome. Presently the following Majors are being prepared:
  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology of Plants
  • Evolution and Ecology
  • Systems Biology
This study program is designed in such a way, that it offers students optimal conditions to access graduate programs in their relevant research areas. The program takes 3 - 4 semesters and -for the neurobiologists - leads to the degree "MSc Molecular Bioscience, Major Neuroscience"
 
 1st semester
2nd semester
3rd semester
4th semester
Modular Table
 

Admission Procedures:

Students can apply online for a place in the major 'Neuroscience'. For non-european applicants there is an extra application procedure in march/ april. Students are advised to choose an additional major in case 'Neurosciences' is fully booked. For every major we will compile a ranked list of applicants, where the following selection criteria will be taken into consideration:
  • Academic results for Bachelor Degree (max. 15 points)
  • Special qualifications (max. 15 points)
  • Result of a election interview (max. 30 points)
On the list of applicants for Neuroscience those students who have Neuroscience as their first choice will be considered first. If places are still available, we will then consider those applicants for whom this subject is not their first choice. Approval notifications will be sent out by the end of August. The course of study will commence with the beginning of the winter semester.

1st semester: Frontiers in Biosciences

The Masters Degree consists of seven modules, which students can complete in 3-4 semesters. The first two modules are part of the course for all Masters students:

  • Modul "Frontiers in Biosciences 1"
  • Modul "Frontiers in Biosciences 2"
Modules are made up of lectures and tutorials as well as a 3 week prac with an accompanying seminar. The lecturers who take these modules also offer the major modules in 2nd - 4th semester. Students can choose the accompanying pracs and seminars from the Neurosciences.

2nd semester: The Major "Neuroscience"

Two modules in second semester offer an intensive program in modern Neurobiology. The modules

  • Modul "Focus Biosciences 1": Neuronal Structures and Molecules
  • Modul "Focus Biosciences 2": Neuronal Networks and Computation
include lectures, tutorials, pracs and seminars and provide a program that deals with Neurosciences from the level of molecules and cells to the level of networks and neuronal performances. The pracs in these modules are organised in such a manner that students will get to know a broad spectrum of neurobiological methods - because knowledge of methodology is a key in understanding Neurobiology.

3rd semester: Lab rotations and "Life Science for Health"

Both modules in the 3rd semester ('Bio lab' and 'Working in Biosciences') are to be completed in 6 week pracs in a lab in a neurobiological institute such as the Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences, the Institute for Zoology or the Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg. Students in a hurry may complete these pracs in parallel with the second semester modules and therefore could skip a semester.
 
As part of the program, we offer our students in 3rd semester a special opportunity to take part in a structured overseas residence. For this reason we have created the exchange program LSH (Life Science for Health) in conjunction with the Leiden University Medical Centre (Leiden, Holland) and the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden). Students completing a Masters degree in 'Molecular Biosciences' can attend courses/modules in Leiden or in Stockholm and can gain further experience especially in the Biomedical areas of their majors. Courses completed within the LSH program are recognized by all LSH partner universities.

4th semester: Master thesis und Disputation

The module 'Masters Thesis' consists of a six month research project in which students undertake experimental work and complete a thesis on a Neurobiological project. Students can choose any Neurobiological research group in Heidelberg in which to complete their project. The Masters Degree finishes with the disputation. Here students define their research proposal, present their research results, and interpret their outcomes. With the completion of the disputation students receive the academic result 'Masters of Biosciences/Major: Neurosciences'.