General information for students

Biology is almost always chosen as a subject out of inclination, but relatively rarely with a clear career in mind. The conflict between illusions and the reality of the course should be prevented by making intensive use of the subject advisory service. Biology is a natural science subject:

Studying biology requires intensive study of the general principles of natural sciences: mathematics, physics and chemistry. Very good English language skills are essential, as many textbooks and in-depth literature are only available in this language. Research results are only published internationally in English. Finally, modern scientific, economic and social developments require an increased focus on ethical principles (genetic engineering, experimental embryology, animal welfare and nature conservation).

The online self-assessment can help you to better orient yourself. You can find this on the website: Applications

The career profile for biologists offers many opportunities.

For this purpose, the faculty has created the course: Job profiles for biologists. The lecture is open to everyone. Further information can be found on the following website:
Praxisbüro: Job profiles for biologists

The Association of Biologists also offers a good overview of the various career opportunities: vbio.de

Attractive location: Cooperative research at the Biocenter

With the completion of the Biocenter on the Grosshadern/Martinsried research campus and its modern facilities, the scientific areas and working groups of the Departments of Biology have unique opportunities for cooperative research and networking within the departments and beyond with the other natural science subjects of the School of Science. This ranges from interdisciplinary research projects, coordinated courses and coordinated appointments to joint degree programs and graduate schools.

In addition, the close proximity to other LMU institutions, such as the Gene Center, non-university research institutions such as the Max Planck Institutes and the institutes of the Helmholtz Association, as well as biotech companies, provides an excellent environment in terms of expertise in theory and practice.

Excellence in national and international comparison

The Faculty of Biology and the associated new Biocenter enjoy a high national and international reputation. In university rankings, the faculty regularly occupies top positions among German-speaking universities.

In the winter semester 2007/08, the Diplom degree course in Biology was replaced by the Bachelor's degree course in Biology and subsequent Master's degree courses.
The Bachelor's degree course in BiologyThe Bachelor's degree course in Biology lasts six semesters and is divided into a general foundation course and an orientation phase.

• The four-semester foundation courses provide a common education in which a broad basic knowledge is imparted
• In the two-semester orientation studies, which are sometimes also referred to as specialization studies (5th and 6th semesters), students choose between the molecular-cellular, organismic or biochemical direction and take the corresponding subjects/modules.

The Master's degree programs at the Faculty of Biology:

A completed Bachelor's degree in Biology is required for admission to a Master's degree program in Biology. Further information about the Master's degree programs at the Faculty of Biology can be found on the following websites: http://www.master.bio.lmu.de/programs/index.html

Graduate schools / doctorate:

As a rule, doctoral students are supervised by a habilitated member of the faculty. In addition, the Faculty of Biology also offers selected doctoral students the opportunity to participate in a structured doctoral program. There are currently two graduate schools in the Faculty of Biology: the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN) and the Graduate School Life Science Munich: “From Molecules to Systems” (LSM).
Talented students are offered the opportunity to transfer to graduate studies with a doctorate after their Bachelor's degree (fast track).

• Advantages of the new degrees
• Information on the Bologna Process
• Information on the application process

Study programs

• Master Evolution, Ecology and Systematics
• Master Neuroscience
• Graduate school of systematic Neuroscience
• Graduate School Life Science Munich

Before starting your study program, you should take advantage of the wide range of services available to help you make an informed decision about your subject.
Student Advisory ServiceThe Student Advisory Service of the Faculty of Biology also offers advice to prospective students. Here you will receive competent information on specific questions about course content, examination requirements, course structure and specific course organization.
In addition, the Student Advisory Service - in cooperation with the examination offices - is responsible for the recognition of credits earned outside the respective degree program. You can find all important contact details for the Student Advisory Service under Contact persons.
The Central Student Advisory Service answers all your questions about studying at LMU, such as the range of courses on offer, application procedures for the various degree programs, etc., and also supports you individually in your decision-making process when choosing between different degree programs.
Tips from students (student council)You can contact students from the Department of Biology via the student council page.

• continue to structure and course of study program

Further links

• Information of Bundesagentur für Arbeit

General advantages

• The new degree courses are more clearly structured and prepare students for professional practice right from the start.
• After just 6 semesters, a Bachelor's degree in Biology can be obtained as a first professional qualification.
• The early graduation after 6 semesters shortens the study time and thus increases the chances of young graduates on future-oriented job markets.
• After a Bachelor's degree in Biology, students have the opportunity to
  • enter directly into professional life as a biologist/scientist
  • to begin a Master's degree course that builds on the content of the Bachelor's degree in Biology
  • complete a Master's degree in another subject
  • to take up a Master's course of further education after a practical phase in the profession or while working.
• A high degree of practical orientation and a wide range of opportunities to specialize in a subject: both subject-specific and interdisciplinary.
• Better interfaces between higher education and continuing vocational training.
• Bachelor's and Master's degrees have already been introduced in many European countries and will be generally accepted university degrees by 2010.
• Bachelor's and Master's degrees are also well-known and common on the international, non-European labor market. The new degree courses are more clearly structured and prepare students for professional practice right from the start.
• A Bachelor's degree in Biology can be obtained after just 6 semesters, providing a first professional qualification.
• The early graduation after 6 semesters shortens the study time and thus increases the chances of young graduates on future-oriented job markets.
• After a Bachelor's degree in Biology there is the the internationally comparable points system for academic achievements (European Credit Transfer System, ECTS) facilitates the mutual recognition of academic achievements (nationally and internationally) and thus promotes student mobility.
• Course-related examinations distribute the workload more evenly over the entire course of study.
• Holders of a Bachelor's degree can also be admitted directly to a doctorate without obtaining a further degree by means of an aptitude assessment procedure.

Diploma studies or Bachelor's/Master's studies? the LMU university management has decided that by the 2009/2010 winter semester, all of the approximately 220 Magister and Diplom courses will gradually be converted to Bachelor's and Master's courses.
The Faculty of Biology is also converting its range of courses and is thus sending a clear signal that the new courses offer significant advantages over the previous diploma courses.
In a degree course consisting of a Bachelor's and a subsequent Master's degree course, the same content is to be taught and the same level of degree achieved as in a corresponding continuous Diplom degree course. The difference lies in the chronological order: in a Bachelor's degree course leading to a professional qualification, students acquire not only the most important scientific principles but also application-related knowledge and are enabled to apply the acquired knowledge to solve practical tasks. The respective specializations only follow in the Master's degree course.
As the intermediate diploma is not a qualification for a profession, some of the course content from the first six semesters of the previous diploma course was carried over, while others were replaced or shortened. During the changeover, quality assurance elements were introduced to deal with core content and organizational issues and thus ensure a smooth transition.
Although the Bachelor's degree enables students to enter a profession, it is not a vocational training course with a clearly defined future job profile.Rather, the aim is to make the training as flexible as possible while maintaining a high level of quality.
The Bachelor's and Master's degree courses at the Faculty of Biology represent an attractive offer and an adaptation to a changing job market and its interdisciplinary professional requirements, in which staying in a profession once learned will no longer be the rule.
“Will my Bachelor's degree be accepted?” As early as June 2004, numerous HR directors and HR managers from leading companies signed the ‘Bachelor Welcome!’ declaration, thus sending out a signal that they support the universities in their reform plans and are committed to the new Bachelor's and Master's degree courses in Germany. The companies reaffirmed this commitment in May 2006 with the declaration “More Bachelors and Masters Welcome”.As the number of graduates from the new courses increases, it can be assumed that smaller companies will also increasingly accept them.
Diploma SupplementFrom the winter semester 2006/2007, the Diploma Supplement will also supplement all degree certificates at Bavarian universities. The Diploma Supplement is an English-language certificate supplement with standardized information describing university degrees. It provides information in a standardized form about the degree, the course content completed, the course of study and the academic and professional qualifications acquired with the degree. The aim is to create a higher degree of transparency with regard to the degree course completed and to improve the recognition of the achievements made.
The Diploma Supplement is also intended to facilitate the international classification and recognition of German university degrees. One part of the Diploma Supplement, the National Statement, explains the German education system and places the degree in this context.

• Information on application

Further links

• Bachlelor Welcome
• More Bachelors and Masters Welcome

On June 19, 1999, 29 European nations signed the so-called Bologna Declaration, committing to the goal of creating a common European Higher Education Area by 2010. For Germany, the federal and state governments signed jointly, thus clearly committing to the goal of advancing the reform of German higher education within a European context.

Through the Bologna Process, Europe is growing closer together in the higher education sector, thus enabling better utilization of existing knowledge potential. Key themes of the planned common European Higher Education Area are:

the introduction of a tiered study system consisting of Bachelor's and Master's degrees with comparable degrees across Europe,
the promotion of mobility within Europe through mutual recognition of degrees and study components,
the expansion of Europe-wide cooperation in quality assurance in higher education.

The new Bachelor's and Master's degrees offer completely new opportunities for study design and career planning. A Bachelor's degree program lasts only three years, thus enabling an earlier entry into the job market. Directly after completing a bachelor's degree or after a practical phase in a professional setting, it is possible to begin a master's degree program. Students can choose to pursue a master's program that builds on the content of their bachelor's degree, a so-called consecutive master's program. Alternatively, students can opt for a non-consecutive master's program, which is not based on a specific bachelor's degree but rather on an interdisciplinary career path.

Promoting mobility within Europe
The mobility of students and academic staff, as well as the comparability and recognition of the respective degrees, are important prerequisites for better utilizing the enormous potential at and within European universities. Existing barriers should be removed and the foundations for improved European cooperation in higher education development should be created. The Bologna Process contributes to this through the following measures:
Modular learning content
The learning content of a bachelor's degree program is modularized. A module refers to a series of thematically and chronologically coordinated courses that convey a common learning objective and include at least one integrated examination. Each module is designed to convey specific, predefined skills and course content. This makes study requirements more transparent and simplifies study planning. It also facilitates the recognition of academic achievements during stays abroad or when changing places.

Credit Point System: Successfully completed work is recognized with a predetermined number of credit points (also known as "ECTS points" according to the European Credit Transfer System, or "credit points"), which are added up over the course of the program. 30 ECTS points are to be earned per semester. Accordingly, at least 180 ECTS points must be earned for a Bachelor's degree at LMU.

Examinations: At the end of each module, there is a final module examination. Examinations are therefore no longer held in blocks in the middle and at the end of the program, but are taken throughout the program. This distributes the workload more evenly throughout the program, and students have better control over their performance per semester.

Quality Assurance: Evaluation and Accreditation. Systematic and regular evaluations contribute to improving the quality of teaching and research at universities, as well as study and working conditions. Numerous regional evaluation agencies and cross-regional networks have now emerged in Germany, conducting teaching evaluations according to international standards.

Accreditation examines whether universities adhere to minimum academic standards in the design of their degree programs or fulfill certain structural requirements. This is intended to provide students and employers with reliable guidance regarding the quality of study programs and universities. By resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (Kultusministerkonferenz), a National Accreditation Council was established, which is responsible for enforcing comparable quality standards. The Accreditation Council accredits and monitors agencies that conduct program accreditations.

Further links

• Information on Bachelor and Master
• Website of the Bologna-Center
• Information of the Bvarian Ministery on the Change to Bachelor and Master degrees

Application, enrollment, and more deadlines:

Applications for the first semester are only possible for the winter semester. Starting in the summer semester is not possible.

1. Application for admission

This first step of admission (the application) takes place through the Student Office.

• For first-year students: Applications for the first semester of the Bachelor's and Teacher Training program in Biology are only possible for the winter semester, i.e., the application deadline is July 15th. Further information on the application process can be found on the following website: Application.
• For transferring locations/study places: Applications for a higher semester in the Bachelor's and Teacher Training program in Biology are possible for both the winter and summer semesters. The application deadline for the winter semester is July 15th, and for the summer semester, January 15th. Information about the application documents and important tips for changing study places can be found on the respective websites.
• For international applicants: Foreign citizens who did not obtain their Abitur in Germany or at a German school abroad must apply to the Office for International Affairs and submit additional documents (application for admission, proof of language proficiency, officially certified copies, etc.) (further information from LMU).
  This applies to applications for the first semester and master's programs, as well as applications to change majors and universities. Applying to the International Office does not replace the application to the faculty; this must be submitted in parallel.
  The application deadlines for these applications are July 15th for the winter semester and January 15th for the summer semester.

If the Office for International Affairs grants you admission to study at LMU Munich, you can proceed to the second step with this acceptance and the application to the Faculty of Biology.

2. Enrollment at LMU

General:
Once you have been accepted for a place at the Faculty of Biology (and have received confirmation from the Office for International Affairs for international applicants), you can enroll at LMU. Enrollment must be done in person and requires the completion of an online form (available on the LMU website). The online form or online registration does not constitute enrollment!

• For German citizens and those with German nationality*: Enrollment takes place twice a year at the Student Office, so please be sure to note the enrollment dates!
  ``` You must bring all required documents with you for in-person enrollment. Further information about the documents and enrollment process can be found at: http://www.uni-muenchen.de/studium/hochschulzugang/bewerb_einschreib/index.html
  (*Educational nationals are all foreign citizens who have obtained a German Abitur in Germany or at a German school abroad.)
  
• For international applicants:
  For enrollment, you must present all required documents or submit them by mail.
  Further information: e.g., place of enrollment, etc.
  Further information for non-EU citizens.

For further questions, please contact the program coordinator: Michael Bögle; +49 89 2180 74226; biokoord@bio.lmu.de

Application process for the first semester in winter: Please note: for different study programs of the faculty different applications processes take place.

1) Bachelor's program in Biology: Introduction of the Numerus Clausus(NC) . An explanation of this procedure is avavilable on following website. The application for all EU-citizens via the DOSV portal www.hochschulstart.de and the LMU online portal.The International Office is responsible for all non-EU citizens (without a German Abitur).

2) Minor subject Bachelor Biology (e.g. with a major subject Geography): There are no admission restrictions for the minor subject. The admission and enrolment regulations for open degree programs apply.

3) Teacher's education on Biology: There are no admission restrictions for the teaching subject Biology for teacher training courses. The admission and enrolment regulations for open degree programs apply.

At a glance: Study program Biology Bachelor (B.Sc.)

• Begin every winter semester
• Requirements: local admission restriction
• Application period: Application period
• Online application within the application deadline in the online application portal
• Self Assessement: voluntray, can be found on following website

The numerus clausus was introduced for the first time in the winter semester 20/21. Basic information on the numerus clausus can be found on the following website. The cut-off grade for the winter semester 2020/21 was 2.1 in the regular allocation procedure and 3.9 in the lottery procedure (further information on the different steps can be found at www.hochschulstart.de). In the winter semester 2021/22, all applicants were offered a place. Regardless of your Abitur grade, we advise you to apply, this is your chance to get a place. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us (see below).

At a glance: Teacher's education in Biology (Gymnasium, Realschule, Mittelschule, Grundschule):

• starts every winter semester
• Requirements: Interest in the subject and in teaching
• Application period: Enrollment dates
  
• Self Assessement: voluntary, can be found on following website

To apply for one of the teacher's education in Biology, you must be enrolled by the deadline. Please note the admission requirements for your second subject or the didactic subjects.

• Information on enrolment can be found under Deadlines, documents, enrolment
• Frequently asked questions are answered under FAQ application

If you have any further questions, please contact: Michael Bögle; 089 / 2180 74226; biokoord@bio.lmu.de

Application deadlines and application documents

You can find more information about the admission procedures and application deadlines for the undergraduate degree programs (Bachelor's degree in Biology as a major and minor subject and all teacher training programs) at the Faculty of Biology under the heading Applications - Pre-registration (link to Application - Pre-registration).

Application for a higher semester
The application for a higher semester takes place in several stages:
1a) Application to the university: Depending on the degree program, different deadlines must be observed.
1b) Recognition of achievements at the Faculty of Biology.
2) Matriculation at LMU or transfer to the new degree program (if you are already an LMU student).

Students transferring to a higher semester must submit an application for credit transfer. Enrolment in a higher semester can only be granted if sufficient credits from previous semesters can be recognized and LMU has issued a letter of admission (if necessary). You can find all information about the recognition of credits on the following website: Recognition of credits.

Registration:
You will receive feedback from the faculty or university regarding your application, pre-registration or application for a higher semester. The next step is enrolment or matriculation. You can find detailed descriptions on the following websites: Registration

For further important information please visit the internet web pages of the Student office

International prospective students should also refer to the information sheets available from the Department of International Affairs (see also the department's homepage: www.lmu.de/international.

Contact for questions regarding the application: Michael Bögle, 089/ 2180 74226; biokoord@bio.lmu.de

If you are interested in studying at the Faculty of Biology at LMU Munich but have already started a degree program at another university, you are a person chainging university. If you are already enrolled in a degree program at LMU, but would like to study a different degree program at LMU, you are considered a person changing subject.

In both cases, credits already earned in chemistry, biochemistry or other natural sciences may be recognized. Recognition of credits

You should therefore familiarize yourself with the relevant study and examination regulations for your degree course before applying or starting your studies with us.

Both students changing university and students changing subject must apply for a place and are subject to the regulations applicable here (information on applying for a Bachelor's degree or information on applying for a Master's degree).

Information about the necessary documents can be found here (deadlines and documents).

If you have already earned credits in biology or other natural sciences at another university or in another subject, you can apply for recognition of these credits. The recognition of credits is regulated in Section 27 of the study regulations. The examination board or the program coordinator is generally responsible for the recognition of credits. For recognition in the Bachelor's program and teacher training programs, please contact: the respective program coordinator. For recognition in one of the Master's programs, please contact the Master's program coordinators: Contact

Recognition for:

Students already enrolled at LMU
Lateral Entry - Bachelor's
Lateral Entry - Teacher Training

For students already enrolled at the Faculty of Biology at LMU:

• Recognition of credits completed before enrolling at LMU must be applied for in the first semester.
• Recognition of credits completed during the program must be applied for no later than the semester following the credit acquisition.
  The following documents must be submitted to the Biology Examination Office:
  • Application Application Form
  • Proof of academic achievement. The applicant must submit relevant documentation, i.e., module handbooks, course descriptions, course descriptions, official transcripts of records with information on the course volume (SWS or ECTS credits), grades and course type, and, if applicable, diplomas. This is necessary to determine the equivalence of the courses.

For students transferring to the Bachelor's program in Biology:

All application documents for a higher semester must be submitted by July 15 for the winter semester and by January 15 for the summer semester. In addition to the application to the faculty, an application to the Student Office or the International Office is also required. Please also note the Student Office's admission requirements for the Bachelor's program. Applicants from abroad must also apply to the International Office by these deadlines.

The application for admission (please use the form File: Application Form)2. A short CV in tabular form3. A copy of the university entrance qualification (without certification), with an official translation if necessary4. Evidence of previous academic achievements. The applicant must submit relevant documentation, i.e., module handbooks, course descriptions, course descriptions, official transcripts with information on the number of courses (SWS or ECTS credits), grades and course type, and, if applicable, diplomas. This is necessary to determine the equivalence of the courses.

Please send your application to:
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Faculty of Biology
Examination Office for Biology
Großhadernerstr. 2
82152 Martinsried

After acceptance:
The next step after acceptance is regiatrationat LMU.

In case of rejection:
If you are rejected, you can apply for another degree program at LMU or apply to other universities for biology. Please note that each university regulates admission to the program individually, so each procedure may have different criteria. It is quite possible that you meet these criteria.

For applicants transferring for the teacher's eduaction at the Faculty of Biology:

You do not need to apply for a biology teaching degree program by a specific deadline. Please note that there are enrollment deadlines and that the process of issuing a credit transfer certificate takes time. Applicants from abroad must simultaneously apply to the International Office by July 15 for the winter semester and by January 15 for the summer semester. Pre-registration for entry into a higher semester is not necessary.

The following documents must be submitted to the Biology Examination Office:

Application (informal, e.g., I hereby request a transfer to the following degree program, semester)2. Proof of previous academic achievements. The applicant must submit relevant documents, i.e., module handbooks, course content sheets, course descriptions, official transcripts with information on the number of courses (SWS or ECTS credits), grades and course type, and, if applicable, diplomas. This is necessary to determine the equivalence of the courses.

Please send your application to:
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Faculty of Biology
Biology Examination Office
Großhadernerstr. 2
82152 Martinsried

After acceptance:
The next step after acceptance is enrollment at LMU Munich.

In case of rejection:
If you are rejected, you can apply for another degree program at LMU or apply to other universities for biology. Please note that each university regulates admission to the program individually, so each procedure may have different criteria. It is quite possible that you meet these criteria.

Student service

While universities are responsible for research and teaching, student unions in Germany are responsible for the economic, social, health, and cultural support of students.
The Munich Student Union offers a very comprehensive range of services:

• Daily cafeteria meals
• Counseling centers
• Federal Student Assistance Program (BAföG) funding
• Childcare
• Housing assistance
• Dormitory placements
• Its own library

University Sports Center Munich (ZBS)

With over 600 individual events per semester, the University Sports Center Munich (ZBS) offers a high-quality, recreational, and highly diverse sports program, offering options suitable for every target group. Students can choose their favorite sport from a range of over 100 different sports options.

Please also refer to the Student Office's FAQ: FAQ - Student Office. Only questions not answered there are listed here.

• What are the application deadlines for this year?

• How do I apply as an international student?

• What are the minimum grades expected for the numerus clausus (NC) / What grade is required to guarantee a place?

• Applications from international applicants?

What are the application deadlines for this year?

We currently assume that the regular application deadlines, July 15 of each year, will also apply this year.

How do I apply as an international applicant?

Please refer to the Student Office's information on the question: How do I apply for a subject with local admission restrictions? This information is also listed there.

What are the minimum grades expected for the numerus clausus (NC)?

We understand that, with the change to a numerus clausus (NC), you are concerned that you might not be able to secure a place in the Bachelor's program in Biology right away.

The faculty has applied to the Ministry for the numerus clausus because increasing numbers of students have enrolled in the Bachelor's program in Biology in recent years. The biology program includes many practical exercises. The additional students exceeded the faculty's existing teaching capacity for laboratory internships. The faculty wants to continue offering excellent teaching and, in particular, practical training and has therefore decided to submit an application to limit the number of students.

The minimum grade for the winter semester 2020/21 was 2.1 in the regular placement process and 3.9 in the lottery process (further information on the different steps can be found at www.hochschulstart.de). All applicants have been offered a place for the winter semester 2021/22. It is unclear what the grades will be in the coming winter semester. We therefore cannot make a definitive statement about the minimum grade required to obtain a place. What we can say, however, is that if you don't apply, you won't get a place. If you are convinced that biology is your desired degree program, we encourage you to apply. If you have any doubts, you should use the voluntary online self-assessment to reconsider your decision to study biology.

Applications from International Applicants

A distinction is made between EU and non-EU applicants.

EU applicants apply via the Student Office portal and via Hochschulstart. The university admission grade from their respective country is converted to the German system.

Non-EU applicants apply via the International Office. 5% of the places are available for applications from non-EU applicants. The respective university admission grades or comparable values ​​are converted, and a list is created. Places will then be awarded to the top 5% of applicants (the best will be determined based on their grades).

An overview of all Master programs at the Faculty of Biology and the enrollment deadlines can be found under www.master.bio.lmu.de

As a student at LMU, take advantage of the numerous opportunities for studying abroad! Information about studying abroad for international students at LMU and international student life can be found under International Studies. If you have any biology-specific questions, such as about partner universities or the possibilities of integrating a study abroad into your studies, please contact the program coordinator Michael Bögle (biokoord@bio.lmu.de)