Plant Sciences

The master's program in Plant Sciences allows you to build on your bachelor’s degree (B.Sc. in biology or equivalent) and further deepen your knowledge through a variety of specialized modules. The master’s program is set up to that it allows as for as much freedom as possible in the choice of subjects and the organization of courses.

The goal of the master's program is to provide students with an excellent classical research education. Moreover, the program aims to convey key skills like the ability to perform in a team, communication, organization and mediation skills, and intercultural competences.

Major topics

• Plant Molecular Biology
• Plant Cell Biology
• Systematics
• Biotic interactions of plants

After successful completion of the master's program, students may pursue an individual doctoral research project or a doctorate in one of the graduate schools of the Faculty of Biology.

• The Graduate School of Life Sciences Munich (LSM)
• The Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN)

The prescribed period of study is four semesters including a final master’s thesis. Requiring a total of 120 ECTS credits, the program is based on acquiring approximately 30 ECTS credits per semester. The curriculum of the master's program is based on a modular system consisting of topically related fields of research, including lectures, seminars and practical courses, with a strong emphasis on learning in the context of ongoing research projects. Modules can be individually composed according to the student’s goals and interests.

First semester – Basic training
The first semester aims to expand and deepen the knowledge acquired in the previously completed bachelor’s program. In the first two months of the program, students participate in the mandatory courses in Lab Methods in Plant Sciences and Bioinformatics and Data Analysis. In addition, students can choose up to two further specialisations.

Second and third semester – Specialisation
In the second semester, students can deepen their knowledge in the fields of study of the first semester or choose additional topics. The mandatory courses include lectures, seminars, internships and practical research courses.
In the third semester, students attend two thematically linked modules: Special Methods in Plant Sciences and a Special Research Module.

Fourth semester – Master module
The master’s Program culminates in a 24-Week Research Project, combined with the writing and defense of a master’s thesis. With their master’s thesis, students demonstrate their ability to conduct independent and responsible research. Furthermore, the final module includes additional courses such as a Research Seminar and Colloquia.
Curriculum

Coordination
Examination Office
Examination Board

Video of PLS

The application for the Master of Science program in Plant Sciences starting in October 2025 is closed!

The next round of applications for the Master of Science in Plant Sciences beginning in October 2026, will take place from mid-January to 28 February 2026.

The interviews for the master’s program starting in October 2025 for applicants from home and abroad will generally take place in spring 2025.

You are eligible to apply for the Master of Science program in Plant Sciences if you fulfil all of the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree

You need to have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a total of at least 180 ECTS credits (1 ECTS credit corresponds to 30 working hours) in biology or a related subject, e.g. bioinformatics, chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, and agricultural biology.
If you have not yet finished your bachelor´s degree, you are still eligible to apply for the master´s program when you submit a recent transcript of records showing an overview of finished courses.
Please note that the transcript of records of your bachelor’s program (in progress) must indicate a total grade point average (GPA).
If the following is not already mentioned in your transcript, you should also add:
- An official explanation of the grading system of your university, that shows the best possible grade and minimum passing grade in this system, and
- An official explanation of the crediting system of your university (i.e. to how many working hours does 1 credit correspond).
Please note that if the grading or crediting system of your university differs from the German/ECTS system, we will convert your grade point average and number or credits (you do NOT have to do this yourself).

• English proficiency

Your English proficiency must correspond to at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). To proof that you fulfil this requirement, the proof must explicitly state that your English proficiency is equal to at least B2 level of CEFR. It is irrelevant how old the proof is.

Examples of (non-)valid language proof (Link PDF)

Proof of your proficiency in German is not required for your application to the master’s program.

• Application documents

The following documents (in English, provided as pdf file) are required for your application to the master’s program:

1. Bachelor’s degree
If you have already finished your bachelor's degree:
Proof that you successfully completed a bachelor's degree (bachelor certificate and transcript of records).

If you have not yet finished your bachelor´s degree:
Submission of a recent transcript of records showing an overview of finished courses.

Please note that the transcript of records of your bachelor’s program (in progress) must indicate a total grade point average (GPA).

If the following is not already mentioned in your transcript, you should also add:
- An official explanation of the grading system of your university, that shows the best possible grade and minimum passing grade in this system, and
- An official explanation of the crediting system of your university (i.e. to how many working hours does 1 credit correspond).

2. English proficiency
Proof that your proficiency in English equals at least a B2 level, as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), or proof of equivalent proficiency in English. More information

3. Curriculum vitae
Your CV should include (max. 2 pages):

1. Personal information (name, date and place of birth, email, etc.)
2. Academic background
3. Work experience
4. Other relevant information

4. Motivation essay
Your motivation essay should include the following points in detail (max. 600 words):

1. The reasons of your interest in the program and your qualifications, such as your research and practical (lab) experience, for it.
2. The reasons why you would like to study at (the Faculty of Biology of) the LMU.
3. The reasons for your interest in particular research groups or areas.

All required documents need to be submitted by the application deadline. According to the admission regulations, applications or any information submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

• Application procedure

All applicants need to fulfill the requirements (step 1) and have to submit the online application with documents successfully (step 2). The decision about the eligibility lies with the master's selection committee.

1. If the applicant has completed the bachelor's degree in an EU member country and the grade point average (GPA) of the bachelor’s degree is equal to or lower than 2.0, the applicant will be accepted to the master's program directly. In case the GPA is higher than 2.0, the Entrance Exam has to be taken.
2. If the applicant has completed the bachelor's degree in a non EU member country the Entrance Exam has to be taken, regardless of the average grade of the bachelors’s degree (GPA) or the Letter of Motivation.

After the Entrance Exam (step 3), a combined score is assigned according to the exam grade (70%) and the grade point average from the bachelor’s degree (30%).
There are two possible paths (according to the German grading system with 1 being the best and 4 being the minimum pass grade):
a) The applicant will be accepted directly to the master’s program if the combined score is less than or equal to 1.9.
b) The applicant will be invited to an interview (step 4) if the combined score is higher than 1.9 or less than 2.4.
In the last step of the application procedure, the interview (step 4), the final decision whether the applicant is eligible for the master’s program or not, is also made by the master’s selection committee.

• International students

Applicants who are non-German citizens AND neither obtained their bachelor’s degree in Germany nor received their general university entrance qualification (“Abitur”) in Germany or from a German school abroad are required to submit a second, separate application to the LMU Office of International Affairs.

B.Sc. Degree obtained in Germany OR German university entrance qualification ("Abitur")
B.Sc. Degree obtained outside of Germany AND non-German university entrance qualification
German citizen Application to the Faculty of Biology
by the end of February 2025 Application to the Faculty of Biology
by the end of February 2025 Non-German citizen Application to the Faculty of Biology
by the end of February 2025 Application to the Faculty of Biology
by the end of February 2025
AND
to the International Office
by July 15, 20245

The selection procedure at the Faculty of Biology and the application to the International Office are two independent processes, with different application deadlines. The International Office reviews the qualifications obtained abroad in order to certify whether the applicant is eligible to study at LMU Munich. The Faculty of Biology assesses the aptitude of the student and subsequently decides on the admission to the master’s program.

The application deadline for the master’s program starting in the winter semester 2025/26 is February 28, 2025, whereas the application deadline for general admission to the LMU Munich is July 15, 2025. As an international student, you could in principle wait to submit your application for general admission to the university until you passed the entrance exam, but you can already look into the documents that you will need.

You can find more information about the application for general admission to the LMU Munich on the admission website of the International Office. Please note that the International Office requires certified copies of all transcripts and certificates and its own application form to be filled out. In the application form for the International Office, you can fill out that you applied for the master’s program in Molecular and Cellular Biology (you do NOT yet have to add a letter of acceptance for the master’s program).

• Overview application procedure PLS (85 KByte)

If you fulfill all requirements (step 1) and you have successfully submitted your online application with documents (step 2) and you do not qualify for direct acceptance, we will invite you to an exam (step 3).
The exam will take place online for a fee and at the same time free of charge in person at the Biocenter of the LMU Munich. The external fees for the online exam are about 70 euros. The date is expected to be at the end of April 2025. You will receive detailed information about the entrance exam (modalities, exact date and fees) with the invitation.
As far as the content of the exam is concerned: The 90 minutes examination will be given in English. It will consist of multiple-choice questions in the area of “plant molecular biology”, “plant cell biology”, “systematics”, and “biotic interactions of plants”. The exam questions will be at a bachelor’s level, so any relevant textbook at a bachelor’s level can help you in preparing for the exam.
Expected knowlege
Plant anatomy, physiology, cell and molecular biology

• Nutrient and water uptake
• Primary and secondary plant growth: types of vascular bundles; primary and secondary phloem and xylem, cambium
• Wood anatomy of gymnosperms vs angiosperms
• Development and morphology of leaves
• Morphology of chloroplasts; plastid types and plastid ontogeny
• Morphology of flowers: gynoecium, androecium, petals, sepals, tepals, bracts, types of symmetry
• Fruit types; fruit and seed dispersal syndromes
• Photosynthesis: photosystems, ATP and NADPH generation, Calvin cycle, C3, C4 and CAM photosynthesis
• Functions of plant hormones; hormones involved in plant stress responses
• Plant primary metabolism: carbohydrates, organic and amino acids
• Types of plant secondary metabolites
• Basic cell biological principles including compartmentalization, cell division, replication, mitosis, meiosis
• Organization of the plant cell; organelles; differences to prokaryotic cells; endosymbiosis

Plant genetics and development

• Structure and composition of the major biological macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins)
• The central dogma of molecular biology and the implicated molecular processes (e.g. transcription, translation). Degeneration of the genetic code
• DNA as the repository of genetic information; understanding the roles of DNA and RNA
• Understanding the experiment of Meselson and Stahl; the complementarity of nucleic acids on opposite complementary DNA or RNA strands that are connected via hydrogen bonds; the canonical Watson-Crick base pairing; DNA replication
• Protein biosynthesis; redundancy of the genetic code; transcription and its regulation; translation
• The difference between mutation and substitution
• Mechanisms of DNA repair
• Principles of Mendelian inheritance; Mendel’s laws
• Meiosis and recombination

Systematics

• Evolution of eukaryotes: endosymbiont theory; primary, secondary and tertiary endosymbiosis; algal groups originating from primary and secondary endosymbiosis
• Evolution of plants to life on land: Morphological adaptations and characteristics of mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms. Features distinguishing these groups morphologically. Generation cycles of these groups, modes of fertilization. Primary vs secondary endosperm, development of seeds/fruits
• Morphological characteristics of important plant families (e.g. Brassicaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae): leaf orientation, flower features, flower formulas, pollination syndromes, fruit types
• Morphological features and generation cycle of fungi (Ascomycota vs Basidiomycota): hyphal systems, clamp connections vs croziers, dikaryon, heterokaryon, types of fruiting bodies; types of mycorrhiza; lichen symbiosis; organelles in fungal cells; cell wall material
• Types of species interactions: mutualism, antagonism, commensalism; species concepts; speciation

Recommended textbooks
Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell
Bresinsky et al., Strasburger’s Plant Sciences
Berg et al., Stryer Biochemistry
Le Guyader, The Tree of Life, a Phylogenetic Classification
Lodish et al., Molecular Cell Biology
Nabor, Introduction to Botany
Purves et al., Biology
Raven, Biology of Plants
Stützel, Botanische Bestimmungsübungen (in German)
Watson, Molecular Biology of the Gene
After you have taken the entrance exam, a combined score is assigned according to your exam grade (70%) and your grade point average from your bachelor’s degree (30%). You will be invited to an interview (step 4) if your combined score is higher than 1.9 or less than 2.4 (according to the German grading system with 1 being the best and 4 being the minimum pass grade).

You will be invited to an interview if your combined score, consisting of your exam grade (70%) and grade point average of your bachelor’s degree (30%), is higher than 1.9 or less than 2.4 (according to the German grading system).

At least one week before the interview, you will receive an invitation and will be notified of the time and date. The interview, which takes approximately 30 minutes, will take place via an online video call. Applicants will be interviewed by two representatives of the Faculty of Biology, of which at least one is a professor.

As far as the content of the interview is concerned: The focus will be on your motivation for applying to the Master of Science program in Plant Sciences of the Faculty of Biology of the LMU Munich, as explained in your motivation essay. Moreover, your academic background, the way you can discuss biology related questions and how you would solve academic problems will be evaluated.

Link for the website

Link for the website

Link for the website

Link for the website

Introduction to the program

Information on mandatory courses in the first semester

Eignungsfeststellung (deutsche Version)

Suitability assessment (English version)

Studienordnung (deutsche Version)

Study regulations (English version)

Module catalogue

Guidelines

List international supervisors

Guidelines

Internal supervisors

Deadlines

Registration (Master's thesis internal)

Application and registration (Master's thesis external)

Last page and statement of originality

Last page and statement of orignality (until August 1, 2024)

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