Features
From A for Anthropology to Z for Zoology:
The Biology degree programme at Göttingen offers insights into the sundry sides of the subject. You will learn to identify plants, animals and micro-organisms, work on molecular and genetic issues and get to know about chemical building blocks and their biochemical interaction. As early as the first semester, you will begin to perform small experiments and later conclude your studies with your own research project. The Bachelor's degree qualifies students for Master's degree programmes with foci in ecology, biochemistry, molecular biology and neurobiology.
- Name:
- Biologie
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
- Teaching language:
- German
- Standard period of study:
- 6 semesters
- Start of studies:
- Winter semester
- Addmission:
- Restricted
(application to the University)
- Pre-course:
- A
pre-course is offered
Details
The German-language Bachelor of Science degree course in Biology (full-time course over 6 semesters) provides basic teaching in biology and fundamental knowledge of natural sciences, chemistry and mathematics/statistics in the first part of the course (first and second semesters, “orientation year”).
In the second part of the degree course (third to sixth semesters), students get to know six specialist biological fields that they can freely select themselves from a broad range of available subjects, which is supplemented by two further non-biological subjects. As a result, students acquire specialist scientific knowledge; learn about methodological approaches and handling specialist biological literature.
The degree course is primarily designed to prepare students for the German and English language Masters / Ph.D programme by providing the foundations for a research-oriented career, although it also qualifies students for professions in administrations, companies and national/international organisations.
- Anthropology
- Biochemistry
- Applied Bioinformatics
- Algorithmic Bioinformatics
- Biocognition
- Developmental and Cellular Biology
- Genetics and Microbial Cell Biology
- Genome analysis
- Microbiology
- Animal and Plant Ecology
- Evolution, Systematics and Diversity in Plants
- Evolution, Systematics and Diversity in Animals
- Cellular and Molecular Biology in Plants
- Animal Physiology
- Behavioural biology
Good English language skills are required at the start of the degree course. The module “Scientific English I” must be completed during the degree course, which requires English language knowledge at the level of “Mittelstufe II” (Intermediate level II) to start the course. This language qualification can also be acquired during the degree course.
If the module “Scientific English II” is additionally taken, students can then acquire the certificate UNICERT III, which is accepted as an entrance requirement by the Faculty of Biology and Psychology for their international Masters programme.
Jobs in research and teaching (if necessary, in combination with a Masters / Ph.D programme) in universities and non-university institutions, companies working in the field of life sciences, environmental authorities and German State Offices, scientific publishing houses, textbook publishers and adult education (if necessary, in combination with additional study).
Related and consecutive/graduate programmes
Consecutive/graduate programmes
Programme structure
The Biology lecture series is an introductory course intended to give you an overview of the broad spectrum of biology and lays the common foundation for advanced modules. This lecture series is divided into two modules (parts A and B).
Module description of part A
Module description of part B
Scope: 10 Credits
During the course of this internship, you will be preparing light microscopy specimens of plant cells, tissues and organs to familiarise yourself with and interpret the structure and evolution of plants and fungi.
Module description
Scope: 6 Credits
This module will refresh and expand on the basic secondary school curriculum in mathematics so that you will be sufficiently prepared for performing and evaluating biological experiments.
Module description
Scope: 6 Credits
Since all biological processes are ultimately based on chemical reactions, chemistry is indispensable for a deeper understanding of biology. This module will introduce you to basic chemistry in lectures coupled with laboratory courses.
Module description
Scope: 6 Credits
The Biology II lecture series is an introductory course intended to give you an overview of the broad spectrum of biology with the main focus on molecular biology and lays the common foundation for more advanced modules.
Module description
Scope: 8 Credits
This internship, together with the accompanying lectures, will introduce you to the biodiversity, phylogeny and evolution of animals. You will be familiarised with the morphology and evolution through preparation of various animal specimens.
Module description
Scope: 6 Credits
This module will introduce you the basic principles of probability theory and elementary methods of descriptive and inferential statistics.
Module description
Scope: 4 Credits
In addition to the basic principles of occupational safety, the chemistry internship will cover work processes in chemical laboratories such as calculation of concentrations and yields, preparation of solutions and the basic principles of analytics.
Module description
Scope: 4 Credits
A choice of 13 subject areas is available, from which 6 must be taken. Each of these modules consists of lectures and a practical part. You will be studying one of the subjects selected here in more detail later on.
Module overview
Scope: 60 Credits
Two modules from general mathematics and natural sciences must be chosen. The available subjects are: Organic chemistry, Physics, Physical Chemistry or Computer science.
Module overview
Scope: 20 Credits
This module will teach you technical language skills in English to enable you to e.g. understand scientific publications and hold simple scientific presentations in English.
Module description
Scope: 6 Credits
In addition to the two compulsory modules
Scientific English I and
Bioethics, you can freely choose modules from the permitted range offered by the university in order to strengthen your academic profile.
Module overview
Scope: 20 Credits
This module will introduce you to the moral questions and problems arising from the application of scientific knowledge and techniques, and provide assistance with rational discussion of these issues.
Module description
Scope: 3 Credits
Based on the selected basic modules, a six-week practical in-depth course must be completed in one subject area, including a literature seminar. Here, you will be learning the methods needed for writing your Bachelor’s thesis.
Module overview
Scope: 12 Credits
This module consists of lectures, in which you will be introduced to the values of good scientific practice. The second part will aid the conceptual preparation of your Bachelor’s thesis and follows the completion of your practical in-depth course.
Modul description
Scope: 6 Credits
In the Bachelor’s thesis, which is generally experimental in nature, you will be working independently under supervision on solving a scientific question from the subject area selected for specialisation.
Modul description
Scope: 12 Credits
The degree course is modular in structure with accompanying examinations and comprises 180 ECTS Credits (abbreviated hereafter as: C).
First part of the degree course comprising 50 C: Lecture series in Biology, lab classes in Botanics and Zoology, as well as Inorganic Chemistry and Mathematics/Statistics as compulsory modules.
Second part of the degree course comprising 130 C: 8 optional modules from the field of biology (5/6), the fields of general mathematical and natural sciences (3/2) and the area of professionalization (20 C) with key qualifications and modules from a university-wide range of subjects, as well as an advanced course (generally in the 5th or 6th semesters) in a biological field of study with a subsequent Bachelor thesis (total of approx. 18 weeks, 30 C).
Periods of study and curricula
Admission
- Start:
- Winter and summer semester
- 1st subject semester:
- restricted admission (application to the University)
- 2nd to 6th subject semester:
- open admission (enrolment without previous application)
