The Master’s program in Biochemistry at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University is an international program for German, European and International students, which is taught entirely in English. It aims at providing a cutting-edge education by combining advanced studies of Biochemistry with corresponding studies in related fields of Chemistry and/or Biology.
The program is organized by the Department of Biochemistry in association with the Faculty of Biology. This interfaculty arrangement offers an interdisciplinary education in advanced and most modern experimental and theoretical skills. Internationally known and well-connected researchers teach state-of-the-art biochemistry as well as practical and organizational skills with the goal to enable students to independently conduct competitive research in Life Sciences.
During the program all students receive a thorough mandatory training in advanced Biochemistry. In addition, they have the option to choose from numerous subjects as complementing major or minor subjects. The underlying idea is that students can develop their own interests and either gain a broader knowledge around biochemistry or focus and specialize in particular fields in depth.
In providing an appropriate environment, the research of the Department of Biochemistry mainly focusses on Structural Biology and Innate Immunity, with a strong publication record proving the excellence of the teaching faculty in these fields. Students with interest in these research areas can expect top of the line education from experts who are geared to inspire young researchers. Moreover, the setting in Großhadern/Martinsried allows for the easy access of other institutes, which are readily participating in the education of our students, offer research internships and cover almost all other major fields of modern Chemistry and Life Science.
An integral and absolutely critical part of the curriculum is to work in laboratories on real research projects either in the context of research internships or the Master thesis. Here, we actively encourage and support our students in following their interests and also choose labs outside of the LMU. Therefore, a large fraction of each class manages to secure internships or Master thesis positions in international labs of highest scientific reputation. We help our students with the identification of such labs and provide advise on how to apply and also on how to secure financing. After successfully completing their Master curriculum at the LMU, the vast majority of the Biochemistry students continue their academic education with graduate studies in order to receive a Dr. rer. nat. or a PhD.
Students can enter the master's program in Biochemistry either in the summer or the winter semester. The standard length of study is four semesters during which 120 ECTS (credits) must be earned. Courses are held in English.
General description of the study program on the central LMU websites
The program’s design and its components
The basic draft of the master study in biochemistry intends three options/variations besides the mandatory modules with 45 ECTS and the master thesis with 30 ECTS:
More information at the Curriculm Website.
The Master in Biochemistry at the LMU Munich is a cross-disciplinary program taught exclusively in English, and is open to German and international students. New classes start in the summer and in the winter semester. Accordingly, we offer two application deadlines for the Master in Biochemistry program.
Note: The program Master in Biochemistry is restricted and underlies a selection procedure. If selected you will have to travel to Munich for the entrance exam at your own expense!
1. Application deadlines
For new students entering the first semester of the program or transfer students: You can apply to the master's program in chemistry for either the winter or summer semester. The application deadlines are:
Please carefully read the information on these and linked pages. In case you still have questions contact us at masterbc@genzentrum.lmu.de.
You can find all further information about the application documents and the postal address below or at Transfer students.
2. Requirements
For the Master's program in Biochemistry, successful participation in the placement process (see below) is required. This requires a successfully completed bachelor's degree in
If you meet this qualification and you are selected, you must also write an entrance exam (travel is at your own expense!). Passing the exam allows direct admission to the program.
3. Application
Before you begin your studies in the master program, you first have to apply for acceptance to that course of study, that is, you have to register or re-register. If you want to enter the program in Biochemistry at the LMU, you must complete two consecutive steps:
a) Application for admission at the Department of Biochemistry at the Faculty for Chemistry and Pharmacy of the LMU.
The online application form opens only with start of the application period (May 15 and Nov. 15).
For completion of the online application you will need the following documents:
Entrance exam
Based on your application we decide if you fulfill the necessary requirements for the curriculum and, if this is the case, invite you to a mandatory entrance exam here in Munich. After you have passed the exam (and, in case of international students, have been accepted by the International Office of the LMU - see below), you can be admitted to the curriculum.
International students
In addition to your application with the Department of Biochemistry international students need to apply at the International Office of the university. The International Office checks your formal eligibility to study at a German university.
Note: Both offices -the Department of Biochemistry and the International office- need to accept your application!
Application deadlines for both offices are January 15th and July 15th.
b) Matriculation (enrollment) at the LMU
You can register at the LMU after you have received your letter of acceptance from the Biochemistry Department (and, for international students, your letter of acceptance from the Office of International Affairs). Registration (matriculation) must be done after you have filled out the Online-Form. Filling out the online form does not mean you have registered!
The application process (Bewerbung) applies to all students wishing to enter the master program in Biochemistry. There is no limitation (NC) at the LMU on the number of students who may be admitted to the Biochemistry master program. The students' aptitude for the study program, however, must be ascertained by a placement process (see 3. under Placement-Process-Bylaws below).
The placement process is part of the in due time application procedure (application deadlines - see above). After reviewing the documents according to the statute on Placement-Process-Bylaws (983-eign-master-biochemie.pdf (PDF, 32 KB)), you will be invited to an entrance exam (90 min. written exam), which will take place 2-3 weeks after the deadline at the Gene Center in Munich (see application process above).
You have to take the entrance exam on the given date here in Munich - no exceptions! We are unfortunately not able to organize external test locations, online tests or online interviews. Travel is at your own expense!
Admission to the Master's program in Biochemistry is only possible if you pass the entrance exam.
In case of rejection, you can only apply a second time in the next procedure.
How to prepare for the entrance exam:
Recommended textbooks:
Current Module Catalogue of this study program:
MHB LMU-Master Biochemistry_2015_en.pdf (PDF, 450 KB)
If there are no exam dates at the corresponding lecture below, please consult the lecturer to arrange the date and place.
The dates are without guarantee! Please follow the announcement of the lectuerer!
If there questions or notes please consult the study program coordination.
Regulations for the preparation of master theses
The Master’s thesis is the independent work in which you will generate a hypothesis, design and perform experiments to test it, document and analyze the obtained data and discuss the outcome of your experiments with respect to your hypothesis. At the end all steps are documented in a written scientific report.
Each student must independently look for/apply for a place in a working group. The start of the master thesis will then be arranged directly with the supervisor.
Admission requirements are the passed modules P1, P2, P3 and P5.
Topics:
from any of the main topics or extension topics covered by your study program.
External Master thesis:
The signed proposal has to be submitted together with the registration (see link to form below) of the
Master thesis to students’ office.
Registration:
Starting date:
arrange a starting date with the lab of your choice. Keep in mind that the Master Biochemistry program
should be finished in four semesters.
Duration:
Submission:
Grading:
Certificate/ Diploma: