International Programmes 2023/2024

Master of Science in Molecular Biology & Evolution (MAMBE) Master of Science in Molecular Biology & Evolution (MAMBE)

Kiel University • Kiel

Degree
Master of Science (MSc) in Molecular Biology & Evolution (MAMBE)
Teaching language
  • English
Languages

English (100%)

Programme duration
4 semesters
Beginning
Winter semester
Application deadline

The application period is from 1 March to 15 June every year.

Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
No
Joint degree / double degree programme
No
Description/content

The Master of Science in Molecular Biology & Evolution (MAMBE) is an international programme taught entirely in English. It is based on the fruitful collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany. It specifically combines the areas of evolution and molecular biology - a combination which has emerged as an extremely successful interdisciplinary research field in recent years but has not yet been available in academic education.

The MAMBE curriculum is founded on the idea that interdisciplinary thinking enhances in-depth understanding of biological phenomena. For example, the complexity that is characteristic for many molecular processes can often only be understood by taking into account their evolutionary origins. Similarly, the evolution of particular trait functions may also often depend on the underlying molecular mechanisms. MAMBE will foster such interdisciplinary connections. In the first two semesters, you will learn about the basic mechanisms and processes of molecules and evolution. Additionally, you will enhance your skill set in scientific communication and management (e.g., preparation of seminar talks, writing of grant applications, etc.). During the third semester, the acquired competences will be applied to real research life in the laboratory and field. The fourth semester will consist of your Master's thesis.

Course-specific, integrated German language courses
No
Course-specific, integrated English language courses
No
Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Semester contribution

An enrolment fee ("Einschreibgebühr") of 55 EUR is charged for the first enrolment at Kiel University. A semester contribution ("Semesterbeitrag") currently amounting to 277 EUR must be paid each semester at Kiel University. This covers free public transport ("landesweites Semesterticket") for trains and buses in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, reduced lunch prices, and other benefits for students.

Costs of living

The monthly costs of living in Germany are currently at least 934 EUR per month. Please note that when applying for a visa (from countries requiring a visa) and also later in Germany when extending a residence permit, financial means in the amount of the living costs for one year (11,208 EUR) must be proven.

More information can be found here: www.international.uni-kiel.de/en/advising-activities-services/service-information/visa.

Funding opportunities within the university
No
Academic admission requirements
  • Academic admission requirements include a Bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Science) in biology or a related subject. (The final grade should be better than 2.5 or among the top 30% marks according to the ECTS grading table according to the ECTS User's Guide, European Communities 2009.) If you have not yet received the final certificate, please include a preliminary certificate with an overview of completed courses, marks, and ECTS.
  • subject-specific aptitude test
  • Curriculum Vitae (concise overview, no more than two pages)

Please keep in mind that your application will be only considered if you've already earned 120 ECTS at the time of your application!

Language requirements

Document confirming your proficiency in English, such as:

  • confirmation of eight years of English in secondary school ("Sekundarstufe I & II" for German applicants) OR
  • confirmation that your biology-related curriculum was taught entirely in English OR
  • confirmation of a school or university stay of at least six months in an English-speaking country OR
  • degree in English OR
  • one of the following English tests: TOEFL ITP (paper-based): 580 points, TOEFL iBT (Internet-based): 90 points, IELTS 6.5 (no part less than 6.0), Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, or an equivalent test
Application deadline

The application period is from 1 March to 15 June every year.

Submit application to

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
c/o uni-assist e. V.
11507 Berlin
Germany

Accommodation

Please find information on accommodation in Kiel on the following website: www.international.uni-kiel.de/en/advising-activities-services/service-information/accomodation-in-kiel/.

Support for international students and doctoral candidates
  • Accompanying programme

Kiel University

Content Bild
Kiel University © Marvin Radke - standbildtechniker.de

Kiel University (also referred to as the CAU) was founded in 1665. It is Schleswig-Holstein's oldest, largest and best-known university, with 27,000 students and 3,700 staff members. It is also the only full-fledged university in the state. Seven Nobel Prize winners have worked here. The CAU has been successfully taking part in the Excellence Initiative since 2006.

We use research, teaching and the transfer of science to address the great challenges of our time in health, environmental and cultural change, nutrition and energy. In doing so, we ensure peace and preserve livelihoods for future generations. We use responsible actions to make sure that scientific discoveries are transferred into all sectors of our society by interdisciplinary thought – regardless of short-lived trends – where they are incorporated into political, economic and social decisions aimed at securing peace and prosperity.

When it was founded back in 1665, the CAU had the motto “Pax Optima Rerum: peace is the most valuable asset.” This maxim is as applicable today as it was over 350 years ago. We want to follow this key idea and contribute towards creating a peaceful, fair world in which everyone lives freely and comfortably. We aim to create a world in which treating the environment with respect also enables future generations to enjoy the same benefits.

CAU’s mission:
Our mission is to deliver research and teaching that contribute to peace, prosperity and maintaining a pluralistic, free society as well as address the challenges we are facing. Our strong disciplines carry out this mission. The fulfilment of this mission requires interdisciplinary collaboration and involves transdisciplinary issues. We find solutions to today’s pressing problems and implement these solutions together with stakeholders from society, industry and politics.

Teaching profile:
We are dedicated to research-based teaching and learning. Therefore, the development of new teaching approaches is evolving constantly at the interfaces between research from the different scientific disciplines. Students from all over the world benefit from this: research results are quickly integrated into programme curricula and our academic staff is trained in state-of-the-art teaching methods.

Research profile:
The CAU is Schleswig-Holstein’s only full-fledged university with a major focus on research. Over time, four dynamic priority research areas have systematically developed. These are based on strong disciplines interacting together – Marine Science, Life Science, Societal and Cultural Change, and Nano Surface and Interface Science. Each individual research area makes a substantial contribution towards dealing with at least one of the grand challenges of our time.

Transfer profile:
A university is not an island. It is an entity that impacts on, with and for society in a number of ways, by offering space for new ideas, passing on knowledge and values, and enabling debates about controversial subjects. Universities train specialists, produce innovative products and start-ups, help companies to develop further and assist politics by giving advice and warnings. The CAU encompasses top quality, innovative science, a sense of responsibility and the transfer of knowledge. We advocate for the university’s active role in society and aim to work closely together with the community to be the driving force behind regional, national and international development by looking for and finding pioneering solutions for our most pressing issues. This is the reason why we maintain a variety of active connections with our partners in science, industry, politics and society.

Read more about our profiles.

27,000 Students
3,700 Staff members

University location

The city of Kiel is located directly on the Baltic Sea coast and is the capital of the northernmost German federal state, Schleswig-Holstein. Famous for its sailing tradition, Kiel has hosted two Olympic sailing competitions. The city's annual "Kiel Week" is the world's largest sailing event and one of the biggest cultural festivals in northern Europe. Kiel's international flair is enhanced by its port, where Scandinavian ferries dock next to cruise liners and historic ships. Those who enjoy going out will benefit from the city's lively cultural life as well as the many clubs and bars to be found between the campus and the city centre. Kiel is a strong centre of science and research. Our students benefit from studying by the sea in a city that offers short distances and a wide range of leisure facilities by the waterside. It takes less than 20 minutes to get from the lecture hall to the beach. A fresh breeze on your face and the right books on hand create a great atmosphere for learning. The social conditions for studying in Kiel are excellent. Freshmen receive a welcome payment of 100 EUR when they come to Kiel to commence their undergraduate studies. Here, they have the opportunity to live in one of the many halls of residence, which are reasonably priced and situated close to the universities. In our bicycle-friendly city, not only the universities but also other inner-city locations can be reached conveniently by bike. The new scientific generation represents the most important resource for making Kiel, the state capital, fit for the future.

www.kiel.de.

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