While all courses are taught in English, it is very helpful to know some German for everyday life early on. The study programme regulations require that students prove basic competency in the German language before the start of the third semester. Complimentary courses at every level are offered through the university's language centre.
While our study programme is not formally a combined MSc/PhD programme, the goal is to enter a doctoral project in an accelerated fashion, ideally after one year into the MSc programme ("fast track"). See the programme description for further information.
15 March for the following winter semester
The programme features the leading Life Sciences expertise at the University of Würzburg under the auspices of the Faculty of Biology. It also includes research groups from the faculties of medicine, psychology, chemistry & pharmacy as well as of physics. The programme is designed to be a fast track programme, accelerating access to a doctoral project within the Graduate School of Life Sciences, comprising more than 350 research groups.
The programme provides an entry point for a research career in academia or industry.
Who should apply?
Substantial relevant experimental research experience using state-of-the-art methodology is essential for joining this programme (minimum: experimental Bachelor's thesis, or alternatively, comparable academic experimental research experience may be acceptable under certain conditions).
Furthermore, this is the right programme for you if you:
This is not the right study programme for you if any of the below is true:
In the first semester, students are required to pass three obligatory modules mentioned below with a grade of at least a B+ to stay on the fast track. If they also manage to obtain at least an A- in the subsequent Master's thesis projects, they can start a doctoral project as early as in the second year of the programme. The remaining credit points for obtaining the Master's degree en route to the doctoral degree are earned in parallel with the doctoral project for activities that are obligatory during the doctoral study programme, such as special lectures and courses provided by the various GSLS sections, participation in conferences, attending group seminars, journal clubs, summer schools, etc.
If the fast track criteria are not met, the programme can also be finished as a regular Master's programme within a regular study period of two years.
First semester
"Topics and Concepts in Life Sciences" (10 ECTS)
"Methods in Life Sciences" (10 ECTS)
"Research Concepts in Life Sciences" (10 ECTS)
The lectures are taught by principal investigators who are also members of the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS). The research internship will take place at one of the GSLS research labs. During the first semester, students will decide which of the various fields of the life sciences they want to pursue, exemplified by the five sections of the GSLS.
Second semester and following
The Master's thesis project (25 ECTS) will take place in one of the laboratories of the over 350 participating research groups. If the thesis is evaluated with an A- or better, candidates may proceed directly to a doctoral project. The Master's thesis defence (5 ECTS) and the other remaining 60 ECTS credit points may then be obtained in parallel with doctoral research (see above).
Important note: The current success rate for the fast track is approx. 70%. Nevertheless, please be warned, it is essential that you have sufficient financial resources to cover two years if necessary. Even fast track students may need more than one year until transition to a funded doctoral project is possible.
There are generally no tuition fees at the University of Würzburg. However, you must pay the semester contribution each semester for enrolment or registration. The student contribution includes a semester ticket that allows you to use public transportation all throughout the beautiful city of Würzburg.
Student contribution: approx. 146 EUR
The cost of living in Würzburg is low compared to other German cities. Of course, this strongly depends on your individual lifestyle, but you should expect monthly costs of about 940 EUR.
You should not depend on funding opportunities through the university, as there are only limited options.
A highly competitive partial scholarship is available at the university, for which you may be eligible to apply: Deutschlandstipendium.
Degree/credit requirements
In order to be admitted, by the time of admission (not application!), you must have finished a BSc study programme of at least three years with an equivalent of 180 credit points according to ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). If you apply from outside Europe, your BSc study programme will, in principle, be considered as equal, but will be evaluated for equivalence in case of doubt. A decisive authority in this process is the federal "Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen". (http://www.kmk.org/zab)
If you have not yet finished your BSc at the time of application, you need to provide documents that prove that you have completed 5/6 of your regular study programme (e.g. 150 of 180 ECTS credit points in European study programmes).
Subject requirements
Your BSc programme must be in biology or at least have a special emphasis/specialisation/major in some aspect of the life sciences and natural sciences (e.g. biophysics, biotechnology, pharmacology, etc.). Experimental research experience through working in a natural science laboratory is essential. Please note that study programmes that have mostly technical or applied content, such as nursing, laboratory technology, industrial biotechnology, fisheries science, agriculture, and similar programmes, are normally not a sufficient prerequisite to apply. A medical education is also not normally a sufficient prerequisite.
Assessment is in three steps:
International English Language Test System (IELTS) with a score of at least 6.5 or similar other tests.
Please note that writing skills have to be at or above that threshold, irrespective of the other components of the score.
For details, see: https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/studium/msc-life-sciences/program/essential-qualifications/.
15 March for the following winter semester
https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/studium/msc-life-sciences/application/
FOKUS Life Sciences is a small programme with intensive individual advisory support provided by the study programme coordinators. In addition, the Service Centre Bio Careers is there to help.
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) is an internationally acclaimed university offering a wide range of subjects. We are committed to continuing excellence in research and teaching across all branches of science. Established for the first time in 1402, the University of Würzburg now covers the humanities, social and natural sciences, life sciences, medicine, and selected areas of engineering. Our students work with renowned scientists from all over the world and, with the completion of their Bachelor’s, Master’s, or doctoral degrees, make their own contributions to science.
In addition to delivering research and teaching of international standing, we must never forget our ethics and responsibility towards society. Our motto – "Veritati", meaning devoted to the truth – also reflects this attitude. We fulfil our social responsibility by advocating for the basic rights of democracy, supporting humanitarian activities, and promoting the sustainable use of resources.
Many eminent scholars have studied, taught, and researched at our university. Among them was Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, who discovered X-rays in Würzburg, an achievement for which he received the first ever Nobel Prize in Physics. This was one of 14 prizes that went to researchers who have worked and taught here in successive years, including three of them since 1985: Klaus von Klitzing (physics), Hartmut Michel (chemistry), and Harald zur Hausen (medicine).
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