Biology in Society Dresden University of Technology

The programme is taught in English.

Biology deeply affects societies of the 21st century – we need biologists that have profound knowledge and are able to predict and tackle problems of society that arise from biological processes and knowledge. Additionally, we need biologists that communicate them to the public, enterprises, politics and authorities (we already have plenty of non-biologists). This task requires the profound knowledge of animal and plant genetics, evolution, physiology and reproduction that we teach in the Biology in Society programme as well as methods to communicate science effectively. Learn and discuss, for example, how medical CRISPR-Cas9 applications and human reproductive technologies impact the right of self-determination of individuals; how the evolution of antibiotic resistance will be causing more human deaths in 2050 than the major cancer types all together; how hormonal pollution, doping, or food content affects the right of physical integrity of individuals or what can be learned from animal experiments and what can not be learned from them. Bringing biology into society requires us to understand biological roots of societies and of societal impacts on biology. Most importantly, we biologists need to stay critical of our own field – this is why in the Biology in Society programme, we teach about research ethics and methods, science policy, animal testing and good scientific practice.

Non-EU applicants: 31 May
EU applicants: 15 July

First semester: Biology and Human Society (Human Evolution, Population Genetics, Human Behaviour, Human Ecology & Biology of the Health Challenges of the 21st Century), Science for Society (Ethics, GLP, Law, Science Policy, Statistical Methods, Science Communication) and Economically important animals and plants (Transgenic Livestock and Crop Plants, Insects, Plant Parasites)

Second semester: Genetics & Developmental Biology (Molecular Genetics, Stem Cells, Developmental Biology), Organismic Zoology (Advanced Evolutionary Biology, Reprod. Biology, Biomaterials, Ecol. Lipidology, Genetic Forensics), Physiology (Animal Testing Qualification, Doping, Endocrinology)

Third semester: basic lab rotation, advanced lab rotation (= students' own research projects), skills (Adv. Microscopy, Statistics, Reproduction, Epigenetics)

Fourth semester: Master's thesis

No tuition fees

Currently, students pay ~300 EUR per semester (i.e. for six months). This includes a ticket for public transport and regional trains in all of Germany. Additionally, students can use a bike rental service all over the city for free for 30 min. The contribution also assures concessions in the university cafeterias and offers benefits (e.g. price reductions) for many cultural and leisure activities in Dresden.

Dresden offers high quality of living at very moderate costs. Currently, students should expect to pay around 850 EUR per month including rent, food, insurance and basic expenses. This figure is relatively low compared to other big German cities.

First university degree in Biology or related subject

Non-native speakers of English will need proof of language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL min. 79 points, IELTS: minimum level 6.5) or similar qualifications.

Non-EU applicants: 31 May
EU applicants: 15 July

Information on scholarships and funding for students is summarised on a dedicated web page of the TU Dresden.

In order to top up their budget, some students may want to look for temporary work in Dresden. If so, different regulations apply for students from EU member states, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, and students from outside the European Union and the EEA area. In addition, restrictions on the duration of employment may apply. Professors, lecturers and group leaders involved in the Master's programme may offer students the possibility of working as academic assistants. However, living expenses can be financed only partially through a job as an academic assistant.

It is still relatively easy to find affordable accommodation in Dresden. Accommodation is available either via the "Studentenwerk Dresden" or on the private market. Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 250 EUR per month.
Private housing can be found online. We recommend that you move into a hall of residence at the beginning of your stay in Dresden. Subsequently, you can look for a place on the private market or in a shared apartment, which is known as a "Wohngemeinschaft" in German.

TU Dresden offers plenty of counselling and training within its Career Service to help students with finding professional orientation. They offer workshops to equip students with professional skills and help optimise their CV.

Additionally, there are special workshops for international students to get to know the German and Saxon job market and network.