Molecular Plant Science University of Hamburg

Courses are held in English (100%), and the Master's thesis has to be written in English.

The MoPS study programme is research-driven and requires knowledge in plant molecular biology as well as extended lab experience. The students acquire fundamental knowledge in many different experimental techniques from molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and bio-imaging, and can apply these methods to molecular plant research. They are able to formulate and validate scientific hypotheses. They design and perform experiments independently and are able to discuss their results in the current context of plant research and talk about the meaning of their scientific findings for society.

The programme starts in the third week of October with an orientation course to get all information about the Universität Hamburg, the Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, and the Master's programme itself.

Application period for a start in the winter semester of the same year: 15 February to 31 March

The MoPS offers practice-oriented learning through group practicals in the first semester to refresh your knowledge of basic molecular biology techniques and to learn more advanced lab methods. This is followed by individual lab rotations in the second and third semesters. Skills relevant to academic research, such as the development of research questions, experimental design, implementation and evaluation, are taught, as well as the presentation and discussion of research results. The programme is completed with a Master's thesis. For the thesis, students are allowed to work independently on an up-to-date scientific question embedded in the research environment of Universität Hamburg. The practical education is complemented by lectures and seminars that provide an overview about the most exciting topics and trends in molecular plant biology, and offer the opportunity to discuss ethical issues and possible career paths following the Master’s degree.

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No tuition fees

There is a semester fee of approx. 340 EUR per semester. This fee includes a semester ticket covering public transport in the Hamburg metropolitan area.

The Master's degree programme in Molecular Plant Science has the following specific admission requirements:

A degree in one of the Bachelor's programmes
a) Biology
b) Molecular Life Sciences
c) Biochemistry
at a university within the Federal Republic of Germany or a degree in another Bachelor's degree programme, provided that the following academic achievements in the specified scope and discipline are demonstrated:

1) Biology and Biochemistry 70 credit points (LP) thereof 20 LP in university laboratory practicals (in molecular biology or/and biochemistry)

2) A scientific experimental research project as a thesis of at least six LP

This information must be evident from the submitted documentation, possibly with a separate letter. Achievements from other courses may be used to meet the required course credits. This also applies to university achievements that have been acquired in addition to the Bachelor's degree programme.

Applicants must have adequate English language skills. Adequate language proficiency may be demonstrated as follows:

a) CEFR/TELC B2 (English instruction at a state school in Germany for seven years is equivalent [If English is listed as the first foreign language in the Abitur certificate, this is considered sufficient proof.])
b) IELTS 5.0
c) TOEFL (IBT 80, PBT 500, CBT 170)
d) Cambridge FCE, CAE, or CPE
e) Degree from an English-language Bachelor's degree programme

Application period for a start in the winter semester of the same year: 15 February to 31 March

International full-time students may apply for merit scholarships or exam grants granted by Universität Hamburg. For more information, please use the provided link. We also recommend contacting our colleagues in the Department of International Affairs for further guidance: http://www.uni-hamburg.de/internationales/studieren-an-der-uhh/finanzierung-des-studiums_e.html.

Are you looking for a part-time job? Stellenwerk, Hamburg's cross-university job platform posts attractive job and internship advertisements every day.

Part-time work, an internship, or self-employment—the Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs (BeSI) advises you on all aspects of social security.

Students from countries outside the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland are subject to special regulations for part-time work when studying. Contact the Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs for more information.

There are several job opportunities in diverse areas of Universität Hamburg. Many of these jobs are offered exclusively to students enrolled at the university. For job ads of this kind, check out departmental bulletin boards, departmental websites, www.stellenwerk.de (wanted ads for Hamburg’s universities), or ask directly in your department.

• tutors
• student assistants (in the academic area) and student employees (in the administrative area)
• library assistants
• test subjects for studies conducted in the fields of psychology or in the social sciences

Are you searching for an apartment or a room? Although affordable housing in Hamburg is rare, please do not despair. Patience and luck will help you find suitable accommodation.

Start looking for accommodation as soon as you can. For more information on how to find accommodation, please visit: Finding accommodation in Hamburg.

For more information on how to find accommodation and how to plan your first steps in Hamburg, please see: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/piasta/beratung/doc/willkommen.pdf.

There is an "Introduction to job" module in the third semester as a career service integrated in the programme.