Master's Degree (M. Sc.) in Biological Sciences of The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the University of Cologne

Attention: The revisions of the webpages for the MSc Biologigal Sciences program are still not finished yet. However, you will find a lot of new (and potentially helpful) features also at this stage. So we decided to start the new webpages running now (together with the new webpages for Bsc Biology and  other students) and keep on reworking some contents during the next weeks.

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the University of Cologne has started the international Master's programme in Biological Sciences in the winter term 2005/2006. The language of the two-year programme is English, and successful completion of the course will lead to the award of the M. Sc degree. The University of Cologne has introduced a tuition fee for all students from the Winter Semester 2006 onwards of ? 500.00 per semester (two semesters per year). Masters students will also be required to pay this fee. The first part of the course is constructed on the basis of 10-week modules, each consisting of varied academic activities including formal lectures, practical work, seminars and journal clubs. The topics covered in the more than 30 modules offered cover the full range of biological sciences from genetics and bioinformatics through biochemistry, microbiology and cell biology to animal and plant physiology and development, ecology and evolution. The option also exists for the student to construct modules to their own design, following up interests which they may already have identified or develop during the course. Professional academic advice is provided by course tutors in constructing a coherent programme of modules for each student and in helping to design an appropriate module structure for modules of the student's own choice. A total of 6 modules must be completed within the Master's programme and successful participation will be monitored by examinations appropriately designed for each module. The Master's programme is completed with a 6 month long research project in a laboratory of the student's choice. The experiments and results will be written up in a Master's thesis and the student's knowledge and understanding of the material will be tested in a final "Colloquium" at which the candidate presents his or her research project orally to a professional audience, followed by a detailed question and answer session with two examiners.The Master's programme in Biological Sciences of the University of Cologne takes advantage of the outstanding research environment in this field at the University where many of the participating faculty are scientists with wide international reputations. The programme is research-oriented throughout and it is expected that candidates who earn their M.Sc. degrees will have acquired a strong background in basic biological science and in modern biological research practice which will fit them well for many careers in both academic and biotechnological environments. In particular, the Master's degree in Biological Sciences will provide an excellent starting point for a higher research degree. Selected Bachelor students may have been advised by the International Graduate School Office that they will be eligible to enter the PhD programme through a ?Fast Track Masters / Doctoral Programme?. Such students must follow the application procedures as soon as possible for registration in the MSc Biol programme, and in any case before the application deadlines.