Master of Science in Biochemistry
Source: https://www.cup.lmu.de/en/study/study-programs/master-biochemistry/ Parent: https://www.cup.lmu.de/en/study/study-programs/
The Master’s program in Biochemistry at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University is an international program for German, European and International students, which is taught entirely in English. It aims at providing a cutting-edge education by combining advanced studies of Biochemistry with corresponding studies in related fields of Chemistry and/or Biology.
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The program is organized by the Department of Biochemistry in association with the Faculty of Biology. This interfaculty arrangement offers an interdisciplinary education in advanced and most modern experimental and theoretical skills. Internationally known and well-connected researchers teach state-of-the-art biochemistry as well as practical and organizational skills with the goal to enable students to independently conduct competitive research in Life Sciences.\ During the program all students receive a thorough mandatory training in advanced Biochemistry. In addition, they have the option to choose from numerous subjects as complementing major or minor subjects. The underlying idea is that students can develop their own interests and either gain a broader knowledge around biochemistry or focus and specialize in particular fields in depth.\ In providing an appropriate environment, the research of the Department of Biochemistry mainly focusses on Structural Biology and Innate Immunity, with a strong publication record proving the excellence of the teaching faculty in these fields. Students with interest in these research areas can expect top of the line education from experts who are geared to inspire young researchers. Moreover, the setting in Großhadern/Martinsried allows for the easy access of other institutes, which are readily participating in the education of our students, offer research internships and cover almost all other major fields of modern Chemistry and Life Science.\ An integral and absolutely critical part of the curriculum is to work in laboratories on real research projects either in the context of research internships or the Master thesis. Here, we actively encourage and support our students in following their interests and also choose labs outside of the LMU. Therefore, a large fraction of each class manages to secure internships or Master thesis positions in international labs of highest scientific reputation. We help our students with the identification of such labs and provide advise on how to apply and also on how to secure financing. After successfully completing their Master curriculum at the LMU, the vast majority of the Biochemistry students continue their academic education with graduate studies in order to receive a Dr. rer. nat. or a PhD.
Students can enter the master's program in Biochemistry either in the summer or the winter semester. The standard length of study is four semesters during which 120 ECTS (credits) must be earned. Courses are held in English.
Description of the study program on the central LMU websites
General description of the study program on the central LMU websites
The program’s design and its components
The basic draft of the master study in biochemistry intends three options/variations besides the mandatory modules with 45 ECTS and the master thesis with 30 ECTS:
- a) Choice of the major in chemistry (mandatory elective - WPF-Chemistry) from inorganic, organic, physical or theoretical chemistry - with 30 ECTS, and a minor (WPF-M) with 15 ECTS points, either from biochemistry, biology or chemistry, or
- b) Choice of the major in biology (mandatory elective - WPF-Biology) from cell biology or microbiology - with 30 ECTS, and a minor (WPF-M) with 15 ECTS points, either from biochemistry, biology or chemistry, or
- c) Upon request: Choice of three minors (WPF-M) each with 15 ECTS points, either from biochemistry, biology or chemistry.
More information at the Curriculm Website.
The application process, deadlines, required documents and enrollment
The Master in Biochemistry at the LMU Munich is a cross-disciplinary program taught exclusively in English, and is open to German and international students. New classes start in the summer and in the winter semester. Accordingly, we offer two application deadlines for the Master in Biochemistry program.
Note: The program Master in Biochemistry is restricted and underlies a selection procedure. If selected you will have to travel to Munich for the entrance exam at your own expense!
1. Application deadlines
For new students entering the first semester of the program or transfer students: You can apply to the master's program in chemistry for either the winter or summer semester. The application deadlines are:
-
- for admission to the winter semester, July 15
- for admission to the summer semester, January 15.
These deadlines apply to all students (Germany, EU, international)
Please carefully read the information on these and linked pages. In case you still have questions contact us at masterbc@genzentrum.lmu.de.
You can find all further information about the application documents and the postal address below or at Transfer students.
2. Requirements
For the Master's program in Biochemistry, successful participation in the placement process (see below) is required. This requires a successfully completed bachelor's degree in\
- "Chemistry and Biochemistry", Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry or a related topic. The bachelor curriculum should include practical courses in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Cell Biology
- Bachelors in Biotechnology will only be considered if transcripts show sufficient theoretical and practical skills in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology/Genetics/Cell Biology.
- Bachelors in Pharmacy are not considered.
- Excellent command of the English language. We do not require a proof of English proficiency, however, you need to understand, speak, read and write English at a high level in order to master the curriculum.
*If you meet this qualification and you are selected, you must also write an entrance exam (travel is at your own expense!). Passing the exam allows direct admission to the program.*
3. Application
Before you begin your studies in the master program, you first have to apply for acceptance to that course of study, that is, you have to register or re-register. If you want to enter the program in Biochemistry at the LMU, you must complete two consecutive steps:
a) Application for admission at the Department of Biochemistry at the Faculty for Chemistry and Pharmacy of the LMU.
The online application form opens only with start of the application period (May 15 and Nov. 15).
For completion of the online application you will need the following documents:
- Short motivation letter (no more than 400 words)
- Curriculum vitae
- Academic certificates (Bachelor's Degree) and/or transcripts of individual grades or current transcript of records with at least 168 out of 180 ECTS (93% of required points for your Bachelor's degree). Documents must be in German or English language.
Entrance exam
Based on your application we decide if you fulfill the necessary requirements for the curriculum and, if this is the case, invite you to a mandatory entrance exam here in Munich. After you have passed the exam (and, in case of international students, have been accepted by the International Office of the LMU - see below), you can be admitted to the curriculum.
- the entrance exam is mandatory for invited applicants!
- only invited candidates may participate in the test. Candidates will receive an invitation letter from us after we have processed your application
- written test of 90 min; results will be announced within a day
- dates for the entrance exam are 2-3 weeks after each application deadline and will be announced to invited applicants
- place for the entrance exam is the Gene Center in Munich. You have to take the entrance exam here in Munich at the specified date – no exceptions! Sorry, we are not in the position to arrange outside test locations, online testing or online interviews.
- unfortunately travel expenses cannot be covered\
International students
In addition to your application with the Department of Biochemistry international students need to apply at the International Office of the university. The International Office checks your formal eligibility to study at a German university.
Note: Both offices -the Department of Biochemistry and the International office- need to accept your application!
Application deadlines for both offices are January 15th and July 15th.\
b) Matriculation (enrollment) at the LMU
You can register at the LMU after you have received your letter of acceptance from the Biochemistry Department (and, for international students, your letter of acceptance from the Office of International Affairs). Registration (matriculation) must be done after you have filled out the Online-Form. Filling out the online form does not mean you have registered!
- For German citizens and students with a German Abitur or a german Bachelor:\ Matriculation, or registration, takes place only twice a year at the Registrar's Office (Studentenkanzlei). Please take note of the deadlines!\ You must submit all necessary documents via postal mail: the completed online registration form, your university entrance qualification document, your passport or identity card, your health-insurance identification, and the letter of acceptance from the Department of Biochemistry. For more information, including the address of the Registrar's Office, click central LMU-Website.
- For international students:\ To register via postal mail at the Registrar's Office (Studentenkanzlei), you need to submit the following documents: the completed online registration form, letters of acceptance from the Department of Biochemistry, a university entrance qualification document, passport or identity card, health-insurance identification and the results of your German-language proficiency test. For more information, including the address of the Registrar's Office, click central LMU-Websites.
Aptitude test for the Master program in "Biochemistry"
The application process (Bewerbung) applies to all students wishing to enter the master program in Biochemistry. There is no limitation (NC) at the LMU on the number of students who may be admitted to the Biochemistry master program. The students' aptitude for the study program, however, must be ascertained by a placement process (see 3. under Placement-Process-Bylaws below).
The placement process is part of the in due time application procedure (application deadlines - see above). After reviewing the documents according to the statute on Placement-Process-Bylaws (1662-EignMasterBiochemie.pdf (PDF, 96 KB) with modified regulations of 12/02/2026 (PDF, 76 KB)), you will be invited to an entrance exam (90 min. written exam), which will take place 2-3 weeks after the deadline at the Gene Center in Munich (see application process above). \ You have to take the entrance exam on the given date here in Munich - no exceptions! We are unfortunately not able to organize external test locations, online tests or online interviews. Travel is at your own expense!
Admission to the Master's program in Biochemistry is only possible if you pass the entrance exam.
In case of rejection, you can only apply a second time in the next procedure.
How to prepare for the entrance exam:
Recommended textbooks:\
List of topics relevant for the entrance exam: List of Topics (PDF, 161 KB)
Curriculum and module catalogue_04_02-2025_en.pdf
*Current Module Catalogue of this study program:*MHB LMU-Master Biochemistry (PDF, 563 KB)
Study and examination regulations
If there are no exam dates at the corresponding lecture below, please consult the lecturer to arrange the date and place.\ The dates are without guarantee! Please follow the announcement of the lectuerer!\ If there questions or notes please consult the study program coordination.
Information Concerning the Master Thesis
Regulations for the preparation of master theses
The Master’s thesis is the independent work in which you will generate a hypothesis, design and perform experiments to test it, document and analyze the obtained data and discuss the outcome of your experiments with respect to your hypothesis. At the end all steps are documented in a written scientific report.\ Each student must independently look for/apply for a place in a working group. The start of the master thesis will then be arranged directly with the supervisor.
Admission requirements are the passed modules P1, P2, P3 and P5.
*Topics:*from any of the main topics or extension topics covered by your study program.
External Master thesis:
- “external” means a LMU research unit or an institution that is not directly participating in the study program (e.g. Max-Planck, Helmholtz, different university or research institutions in Germany or abroad).
- an internal advisor is always needed who is competent in the field you have chosen for your Master thesis (e.g. at the Gene Center, in the Dept. of Chemistry or Faculty of Biology). The internal advisor will be responsible for accepting and grading the thesis. Usually, he or she will consult with the PI of the lab where the thesis work has been carried out.
- in case a lab outside of the LMU Munich is chosen, the formal consent of the head of the examination board (“Prüfungsausschussvorsitzender”) is required. We will take care of this once you have notified us of your plans (see form below).
- a brief proposal containing a short description of the planned research is required from you (max. 1-2 pages) and information about the host lab (research, contact)
- acceptance by the internal advisor of this proposal has to be documented with her/his signature.
The signed proposal has to be submitted together with the registration (see link to form below) of the \ Master thesis to students’ office.
Registration:\
- latest two to three weeks prior to starting date
- to register please fill in this registration form and bring it to the students' office.
For an external Master thesis submit the form together with the proposal (signed by the internal supervisor) to the students’ office.
Starting date:\ arrange a starting date with the lab of your choice. Keep in mind that the Master Biochemistry program \ should be finished in four semesters.
Duration:\
- 26 weeks (study rules/Prüfungsordnung §14(7))
- CANNOT BE EXTENDED.
In case of illness please provide us with a corresponding sick leave certificate from your doctor. The duration will be extended for the time covered by the certificate.
Submission:\
- latest 26 weeks after start
- two hardcopies (one for your internal supervisor, one for the students’/ examination office)
- must contain an affirmation of authenticity with your signature on it
- no use of the LMU logo
Grading:\
- your supervisor writes a report in which she/he judges and grades your thesis work
- for externally done theses the external supervisor sends a report and proposes a grade to the internal supervisor and the examination office. The internal supervisor then grades the work based on the report of the external supervisor.
Certificate/ Diploma:\
- preparation of the certificate upon grading will take 10-14 days
- you will be electronically informed to pick up your certificate
- no mailing (post) of certificates possible!
https://lsf.verwaltung.uni-muenchen.de/
- Compact information on courses of study in chemistry and biochemistry: LMU_Chemie_u_Biochemie2012.pdf (PDF, 156 KB)
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