Application and admission
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Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – A Two-Year-Program
File name: Flyer_BMB_FD.pdfLast update: 10.01.2024
All Information at a Glance
Restricted Admission
Limited to 20 Students
Language Requirements
International C1 Certificates in English
Opening Application Portal
December for winter semester
via application button APPLY on this webpage
Application Deadline
January 15 for winter semester
Information about Written Test
End of February for winter semester
Written Test
End of March for winter semester
Term 1 Academic Year 2024/25
Start of introductory courses: October 07
Start of classes: October 14
Admission & Selection Process
- Bachelor (B.Sc.) degree qualifying for a profession in biochemistry, biology, chemistry or a closely related discipline such as biotechnology, pharmacy or medical studies, with achievements to at least 180 credit points.
- At least 60 credit points in one or several of the sciences of previous study such as: biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, mathematics, plant physiology or physics.
- Fluency in English according to level C1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
- Passing a written aptitude test under supervision on the basics of biochemistry and molecular cell biology. Prerequisite for the participation in the aptitude test is the fulfilment of the admission requirements according to §1 until the end of the application period.
- Letter of motivation explaining why you chose this program and what your research interests are.
AFTER applying - upon receipt of your online application - your uploaded documents will be used to check whether your higher education institution/university is accredited and whether your degree entitles you to enroll in the desired Master's program.
Please contact masterprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de for further questions to your degree.
If you would like to inform yourself in advance, you can visit the following websites
- Anabin for higher education institutions/universities outside Germany (German only)
- Higher Education Kompass for higher education institutions/universities within Germany
Applicants whose native language is not English or whose last study was not completely taught in English language, are asked to submit a proof of proficiency in English according to level C1.
List of all the tests that are accepted as proof of C1 competence in English.
Please contact masterprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de for further questions to English language certificates.
Contact Us
If you are unsure, whether the content of your degree program is sufficiently suitable for the Master's program or should there still be any further questions to the Master program itself, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Program Coordinator
Dr. Kathrin Maedler
Assistant Coordinator
Stefanie Haack
Selection Process
Selection process
If the number of applicants meeting the admission requirements exceeds the number of availabe study places - which is usually the case - the Master's Selection Board will rank the applications, up to 120 points may be awarded for an application.
Ranking System
up to 60 points: Overall grade of previous degree, or average grade achieved up to time of application (min. 120 CP). A ranking list of applicants is drawn up on the basis of their grades.
up to 48 points: for the result of the passed aptitude test on the basics of biochemistry and molecular cell biology. 1 point is awarded for every 2% of the maximum number of points achieved by the candidate in the test.
up to 12 points: Letter of Motivation stating reasons for your interest in the program, written in English.
Letter of Motivation
What we expect
Criteria for the evaluation of the letter are specific reference to the study course, a distinct explanation of the applicant’s own qualification and aims, especially as regards the connection between future career and the course of studies, as well as the applicant’s motivation being in accordance with the orientation of the course of studies. Your motivation letter should be one page maximum.
Application
Online Application
Applications must be submitted online, prior to the closing date and together with all necessary admission requirements. Applicants must apply via the central online application portal of the University of Bremen (MOIN).
The online application form will be active 6 weeks before the application deadline. Your application is only valid for the semester you have selected.
Applications may (and should) already be submitted before the previous study degree (i.e. usually B.Sc.) has been finished, if at least 120 ECTS have been obtained, equivalent to the work load of 4 semesters. In those cases, admission can be granted on the condition that the previous degree will be successfully finished by September, 30th.
The certificate of language proficiency is furnished at the latest two weeks after the beginning of the master courses. In this case the relevant documents and certificates are to be handed in by 31 December of that year.
Application documents
At the time of application, you must provide a current overview of grades and course work (study schedule/ transcript of records) and, if already available, proof of having been awarded your degree. You have to upload the following documents:
- Certificate of Bachelor degree or official academic transcript of Study Records of your Bachelor studies. i.e. a list of successfully studied courses completed at your home university (inlcuding duration, final grades, graduation scheme), in English or German
- Detailed and current curriculum vitae (CV), written in English
- Letter of Motivation, explaining your interest for enrollment in the Master of Ecology program, written in English
- Proof of sufficient English language skills, in English
- Any additional documents or relevant qualifications, such as internships or academic awards, written in German or English
Further questions about the application procedure?
Please check the Master's Portal of the University of Bremen for answers concerning your online application (registration, upload of documents etc.). You will find answers to frequently asked questions at the FAQ of the Master's Portal.
If there are any questions left, please contact the Student Office (SfS) masterprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de.
Application Deadline
January 15 for winter semester
Please take note
Documents for application
You apply WITHOUT CERTIFIED COPIES of your documents! Only in case of admission you have to hand in certified hardcopies.
Written Test
Test procedure
If you meet the admission requirements, you will be invited to participate in a written test on biochemistry at either one of the partner universities of the University of Bremen or at a DAAD representation. You will be informed about the place and time for the written aptitude test at the end of February. The test is performed in March.
If you pass the test, you are qualified for the program, otherwise not. The points achieved in the test are used in addition to other criteria for the ranking.
Contents of the test
The test will examine your basic knowledge in biochemistry and cell biology. Special emphasis will be given to the chemistry that underlies biochemistry (chemical structures, bonds, reactions, calculations).
We have compiled some questions for you, that you could encounter in the examination or that will help you during preparation for the test. If you have severe problems to answer those and similar questions, you will most likely not pass the test.
Contact
In case you have any questions about the test procedure,
please do not hesitate to contact
Deadline for the test
March for winter semester
- Can you identify ATP and cholesterol by their chemical structure?
- Are you able to calculate the enzyme activity of a dehydrogenase from the alteration of absorbance?
- Do you know the chemical reaction that is catalyzed by pyruvate kinase?
- Do you know if and how low molecular weight compounds penetrate cell membranes?
- How many nitrogen atoms contains a molecule of cAMP?
- How many carboxyl groups contains malate?
- By which type of chemical bond is the phosphate group linked in glycerol-3-phosphate?
- Are you able to identify the types of covalent chemical bonds that link the components of NADPH?
- Which compound is generated by an enzymatic 2-electron oxidation of acetaldehyde?
- In which metabolic pathway is transketolase involved?
- Which essential organic cofactor/prosthetic group is essential for the activity of the enzyme glutamate decarboxylase?
- In which organelle/cellular compartment of a mammalian cell is hexokinase localized?
- To which class of enzymes belongs hexokinase?
- How many mols of CO2 are generated by the oxidation of 2 mols of acetyl-CoA in the citric acid cycle?
- How many milligrams of glucose (molecular mass: 180 Da) are required to prepare 200 mL of a 6 mM solution ?
- Do you know the mechanism of catalysis of chymotrypsin?
- What is the length of a typical bacterium?
- Do you know the principles of translation?
- Do you know the composition of the microbial cell wall?
- Particle sedimentation in a gravitation field is influenced by ?
- How are the following sugars crosslinked: starch, cellulose, sucrose, glycogen ?
- Which mobile electron carriers are involved in electron transfer from water to NAD+ in photosynthesis ?
- Into which cellular compartment proteins are transported in their native 3-D conformation?
- What is the driving force for the transport of sugar over plant plasma membranes?
If you have severe problems to answer these or similar questions, you will most likely not pass the test.
Enrollment
Verification in two steps
After the application deadline your application will undergo two consecutive checks. At first the Secretariat for Students International (SfSI) will check if your application is complete and correct.
If your application is incomplete or incorrect, you will not be included into the following selection procedure. Instead you will receive a notification from the SfS International indicating that you are rejected and why.
At this stage, you cannot correct your application anymore nor deliver any missing documents.
If the criteria of the first step are met and you qualify for the programme, you will be invited to participate in a written test on biochemistry at either one of the partner universities of the University of Bremen or at a DAAD representation. You will be informed about the test location and the date for the test at the end of February. The written test will take place by the end of March.
The Selection Board of the Master's programme BMB will meet as soon as possible, latest in the beginning of May to evaluate all applications.
After having received the final ranking list for the Master's programme BMB the SfS International will inform you whether your application has been successful or not.
Enrollment
In case of success you will get a notification of admission by email via the MOIN portal.
Please take note of the conditions and deadlines contained in the notification. If requested you have to submit the requested further paper documents (until the deadline stated in the admission note!). If you do not submit the respective documents within the specified deadline or, if they are not correctly certified, you will not be enrolled.
You confirm acceptance by paying semester fee. Please consider the specified deadline for paying!
Check your status online
The Selection procedure will take some time (usually 6-8 weeks after the application deadline). Using your online registration login in MOIN, you can check the status of your application at any time.
morePlease take note
Documents for enrollment
- Copies of original certificates must be VALIDATED.
- Certificates in other languages than German or English must be TRANSLATED into German or English.
- ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, please do not send any!
- Please bring the documents personally for the enrollment process at the university. Do not send any!
Getting ready for Bremen
- passport valid for the entire period to be spent in Germany (otherwise you will have to go home in-between to renew it)
- notification of enrollment or admission letter from the University Bremen
- proof of financial resources (secure livelihood)
- visa (not a tourist visa)
- proof of health insurance (if your current health insurance is recognised in Germany!)
You will need the originals and certified translations of the following documents
(ask the German embassy for accepted translaters and certification of copies)
- birth certificate
- secondary school leaving certificate
- possibly your academic qualifications
- language diplomas
and if there is one
- a book of vaccination certificates (Enquire at the German consulates if you need any vaccinations)
- an international driving licence
- Medicines you need
- Some German cash for your arrival
- Recent biometric photographs (e.g. for residence permit or registration as a citizen of Bremen)
- A power plug and possibly a voltage converter for electric appliances (in Germany: 230V/50Hz)
Information on visa, residence permit, registration, health insurance, bank account and more
moreConfirmation of presence for visa formalities
If you need a confirmation that your presence in Bremen is required in winter 2020/21, please use your online registration login in MOIN. There you will get a confirmation for submission to the German Embassy on demand.
Please take note
Important fact about health insurance
As a student from outside the EU/EAA /Switzerland or contract country, you are legally obliged to insure with the German public health insurance.
Contact
If you are an enrolled and prospective student you can find assistance here:
International Office
Claudia Pellegrino
Phone: +49 421 218-60365
Email: claudia.pellegrinoprotect me ?!vw.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
Living & Campus
If enrollment or re-registration is withdrawn before the semester documents have been printed, the entire semester fee can be refunded.
In the case of a return of a study place, a refund can only be made if we have received all semester documents (incl. semester ticket).
- Costs
- Housing
- Health insurance
- Bank account
- Daily needs on campus (such as banks and insurance companies)
- Jobs
- International communities at the University of Bremen
- Languages
- Arrival, transport and semester ticket
- Campus map
- Learning spaces
- Libraries
- Academic advisory Services
- Catering
- Culture on campus
- Sports
Formalities regarding residency
After arrival in Bremen you have to register as a citizen within two weeks after moving into your accomodation (Residents Registration Office/ Einwohnermeldeamt). For registering as a citizen you need an official certificate of your landlord.
At the latest four weeks before the expiry date of the entry / study visa, you must apply for a residence permit.
You can do both, applying for a residence permit and registering as a citizen of Bremen, on the campus at the Bremen Service University (BSU).
Students of the previous year may help you with these formalities.
More information on registration and residence permit
moreContact BSU
BSU (bremen_service universität)
Bibliothekstr. 6
28359 Bremen
Before classes start
BMB Tutoring Program
BMB tutors (senior students from the previous year) will assist you with your new start in Bremen.
They will help you with the formalities on campus and support you in dealing with administration.
Start of introductory classes
October 07 for winter term 2024/25
Start of classes
October 14 for winter term 2024/25
Class schedule 1st term