Biology

A bachelor’s degree is the first professional qualification that can be obtained at a university. The standard length of the programme is six semesters, and different types of courses are offered for each module (e.g. seminars, lectures, or practical classes).

If you opt for a single-subject bachelor’s programme in ‘Biology’, your education will be focused on one subject comprising 180 ECTS credits (1 ECTS credit = 30 hours of attendance, preparation and follow-up work, private study, assessed coursework and examinations).

In the first and second years of study (1st to 4th semester), you will have to take compulsory modules covering the fundamentals of science and biology. In the third year of study (5th and 6th semester), you will be able to choose most of your modules according to your interests and career aspirations.

Abbreviations: ECTS = European Credit Transfer System 

You can find more detailed information in the module catalogue for the degree programmeExternal link.

• Excellent research: The research conducted at the Faculty of Biological Sciences is focused around three main areas in which the University of Jena has made significant contributions over the years: microbial communication; biodiversity and evolution, and the regulation of age-associated processes.
• Lots of practical content: There is a special emphasis on laboratory practicals and field work assignments – mostly in small groups. You will also have numerous opportunities to gain practical experience in applied research.
• Great variety: Your education will be enriched by various university institutions and projects such as the Botanical Garden de, Herbarium Haussknecht de, the Phyletic MuseumExternal link, the Ernst-Haeckel-Haus and the Jena ExperimenExternal link.
• Close cooperation: You can benefit from our ties to internationally renowned research institutions such as the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll InstituteExternal link), the Leibniz Institute on Aging (Fritz Lipmann InstituteExternal link), the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry)External link, the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology)External link, the Max Planck Institute of GeoanthropologyExternal link and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-LeipzigExternal link.
• A world of possibilities: Experience our international flair! Our University appeals to students and researchers from all over the world and helps to shape Jena’s character as a cosmopolitan city that is fit for the future – it’s the perfect place for international studentsmp4, 57 mb · de.
• Adventures abroad: You can easily realize your dream of spending a semester abroad. We have a global network of partner universities.