Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology Master's study programme

About Halle and the University

With a population of almost 240,000, Halle is one of the largest cities in Central Germany. The small metropolis on the Saale river offers a versatile mixture of art, culture, gastronomy and recreation. Numerous national institutions are also headquartered in Halle. The Leipzig-Halle international airport is only 15 minutes away by train or car. It takes just over an hour to get to Berlin.

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, founded in 1502, is one of the oldest universities in Germany and, with around 20,000 students, the largest in the federal state of Saxony- Anhalt. We rely on modern laboratory equipment as well as extensive support of our students by many professors and employees. With more than 260 programmes on offer in different areas of study, there is a suitable subject for everyone.

The programme qualifies for positions in industrial and pharmaceutical biotechnology and related fields:

• Research and development
• Production
• Teaching
• Management, administration and quality assessment
• Counseling, sales and marketing

The programme also qualifies for PhD positions.

This study programme is accredited.

• Modules of the programme (90 CP)
• Master thesis (30 CP)

The content, learning objectives, workload, requirements and prerequisites of specific modules are detailed in the module catalogue and in the study and examination regulations (in German only), respectively. 

The programme is primarily aimed at graduates of a bachelor's degree programme in (bio)chemistry, biology, biotechnology or (bio)engineering.  Furthermore, graduates of a comparable study programme, e.g. pharmacy, can be admitted.

Applicants for the MSc Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology must

• hold a bachelor's degree (minimum 180 ECTS (= credit points (CP)) or equivalent  in (Bio-)Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, (Biochemical) Engineering, Pharmacy, or related fields with a minimum grade «good», i.e.better than 2.5 according to the German academic grading scale.

• prove sufficient knowledge of English language (i.e., non-native speakers) at upper B2 level by means of an internationally recognised test result such as

  • TOEFL iBT (at least 90/120),TOEFL CBT (235/300), or TOEFL PBT (580 / 677)
  • IELTS (at least band 6.5),
  • Cambridge Certificate (at least 173/230),
  • UNIcert II,

  • or an equivalent (inter)nationally recognised language certificate (at least 75% of the maximum score achievable in the respective certificate).

Proof of language proficiency is considered to have been provided if native English language proficiency, as defined by the study and examination regulations, is proven by school and/or university degrees from Australia, Ireland, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Previous knowledge in biochemistry (chemical, physical and molecular biological basics of life processes in organisms, experimental skills), biotechnology (up- and downstream processing, protein and enzyme technology, experimental skills), or biology (basics of cell and molecular biology, experimental skills) is essential. Basic knowledge in the other disciplines as well as in-depth knowledge in mathematics (differential and integral calculus), physics (experimental physics, optics, atomic and molecular physics) and chemistry (general/inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, preparative skills, chemical arithmetic) are additionally required.

Decisions on compliance with the admission requirements are taken by the study and examination board of the programme or the committee appointed for this purpose, respectively.

This chapter consists of excerpts roughly translated into English. Only the study and examination regulations are legally binding.

The admission to the MSc Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology is currently restricted (Uni-NC).

• Applicants with a German bachelor's degree (or equivalent) please apply via www.uni-halle.de/bewerben by 15 July.

• Applicants with a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from abroad please apply via www.uni-assist.de by 31 March. > Information and Application procedure (The decision on acceptance will be made by the board of examiners until 31 May.)

Required documents

The following documents must be submitted with the application for admission:

1. A hard copy of your bachelor's degree or equivalent (i.e., graduation certificate and transcripts). Important note: Applicants via uni-assist upload their certificates and transcripts (both in original language and official translations, unless the originals are in English or in German) with their online application. For those applicants it is not necessary to hand in any additional hard documents.

2. Halle University does accept provisional graduation certificates, if your degree is scheduled after the application deadline. Please submit your transcripts indicating minimum 2/3 of your total credits to be passed / your senior student stage, accordingly. The final graduation certificate shall be submitted with enrolment, respectively by no later than 31 January in the year following admission.

3. Recognised proof of the proficiency in English language (see admission requirements)

Decisions on compliance with the admission requirements are taken by the selection committee.

Fulfilment of the admission requirements does not constitute a claim to a study place for this programme.

This chapter consists of excerpts roughly translated into English. Only the study and examination regulations are legally binding.

Information for international applicants

For any questions regarding application and admission - except eligibility - please see website or contact the International Students Section (Student Registration Office) via international.students@uni-halle.de.

• Biochemie
  Master of Science (M.Sc.), Studiengang 120 LP, zulassungsfrei (ohne NC)