Molecular and Applied Biotechnology B.Sc.

 

Anyone, who enjoys yogurt or a good beer, knows what microorganisms can achieve. The smallest living organisms have been used for centuries to produce foodstuffs. One of the tasks of biotechnology is to turn them into more efficient microbial factories in the future.

The metabolism of microorganisms, for example, is increasingly used to acquire energy from biomass or in the production of tailor-made enzymes or other molecules. On the other hand, targeted disruption of the cell metabolism or the suppresion of propagation can contribute to successfully fighting dangerous microorganisms.

As the interface of biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, and chemical engineering, biotechnology offers an interdisciplinary research platform, which makes microorganisms predictable and able to be used in a controlled matter for certain purposes. The skills that budding biotechnologists acquire at RWTH are likewise diverse. The spectrum ranges from microbiology to genetics to biochemical engineering.

In support of this intensive, fundamental training, only a few specialization opportunities are offered during Bachelor's studies. During subsequent Master's studies, students select one of four classical specializations in biotechnology.

• The term white biotechnology refers to biotechnology used in industry. It focuses on the technical acquisition of tailor-made products from cellular metabolism and the industrial increase of the yield of modern bioreactors.
• Red biotechnology aims for medical application. It strives to produce therapeutic proteins, tailor-made enzymes, reagents, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines. Furthermore, it develops new strategies to fight illnesses, which can disrupt metabolism or the propagation of pathogens.
• In green biotechnology focus is placed on plants and plant biomass. Its objective, for example, is plant resistance, yield increase, and the production of microbial-supported processes for obtaining energy from biomass and using byproducts.
• Biochemical engineers develops innovative biotechnological production processes, partially in collaboration with mechanical engineers. Their spectrum of work ranges from decomposition of biogenic raw materials to simulation and reactor technology to tailor-made products.

Life Sciences at RWTH

RWTH Aachen is one of the leading technical universities in Europe. It maintains a number of international relationships and is integrated into the Bioregio Rheinland, among others, with its life science activities. An interdisciplinary forum and "LifeTec Aachen-Jülich" were established for the life sciences at RWTH Aachen. The Jülich Aachen Research Alliance or JARA exists between RWTH Aachen and Forschungszentrum Jülich. There is also a Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology in Aachen and the DWI materials research institute, the German Wool Research Institute, of the Leibniz Association. The size and diversity of RWTH gives students a specific specialized curriculum based on individual needs and abilities that is practically unparalleled. Biotechnology at RWTH Aachen is represented in many national and international research foundations, such as the Excellence Cluster “Tailor made fuels from biomass” and the EU large-scale project Pharma-Planta. More information is available on the Department of Biology website.

 

Degree Content

The course of study offers many institute internships and first-class lab training. Exernal internships or final papers at companies or partner research institutions, such as the Fraunhofer institutes or Forshungszentrum Jülich, offer important experiences in application.

Curriculum

	Biological Modules	Biotechnological Modules	Mathematic, Chemical, and Physical Modules
1	Cellular Biology, Biochemistry	Fundamentals of Biotechnology	Inorganic Chemistry (including internship), Mathematics
2	Microbiology, Genetics, Quantitative Biology	Production Processes and Omics-Technologies	Organic Chemistry (including internship), Physics
3	Bioinformatics, Bioanalytics, Microbiological Internship	Molecular Biotechnology, Enzyme Technology, Computational Biotechnology	Physical Chemistry, Physical Internship
4	Physiology of Microorganisms	Process Engineering, Bioreactor Technology, and Math Tutorial	Physical-Chemical Internship
5	Immunology I	Reaction Engineering and Math Tutorial, Immunology, Interdisciplinary Block Internship, Biotechnology/Bio-process Engineering
Economic fundamentals and presentation of results, additional qualifications
6	Molecular Biotechnology Block Internship, Project-Oriented Methodology Practical, Bachelor's Thesis, Bachelor's Colloquium

Programs Abroad

Research institutions worldwide work on biological questions of global importance. Thus, participation in partnership programs with international universities or research institutes is an irreplacable experience for students during their studies. The Department of Biology offers study and internship opportunities around the world. In the EU mobility program ERASMUS+ alone it maintains partnerships with 32 renowned European universities. Other partnerships make study or internship periods possible in North America, South America, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, and other Asian countries and Australia.

Students profit not only from the Faculty's own study abroad programs but also from the University's strategic partnerships with international universities. For example, while completing their final project or paper they can complete a brief stay at one of the IDEA League universities. The UROP Abroad program, the only one of its kind in Germany, offers the possibility to participate in research projects at international universities as a Bachelor student. These stays abroad are partially funded by RWTH financial aid. All of RWTH's cooperative programs are presented on the webpages about study abroad. Subject-specific offers are published on the department's webpage for international networking.

Internships

In the challenging biological, chemical, and physical internships, students acquire the necessary methodological knowledge and practical experience to arrive at scientifically founded research results through a hypothesis, planning, experiment, and evaluation. Students are supported and encouraged to acquire additional experiences through internships or projects at collaboration research institutions, such as the Fraunhofer Institute and FZ Jülich, or in companies.

 

Prerequisites

Personal Prerequisites

In addition to a great interest in biological questions, students should have basic skills in mathematics, physics, and chemistry or at least the readiness to quickly acquire these skills, which are urgently needed. Prospective students can freshen up or advance their skills in math and chemistry before studies begin in the bridge courses.

Enrollment Prerequisite

RWTH "Mathematics and Natural Sciences" Self Assessment

 

Decision Aids

The RWTH Aachen Bachelor course of study in Biotechnology distinguishes itself through a large general natural science component. In addition to one mathematics and physics module each, students also complete modules in general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. The amount of mathematics and engineering in biotechnology is larger than in biology. Nevertheless, focus is placed on natural science, distinguishing the students from mechanical engineering with a specialization in bioprocess engineering. School students can get an impression of the demands of studies by attending lectures, or participating in the Schüleruni or the Sample Studies.

In addition to basics in biology and other natural sciences, students in the biotechnology course of study, also take classes in molecular biotechnology such as molecular biology and gene technology, as well as applied biotechnology and process engineering. This is where the RWTH Aachen differs from many other universities. An understanding of economic questions is important for biotechnology, since industry is the most important area of work.

The course of study in Molecular and Applied Biotechnology is not suited for students exclusively interested in the natural sciences or molecular biology including molecular and cellular biology, genetics, neurosciences, bionics, or molecular medicine. Prospective students, who are not sure certain which biological focus they are interested in, are encouraged to look at the biology course of study at RWTH Aachen.

 

Media Library

Do you want more insight and impressions? Use our diverse information available! You can find our recommendations in the media library.

 

Career Prospects

Interest in biotech-products remains uninterrupted and will only grow in the future. As an application-oriented science, biotechnology offers diverse entry-level opportunities for graduates.

The first option is, of course, scientific research. However, the industrial application of biotechnological processes offers a breadth of fields of activitiy.

In the medical and pharmaceutical industry biotechnologists support the development of medications, vaccines, and diagnostic methods. Many biotechnological service providers work in agriculture. They are devoted to the optimization of fodder or breeding stress-resistant crops. In the energy sector the trend is moving towards the more sustainable use of existing resources. Here, specialists are needed for energy production from biomass. Last but not least, the chemical industry is interested in biotechnological expertise as biocatalytic processes are increasingly being implemented.

 

Master's Degree Prospects

Graduates of the Bachelor's course of study can continue their studies in the Molecular and Applied Biotechnology Master's program. They advance and expand their knowledge in one of the previously mentioned focuses: process engineering, white biotechnology, red biotechnology, and green biotechnology. No mattter the concentration, studies are very much application-oriented. The biological institutes' outstanding facilities make it possible to offer an institute internship in almost every module.

It is also possible to re-orient yourself towards biology or ecotoxicology. If you are planning to do so, you must adjust your Bachelor curriculum accordinging. Admission may combined with required technical supplements. Departmental advising can provide information about this.

 

Module Handbook and Examination Regulations

The module handbook provides a description of all modules of a degree program and offers a comprehensive insight into the program contents.

The examination regulations are comprised of legally binding provisions on learning objectives, prerequisites for study, the course structure and processes, and examination procedures.

Regulations that generally apply to all Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, including information on language proficiency requirements, can be found in RWTH's General Examination Regulations. These general regulations are further specified and complemented by the subject-specific examination regulations.

If two examination regulations are valid for a degree program during a transition phase, the most current version shall apply to students enrolling in the program for the first time.

Please note that only the German examination regulations are legally binding.

Module Handbook
Subject-Specific Examination Regulations
RWTH's General Examination Regulations

 

Faculty

The Bachelor course of study in Biotechnology is offered by the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences.