Biology B.Sc.

 

Bacteria transforming biomass into valuable energy carriers, vegetable and cereal crops showing healthy growth even under stressful conditions, the skin desert dwellers serving as a model for solar cell coating, and ecosystems being sustainably protected – these are moments where biology shows that it can not only just research relationships but also offer solutions for the future.

Aside from its significance as a fundamental science biology has become increasingly important as an applied, multidisciplinary discipline. This is evident in technical terms such as gene technology, biotechnology, biomedicine, and bionics.

Biology studies at RWTH aim beyond the classic, biological discipline and include modern, applied, and interdisciplinary aspects of bioresources, biomedicine, bioinformation systems, and biotechnology. These fields are focuses of research and teaching at RWTH Aachen.

Due to the University's technical orientation, it is also possible to for students to experience diverse and exciting interactions with engineering, medical, and natural science subjects.

After intensive training in the basic subject fields microbiology, zoology, botany, genetics, and ecology students can choose one of five specializations which reflect the focus of biological research in Aachen.

• Microbiology and genetics lead to world of cells, microorganisms, and the genome.
• Biological information processing or neurobiology deals with neuronal reactions from the molecular level to an organism's behavior, such as all sense perception phenomena. Information bionics is also a part of this discipline.
• Cellular and molecular plant biology focus on the optimization of plant-based biomass and its transition into future energy carriers and on an increase to the resistance of plants against diseases.
• The environmental sciences focus on entire ecosystems – their properties, sensitivity, stability, and regulatory mechanisms.
• Biotechnology encompasses the use of biological processes – primarily in individual cells and microorganisms. This field includes green, red, and white biotechnology, gene technology, and bioprocess engineering.

 

Degree Content

The high number of labs and the experimental Bachelor thesis teach students practical skills and scientific work methods. Excursions in the ecology specialization introduce field work methods.

Students are also encouraged and supported when acquiring further experience through internships or final projects at collaborating research institutions, such as the Fraunhofer institutes and Forschungszentrum Jülich, or in companies.

Curriculum

	Biological Modules	Mathematical, Chemical, and Physical Modules
1	Cellular Biology, Structure of Organisms I: Animals (including practical)	Mathematics, Inorganic Chemistry (including practical)
2	Genetics, Structure of Organisms II: Plants (including practical), Microbiology	Organic Chemistry (including practical), Physics
3	Biochemistry (including practical), Basic Microbiological Practical, Biotechnology, Animal Physiology, Plant Physiology	Physics (practical), Physical Chemistry
4	Plant Physiology (practical), Ecology (with determination exercises and excursions), Quantitative Biology and Computer Applications, Animal Physiology (practical)	Physical Chemistry (practical)
5	Quantitative Biology and Computer Applications, Additional Qualification, such as business administration, computer science, engineering, language
	Specialization: One of five specialization modules
6	Additional Qualifification such as business administration, computer science, engineering, language, Project-oriented Methods Practical Bachelor's Thesis, Final Colloquium

Programs Abroad

Research institutions worldwide work on biological problems of global importance. Participation in cooperative programs at international universities or research institutions abroad during students' studies is irreplaceable. The Department of Biology offers study and internship opportunities worldwide. It maintains partnerships with 32 renowned European universities through the EU mobility program ERASMUS+ alone. It also offer opportunities in North America, South America, Canada, China, Japan, Korean, other Asian countries, and Australia.

RWTH students profit not only from the Faculty's exchange programs but also from the University's strategic partnerships with international universities. They can, for example, complete short stays at one of the IDEA League universities while completing a term paper. The UROP Abroad program, the only one of its kind in Germay, offers the possibility to participate in research projects at international universities during Bachelor studies. These stays abroad are partially funded by RWTH-specific funding. All of RWTH's collaborative programs are listed on the webpages about studying abroad. The department's website provides information about subject-specific offers.

 

Decision Aids

Biology at RWTH Aachen is application oriented. "Classical biology" subjects are not at the focus. This is particularly apparent in the concentration modules during the fifth semester.

Biology studies at RWTH first offers a broad fundamental education in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Students should be interested in other natural science disciplines. Biology studies create a general overview of the basic subjects in biology. They then offer a selection of different specializations. Biology at RWTH Aachen also means that one faces the technical and commercial application of scientific knowledge. School students can get an initial impression of the demands by either visiting lectures, attending the Schüleruni, or participating in the sample studies.

 

Media Library

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

 

Application Process

Anyone with a German university entrance qualification – Abitur – as well as citizens of an EU or EEC country with an international school certificate apply for admission to Hochschulstart, the Foundation for University Admission – Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung. All others must apply directly to RWTH Aachen University.

 

Prerequisites

Personal Prerequisites

In addition to interst in biological problems, we highly recommend having basic skills in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, or at least the readiness to quickly acquire these skills. Prospective students can freshen up and advance their skills in math and chemistry in the bridge courses before studies begin.

Enrollment Prerequisite

RWTH "Mathematics and Natural Sciences" Self Assessment

 

Career Prospects

The transformation of biology into a modern, application-oriented, and interdisciplinary science generate diverse career fields for biologists. Scientific research should be mentioned above all.

However the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries and medicine also offer interesting professional options. Here biologists profit from their skills in molecular methods.

Many students pursue jobs in nature conservation, in landscape design, and in impact analysis and appraisals for ecologically relevant procedures. As nature conservation is an issue that is legally anchored, there are always solid entry-level opportunities.

Graduates from RWTH are application-oriented, meaning they are familiar with points of intersection with technology and possess diverse supplemental qualifications. They are not only well prepared for biological fields but also for employment in quality management, product development, marketing, and sales. Consulting firms also hire biologists – they require exact, consistent, and systematic thinking and work methods.

 

Master's Degree Prospects

Bachelor graduates can continue their studies in the epononymous Master's program. It offers similar specializations: biological information processing, microbiology and genetics, molecular biology and cellular biology, plant sciences, and environmental sciences, medical life sciences. Biotechnology is no longer an option.

A further option is the Master's in Molecular and Applied Biotechnology. In this case the Bachelor curriculum must be adjusted, so contact departmental advising as early as possible.

With the proper adjustments during Bachelor's studies, students can also pursue the Master's of Ecotoxicology or the interdisciplinary course of study Biomedical Engineering.

 

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 Biology is offered by the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences.