Marine Biology University of Bremen

The MSc programme Marine Biology is strongly research-orientated. The graduates are trained to develop hypotheses-driven research concepts and to design appropriate experimental approaches in order to answer profound questions related to the large field of marine ecosystem and organism functioning and of potential impacts of local, regional and global environmental change.

Teaching of the MSc programme Marine Biology at the University of Bremen follows a unique concept. The university has very close ties and intense cooperation with several world-class marine research institutions located in the Federal State of Bremen. Most heads of departments and many principal investigators at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), and at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (MPI) are professors at the University of Bremen and contribute to teaching the MSc programme Marine Biology at the same time.

Many courses are actually taught in the laboratories and facilities of the institutes benefiting from cutting-edge research infrastructure and first-hand contact to leading experts. This unique context sets the scene for direct links from current state of research to academic training.

Four semesters with modular structure, theoretical and practical courses; full-time programme

Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Thuenen Institute of Sea Fisheries, Thuenen Institute of Fisheries Ecology

1. Applicants must hold a Bachelor's (BSc) degree in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, oceanography or a closely related discipline
2. with an overall grade of at least 2.5 according to the German grading scheme, in which 1.0 equals "excellent", 2.0 "good", 3.0 "satisfactory", 4.0 "sufficient", and 5.0 "fail". Grades from international applicants will be converted to the German grading scheme by the university administration.

Applications may (and should) already be submitted before the previous study degree (i.e., usually BSc) has been finished, if at least 135 ECTS have been obtained, equivalent to the work load of 4.5 semesters. In those cases, admission can be granted on the condition that the previous degree will be successfully finished by the start of the programme.

Your application must include a curriculum vitae, letter of motivation in English language, transcript of study records of your BSc studies indicating the curriculum, study efforts (ECTS or hours of study) and grades, proof of sufficient English language skills, and any additional documents of relevant qualifications, such as internships or academic awards. You must upload all requested documents as PDF files. Do not send any application documents by mail! Only those candidates who are actually admitted to the study programme will have to submit hard copies of their application package at a later stage. They will be asked explicitly to do so by the Secretariat for Students International (SfS-I). Please address all queries regarding the formal application procedure to SfS-I (e-mail: master@uni-bremen.de).

The selection board will meet in May (or early June) and evaluate all applications according to the following criteria: overall grade of the previous degree (40%), individual academic and non-academic qualifications relevant to the scope of marine biology (40%), and Letter of Motivation (20%). If there are more applicants than vacant study places, applicants will be admitted according to their rank in the evaluation.

The semester contribution is currently approx. 425 EUR. This will cover your registration as a student, public transport within Bremen and its surroundings, and reduced prices at the student refectory.

The costs of living amount to about 1,000 EUR per month. The education is offered free of charge. There are no examination fees. Rent for room is approx. 400 EUR per month (student residence). The exact sum will depend on the quality and size of the room, whether you share an apartment with others, and whether electricity, hot water, etc. are included. Costs for food amount to approx. 250 EUR per month. A typical meal in the student restaurant costs approx. 3-4 EUR.

There are opportunities to participate in research projects as student workers. The Career Centre on campus also provides employment possibilities. However, the study programme is full-time.

Dormitories are available for a limited number of students.