Master of Science in Evolutionary Biology Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Are you interested in the evolution of organisms? Are you curious about genomics, computational and population biology? Then this Master’s degree programme in evolutionary biology is perfect for you.

This programme will connect you to our expert, globally renowned researchers here at JGU Mainz, and will open doors to thriving careers in international academia, conservation, industry and government. This course of study blends practical laboratory work, theoretical exploration, and advanced computer application to help you develop a wide range of career skills.

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in biology, molecular biology, mathematics, forensic sciences or bioinformatics. Knowledge of English is essential (including German Abitur of English at level B2). Knowledge of German is not required. Our online interview process ensures alignment with your academic background.

Our programme runs over four semesters and includes hands-on laboratory practicals, cutting-edge computational techniques and lectures, delivered by active researchers in evolutionary biology. In the second semester, you will have the flexibility to specialise your studies, whether you’re focussed on molecular biotic interactions, evolutionary ecology, anthropology or computational and theoretical biology.

The first semester provides a foundation in evolution, ecology and behaviour, evolutionary theory, and population genetics and genomics. From the second semester onwards, students specialise in three areas, including social evolution, species interactions, life history evolution, evolutionary modelling, anthropology, computational biology, molecular genomics, and DNA sequence analysis. Students develop expertise in empirical, experimental and bioinformatic approaches, as well as in theoretical frameworks, through lectures and practical training. The programme also includes elective and soft skill courses in grant writing and publishing, along with field excursions, seminars, and discussions. In the third semester, students acquire the knowledge and methods required for the Master’s thesis, which is completed in the fourth semester with a final oral examination.

The Master’s programme integrates practical components in all modules. However, it does not include formal internships.

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in biology, another natural science, medicine, mathematics, forensic science, or computer science. They must have completed at least 27 credits in evolutionary biology, biostatistics, or bioinformatics.

Applications are submitted via the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz portal (JOGU-StINe). For students who got their certificates or degrees abroad, your international school and university certificates have to be recognised during the application period. These applications should thus be submitted about six weeks before the application deadline.

In addition to standard documents, applicants must complete an admission form (“Aufnahmebogen”), which allows assessment of their prior training and eligibility. Candidates who meet the formal requirements are invited to an interview. This interview is not an examination but serves to evaluate qualifications and provide guidance on programme suitability.

Admission decisions are based on a weighted evaluation of the interview and the Bachelor’s grade (ratio 4:6).

Master’s students must enrol at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and pay a semester fee, which is currently 350 EUR. This includes free public transport in Germany (Deutschlandticket).

International students should budget approximately 1,000 to 1,200 EUR per month for rent, food, and personal expenses, although costs depend on individual lifestyle.

EU citizens may work up to 20 hours per week without losing student status or related social security benefits. Students from other countries may work up to 120 full days (or 240 half days) per year, or up to 20 hours per week in designated student positions, typically at the university. Such positions are regularly available within research groups.

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz offers support for financing study costs through financial aid and scholarships. Further information is available at: https://www.studium.uni-mainz.de/en/during-your-studies/organizing-your-studies/financial-matters/#reimbursements.

The Career Service at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz offers individual counselling, workshops, training, and recruiting events for all students. In addition, the Ada Lovelace Project provides targeted workshops, counselling, and training for female Master’s and PhD students.

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz offers student dormitories (https://www.studierendenwerk-mainz.de/en/wohnen/dormitories/page). In addition, shared apartments and rooms in student housing provide affordable living options and opportunities to connect with other students. Further information is available at https://www.studium.uni-mainz.de/en/starting-your-studies/student-life/.

With approx. 30,000 students from more than 120 nations, the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz ranks among Germany's largest universities and is the scientific and academic centre of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Its 4,400 academics, including 570 professors, teach and conduct research at more than 100 institutes and clinics.

Solid placements in rankings of higher education institutions, numerous awards and a large number of projects supported by outside funds testify to the outstanding research achievements of the university's scientists.

Students have a wide range of subject options, covering almost the entire spectrum of university specialities: from the study of law and economics to the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences and from medicine and dentistry to the integration of music, fine arts, and sports. The Department of Translation, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies trains translators and interpreters in numerous European and non-European languages. This multiplicity of fields enables and promotes interdisciplinary research and teaching at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz was originally founded in 1477, and it still strives to emulate the innovative spirit of its namesake, Johannes Gutenberg. The promotion and introduction of new ideas, the use of knowledge to improve people’s lives and encourage them to overcome the many boundaries they encounter daily – these are the underlying ambitions of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

In its everyday life, Mainz, as the state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, proves that tradition and progress can mingle successfully. Looking back on a history spanning 2,000 years, Romans, electors, and personalities such as Barbarossa and Gutenberg have left their mark on the modern city of Mainz. Today, Mainz stands for cosmopolitanism and conviviality. Located on the Rhine river in one of Germany's most picturesque regions, the city of Mainz provides a pleasant background for student life, while the proximity of Frankfurt facilitates contacts with renowned public institutions and private firms.

Mainz always has an "open ear" for culture, and not only because the well-known Whitsun festival with theatre, music, and cabaret bears this name. State theatres, small stages, and other cultural centres provide a lively and varied array of offerings for all tastes. New and experimental forms of theatre are presented at the "studio theatre" (Kammerspiele), while the historic Moller building in the centre of the city presents opera, theatre, and ballet.

The state capital is furthermore a vital location for business, including many media companies such as the German Television ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), which promotes the image of its home town across Europe on a daily basis. Extensive wine-growing areas on the edge of the city are enticing places for a relaxing walk in the vineyards. Other delightful surrounding areas offer a wealth of opportunities for day trips: the charming Rheingau region with its famous monasteries such as Eberbach situated in the hills, a romantic boat trip on the Rhine, or a short tour through the splendid landscapes of the Hunsrück, Odenwald, and Taunus ranges of hills.