Are you fascinated by the molecular world? Cells, genes, and microorganisms are not foreign concepts to you? Would you like to work intensively with the evolution and diversity of flora and fauna? Then the Molecular Biology degree program is right for you.

The most important requirement for success in the Molecular Biology degree program is a general interest in the natural sciences. Since biology is founded in the laws of nature, you should also generally enjoy physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Knowledge from advanced courses taken in school is helpful in this regard, but not a requirement.

Good communication skills and a marked ability to learn and work in a structured manner as well as good time management will play a key role in enabling you to complete your studies successfully.

Program structure and specializations

At the beginning of the degree program, you will study the physical and chemical basics of biology together with courses on biodiversity, evolution, and the genetic makeup of animals and plants, as well as a course on mathematics and statistics. These subjects are followed by the sub-disciplines of genetics and molecular genetics, cell biology and microbiology, and the study of molecular physiology and developmental biology. Afterwards, you will focus on the physiology of flora and fauna, and take courses in bioinformatics and biostatistics. The fifth semester is comprised of two research-based modules with a large portion of lab work, which you can select yourself from our offering of molecular biology disciplines. In the sixth semester, you will complete your own project and your bachelor’s thesis in a molecular biology topic of your choice.

Due to the different options, you can let your own curiosity lead you to different fields of molecular biology. Whether you are interested in how living micro-organisms, cells, or complex organisms emerge from the genetic information in DNA, you are particularly excited by the field of bioinformatics, or you are more fascinated by larger connections, for instance between nerve cells and the functions of a brain – in the Molecular Biology degree program, you can choose your own specialization.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

The fifth semester is the best time to study abroad without delaying graduation. However, due to the regular design of the modules, which always span two semesters, any semester is suitable for a semester abroad.

Internships and lab courses

More than half of your degree will be made up of lab and research courses at the university. You will complete labs in physics, chemistry, and practically all sub-disciplines of biology.

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

As a graduate of the Molecular Biology program, you will have acquired basic knowledge of scientific thought and specific knowledge of chains of molecular effects. You will also be very familiar with practical work in a molecular laboratory, with cell cultures and with micro-organisms.

The bachelor’s degree program in Molecular Biology offers a solid basis of many sub-disciplines of biology and will lead you to a professionally qualifying degree. Afterwards, students often specialize by taking advantage of one of the many consecutive master’s degree programs in the life sciences.

Typical fields of work for graduates of the bachelor’s degree program include

• Industrial or academic research
• The pharmaceutical industry
• The agricultural industry
• Corporate consulting
• NGOs (e.g., consumer protection)
• Journalism, publishing houses
• Work for agencies and administration (such as approval agencies, trade controls, etc.)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.