Infections are one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide and present society with major public health challenges.
To solve these challenges, well-trained academics are needed in basic research, clinical and pharmaceutical research and development, teaching and training, diagnostics, epidemiology and health policy.
Based on the pathogen-host interaction in infections, students receive comprehensive theoretical and practical training in dealing with biological systems. They will be able to apply these skills not only in the study of infectious diseases, but also in other biomedical research areas.
In addition to scientific and technical skills, students will also learn how to communicate scientific topics in English.
Furthermore, students will practise critical questioning of published scientific data, skills in documenting their own research data and the ability to present scientific content orally and in writing.
In addition, students are enabled to work independently in a scientific capacity and to acquire teamwork skills.
The skills acquired in lectures and seminars are practiced in various practicals and courses by solving scientific problems and designing practicable, implementable solutions for current scientific issues. In addition, students' awareness of ethical issues in biomedical research will be raised. It is strongly recommended that students choose their research topics individually for both internships and the Master's thesis and also organize their research stays abroad or in industry themselves.
At the end of the program, students should be able to apply their knowledge and skills competently, independently and successfully in an academic or industrial environment.
Type of Study
FulltimeStandard period of study
4 SemesterCredits
120 ECTSCourse language
EnglishAdmission period
01.06. - 15.07.
Admission Requirement
Study program with admission requirementsStart
Winter semesterDegree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)Hints for application
Bachelor's degree (life sciences, biology or related subjects*) or 2nd state examination in human or veterinary medicine.
Further information can be found here.
EU and Non-EU applicants please follow the application procedure via uni-assist
Our Master's degree program in Infection Biology is taught entirely in English. German language skills are not required for the course.
The aim of the Master's degree program in Infection Biology is to prepare students comprehensively for scientific and applied research in the field of human and animal pathogens.
Infections are the main cause of increased mortality and morbidity worldwide and present society with health policy challenges that require well-trained graduates for research and practice in basic science, clinical and pharmaceutical research and development, teaching and training as well as in diagnostics, epidemiology and health policy. As infectious diseases are a global problem, qualified foreign applicants are particularly considered for admission.
The lectures, seminars and practical courses offered deal with microbiology, immunology, cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics, clinical presentation (pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy, prevention) and the epidemiology of infectious diseases and their pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi) in basic and in-depth form.
Aims
Based on the pathogen-host interaction in infections, students receive comprehensive theoretical and practical training in dealing with biological systems. They will be able to apply these skills not only in the study of infectious diseases, but also in other biomedical research areas.
In addition to scientific and technical skills, students also learn to communicate scientific topics in English.
Furthermore, students practise the critical questioning of published scientific data, the ability to document their own research data and good scientific practice as well as the ability to present scientific content in oral and written form. In addition, students are trained to develop both the ability to work independently and to work in a team.
The skills acquired in lectures and seminars are practiced in various internships and courses by solving scientific problems and designing practicable, implementable solutions for current scientific issues. In addition, students' awareness of ethical issues in biomedical research will be raised. It is strongly recommended that students choose their research topics individually for both internships and the Master's thesis and organize their research stays abroad or in industry themselves.
At the end of the program, students should be able to apply their knowledge and skills competently, independently and successfully in an academic or industrial environment.
The application phase begins in the summer, usually between July 1 and 15. The winter semester begins and the orientation courses start at the beginning of October.
German or EU citizen and/or German university entrance qualification
The online application applies to you if you are a German or EU citizen and/or have a German university entrance qualification. For German citizens with a higher education entrance qualification from outside the EU, nationwide recognition of your higher education entrance qualification is required. This is issued by the certificate recognition office of the respective federal state.
Non-EU citizens
If you are not an EU citizen and have obtained your "higher education entrance qualification" abroad, you must apply to uni-assist for admission to the first semester at the University of Lübeck. This also applies to all non-German nationals applying for admission to the Infection Biology degree program.
Admission to the Master's degree program requires a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, Biology (or a comparable degree program) from a university with an overall grade of 2.7 or better. A medical or veterinary degree is only accepted if you have the 2nd state examination or an equivalent qualification. Applicants with degrees in e.g. biotechnology, dental hygiene, nursing, medical laboratory medicine, pharmacy or a first professional qualification in medicine, e.g. an MBBS, are generally not admitted. For international applicants, a practical Bachelor's thesis is not a requirement, but the program does require some background in laboratory work.
In order to study at a university, you must take care of important (legal) matters in good time, such as health insurance, a bank account, an apartment and, if necessary, a VISA.
VISA
VISA applications take a lot of time and cost money. However, the cost is negligible when you consider that a late VISA application can prevent you from arriving on time, i.e. in early October (the program starts in mid-October)! Students who arrive late have a hard time catching up and often do not manage to finish the IB program in the regular 4 semesters, which can lead to financial problems.
So if you are planning to apply for the IB program in Lübeck, it is advisable to make an appointment in the second week of August (as we send out the confirmations in the first week of August), which means that in some countries you have to contact the German embassy several months in advance!
Do not come to Germany with a so-called tourist visa. As a non-EU foreigner, you cannot apply for a full VISA in Germany. The tourist visa is usually only valid for 3 months. After that, you will have to leave the country and reapply for a VISA in your home country (a bad scenario for students).
You will also need to open a so-called blocked account for your VISA application.
Accommodation
Accommodation is a problem, especially in October and November, but in the end all IB students have found accommodation so far.
Contact the Studentenwerk for help (don't wait until you receive your letter of admission). The Studentenwerk helps international students to find accommodation, for example, and can also advise you on insurance, bank accounts and many other issues.
Health insurance
Under German law, every student is obliged to take out a (European) health insurance policy. You can only begin your studies at the University of Lübeck if you present such proof of health insurance. Accordingly, EU citizens/students must present their EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) issued by their health insurance company in their home country. For non-EU citizens, classic travel insurance should not be confused with statutory health insurance (travel insurance is not recognized as equivalent).
The cost of German health insurance is usually around EUR 130 per month. Further information can be found here.
Joining health insurance can be a hassle as you will need to provide a German bank account from which the money for the insurance will be automatically debited by direct debit. To open a bank account, you need an official address in Germany! A kind of "Catch 22" situation. The chain can be broken by joining a health insurance company first. You can provide the bank details later.
You can find all the important information about starting your first semester here.
Admission to the Master's degree program requires a Bachelor's degree in molecular biosciences (or a comparable degree program) from a university with an overall grade of 2.7 or better.
The Master's degree program in Infection Biology prepares students for a career in science as well as in clinical and pharmaceutical research and development, university teaching and education.
Graduates are also trained in applied areas such as diagnostics, surveillance and epidemiology of infectious diseases as well as in health policy.
For a career in science or in a company, the Master's degree should be supplemented by a doctoral thesis, for which the institutes of our university and the Research Center Borstel offer excellent conditions.
A Master's degree or a doctorate, supplemented by additional courses and 2 to 3 years of professional experience in dealing with human pathogens and GMOs, is a prerequisite for applying to the relevant authorities for the so-called “Sachkunde”. This expertise is a prerequisite for appointment as a project manager in accordance with the Genetic Engineering Safety Ordinance (GenTSV).
Research with human pathogens and GMOs is strictly regulated by the Genetic Engineering Act, the Infection Protection Act and occupational health and safety: The Genetic Engineering Safety Ordinance (GenTSV), the Ordinance on Chemical Agents (GefStoffV), the Ordinance on Biological Agents (BioStoffV), Technical Rules (TRBA) and the Animal Disease Ordinance (TierSeuchERV) apply. Work with GMOs and human pathogens requires prior notification and official approval by the competent authorities/ministers.
Regular and successful participation in the teaching modules, in addition to self-study, is strongly recommended as solid preparation for the examinations. As a rule, two examinations are offered per module per year:
- One at the beginning of the lecture-free period, directly after the semester.
- Another at the end of the semester break.
Each student has three attempts to pass an examination. The final grade for the module is generally based solely on the examination grade.
Failed examinations:
In the event of a failed examination (written or oral), the examination can be retaken up to two times*. Once you have taken an exam, you are automatically registered for all upcoming exams. Non-participation in a registered examination is considered a failure, unless you are ill. In this case, you will need a sick note (certificate) from your family doctor, which you should send to the Student Service Center as soon as possible.
Please note that if you fail an internship, you cannot repeat the (entire) course until one year later.
*A student who has failed an examination for the second time is obliged to make an appointment with the Examination Board within one month of receiving the result (even before retaking the examination for the last attempt).
The examinations for all academic courses are planned centrally each semester. Lecturers are expected to adhere to this central schedule.
- The schedule only includes the compulsory courses; the examination dates for the compulsory elective courses are usually set by the lecturers in consultation with the students.
- All examination dates should also be available in UnivIS.
Examinations for special needs
Students who require special examination concessions due to disabilities or other restrictions can apply for compensation measures via the Examination Board. It is recommended to submit the application a few weeks before the first examination.
If you have previous training or courses from another program that are equivalent or similar to the courses in the IB program, you can apply for credit transfer at the Student Service Center (SSC).
- To do so, fill out the "Credit for External Study" form.
- Obtain the approval and signature of the respective module coordinators.
- Then submit the signed form to the Examinations Office or to the Chair of the Examination Board (Prof. Schaible).
Two main regulations apply to the Infection Biology degree program:
- General Examination Regulations (Examination Procedure Regulations "PVO")
- These guidelines apply to all technical and scientific degree programs at the University of Lübeck.
- Program-specific study regulations ("SGO")
- This document contains all the rules that apply to the Infection Biology degree program.
- It contains a list of all courses for the entire semester and a recommended study plan.
The study regulations at the time of enrollment are binding for the entire degree program and may vary from year to year and thus from student to student. All current versions of these regulations can be found here. Each student follows the version that is the most current at the time of enrollment.
The Master's thesis is scheduled for the 4th semester of the Master's program if the student has earned at least 70 credit points and successfully completed both internships.
- The thesis must be officially registered with the Examination Office beforehand.
- From the time of registration, students have a maximum of 6 months to complete their thesis.
- An extension of 1 month can be granted once and only in justified exceptional cases.
The topic of the Master's thesis must be related to the degree program. This can be confirmed by the Chair of the Examination Board.
- Topics for the thesis can be requested from all institutes and clinics.
- It can also be carried out at external institutes or companies worldwide, but requires prior approval.
- External Master's theses may be subject to conditions imposed by the host institution (liability and health insurance) as well as individual VISA regulations.
The Master's thesis includes a final colloquium, and both must be assessed by two examiners. While the Master's thesis can be carried out outside the university, the first examiner must be a professor at the University of Lübeck. The second examiner can be an external examiner, but must be recognized by the first examiner and have at least a doctorate in a related subject.
Information on the Master's thesis
Here you will find general information on the Master's thesis, including excerpts from the examination regulations (PO), guidelines, details on the structure of the thesis and the necessary forms.
Guidelines for the Master's thesis
The completed forms must be submitted to the Examination Office in the SSC.
Registration for the colloquium must also be submitted to the Examination Office (SSC) when the thesis is officially submitted.
Required forms:
- List of examiners in Moodle (link for lecturers / link for students)
- Registration of the Master's thesis, external work (attachment to the application), application for extension, outline of the thesis and colloquium...
- Registration for the colloquium/examination of the Master's thesis
Master's graduation ceremony
At the annual graduation ceremony of the University of Lübeck, which takes place in July in the Petrikirche, Master's graduates from the STEM field will also be honored. Further details will be announced in good time.
The best Master's graduate of the year will be awarded a certificate at this event.
We hope that you will stay connected to our university after you have completed your Master's degree, make use of the worldwide alumni network and perhaps even support us in the future.
You can join our "Alumni of the University of Lübeck" groups on Facebook, Xing or LinkedIn or become a member of our association "Alumni, Freunde und Förderer der Universität zu Lübeck e.V.".