# Biology (MSc) at TUM

Research-oriented biology master in which students specialise in at least three of seven focus areas, concluding with a six-month thesis. ⚠ Language depends on the focus areas chosen: some are German, some English, some both. Based at TUM's Weihenstephan campus in Freising, approximately 45km north of Munich. Students typically live in Freising rather than Munich.

University: Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich) (https://studygermany.dev/universities/tum.md)
City: Munich (https://studygermany.dev/cities/munich.md)
HTML page: https://studygermany.dev/programmes/tum-msc-biology/

## At a glance

- Degree: MSc
- Language of instruction: English and German
- English requirement: TOEFL iBT 88, IELTS 6.5 or a Cambridge Main Suite certificate (an alternative to proving German). Applicants educated in German or English need no separate certificate.
- German requirement: DSH-2 or comparable (an alternative to proving English). TUM: "Depending on the focus area you choose, you can study in German, English or both languages" - so the language you need depends on the focus areas selected.
- ECTS: 120
- Duration: 4 semesters
- Intake: Winter semester
- Tuition: €4,000 per semester (rate depends on student category; see fee notes)
- Semester contribution: €97
- Semester ticket included: no

Fee notes: ⚠ TUM charges tuition to non-EU/EEA students newly enrolling from WS 2024/25: €4,000/semester for this programme (confirmed verbatim on the TUM programme page), on top of the €97/semester Studierendenwerk fee (WS 2026/27). EU/EEA citizens, holders of a German Abitur and holders of a completed German degree pay no tuition; merit- and need-based fee waivers exist. No semester ticket is bundled - students subscribe separately to the discounted student Deutschlandticket. Verify at https://www.tum.de/en/studies/fees

## Admission requirements

- Prior degree: Bachelor's of at least six semesters in Biology, Molecular Biotechnology, Biochemistry or a comparable subject
- Minimum grade: No fixed grade cut-off - admission is decided by the aptitude assessment.
- Prerequisite credits: At least 120 ECTS must be on the transcript at the time of application (150 for a seven-semester bachelor's, 180 for an eight-semester one).
- Also required: Eignungsverfahren (aptitude assessment) applies. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission - applicants are ranked. Check TUMonline for current procedure details. uni-assist VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation) required for applicants with a non-German bachelor's degree; APS certificate required for applicants from China, India and Vietnam.

## Application deadlines

- All applicants, winter semester: 2026-05-31 (PASSED as of the last site build; the window usually repeats next cycle). Application window 1 January - 31 May annually via TUMonline. Applicants from outside the Lisbon Convention area face an earlier TUM-Test sub-deadline of 29 April - apply early. TUM strongly encourages non-EU applicants to apply by 15 March so there is time for visa processing; missing documents such as the uni-assist VPD can follow until the final deadline.

## How to apply

- uni-assist required: yes (the deadline notes show who this applies to)
- Application portal: https://campus.tum.de/tumonline/
- Official programme page: https://www.ls.tum.de/en/ls/studies/courses-and-programs/biology-msc/

## External resources

- [Programme overview (TUM)](https://www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/biology-master-of-science-msc)
- [School of Life Sciences programme page](https://www.ls.tum.de/en/ls/studies/courses-and-programs/biology-msc/)
- [StudyCheck reviews](https://www.studycheck.de/studium/biologie/tu-muenchen-11153)
- [Apply via TUMonline](https://campus.tum.de)


## Focus areas

- Biochemistry/Cell Biology
- Genetics/Biostatistics
- Medical Biology
- Microbiology
- Ecology/Environmental Management
- Plant Sciences
- Animal Sciences

## Provenance

Last checked: 2026-08-09

- TUM programme detail - Biology M.Sc. (bilingual by focus area, €4,000 non-EU tier confirmed verbatim): https://www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/biology-master-of-science-msc
- TUM School of Life Sciences - Biology M.Sc.: https://www.ls.tum.de/en/ls/studies/courses-and-programs/biology-msc/