Bioinformatics - Master

This degree program has no special requirements for admission. That means you will be allocated a place in the program if you meet the general requirements (Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics, Biology, Computer Science or in a related study program with an overall grade of at least 2.5 according to the German grading system). However, you need to apply in order to establish whether you meet the general requirements. Please note that a degree in pharmacy or medicine or engineering does not constitute eligibility for admission.

Application deadline for German students and students who are EU citizens with a status equal to Germans is 15 March or 15 September, for all other international students 15 January or 15 July.

The study program is formally free of admission. Nevertheless, everyone, including students with a Bioinformatics Bachelor's degree, must formally apply. All information about the application can be found here.

Prerequisites for admission and enrolment are the quality of the degree (currently a grade point average of 2.5 for the bachelor's degree or preliminary course work applies) and the affinity (content compatibility between bachelor's and master's degrees) of the degree or preliminary course work of the intended bioinformatics master's program.

The application for the Master's program is done via an online procedure; all necessary information about the application or enrolment process can be found here.

The application deadline for the admission process is March 15 or September 15 of the respective year for Germans and EU nationals with equivalent status. For other foreigners, the application deadline is January 15 or July 15.

An application for enrolment can be submitted with the admission notice. This application must also be submitted online. Information on this can be found here.

Sufficient knowledge of English is a prerequisite for all students. Upon admission to the master's program, English language skills at the GER B2/C1 level (or IELTS at least band 6,5 or TOEFL at least 79) must be demonstrated. International applicants who do not have a German educational degree must provide evidence of German language skills (GER B2-C1) for application.

The degree in the Master's program for students with a Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics (Variant A) can also be acquired through the parts of the study program offered in English, in that sufficient credit points for a degree can be acquired in English-language courses, all compulsory courses are held in English, and the course work and examinations in these aforementioned English-language courses and compulsory courses can be completed in English. For variant A students, proof of very good English language skills is sufficient: GER C1/B2 level or IELTS band at least 6.5 or TOEFL at least 79.

see also Admission and Matriculation Regulations of the University of Tübingen §4a

The Master´s program cannot be complemented with a minor subject.

In the master's program in bioinformatics, there is a variety of elective options due to the breadth of subjects offered in computer science and life sciences. The exact course of study depends on the respective inclinations and interests of the students. During their studies, students are in contact with active scientists in lectures, seminars and project internships and thus become interested in basic and application-oriented research and are introduced to current bioinformatics issues. To ensure true interdisciplinarity, the master's thesis is always jointly issued and supervised by a bioinformatician or computer scientist and a lecturer from the life sciences.

The very broad subject area in Tübingen includes, among others, genomics and transcriptomics, protein and drug design, microbiome analysis and systems biology.

Advanced bachelor courses can be brought into the computer science or bioinformatics field of study.

In the master's program in bioinformatics, there is a variety of elective options due to the breadth of subjects offered in computer science and life sciences. The exact course of study depends on the respective inclinations and interests of the students.

There are three variants of the program, tailored to different groups of applicants:

•  Variant (A) for students with a bachelor's degree in bioinformatics,

•  Variant (B) for biologists and other life scientists,

•  Variant (C) for computer scientists.

A large part of the courses is held in English. In variant A it is possible to study exclusively in English.

A study abroad is not compulsory in the master bioinformatics, but students who wish to spend a semester abroad are highly supported. For more specifc information and advice, in particular regarding the Erasmus+ program, please refer to the Department's website on studying abroad.

Optional time abroad
You may choose to spend some time abroad as part of any study program. You should start planning it 12 to 18 months before your departure. 
Here you will find general information and advice on studying abroad. In addition, some departments have their own subject-specific services providing information on studying abroad.

Tübingen's computer science department is one of the strongest in research in Germany and is internationally renowned. It maintains close collaborations with major business enterprises and research institutes (e.g. three Max Planck Institutes in Tübingen) on a national and international level. It is characterized by interdisciplinary cooperation with medicine, biology, psychology, media science and many other departments at the University of Tübingen.

Tübingen is part of the Stuttgart metropolitan area, one of the strongest economic regions in Europe with a flourishing automotive industry and IT sector. Tübingen and the surrounding area (including Reutlingen, Böblingen, Sindelfingen as well as the tinkerer region Neckar-Alb) is home to many university spin-offs, startups, medium-sized companies and large enterprises with a high demand for computer scientists.

In addition to excellent future prospects, this environment also offers numerous opportunities for part-time student jobs.

In the winter term 2023/24 about 2000 students study at the Department of Computer Science:

The module handbook of the master program Bioinformatics describes the goals and structure of a degree program. In the module handbook you will find details of the type of modules offered and their respective workloads as well as the classes, requirements and assessment. An ideal course plan is set out in the module handbook to help you plan your studies. The module handbook and the exam regulations help you to understand the framework and conditions of your program, and enable you to choose the right modules/ classes.

The exam regulations of the M.Sc. Bioinformatics contain the legally binding regulations for a degree program. They set out, for instance, which modules must be taken and which assessment must be completed in order to successfully complete the degree program. The exam regulations also regulate how often exams may be repeated, which deadlines apply to assessment, and how the final grade is calculated. The exam regulations and the module handbook help you to understand the framework and conditions of your program, and enable you to choose the right modules/ classes.

Very rapid technological advances in the use of high-throughput methods for data generation in the fields of biology, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry mean that there is a steadily growing demand for bioinformaticians. Since the requirements in this field are very high, a PhD is often required as a qualification. Currently, many graduates of bioinformatics programs are pursuing doctoral degrees after graduation, not infrequently also embedded in a biology work area in university-related research. In the long term, it can be assumed that almost every working group in the fields of biotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry and other application areas in the life sciences will also include at least one bioinformatician outside the university.

Advice and internships
The University’s Career Service assists with careers orientation and getting started in your profession. Jobs and internships can be found in the Praxisportal.

Graduates of the Master program have the opportunity to continue with a PhD. For further information see the website Faculty of Science - Doctoral Studies.

Information about the Alumni of Tübingen.