This international Master's programme is taught entirely in English and is open to students from Germany and abroad. Located in Berlin, the course takes advantage of the city’s dense research ecosystem — including nearby universities and institutes of the Max Planck, Helmholtz and Leibniz Societies — to provide intensive, up-to-date training across modern areas of biochemistry. The programme combines strong theoretical grounding with extensive hands-on laboratory experience to prepare graduates for research or other careers in the life sciences.
Core lectures introduce current biochemical research topics across a broad spectrum of subfields, while practical training is delivered through methods modules (each lasting two to four weeks) that give in-depth exposure to techniques in structural biology, molecular biology and molecular medicine. Students undertake individual nine-week, group-based lab projects within the department or at affiliated laboratories; many students choose one of these rotations abroad to broaden their international research experience, and scholarships are available to support such stays. The programme concludes with a six-month Master’s thesis carried out in a chosen research group.
Graduates leave with a solid combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills tailored for continued research in the life sciences or for entering related professional paths. Applicants should hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree and be able to demonstrate sufficient prior theoretical and practical training to benefit from the advanced curriculum.
This curriculum combines a focused advanced lecture series with intensive, hands‑on research training to develop both theoretical depth and practical laboratory expertise. The compulsory "Advanced Biochemistry" lectures (10 CP) cover core molecular topics — RNA biochemistry, protein biochemistry, membrane biochemistry and signal transduction — and expose students to current research themes such as protein dynamics, post‑transcriptional control of mRNA, membrane remodelling (with a neurobiology emphasis) and signal transduction in chronobiology, immunobiology and bone morphogenesis. These lectures are taught by the biochemistry faculty together with researchers from major Berlin research centres (for example the Leibniz Institute of Molecular Pharmacology, the Max Delbrück Center and the Charité) and are complemented by specialised elective lecture series.
The bulk of the program (80 CP) is practical and elective in nature, designed to build advanced technical skills and independence at the bench. Methods courses are short, full‑time, practical modules (5 CP each) with a high supervisor‑to‑student ratio (typically one to three tutors per six students) and daily seminars (45–90 minutes) that require active participation such as journal club presentations or result discussions. Lab rotations comprise longer, 12‑week research projects in FU‑affiliated or approved laboratories in Berlin or abroad; each rotation concludes with a 15‑minute presentation and a 30‑minute oral exam. There is also a 10 CP slot for advanced study in a related subject (which can be filled with topical modules, methods, or additional practical work) and 10 CP of free electives (e.g., additional biochemistry modules, scientific writing, teaching or other soft‑skill courses).
The program culminates in a 30 CP Master’s thesis: a research project of roughly six months’ duration, accompanied by a colloquium and a formal presentation and discussion of results. Graduates leave the program with capability in contemporary biochemical theory, advanced experimental techniques, critical literature analysis, oral and written scientific communication, and the experience necessary to pursue doctoral studies or careers in research, industry or biotech — all supported by close supervision and opportunities to network with leading research institutes in Berlin.
Key program requirements (credit points, CP)
Required modules: Advanced Biochemistry lecture series — 10 CP
Required elective block — 80 CP, composed of:
Master’s thesis — 30 CP
Applicants must hold an academic background that provides a solid grounding in biochemistry. Specifically, you need either a Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry or a degree considered equivalent that includes biochemistry coursework matching the content and credit load of the Bachelor’s programme in biochemistry at the Freie Universität Berlin.
If your undergraduate qualification is from a different but related programme, the admissions office will check whether your completed courses and credits correspond to the curriculum at Freie Universität Berlin. International applicants should therefore be prepared to submit full transcripts and course descriptions (including credit values and syllabi) so the committee can assess equivalence.
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 May 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are equipped for research and specialist roles across the life sciences sector, including academic research groups, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and research institutes. The programme’s strong emphasis on experimental techniques, project work and scientific communication prepares students for positions that require independent laboratory work and data-driven problem solving.
Many students use the lab rotations and international research opportunities as a springboard into doctoral programmes; the degree therefore also serves as a direct preparation for PhD studies both in Germany and abroad.