Overview The programme examines insects—the most species-rich group on Earth—and their associated micro- and macro-organisms as novel bioresources for industries such as medicine, crop protection, pharmaceuticals, industrial food and biotechnology. You will study how insects can be used for food and luxury food, as sources of enzymes and bioactive natural products, and how to further develop and refine these products for practical applications.
What you will learn Courses focus on insect systematics and ecology alongside methodical research approaches to investigate insects and their associated organisms. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on hands-on research, practical relevance and interdisciplinary projects, so you gain both scientific knowledge and technical skills needed to move discoveries toward application.
Collaboration and outlook This English-language Master’s programme is offered by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Management (Faculty 09) in cooperation with the Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (Faculty 08) and the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen – University of Applied Sciences. The course’s interdisciplinary structure prepares graduates for research and applied roles across multiple sectors that are exploring insects and their associates as emerging bioresources.
Key facts
Curriculum overview
The programme is organised into modular courses, each taught at four semester hours per week and assessed by a final examination. Your overall Master’s grade is calculated from the grades earned in these modules. The curriculum combines a fixed foundation of eight core modules with a flexible set of profile modules, a practical work placement (or the option to take two additional profile modules), and a research-based Master’s thesis.
Key modules and learning outcomes
Core modules build a broad and rigorous scientific foundation in insect biotechnology and related bioresources. They include Applied Statistics, Bioprocess Engineering I, Entomology I and II, Food Technology, Insect Biotechnology and Integrated Pest Management, Bioresources for Natural Product Discovery, and Natural Product Chemistry. Completing these courses equips students with essential theoretical knowledge and practical skills in experimental design and data analysis, bioprocess principles, insect biology and management, food-related applications, and the discovery and chemistry of natural products.
Profile modules allow you to specialise by choosing six modules plus the internship (or eight modules instead of an internship) from a wide faculty catalogue. Available subject areas span plant breeding, phytopathology, microbiology, insect biotechnology in plant protection, recycling-process microbiology, market analysis, landscape ecology, policy, agronomy and crop physiology, biometry and population genetics, biomass and bioresources, bioprocess and pharmaceutical technology, natural product research, and more. This flexibility lets you shape a personalised competence profile tailored to research or industry career paths. A recommended programme schedule is provided as a PDF for planning purposes.
Program structure and requirements
This Master's programme normally requires a completed Bachelor's degree of at least three years' duration (180 credits or an equivalent qualification) in a closely related scientific discipline. Typical backgrounds considered appropriate include Agricultural Science, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Food Chemistry, and Crop Biomass & Bioresources.
Applicants who hold a Bachelor's degree in a different scientific field or who obtained their degree abroad will have their qualifications reviewed individually to determine whether they meet the programme prerequisites. As part of the application you must submit a motivation letter of 500 words (±10%) that describes your personal motivation and details your subject-specific knowledge; the criteria used to assess this letter are specified in the examination regulations. A specialist admissions committee at the university will issue the final decision — no provisional acceptance can be given before the application process is complete. For full application procedures and deadlines, consult the programme’s application information page: https://www.uni-giessen.de/en/faculties/f09/studies/general
Requirements (concise)
Winter Semester (International)
15 June 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 June 2026
Graduates are prepared for roles in research and development, quality control, product development and regulatory affairs across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food and luxury food production, crop protection, biotechnology and chemical industries. Career paths also include positions in public sector agencies, environmental and agricultural consultancies, NGOs and academic research groups.
The programme’s practical training, interdisciplinary profile and industry contacts support transitions into applied laboratory and field roles, R&D teams, or further doctoral studies in insect biotechnology, natural product research or related life-science fields.