Overview
This English-taught MSc programme at the School of Life Sciences trains specialists who can tackle urgent challenges such as food security, resource conservation and the impacts of climate change. The curriculum brings together molecular, biochemical, physiological, genetic and genomic knowledge with quantitative and computational methods to address crop and livestock production from the cellular level to whole organisms and populations. The course is deliberately interdisciplinary and international in outlook, covering plants, animals and microbes rather than separating plant and animal studies into isolated tracks.
What you will study and gain
The programme emphasises basic biological research that supports efficient, environmentally friendly agricultural production. By studying shared biological mechanisms across species, you learn generic concepts and practical tools that transfer between plant and animal systems. A strong focus on molecular and computational approaches prepares you to work with modern, innovation-driven techniques used in contemporary agricultural biosciences. The integrated curriculum fosters the ability to carry out research, to link findings across disciplines, and to manage complex, changing projects.
Career prospects and skills
Graduates leave with a deep understanding of biological processes relevant to agriculture and the social awareness needed to communicate scientific results across disciplines and cultures. Typical career destinations include universities and research institutes, public-sector organisations, biotech, breeding and life-science companies, as well as smaller companies and start-ups (including biotechnology and machine-intelligence ventures). The programme aims to give the flexibility to move between academic and industry roles in national and international job markets.
Who this programme is for / Requirements
Overview of the curriculum
In the first two semesters you complete five compulsory core modules: Physiology; Plant and Animal Cell Biology; Immunology: Crop and Livestock Health and Disease; Genetics and Genomics; and Statistical Computing and Data Analysis. Together these courses build a firm foundation in the biological principles and quantitative skills that underpin modern agricultural production, leaving you with solid knowledge of physiology, cellular biology, host–pathogen interactions, genomic approaches and data-driven analysis.
Elective modules let you deepen practical and technical skills. You choose from laboratory courses that emphasize either molecular wet-lab techniques or computational approaches, alongside research-tool modules designed to support independent project work. These options prepare you to select and apply molecular, experimental or bioinformatics methods when addressing questions in agricultural biosciences.
A built-in mobility window in the third semester encourages international study or work experience through exchange programmes (for example Erasmus+ or TUMexchange). With Examination Board approval, you may instead undertake a supervised research internship with a qualified industry partner or external research organisation. The fourth semester is dedicated to the Master’s thesis: you define a research question in Agricultural Biosciences, apply appropriate methods, and produce a thesis that demonstrates your research competence and strengthens your professional profile. Additional programme information is also available in an introductory video and downloadable PDF.
Key requirements and highlights
A completed Bachelor of Science of at least six semesters (typically three years) awarded by a German or foreign university is required for admission. Equivalent undergraduate qualifications in the life sciences are also acceptable, provided they have a clear emphasis on plant and/or animal sciences.
Preferred backgrounds include study programmes that provide sound training in agricultural or biological disciplines. Degrees from Agricultural Sciences, Horticultural Sciences, Life Sciences / Biology, Molecular Biotechnology or closely related fields are explicitly mentioned as suitable; other programmes may be accepted if their content is comparable and relevant to plant and/or animal science.
Winter Semester (International)
31 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 May 2026
Graduates are prepared for research and professional roles across academia, public institutions and the private sector. Typical employers include universities and research institutes, public agencies, biotech and breeding companies, and life‑science firms. The programme’s combination of laboratory, computational and project skills also suits roles in smaller companies and start‑ups—particularly in biotechnology and data‑driven agriculture (e.g. precision farming, machine intelligence).
The training emphasises transferable skills such as interdisciplinary communication, project management and the ability to design and carry out complex experiments or data analyses, supporting flexible career paths both nationally and internationally.