The PhD program is a three-year curriculum. It contains an obligatory part of 135 credit hours of seminars and courses on topics of molecular biology and cell biology as well as statistics. In addition, 165 credit hours must be covered be elective seminars and courses. The latter can be selected from the areas of anatomy, cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics and gene technology, internal medicine, microbiology and virology, parasitology, pathology, pharmacology and toxicology, physiology and pathophysiology, reproductive medicine and biology, and laboratory animal methods.

Seminars and courses may be chosen from various teaching plans of the life sciences, but the choice must be approved by the PhD Board. Normally, students will follow curricula of special graduate programs. Such are offered by specific reseach training groups ("Graduiertenkollegs", see below) or the Giessen Graduate School for the Life Sciences (GGL; see below). PhD Students are advised to contact the organizers of the respective programs directly for further information. Proof of attendance of all seminars and courses must be presented to the PhD Office at the end of each semester.

PhD Students may participate in any course offered by the Faculty of Medicine or Faculty of Veterinary Medicine or of the GGL at the University of Giessen. On request, they may also participate in courses offered by other institutions. In case of interest they should contact the respective external organiser and ask the PhD Office for approval. The activity confirmations obtained from such courses are to be submitted to the PhD office at the end of each semester.

PhD Program Credit System:

• Seminars (GGL Part B):                                                         1 academic hour (=45 min) = 1 credit

                                                                                                    60 min = 1.33 credits

•  Practical courses, Labrotation (per day):                           4 credits
•  Conferences, incl. retreats (per day):                                 5 credits    

    -with own presentation (oral or poster):                                 2 additional credits

•  GGL Doctoral Development Program (GGL Part A):           GGL Credits x 0.5

     -For example:                                                                         72 credits from GGL x 0.5 = 36 Credits  

     -36 credits are the maximum amount which can be awarded for the Doctoral Development Program

•  GGL Activities:                                                                     NO CREDITS

•  A total of 300 credits must be accounted for.

     - Elective Courses:                                                                   165 Credits

     - Mandatory Courses:                                                               135 Credits

         1. Molecular biology (60 credits)

         2. Cell biology (60 credits)

         3. Statistics (15 credits)

For further information located in the PhD Ordnung (in German), please click here.

Sources for Additional Teaching

• International Giessen Graduate School for the Life Sciences (GGL)
• Curricula of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  (in german, searchable)
• Curricula of the Faculty of Medicine
  (in german, searchable)