Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources (M.Sc.)

Explore insects as bioresources for medicine, food and crop protection: The Master's in Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources at JLU combines ecology and biotech.

This course of study is taught in English.

Infographic illustrating applications of insect biotechnology in medicine and pharmacy, plant protection, and industrial food production and biotechnology

Overview

This unique degree explores insects and associated organisms as emerging bioresources for biotechnology and pharmacy. In the Master's programme Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources, you combine ecology with technical methods to refine bioactive products. Hands-on research projects allow you to specialise in medicine, crop protection or food.

Applying for admission

Start of studies

Winter semester

Mode of admission

No admission restriction

Duration of studies

4 semesters

Workload

120 credit points (CP)

Degree

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Language of instruction

English

Composition of the Study Programme

What can I expect from this programme?

With more than one million scientifically described species, insects are the largest group of organisms on Earth. As an emerging interdisciplinary research area, insect biotechnology explores insects as well as insect-associated micro- and macro-organisms as emerging bioresources in the fields of medicine, crop protection, pharmaceuticals, industrial food and biotechnology.

The programme is offered by the Faculty 09: Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Management in cooperation with the Faculty 08: Biology and Chemistry and the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen - University of Applied Sciences.

What will I learn?

During your studies you will deal intensively with the systematics and ecology of insects and acquire specific scientific and technical knowledge. You will also learn about various methodical research approaches to investigate insects and their associated organisms as a new resource for food and luxury food, enzymes and bioactive natural products and finally to refine fully developed products.

The study programme is characterized by a strong emphasis on research and practical relevance, as well as a high level of interdisciplinary approaches and projects.

How is the programme structured?

The study programme is organized in modules (courses). Each module comprises four semester hours per week and is completed with a final examination as given in the module description. The final grade of the study programme is calculated from the achieved module grades.

The course consists of 8 mandatory modules (core modules), 6 optional modules (profile modules), an industrial internship (or 2 more profile modules) and the Master‘s thesis. Having completed the core modules, the students are well equipped with a solid scientific education and ready to deepen their knowledge in specific research areas. By individually choosing their profile modules from a diverse range of study areas, students shape their individual competence profile.

Structure of the Master's Degree Course

The Master’s degree course consists of 16 modules (120 credits):

Modules
Core Competence (mandatory modules)	8 modules	48 credits
Profile Competence (optional modules)	8 modules or 6 modules + industrial intership	48 credits
Master’s thesis		24 credits
Total	16 modules	120 credits

Core Modules (Mandatory Courses)

Applied Statistics (6 CP)
Natural Product Chemistry (6 CP)
Entomology I (6 CP)
Insect Biotechnology and Integrated Pest Management (6CP)
Bioresources für Natural Product Discovery (6 CP)
Entomology II (6 CP)
Food Technology (6 CP)
Principles of Scientific Practice or Principles of Scientific Practice (each 6 CP)

Profile Modules (6 CP each)

Students tailor their individual profile by selecting 6 modules and the internship or 8 modules from the entire profile module catalogue of the faculty. For example, you can choose profile modules from the following subject areas:

Plant Breeding
Phytopathology
General and Soil Microbiology
Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection
Microbiology of Recycling Processes
Agricultural and Food Market Analysis
Insect Biotechnology
Natural Product Research
Landscape, Water and Biogeochemical Cycles
Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning
Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy
Agronomy and Crop Physiology
Biometry and Population Genetics
Crop Biomass and Bioresources
Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology
Political Science

Work Placement (optional) (6 or 12 CP)

The programme offers a voluntary work placement that enables our students to gain an initial insight into the various areas of professional activity in which they hope to pursue in the future. The work placement also enables them to collect hands-on professional experience and establish contacts with potential employers. The variety of contacts that our faculty possesses allows us to provide expert support to students seeking a work placement.

The work placement module replaces one (6 CP) or two (12 CP) profile modules.

Master Thesis (24 CP)

Students dedicate the major part of the 4th semester to writing the Master’s thesis. With the thesis, students prove their capability to independently research a given topic scientifically within a limited period of time.

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Career Options

What career paths can I pursue after graduation?

Graduates of Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources are trained to work at all levels of agricultural production and pest control, medical biotechnology, bioinformatics, food production, business management and marketing.

There are many job opportunities in the agricultural industry (seeds, fertilizer, pesticides), biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, food biotechnology and health care. Producers and professional organizations, research institutes, consultancies, development services and international organizations are also potential employers.

Graduates with a Master's degree take up management positions in national and international authorities and associations. Other areas of employment include quality management, further education, consulting and research, public relations and marketing.

Can I do a PhD after my Master’s degree?

After completing your Master's degree, you will have the opportunity to pursue a doctorate at JLU. Doctoral studies take place in a professorship at Faculty 09, to which you must apply. If you are interested in pursuing a doctorate at JLU, please contact the institute or professor in your area of interest directly. Open positions for various professorships can be found on the JLU job market.

The International Office also provides information for international students interested in pursuing a doctorate at JLU Giessen.

If you would like intensive support during your doctoral studies, you can apply to the Giessen Graduate Centre for the Life Sciences (GGL).

Graduate Centre for the Life Sciences (GGL)

Prospective doctoral students have the opportunity to apply as a member of the International Giessen Graduate Centre for the Life Sciences (GGL) to receive intensive support during their doctorate (in the form of seminars, internships, workshops, etc.). Information on the GGL and its internationally oriented doctoral programme, the requirements and the application procedure can be found here.

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Application and Enrolment

No study fees are charged for this programme. However, students have to pay a semester contribution.

Requirements

In general, students can apply for this Master's programme if they hold a Bachelor's degree with a duration of at least three years (180 Credits) or a comparable degree. The Bachelor's degree must be completed in a closely related scientific field. For example:

Agrarwissenschaften (Agricultural Science)
Biologie (Biology)
Biotechnologie (Biotechnology)
Chemie (Chemistry)
Lebensmittelchemie (Food Chemistry)
Nachwachsende Rohstoffe und Bioressourcen (Crop Biomass and Bioresources)

Applications with a Bachelor’s degree in another scientific field or with a Bachelor’s degree from abroad will be examined individually as to whether the study requirements are fulfilled. For this degree programme the application includes a letter of motivation with 500 words (+/- 10%) outlining the candidate’s personal motivation and his or her subject-specific knowledge. The criteria for the evaluation of the motivation letter are given in the examination regulations.

A specialist commission at JLU will then finally decide on the admission. Any information on the status of acceptance without having completed the application process is not possible.

Language requirements

As the entire degree course is taught in English, applicants must provide proof of sufficient knowledge of written and spoken English at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Accepted proofs of language proficiency:

either: TOEFL test, IELTS test, Cambridge English Language Assessment, Pearson PTE Academic, TOEIC, telc, UNIcert, IGSCE;
or: Proof of having obtained the local higher education entrance qualification in one of the following countries: Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, South Africa;
or: Proof of having completed an English-taught Bachelor’s degree program in one of the following countries: Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, South Africa.

Application Procedure

Depending on where you obtained either your university entrance certificate or your Bachelor degree, we differentiate two application procedures:

Case A

You need to use JLU’s application portal if

you hold a completed Bachelor’s degree obtained at a German university (the country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance).
your JLU Bachelor programme is not yet complete. Please provide a preliminary report. The country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance.
you obtained your university entrance certificate in Germany and attended a Bachelor programme at a German university other than JLU. Please provide a preliminary report if your programme is not yet completed.
you want to change to another degree programme at JLU. The country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance.

Case B

You need to submit your application to uni-assist if

you hold a completed Bachelor’s degree obtained at a foreign university (the country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance).
you obtained your university entrance certificate abroad and attended but not completed yet a Bachelor programme at a German university other than JLU or at any other university within EU. Please provide a preliminary report.

Application Deadline

Winter semester 2027/28

The application deadlines for the winter semester 2027/28 are currently being prepared and are expected to be published here in spring 2027.

International applicants can find further information on the International Office website.

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More about the application process

Further Information

Where can I find official documents about the programme?

Examination and study regulations

Special Regulations (with module descriptions and module plans)
Examination Committee and Regulations (Information in English)
General Regulations for Bachelor's and Master's programmes

Please note that only the German version of the regulation is official and legally binding. The English version is for informative purposes only.

Courses offered in the course catalogue

Electronical course catalogue (eVV) (in German)
List module (Information in English)

Where can I find more information about the faculty?

Links

Faculty 09 – Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Management
Faculty's Deanery
Examinations Office
Student representatives

Master's Degree Programmes of Faculty 09

Taught in English

Agrobioinformatics
Agrobiotechnology
Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources
One Health
Sustainable Transition (digital degree programme)
Transition Management

Taught in German

Agrar- und Ressourcenökonomie / Agricultural and Resource Economics
Bioinformatik und Systembiologie / Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
Ernährungswissenschaften / Nutritional Sciences
Getränketechnologie / Beverage Technology (offered in cooperation with Geisenheim University)
Nachhaltige Ernährungswirtschaft / Food Economics
Nutzpflanzenwissenschaften / Crop Science
Nutztierwissenschaften / Livestock Sciences
Ökotrophologie / Nutritional Sciences and Home Economics (Ecotrophology)
Umweltwissenschaften / Environmental Sciences
Weinwirtschaft / Wine Economics (offered in cooperation with Geisenheim University)

How do I have a successful start at JLU?

To help you get off to a good start with your studies, we warmly invite you to attend our orientation events. Here you will learn
everything you need to know about starting your studies: