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Agrobiotechnology (MSc)

Master of Science (MSc)

Überblick / Overview

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Englischer Studiengang

This course of study is taught in English.

Overview-rest

The English Master‘s program Agrobiotechnology is offered by the faculty 09 Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Management. Biotechnology has produced a new and leading technology that is helping determine the direction of global economic developments and international competitiveness. There has been rapid progress in the sector of biotechnology, caused mainly by the results of genome research and, more recently, by rapid developments in cell biology (cell factories) and technological progresses. It can be assumed that growth in these areas is predicted to accelerate further. It is crucial for our future that the energies resulting from the knowledge explosion taking place in these fundamental domains be harnessed to the development of technologies useful to society at large.

Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) offers an international Master's degree program in Agrobiotechnology to cope with the burgeoning worldwide importance of biotechnology, not least in university education, for plant and animal production, and as well as nutritional sciences. JLU was the first German university to take up the global challenge of inaugurating an internationally oriented degree course designed to provide the highest level of academic training for entry into the biotechnology and agriculture sector of the world economy. The overall objective of Giessen's Master's program in Agrobiotechnology is to equip scientists in both the traditional "pure" disciplines and in the domains of agriculture and nutrition for coping with managerial tasks at the cutting edge of the agricultural and food sector.

One important educational goal is to teach students practical methods and expertise on a broad scientific basis. Of critical importance in fulfilling this aim are the following factors:

  • research-oriented study
  • the solving of problems in current farming practice
  • the acquisition of international expertise and the fostering of creativity and a willingness to innovate
  • alertness to the need for identifying and assessing the effects of technological processes.

Composition of the Study Programme

Composition of the Study Programme

Degree

Master of Science (MSc)

Duration of studies

4 semesters – 120 credit points (cp)

 

Composition of degree programme

The study program is organized in modules. 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 program is calculated from the achieved module grades.

The course consists of 8 mandatory modules (core modules) and 8 optional modules (profile modules) and the master thesis. The concept of choosing individually profile modules enables a diverse range of study focuses on the basis of a fundamental scientific education (core modules).

 

Structure of the Master's Degree Course

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

 

Modules
Core Competence 8 mandatory modules 48 credits
Profile Competence 8 optional modules 48 credits
Master’s thesis 1 module  24 credits
Total 16 modules 120 credits

 

Core Modules (Mandatory Courses)

  • Applied Statistics
  • Lab Course Biochemistry
  • Plant Protection and Bioengineering
  • Principles of Scientific Practice
  • Molecular Phytopathology
  • Biotechnology and Genomics
  • Microbial Food Biotechnology
  • Animal Nutrition and Feed Science

Profile Modules

Students tailor their individual profile by selecting 6 modules from the entire profile module catalogue of the faculty. Selection of some recommended English modules for this study program:

  • Food and Nutrition Security and Development
  • Plant Breeding for Resistance and Quality Breeding
  • Plant-Microbe Interactions
  • Host-Intestine-Microbe Interactions
  • Lab Course: Tissue Culturing and Genetic Transformation
  • Lab Course: Methods in Molecular Phytopathology
  • Biotechnology for Pest Control
  • Microbial Diagnostics
  • Molecular Plant Breeding
  • Methods of Regional Analysis and Planning
  • Molecular Techniques
  • Milestones of Insect Biotechnology & Bioresources
  • Antibiotics: Present, Past and Future
  • Food Analysis
  • Laboratory Course I
  • Laboratory Course II
  • Insects for Food and Feed Production Systems
  • Python for Environmental Scientists
  • Empirical Research Methods for Natural Resource Analysis
  • Gender and Development
  • Democracy and Postcoloniality
  • Climate Change and Economic Development
  • Farming Systems in the Tropics
  • Concepts of Ecological Economics
  • Field-Work based Research in Socio-Economics
  • Land Governance for Sustainable Land Use in Africa
  • Agriculture, Ecosystem Functioning and Climate Change
  • Econometrics & Modelling Applications
  • Regulation of Agricultural Value Chains
  • The Economics of Nitrate Pollution
  • Special Topics of the UN Sustainable Development Goals I
  • Special Topics of the UN Sustainable Development Goals II
  • Introduction to International Trade
  • Applied Econometric Methods for the Social Sciences
  • International Agricultural Development
  • Genomic Tools in the Evaluation of Biodiversity Loss
  • Sustainable Plant Protection
  • Crop Abiotic Stresses
  • Practical Genome Sequencing and Bioinformatics
  • Quantitative Genetics
  • Statistical Learning
  • Transition to a Sustainable Bioeconomy
  • Land Use Change Projection with Q-GIS
  • Fruit Breeding
  • Pharmaceutical Basics
  • Quality Management


Internship

The international "Agrobiotechnology" Master's degree program offers a voluntary internship 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 internship also enables them to collect hands-on professional experience and establish contacts with potential employers. The internship can be conducted in various areas such as the chemical industry, agricultural corporations, the foodstuffs industry, government agencies or NGOs. The variety of contacts that our faculty possesses allow us to provide expert support to students seeking an internship.

More information about the internship

 

Master Thesis (24 CP)

The major part of the 4th semester is dedicated to writing the master’s thesis. With the thesis students proof their capability to independently research a given topic scientifically within a limited period.

 

Application

Start WS-engl: Commencement of studies

Commencement of studies

Only possible in the winter semester.

Bewerbergruppen-engl

Application

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, intake capacity, fees

Intake capacity ("Numerus Clausus")

The intake capacity of this degree programme is not limited internally by the university.

 

Deadline

Application for enrolment starts June. Please note that the application via uni-assist opens in May.
Application deadline: June 15

 

Fees

No study fees are charged for this study program. However, students have to pay a semester contribution of approx. 300 EUR for administration and semester tickets (details).



Application: Admission requirements

Admission requirement

The entry prerequisite for a Master’s degree course is a Bachelor’s degree. For example:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Agricultural Biology
  • Biology
  • Biotechnology

Applications without a relevant Bachelor degree will be examined individually as to whether the study requirements are fulfilled. A specialist commission at JLU will then decide on which qualifications can be accepted or whether additional qualifications are necessary. Any information on the status of acceptance without having completed the application process is not possible.

 

Application: Language requirements

Language requirements

As the entire degree course is taught in English, applicants must provide proof of sufficient knowledge of written and spoken English. Accepted proofs of language proficiency:

  1. either: TOEFL-Test ITB (internet-based test) with at least 95 points or IELTS-Test with at least grade of 7 in the academic test;
  2. or: Proof of obtaining a local higher education entrance qualification in one of the following countries: Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, South Africa;
  3. or: Proof of a Bachelor’s degree in English in one of the following countries: Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, South Africa;
  4. or: Proof of the UNIcert III certificate.
Further information-admission international

For further information please contact:

Registrar’s Office / Studierendensekretariat
Goethestrasse 58
Postal address: Postfach 11 14 40, 35359 Giessen
Tel.: 0641/99-16400
   /

Career Options

Career Options / Career Opportunities

Career Options / Career Opportunities

There is a high need for qualified candidates to meet the challenges in science, technology and social policy, for people with the well-founded knowledge required to implement technological developments responsibly and to move society forward.
Due to its compatibility with other international degrees, the degree of Master of Science in Agrobiotechnology offers an ideal qualification for working abroad. The chief emphasis of the University is on international cooperation with Eastern Europe, India, China and the USA.
The job opportunities open to graduates are optimised by the emphasis on internationalization within the degree course, which offers a curriculum taught in English, and helps provide cooperative access to international biotechnology companies and the options of a period of study abroad.
Those who have planned their degree wisely will be able to present a profile characterized by broad knowledge, analytical capability, and – most important of all – a high degree of flexibility. Computer and online skills, as well as a good working knowledge of foreign languages and experience gained from time spent abroad are all designed to optimize professional qualifications.
A broad spectrum of jobs is open to graduates interested in research, product development and quality management within such areas as agricultural industry (seeds, fertilizer, pesticides), chemistry, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, as well as offices and consulting companies. Further job perspectives can be found in the research and teaching facilities of universities and international organisations, including programs in international development cooperation.

Graduates with a master's degree take on management positions in national and international authorities and associations. Additional vocational fields of activity are quality management, further education, consulting and research, public relations or marketing.

Contact

Course Director

Agrobiotechnology (englischsprachiger Studiengang)

Prof. Dr. Peter Kämpfer
Department of Applied Microbiology
Research Center for Biosystems, Nutrition and Land Use (IFZ)
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32
35392 Giessen
Phone: +49 (0) 641 99 37352
Office hours: by appointment

Anja Staffler - engl

Central Study Advisor (JLU)

Anja Staffler (Dipl. oec.troph.)

Links

Further Information

Further Information: Dokumente

PDF documents for the courses of study

 

Prüfungs- und Studienordnungen

Courses offered in the course catalogue

 Electronical course catalogue (in German)

 List module (Informationen in English)

Links Faculty 09

Master's Degree Programmes of Faculty 09

taught in German

taught in English

Any more questions?

Any more questions?
Information and consulting services of the JLU can be found in the category "Contact" on this page!