Text icon 'UFR' standing for University of Freiburg
Faculty of Biology
Seal element of the university of freiburg in the shape of a trefoil

Polyvalent dual-major Bachelor Biology (with secondary-school teaching degree option)

Studierende lernen in der UB

If you are aiming to become a grammar school teacher, you will study a polyvalent two-main-subject degree program with the option of teaching at grammar schools and then complete the Master of Education degree program. Information on this is available from the School of Education FACE and the Teacher Advisory Service at the University of Freiburg.

Structure of the degree program in Biology

The biology degree course in Freiburg offers a sound basic education in biology with a very broad range of subjects and the opportunity to specialize.

Basic moduls in biology:

Basic knowledge of general biology covering the entire spectrum of biology is taught in the basic modules of semesters 1 to 4.

lernende Studierende
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics and Molecular Biology 
  • Botany and Evolution of Plants
  • Zoology and Evolution of Animals
  • Plant Physiology
  • Animal Physiology
  • Scientific Theory and Ethics 
  • Microbiology, Immunobiology and Biochemistry
  • Developmental Biology 
  • Ecology 

The basics of chemistry, which are essential for studying and later becoming a teacher, are offered in the module “General, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry”.

High school teaching option
If the polyvalent two-major subject Bachelor’s degree program is studied as a teaching-related Bachelor’s degree program for the teaching degree Gymnasium, the following modules must be completed in addition to the subject-specific modules in Biology and the second subject:

  1. Introduction to educational sciences: 3 ECTS credits
  2. Orientation internship with preparation and follow-up: 7 ECTS credits
  3. Didactics of Biology: 5 ECTS credits
  4. Didactics of 2nd subject: 5 ECTS credits

Individual study design option
If the Bachelor’s degree program is not teacher training-related, at least 8 ECTS credits must be earned in the option area in the area of professional field-oriented competencies. A further 12 ECTS credits must be acquired either in the area of professional field-oriented competencies or in the area of subject-specific science and interdisciplinarity. The ECTS credits earned by successfully completing the modules intended for the Gymnasium teaching degree option are fully credited in the individual specialization option.

Specialization and Bachelor thesis:
The third year of study serves to deepen the student’s knowledge and focus on a biological subject area in preparation for the Bachelor’s thesis, which is scheduled for the 6th semester. For this purpose, in the 5th semester, students can choose a module from a total of 15 specialization modules, which reflect the entire breadth of the research landscape of the Faculty of Biology in Freiburg, from the subject area in which the subsequent Bachelor’s thesis is to be written, provided it is written in biology.

Studentin pipettiert

Offered specialization modules:

  • Biochemistry – Synthetic Biology and Proteomics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Eukaryotes Genetics
  • Evolutionary Ecology
  • Functional morphology, biomechanics and biomimetics
  • Genetics
  • Geobotany
  • Immunology
  • Limnology
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular plant physiology
  • Neurobiology
  • Plant biotechnology
  • Animal- and Neurophysiology
  • Cell biology
     

The courses consist of lectures, practicals, excursions, exercises and seminars, which are combined into modules. The course content of each module is assessed during the course of study. In accordance with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), credit points (CP) are assigned to the modules, which students acquire upon successful completion and which facilitate mutual recognition within the European Education Area.

Application for the Polyvalent Bachelor’s degree program

The admission procedure for the 65 places on the Biology degree course, which starts in the winter semester, is carried out as part of the university’s own admission procedure. In addition to academic achievements, other achievements that provide particular information about aptitude for the intended course of study are also taken into account, e.g. vocational training or professional experience relevant to the course of study, practical activities or extracurricular achievements.

To apply, please complete the online application form from June 1 and submit the signed application with the following attachments to the University of Freiburg by July 15 at the latest:

A list of application documents can be found in the student portal under the heading Application.

Information sheet on admission to the polyvalent two-major Bachelor’s degree program in Biology [de]