B. Sc. Molecular Medicine

This site provides general information regarding the degree programme B.Sc. Molecular Medicine including the following topics:

How do I apply?

Prospective students

I just enrolled in the programme, what do I need to know?

Starting your studies

I am currently studying Molecular Medicine, what do I need to know?

Enrolled students

What happens after graduation?

PhD programmes in Freiburg

Career prospects

Overview

Degree	Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.)
Credit Points	240 ECTS
Type of study	Undergraduate studies
Form of study	Full-time
Standard period of study	8 semesters
Start of programme	Winter semester only
Application period	1 June – 15 July
Restricted admission	Yes (see ‘Prospective students’)
Study places	30 per year
Language	mainly German, also English following announcement
Course of study	Course catalogue

Profile B.Sc. Molecular Medicine in Freiburg (240 CP)

The interdisciplinary degree programmes B.Sc. and M.Sc. Molecular Medicine link the fields of natural sciences and medical research. Both degrees are jointly offered by the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Biology. They aim to prepare students to solve current problems of human medicine with the mind-set and methods of natural sciences, merging the disciplines of preclinical and clinical medicine, biology and biochemistry into one curriculum. This skill set is highly sought after, as the necessary refinement and critical evaluation of established diagnoses and treatments can only be achieved by furthering knowledge of underlying molecular pathways and effects. The four-year B.Sc. Molecular Medicine programme is adapted to current scientific and societal developments, including increasing internationalisation. The curriculum includes the basics of preclinical medicine, natural sciences and bioinformatics, covering the topics of big data handling and system modelling, as well as specialised courses on different fields of molecular medicine. The specialised courses range from the introduction to molecular medicine and its methods to courses with a focus on pathology, presentation and diagnosis of diseases, giving students an in-depth insight into current biomedical research. Further courses cover career-oriented competences needed particularly in the field of Molecular Medicine: scientific English, fundamentals of biostatistics and principles of scientific communication. Graduates of the B.Sc. Molecular Medicine in Freiburg are optimally trained to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry or diagnostics or to start the subsequent one-year M.Sc. programme, which allows for an easy transition to diverse PhD programmes. In some systems PhD studies can commence directly after a four-year B.Sc. programme.

Special feature of the B.Sc. Molecular Medicine in Freiburg: Extensive practical training

A special feature of the B.Sc. Molecular Medicine is the extensive amount of practical training scheduled in the curriculum. The curriculum includes two biomedical electives and an external internship that should be completed abroad. The internships for the biomedical electives I and II can be chosen freely, allowing for an early focus on specialised fields of research. In addition, the external internship gives students the opportunity to experience a different laboratory environment and culture outside of the university.

Qualification objectives of the B.Sc. Molecular Medicine

The aim of the Molecular Medicine programmes offered jointly by the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Biology is to train researchers with the basic qualifications to work independently on their own research projects. Our graduates make decisions based on critical analysis, discussion and profound background knowledge and act self-critically and conscientiously.

Subject-related qualification objectives

Students are familiar with the structure and function of the human body and are able to convey this knowledge in written and oral form
Students are able to describe the etiopathology of diseases using their knowledge of physiological processes in the human body
Students are able to describe the molecular processes in the human body and can derive molecular pathology using this knowledge
Students are able to interpret current reviews, critically evaluate the information conveyed and use it for their further work
Students are able to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of current publications in the field of Molecular Medicine and identify follow-up research approaches
Students are able to combine subject-related content with interdisciplinary knowledge to identify biomedical research questions
Students are able to carry out basic methods used in biomedical research independently
Students are able to approach biomedical research questions with appropriate state-of-the-art methods and taking into account ethical and legal considerations
Students are able to analyse and interpret collected data critically using appropriate statistical methods in the context of current research in the field
Students are able to present their results in written and oral form using the appropriate terminology in accordance with the standards of the field

Interdisciplinary qualification objectives

Students can assess complex issues on the basis of critical discussion and consideration
Students can approach questions from different angles and transfer problems across disciplines
Students can evaluate complex issues taking into consideration social responsibility, intercultural competence and teamwork

Outlook

After successfully graduating from the four-year B.Sc. Molecular Medicine programme, graduates are perfectly equipped to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry or diagnostics. To continue on the academic track, students need to complete a postgraduate degree programme followed by a PhD-programme. At the University of Freiburg graduates of the B.Sc. Molecular Medicine can apply for the one-year M.Sc. Molecular Medicine degree programme. The M.Sc. Molecular Medicine offers a wide range of electives organised like a lab rotation during the winter semester. During the summer semester the research for the master thesis project and its defence are carried out. Ideally the M.Sc. programme is followed by a PhD programme. In some countries PhD studies can begin directly after completing the four-year B.Sc. programme.