Lecture modules are held during the whole lecture period in the morning 2 or 3 times a week (45-90 minutes) during winter term. Registration takes place via KLIPS during the 2^nd KLIPS phase. Students of the M.Sc. program “Computational Biology” have to select the following lecture series as mandatory lecture:

• Computational Biology
• Principles of Molecular Genetics, Development and Aging

In addition, you have to select at least one more lectures from the following ones:

• Ecology, Evolution, and Environment
• Molecular Plant and Microbial Sciences
• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

Credit points (6 CP each) are awarded upon successful completion of the final written examinations.

For students of the M.Sc. program “Computational Biology” the Seminar “Computational Biology” is compulsory.

It has a limited number of participants and is held during the whole lecture period afternoons during winter term. Registration takes place via KLIPS during the 2^nd KLIPS phase (priority-based allocation).

Credit points (6 CP) are awarded upon successful completion of the final examination (oral presentation).

Subject modules are six weeks full-time modules with limited number of participants, offered in summer term. Students are able to participate in one module during the first half of the term and another module during the second half of the term. Registration takes place via KLIPS during the 2^nd (for modules in the first half of the term) or 3^rd (for modules in the second half of the term) KLIPS phase (priority-based allocation).

Depending on the module, the final examination consists of either two or three parts. Credit points (12 CP) are awarded upon successful completion of all examinations:

• Two hours written examination about topics of the lectures and the practical/lab part (50 % of the total module mark), oral presentation (25 % of the total module mark) and seminar paper (25 % of the total module mark)
  or
• Two hours written examination about topics of the lectures and the practical/lab part (70 % of the total module mark) and oral presentation (30 % of the total module mark)
• Subject Module portfolio

Single PDF files of portfolio documents:

• SM general issues
• SM grading scale
• SM evaluation talk
• SM oral exam minutes

Please note:

• Participation in a subject module requires attendance of the introduction to the module (date specified in the subject module description) and at all scheduled days. Students who do not attend may be excluded from the module.
• Students can cancel participation in a subject module only before the module has started (contact Dr. Jan Weber, Mscbiol-office(at)uni-koeln(dot)de). In exceptional cases, the M.Sc. Degree Committee will decide whether a request for cancelling participation in a module that has already begun is justified. Such request must be submitted by the student within the first two weeks of the module.
• Students may apply to exchange one subject module by a laboratory module. For further information please contact Dr. Jan Weber, Mscbiol-office(at)uni-koeln(dot)de at least two weeks before the beginning of the module.

Subject modules in the M.Sc. programs have to be chosen during the second application phase in KLIPS. Beginning and duration of the different application phases can be found below (see "Time schedules for subject modules" of the respective term).

To choose your modules, please log in with your smail account-data in KLIPS

Online-help websites are listed here:

• Applying for courses
• Prioritising of courses

Your chance to get a place in one of the courses will increase with the number of courses you apply for and subsequently prioritise. Please apply for at least three courses. However, you should not apply for or prioritise courses you definitely would not participate in.

Please also see the following PDF for important information concerning the correct path in the KLIPS system.

Time schedule for subject modules

Time schedule for the subject modules in the summer term can be found below. Please note the validity period at the top. There are no fixed time schedules for other types of modules (e.g. project or laboratory modules).

Summer term

1^st half (13.04. - 05.06.2026):

• Population Genetics and Molecular Evolution
• Computational Biology II 

2^nd half (08.06. - 24.07.2026):

• Statistical Genetics in Research and Practical Applications
• Computational Neuroscience
• Network modelling and machine learning – from genes to ecosystems

Participation in subject modules from other study programmes requires approval by the program coordinators.

1^st half (07.04. - 23.05.2025):

• Population Genetics and Molecular Evolution
• Computational Biology II 

2^nd half (26.05. - 19.07.2025):

• Statistical Genetics in Research and Practical Applications
• Computational Neuroscience
• NEW: Network modelling and machine learning – from genes to ecosystems

Participation in subject modules from other study programmes requires approval by the program coordinators.

1^st half (08.04. - 17.05.2024):

• Population Genetics and Molecular Evolution

2^nd half (03.06. - 12.07.2024):

• Computational Biology II (will be shifted to the 1^st half in 2025)
• Statistical Genetics and Epidemiology and Forensics
• Computational Neuroscience

Click here for further information about the elective module.

Click here for further information about project modules.

Click here for further information about the master thesis and defense.