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 “Ecology, Evolution, and Environment” have to select the following lecture series as mandatory lecture:

• Ecology, Evolution, and Environment

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

• Computational Biology
• Principles of Molecular Genetics, Development and Aging
• 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 “Ecology, Evolution, and Environment” the Seminar “Ecology, Evolution, and Environment (Seminar)” 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).

For students of the M.Sc. program “Ecology, Evolution, and Environment” the Tutorial module “Ecology, Evolution, and Environment (Tutorial)” 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. In the seventh week, the module examination(s) take place. Students are able to participate in one module during the first half and another module during the second half of the term. Registration takes place via KLIPS during the 1^st registration phase (priority-based allocation).

Depending on the module, the final examination consists of two different parts (each 50 % of the total module mark). 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 and 20-30 minute oral presentation
  or
• 20-30 minute oral presentation and lab report  
  or
• 20-30 minute oral exam about topics of the lectures and the practical/lab part and lab report
• 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 first registration 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 registration manual.

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):

• Zooplankton Chemical Ecology: The scent of death - how to detect predators

2^nd half (08.06. - 24.07.2026):

• Floodplain Areas in the Anthroprocene
• Ecology of streams and rivers

During the lecture free period (considered as an alternativ for the 1st half module)

• Myxomycete Ecology - Hunting Giant Amoebae

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

1^st half (07.04. - 23.05.2025):

• Zooplankton Chemical Ecology: The scent of death - how to detect predators
• Ecology of streams and rivers

2^nd half (26.05. - 19.07.2025):

• Floodplain Areas in the Anthroprocene
• Restoration Ecology

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

Click here for further information about the elective module.

Click here for further information about project modules.