On this page, you will find lots of important information for exchange students who want to study at the Faculty of Biology for one or two semesters via a departmental or university exchange agreement (Erasmus, Newcastle, POSTECH, CeSAP).
If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Exchange students must follow a certain procedure in order to be allowed to enrol and study at the Faculty of Biology. The application and enrolment process is organised by our International Office.
Recommended language skills:
No language certificates need to be submitted with the application. We assume that our partner universities will only nominate students who meet the language requirements.
The academic year is divided into two semesters:
Winter semester: beginning of October until end of March
Summer semester: beginning of April until end of September
Semester dates and holidays
The (obligatory) welcome events and the German Intensive Language Course for exchange students begin before the official start of the semester (summer semester: mid-March / winter semester: mid-September). We strongly recommend to attend the welcome event!
Exchange students may participate in a German Intensive Language Course (before the semester starts) or language courses that take place during the semester. Further information here.
We recommend participating in the German Intensive Language Course, as this will avoid any overlap with the biology modules. We award 6 ECTS for this course.
Option 1: Third Year Modules (Vertiefungsmodule)
Exchange students may participate in two Third Year Modules (12 ECTS each) which are offered for BSc Biosciences students in their fifth semester. A Third Year Module lasts eight weeks (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Some of the modules are offered in English or optionally in English.
Time period I: October - December
Time period II: January - February
Please find this year's dates here.
Third Year Modules (winter semester 2025/26)
The Third Year Modules will be assigned starting in mid-July. We will contact you by email regarding your module selection.
Option 2: Second Year Module Ecology, Evolution, Biodiversity (Aufbaumodul Ökologie, Evolution, Biodiversität)
Exchange students with good German language skills (minimum B1) can take part in courses of the module "Ökologie, Evolution, Biodiversität" (20 ECTS) together with the BSc Biosciences students in the 3rd semester. Please contact bioint@uni-muenster.de regarding this matter.
Option 3: laboratory internship/research module
Exchange students with laboratory experience may also participate in laboratory internships/research modules (4–16 weeks) in one of our research groups, subject to prior arrangement. Please contact bioint@uni-muenster.de regarding this matter.
The Faculty of Biology offers no modules for undergraduate students taught in English during summer semester.
Option 1: Second Year Module Genetics, Cell Biology, Physiology (Aufbaumodul Zellbiologie, Physiologie, Genetik)
Exchange students with good German language skills (minimum B1) can take part in courses of the module "Zellbiologie, Physiologie und Genetik" together with the BSc Biosciences students in the 4th semester.
Option 2: Master modules
Exchange students without German language skills but with laboratory experience may participate in Master modules during the summer semester (see Modules for incoming graduate students (Master) at the Faculty of Biology).
Advanced modules (6 ECTS) are four-week full-time modules (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). They are usually organized for a small group of students. Students gain practical experience and theoretical knowledge to enable them to carry out a research project. Advanced modules offered by the Faculty of Biology take place during time periods (“Block”). Please find this year's "Block" time periods here.
Winter semester
Block I: Mid October - Mid November
Block II: Mid November - Mid December
Block III: Early January - Early February
Block IV: Early February - Early March
Block V: individual time period
Summer semester
Block I: Mid April - Mid May
Block II: Mid May - Mid June
Block III: Mid June - Mid July
Block IV: individual time period
Advanced modules (summer semester 2026)
Advanced modules (winter semester 2025/26)
The advanced modules offered by the Faculty of Biology are assigned via an online selection at the beginning of October (autumn semester) or the beginning of April (summer semester). You must be enrolled in order to participate in the online selection. We will contact you by email regarding the module selection.
There are also advanced modules offered by external teachers (e.g. Faculty of Medicine). They allocate places for their advanced modules themselves (by email).
All advanced modules (autumn term)
All advanced modules (summer term)
Research modules (12 ECTS) are eight-week full-time modules (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Students carry out individual research projects under supervision. The focus is on planning experiments and their practical implementation and evaluation. Teachers allocate places for their research modules themselves (by email). The duration of the research module is set individually with the respective teacher.
Research modules (winter semester)
Research modules (summer semester)
Attendance is compulsory. Please make sure that you arrive on time. If you are ill and cannot come to the course, please let your teacher know (even if it is just for one day!). You will also need a sick note from a doctor stating that you are/have been ill (the official "Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung"). Please send the sick note to your supervisor no later than three days after the first day of absence.
In accordance with the regulations that apply to our students, you can miss 10% of a module with a medical certificate stating that you are unwell. If you're absent for more than 10%, your teacher will decide whether you can pass the module, e.g. with an additional performance.
Different rules may apply for Research modules or an individual project in a reseach group.
The University of Münster uses the OLA. All parties must approve the learning agreement before the start of the mobility. The Learning Agreement is a proposed plan of your studies and therefore subject to change during your mobility period. It does not guarantee a place on the courses as most courses are assigned at the beginning of the semester.
Erasmus code: D MUNSTER01
Receiving responsible person: Vanessa Rüttler, bioint@uni-muenster.de
You may use a form provided by your University or by the University of Münster. All parties must approve the learning agreement before the start of the mobility. The learning agreement is a proposed plan of your studies and therefore subject to change during your mobility period. It does not guarantee a place on the courses as most courses are assigned at the beginning of the semester.
Receiving responsible person: Vanessa Rüttler, bioint@uni-muenster.de
The Faculty of Biology awards points for examinations. A maximum of 200 points can be achieved in each module. The module is passed by achieving at least 100 points. The points for a module correspond to certain final grades for the module (from 1.0 to 4.0 or 5.0 for failed, see examination regulations).
Exchange students cannot register in QISPOS or SAP SLcM (CMS) for examinations. Please ask the lecturer to send your grades via mail to bioint@uni-muenster.de. The Transcript of Records will be sent via E-Mail to you and to your coordinator at your University.
We don't use the "Scheine" of the International Office at the Faculty of Biology.