Computational Life Sciences (B. Sc.)

• Applying for a degree course
  Students may only begin their degree in the winter semester.

• Registration dates
  Applications for this degree may be submitted through the online application system from May, 2 to end of July (deadlines may vary, please see bachelor application for details.

• Admission requirements
  To gain admission to the programme, applicants need one of the following qualifications for university entrance:

  • Abitur (European Baccalaureate, A-Levels, High School Diploma)
  • Fachhochschulreife (Vocational Baccalaureate)
  • Fachgebundene Hochschulreife (Specialised A-Level)
  
  The following link provides specific information about the application process for admission to the degree programme.

• Admission requirements for international students
  If you wish to study at a German University, you need a so-called Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB), or higher education entrance qualification. This is a secondary school-leaving certificate that corresponds to the German Abitur and entitles you to study.
  Students from abroad must apply for admission from the university of their choice. For your application, you will require for a Bachelor's degree:
  • a school-leaving certificate (also known as "university entrance qualification", e.g. High School Diploma, Matura, A-Levels, Bachillerato, Atestat, baccalauréat)
    or
  • proof that you have passed the university entrance examination (if required in your home country)
  (Source: German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD, July 2016)
   
• Language requirements
  German level at least B2, all lectures and exams are held in German

Fields of application open up in the following areas and sectors, for example:

• Health and patient care
• Fitness and wellness sector
• Start-ups
• Research
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Biotech

The dual studies programme enables a combination of practical training elements in a company with the theoretical education provided by the university. There is a choice of either the joint model (academic study + vocational training) or the degree course with vocational experience (academic study + intense practical phases). There is an obvious advantage to students here: practically oriented academic study generally enables a particularly smooth transition from university to the world of work. What is more, the student usually receives financial remuneration from the company concerned.

In the joint model, students may start working at the company several months before the start of the first semester, depending on the company concerned. At the start of the course there is an alternation between theory (during the semester) and practical experience (between semesters and during the practical semesters). In order to embark on a dual studies programme, students have to apply to both a company and to THI (be sure to take note of company application deadlines!).

More info on our dual studies-pages, or check dual cooperation partner companies. Even if no partner company is currently active in this degree programme, you are welcome to contact us.

You should study Computational Life Sciences if you are interested in a career in a fast-growing and promising field that meets current societal challenges. This degree programme combines the fields of life sciences, medicine and computer science, providing you with interdisciplinary expertise. You will learn how to network, automate and analyse medical data in order to develop better diagnostics and therapies. In addition, the programme offers you the opportunity to strengthen your methodological and social skills through practical work and group projects, and prepare you for a career as an entrepreneur in the field of life sciences.

The Computational Life Sciences programme offers career opportunities in areas such as:

1. healthcare IT: implementation and management of IT systems in hospitals and clinics.

2. biotech and pharmaceutical companies: Development of information systems and software for research and development

3. research and development: study of biomedical data and analysis of genetic and biological processes

4. data analysis and management: analysis of large amounts of data in areas such as genomics, proteomics and clinical trials

5. medical device manufacturing: developing medical devices and systems with computer-aided diagnostics and therapeutics.

There may also be career opportunities in regulatory agencies, insurance companies or medical imaging.

The Computational Life Science degree programme may be right for you if you:

1. have an interest in biology and medicine and want to combine this knowledge with computer science.

2. find the application of technologies and information systems in health care and biomedicine exciting.

3. find data analysis and management as well as the development of IT systems interesting.

So, if you have an enthusiasm for biology, medicine and computer science and enjoy interdisciplinary work, the Computational Life Science degree programme may be just right for you.

We place great emphasis on practical experience. That's why the curriculum not only includes an entire practical semester in the 5th semester; you already get to know the application areas of the degree programme through practical project work in the first semesters.

A stay abroad is of course possible. Advice on this is provided by the International Office in regular information events and personal counselling.

Programming is taught in the subject Software Development 1. Students are introduced to the Java programming language step by step by means of exercises and practicals. No previous knowledge is necessary. However, constant cooperation and fun in learning something new is important.