Application and Admission
We welcome applications from motivated students from all around the world who wish to continue their studies in a relevant field of the biosciences with a masters degree here at Heidelberg University and the German Cancer Research Center. Application period with Heidelberg University: 1 February - 15 March of each year for program starting in October. Annual intake: 24 students.
Call for Applications and Program Presentation
Online Application starting 1. February!
get first-hand information about the program:
The Faculty of Biosciences of Heidelberg University invites all interested applicants to a public online information event where the overall Master program and the application process will be explained.
Representatives of all Majors are there to give an overview of their specific study program and are ready to answer your individual questions, for example about their selection criteria.
Introduction to 'MSc Molecular Biosciences'
Date: Thursday, 6th February 2025, 2 p.m. (Heidelberg time)
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/64183120239?pwd=aIpwlmFdt4t7eTsPoMFuVK3gDVx
Meeting ID: 641 8312 0239 Passcode: 333059
Application and Admission Procedure
Major "Cancer Biology" is an integral part of the International Master Program "Molecular Biosciences" (MolBio) of Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences. Hence, interested candidates must follow the University application procedure, and in case of being selected by the Major Cancer Biology Selection Committee will receive admission for enrollment with Heidelberg University.
Information, Links and Legal Documents
- About the International Masters Program "Molecular Biosciences" of the University of Heidelberg
- Description of Study Program Modules and Legal Regulations ("Prüfungsordnung") of the Master Program "Molecular Biosciences" (English translation)
- Legal regulations ("Prüfungsordnung") of the Master Program "Molecular Biosciences" (German version)
- Modulkatalog - course description (in German)
The academic program starts with the winter term (mid-October) of each year, admission is by competitive application, the online application gateway is open every year from Feb. 1 to March 15.
For details about the application and selection procedures, required documents etc., please carefully read the following University instructions and FAQs as well as the supplementary information for Major Cancer Biology applicants (see below).
Application and admission procedure of Heidelberg University
Applicants to the Master Program Molecular Biosciences with a preference for Major Cancer Biology are expected to have finished, or are about to finish, their studies in the field of biosciences with excellent degrees. Their special interest in cancer biology and the DKFZ should be explained in detail in the 'Letter of Motivation' that is a required document in the application process. Further important issues in our evaluation process are the candidate's scientific basis (research experience, special scientific courses, stays abroad, relevant activities in companies), stipends & honours, description of future plans, but we also consider extracurricular activities, social engagement, etc.
If your Bachelor degree is not in the field of biosciences but, for example, medicine, pharmacy, chemistry, etc., this may not have adequately prepared you for our study program. In such cases it is especially important to document to our Selection Committee the contents of your education and whether you have taken additional courses in relevant biological subjects to catch up.
You may also have a look at the students' profiles on our websité to learn about bachelor degree subjects that have been successfully admitted to our program in the past.
Of course, we highly welcome applications from international students who all must meet the same standards of excellence during the evaluation process. The minimum degree for admission to the selection procedure is 2.4 according to the German grade system. International academic degrees, from an accredited institution of higher education, must be equivalent to a German BSc; this will be evaluated and grades will be transformed during the validation procedure by the International Relations Office of the University of Heidelberg, in accordance with the guidelines of Anabin (refer to www.anabin.de to learn about the equivalency of your academic education and degree).
If you already hold a Master degree that would enable you to apply for a PhD program directly please consider carefully whether you really wish to apply to our program.
Please understand that we do not have the capacitiy to do pre-evaluations to decide whether a candidate's application would potentially be successful!
2025 Calendar of Application and Selection
Calendar will be continuously updated for the 2025 selection
Application for the 2025 intake is online-only via the heiCO application center, no original documents have to be sent to Heidelberg University by postal mail at this point of time. If applicable, authenticity of documents will be checked after admission during the enrollment period.
You can follow the status of your application in your personal heiCO section and the overall process here:
STATUS OF THE PROCEDURE
[exact calendar dates] of the various steps will be added at the time:
[1 Feb - 15 March]
Registration with Heidelberg University Campus Online "heiCO":
Application documents: Carefully follow instruction how to prepare your application documents for MSc Molecular Biosciences/Major Cancer Biology completely and correctly:
- MolBio: "How-to-apply"
- IMPORTANT: Supplementary information and instructions for Major Cancer Biology applicants
Submission of online application:
- Start of course: select ‘Winter semester 2025/26’
- Select degree programme
Type of studies: Master programm; Degree programme: Molecular Biosciences; Entrance semester: 1; Form of studies: Consecutive master program - Personal data
- Correspondence address
- Higher education entrance qualification: this section asks for your school (high-school) education and final exam/diploma that qualified you to enter University for your bachelor studies
- Academic background
- Entrance qualification for Master's programme: this section asks for your undergraduate University education = your bachelor studies and whether your BSc is already completed or if not the prospective graduation date as well as the final, or current average, grade
- Academic background
Heidelberg University Student Administration Office checks all incoming applications for completeness, validation, transformation of international grades [starting 16 March]
Please note: The Selection Committee of Major Cancer Biology will only receive applications that have been declared ‘formally valid’ by Heidelberg University. We do not have any information on the reasons for invalid applications.
- [beginning of April]: Screening completed - check your heiCO profile to see if your application was declared 'formally valid' by the University of Heidelberg
Evaluation and Pre-Selection for Major Cancer Biology:
Double-blind evaluation of all valid applications with a preference for Major Cancer Biology by our Selection Committee [evaluation period: April] and first ranking list
- ranking criteria: 50% of points for entrance grade, 50% for other criteria like scientific basis (research experience, special scientific courses, stays abroad, relevant activities in companies), stipends & honours, description of motivation future plans, but we also consider social engagement and extracurricular activities to some extent
[end of April]: Short-listed candidates are invited for a personal interview
Interview period: [end of April - mid-May]
- option 1: interview by video call in the interview period [period t.b.a.] by individual arrangements between candidates and members of the selection committee
- option 2: personal interview at DKFZ Heidelberg [interview days: two optional dates in May, t.b.a ]
Outline of interviews:
all in English; ca. 30 minutes; candidate with two members of the Selection Committee
candidate is asked to give a short presentation covering the subject of the Bachelor thesis or other scientific project, followed by discussion and questioning
[mid-May] Selection Committee meets to discuss results of the interviews and sets up final ranking list, top-24 applicants will receive notification of admission
- by e-mail notification from Major Cancer Biology immediately
- followed by official admission letters from Heidelberg University (available via heiCO download)
- follow-up candidates will be informed about their position on the wait-list
Admitted candidates need to accept their place by 15th July [date t.b.c.]
- if places become available, follow-up candidates from the wait-list are continuously admitted until the program start in October
Cost/Tuition Fees
see relevant pages of Heidelberg University
Contributions & Feesnone
All students must pay a standard fee of currently 161.10 €/semester to the student union for common facilities, administration and Studentenrat. There is no difference in fees between German, EU, and non-EU students.
The contribution consists of the following individual fees:
- EUR 80 for Administrative costs
- EUR 66 for Social contribution for student services (Studierendenwerk)
- EUR 10 for the Constituted student body
- EUR 5.10 for the complementary financing of Nextbike and theaterflatrate)
As of Winter semester 2017/18, tuition fees amounting to 1,500 €/semester for both Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at higher education institutions in Baden-Württemberg, to which the University of Heidelberg belongs, have been introduced by the Ministry of Education for international students from non-EU/EEA countries and international students without a German university-entrance qualification ("Abitur") from Germany or a German school abroad.
further information, legal definitions, exemption possibilities:
Tuition fees for international studentsFunding and Support
Financial Support for MSc students with Major Cancer Biology
We are happy to announce that the International PhD Program of the German Cancer Research Center DKFZ is able to provide funding for a limited number (max. 4/year) of competitive MSc fellowships to outstanding applicants from all over the world, enabling them to enroll in the MSc program Molecular Biosciences with Major Cancer Biology.
The DKFZ MSc fellowships include the following benefits:
Finanical support:
Amount: approximately 11,500 € net/year
Duration of the support: 18 months
for further details and conditions see explanations and requirements as outlined on the Application Form
Associate Member status at the DKFZ International PhD Program of the German Cancer Research Center during the time of your MSc program.
This includes:
- Access to advanced training courses offered by the DKFZ PhD Program
- Access to extracurricular and extramural activities offered by the DKFZ PhD Program
- Access to DKFZ Career Service
Note:
As only a limited number of students can be supported, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply to other funding agencies in parallel!
Application deadline: 15th March
Application Form for financial support program for students in Major Cancer Biology (coming soon)
- Word form: available for download until 15th March
- PDF form: available for download until 15th March
Helpful information, for national and international students newly coming to Heidelberg/Germany, can be found on the following pages:
Get in touch with us
Prof. Dr. Ilse Hofmann
Scientific Coordinator Major Cancer Biology