FAQ Prospective Students of the "Biotechnology B.Sc." Degree Programme
- The study plan provides an overview of the courses taking place in the individual semesters.
- In the course catalogue, you will find the dates of the courses.
- The module handbooks describe the individual courses. You can use these for prior information, often you will need them when you change universities.
- You want to see what it's like here? Then use the virtual tour of Campus Jülich.
- Are you looking for general information about the degree programme?
Go to the Biotechnology B.Sc. degree programme page.
Answers to Your Questions
For individual advice, please contact Subject-Specific Academic Counselling directly.
Answers to Many Questions
For individual advice, please contact Subject-Specific Academic Counselling (Fachstudienberatung) directly.
Can I Get Personal Counselling?
FH Aachen | Thomas Schnitzler
Of course you can! There are various options for you.
- For general questions, please contact the staff of General Academic Counselling.
- For more specific questions, please contact Subject-Specific Academic Counselling (Fachstudienberatung).
- The university's largest information event, the HIT (University Information Day), takes place in Aachen every year. Here, in addition to General Academic Counselling, counsellors for all degree programmes are also on site.
- You will find our counsellors at various other fairs, where you can also get comprehensive advice from the staff at the info stand.
- On Open Day (held every 2 years), you can come visit the university and talk to the teaching staff.
Is There a "Numerus Clausus" for This Degree Programme?
The Biotechnology B.Sc. degree programme has no admission restrictions (location-based NC) for the upcoming winter semester (WS2023/2024).
With or Without a Practical Semester/Semester Abroad?
The Bachelor's degree programme in Biotechnology is offered with or without a practical semester/semester abroad. This results in a study duration of six or seven semesters. A practical semester is a whole semester that you usually spend outside our university, in industry or in a research institute, working on a project. On the one hand, this semester serves as preparation for your Bachelor's thesis and perhaps your later field of work, so that you can familiarise yourself more deeply with a particular subject area. On the other hand, you receive 30 additional credit points for the practical semester and, thus, a total of 210 credit points for your studies. Many Master's degree programmes require a minimum number of credits as a prerequisite. If you choose our Master's degree programme in Biotechnology and only have 180 LP from a six-semester Bachelor's degree programme, you will complete a four-semester Master's degree programme that includes a practical semester. If you already have 210 LP from a Bachelor's degree programme, choose the "identical" three-semester Master's degree programme that does not include a practical semester.
The semester abroad instead of the practical semester is similar, except that you spend the semester abroad, which can also be at a foreign university.
You can also change degree programmes during your studies, i.e. you can decide later whether or not you want to do the practical semester abroad.
If you would like to know more about this topic:
Subject-Specific Academic Counselling
Biotechnology B.Sc. WITHOUT a semester abroad
Biotechnology B.Sc. WITH a semester abroad
Which Subjects Will Be Taught?
If you want to get a general overview of the subjects taught in this degree programme, take a look at the study plan. Another option is the course catalogue, where you will find the courses currently taking place.
How Is the Quality of Our Degree Programme Ensured?
Our Faculty of Chemistry and Biotechnology lays claim to a high level of quality for our degree programmes and, therefore, consistently sets its own standards and quality goals. To this end, we are guided by FH Aachen's Mission Statement for Studies and Teaching. The quality management system for studies and teaching is tailored to the needs of our university and ensures that our degree programmes develop continuously and in a sustainable manner.
How Will I Get Help to Find My Way Around in the First Semester?
You will not be left alone after registration!
Up-to-date information for the start can be found on the page Freshers. During your first days with us, information events will take place where you will learn everything you need to know about the start your studies.
All freshers will spend a long weekend together in a youth hostel, where you will learn more about your studies and get to know your fellow students. This EES (freshers' introductory seminar) is organised every year by the student body of the faculty (Fachschaft).
The Subject -Specific Academic Counsellor is also available to answer your questions during your studies. You can also find a lot of information on the faculty page All About Your Studies. In addition, FH Aachen offers a variety of counselling and support services.
What Do I Have to Consider When Changing Universities?
You have already studied at a university and would like to continue your studies at FH Aachen? You may only do this via the online application Change of University (Hochschulwechsel) if you can be admitted to a higher subject-specific semester (höheres Fachsemester) on the basis of transferable credits. The confirmation of classification in a higher subject-specific semester is issued by the Examination Board of the respective Faculty of FH Aachen and must be uploaded with the online application.
What's It Like at Our University?
Would you like to see what it's like around here? We offer you a number of opportunities to take a look around. You can find out more on the page Offers for Pupils. If you don't want to come to us right away, just use the virtual tour of Campus Jülich!
Explanation of Terminology
What is a "Faculty"?
A faculty is an organisational structure at the university. Different degree programmes on similar subjects are brought together in a faculty. The Faculty of Chemistry and Biotechnology, for example, is responsible for the Biotechnology BSc. degree programme, among others. The faculty s headed by the Dean's Office. As you begin studying Biotechnology BSc., you will find all further information on the central web pages of the faculty.
What Is the "Student Body of the Faculty" (Fachschaft)?
The Student Body of the Faculty (Fachschaft) / the Faculty Student Council (FSR, Fachschaftsrat) consists of student volunteers who are elected once a year by all students.
The Faculty Student Council can help you with regard to:
- General questions about a degree programme
- Questions about the Examination Regulations
- Problems with teaching staff
- The procurement of lab coats and safety goggles for laboratory practical trainings
Planning events on campus is also one of the FSR's tasks. If you have ideas for a party or other events on campus, please contact the FSR.
Would you like to get an even deeper insight into the FSR or would you like to get involved yourself? If so, you can find the FSR in Room 00A05 at Campus Jülich.
For more information, visit the Jülich Student Council website.
Contact: fachschaften-juelichfh-aachen.de
What are the "Examination Regulations"?
A distinction is made between the Framework Examination Regulations (RPO, Rahmenprüfungsordnung) and the Examination Regulations (PO, Prüfungsordnung) for a specific degree programme.
The Framework Examination Regulations apply to the entire FH Aachen and regulate all general requirements.
Based on the Framework Examination Regulations, provisions for the respective degree programme (admission requirements, structure of the programme, admission to examinations and practical training, etc.) are mapped out in the degree programme-specific Examination Regulations. The Examination Regulations are updated at unspecified intervals. For you, the Examination Regulations that were valid at the beginning of your studies will always remain valid.
Both the Framework Examination Regulations and the Examination Regulations for the degree programme are legally binding.
What are "Practical Trainings"?
In almost all thematic blocks of the Biotechnology degree programme, the so-called modules, you will extend the lecture contents in practical laboratory work. For this purpose, you routinely work as a group or team on solving application-related tasks.
In the study plan, you will find courses that are marked as practical training (P). These practical trainings are courses held at the university in the faculty's laboratories.