AdmitArriveFree shortlist

Master’s · Biology & Life Sciences

Biodiversität/Biodiversity M.Sc.

University of Duisburg-Essen · Essen · Official programme page

21 facts from 5 official pages · last checked 9 November 2026

Reviewed by Dennis Maaß, admission and immigration expert
Published 8 November 2026 · Last reviewed 8 November 2026

Key facts

Length, deadlines and costs

Language
English and German
Source
“(4) Die Veranstaltungen werden in deutscher oder engli- scher Sprache gehalten.”

www.uni-due.de/imperia/md/content/zentralverwaltung/bereinigte_sammlung/8_5_5_16.pdf · checked 9 November 2026

UDE's course database classifies this programme's language of study as "Bilingual" (its "Bilinguale Studiengänge" filter). German is also needed: UDE's general DSH-2 rule applies, so the degree cannot be taken in English alone. § 4 (4) of the joint examination regulations of Ruhr-Universität Bochum and UDE: classes are held in German or English. The quote keeps the line break of the two-column PDF. Both English at B2 and German at DSH-2 are required before the studies start.

Study mode
On campus
Source
“Studienort Campus Essen”

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

A joint master's programme of Ruhr-Universität Bochum and UDE; the degree is awarded by both faculties and part of the teaching takes place in Bochum.

Length
4 semesters
Source
“Dauer 4 Semester”
“Masterarbeit beträgt zwei Jahre oder vier Semester” page

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

Credits
120 ECTS
Source
“(5) Der Studienumfang beträgt insgesamt 120 Kreditpunk- … te (120 CP)”

www.uni-due.de/imperia/md/content/zentralverwaltung/bereinigte_sammlung/8_5_5_16.pdf · checked 9 November 2026

§ 4 (5) of the joint examination regulations; 90 CP of coursework. The quote keeps the line break of the two-column PDF. A compulsory one-semester (20-week) practical phase is part of the programme.

Intakes
Winter
Source
“Beginn Wintersemester”

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

Non-EU deadline
15 Jun 2027 (winter 2027)
Source
“Winter semester For courses with admission restrictions (NC): 01 May - 15 June For courses without admission restrictions: 01 May - 31 July Summer semester For courses with admission restrictions (NC): 01 November - 15 December For courses without admission restrictions: 01 November - 31 January”

www.uni-due.de/international/international-admissions-en.php · checked 9 November 2026

Standing annual application periods for applicants from non-EU countries published by UDE's admissions office (Einschreibungswesen); the page prints day and month, not the year. The International Office's older page (last modified 2025-09-19) gives later dates for programmes without admission restrictions (15 September for the winter and 15 March for the summer semester); the admissions office page is newer and runs the procedure, so its dates are recorded. Applicants who need a visa should apply as early as the period allows. This programme has an Orts-NC according to its own admission section, so the earlier NC deadlines apply.

Non-EU tuition
None
Source
“The University of Duisburg-Essen does not charge tuition fees. However, all students must pay the student services and student body fees each semester.”

www.uni-due.de/international/international-admissions-en.php · checked 9 November 2026

Only the semester contribution is due; North Rhine-Westphalia charges no tuition fees at state universities and none that depend on nationality.

Application fee
Not stated by the university
3 pages checked, 9 Nov 2026

UDE publishes no application fee for applications made in its own portal, and does not state that none is charged.

Places
Restricted (limited places)
Source
“Der Studiengang ist mit einem Orts-NC belegt.”

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

The admission section says the programme carries a local numerus clausus and that places are allocated by a score made up of 51 % the bachelor's grade and 49 % the grade of a selection interview. The page's own summary line contradicts this with "Zulassung zulassungsfrei"; the detailed admission section is the more specific statement and is followed here. Applicants should confirm the current status with the Planungs- und Koordinierungskommission before applying.

Places for non-EU applicants
Not stated by the university
3 pages checked, 9 Nov 2026

No UDE page states a separate quota or ranking for non-EU applicants in this restricted master's programme.

Admission

What you need to apply

3-year bachelor’s
Accepted
Source
“Grundsätzlich gehen wir von einem vorangegangenen, mindestens sechssemestrigen bzw. drei Studienjahre umfassenden Studium”

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

Six semesters or three years of previous study is the stated baseline, so a three-year 180-ECTS bachelor's degree meets the length requirement. This is the clearest "three years is enough" statement of any UDE programme in this record.

Subject background
A Bachelor of Science in biology or a comparable university degree, as a rule from a course of at least six semesters or three years of study, or a degree recognised as equivalent by the planning and coordination commission.
Source
“Der Masterstudiengang "Biodiversität/Biodiversity" ist ein konsekutiver Studiengang, der auf einen "Bachelor of Science" in Biologie oder vergleichbaren Universitätsabschluss aufbaut. Grundsätzlich gehen wir von einem vorangegangenen, mindestens sechssemestrigen bzw. drei Studienjahre umfassenden Studium oder einem durch die Planungs- Koordinierungskommission als gleichwertig anerkannten Hochschulabschluss aus.”

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

Minimum grade
Not stated by the university
1 page checked, 9 Nov 2026

No minimum grade is published; the bachelor's grade counts 51 % towards the allocation score.

How your grade is converted
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 9 Nov 2026

UDE publishes no conversion formula for foreign grades for this programme.

English
Level B2. IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 98. TOEFL PBT 597 and the First Certificate in English (FCE) are also accepted. The page's typo "IELS" is UDE's. Neither the TOEFL Home Edition nor Duolingo is mentioned.. Exemption: Eight years of English lessons shown on a high school diploma, or UNIcert II.
Source
“In addition to proof of proficiency in German, as stated above, proof of proficiency in English, at least B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference (8 years of English lessons (High school diploma, Abiturzeugnis) … II or one of the successful tests: IELS 6.0, TOEFL IBT 98, TOEFL PBT 597 or First Certificate in English (FCE).”

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

German
When applying: German at DSH-2, TestDaF or a comparable test is a precondition, proven by certificate.. During studies: Classes are held in German or English, so German is needed for the German-taught part.
Source
“Englischkenntnisse nach CERF B2 und Deutschkenntnisse nach DSH II, TestDaf oder einem vergleichbaren Sprachtest werden vorausgesetzt. Die Sprachkenntnisse sind durch Sprachzertifikate auszuweisen.”

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

The page's spellings "CERF" and "TestDaf" are UDE's. Because the programme has an Orts-NC, a conditional admission for a German course first is not possible.

GRE / GMAT / GATE
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 9 Nov 2026

No UDE page publishes a GRE, GMAT or GATE requirement for this programme.

Selection
A selection interview (Auswahlgespräch): the allocation score is 51 % the bachelor's grade and 49 % the interview grade.
Source
“Auf der Basis des aktuell geltenden Zulassungsrechts NRW soll neben der Abschlussnote des B. Sc.-Studiums das Ergebnis eines Auswahlgesprächs als Zulassungskriterium dienen.”
“Diese setzt sich zu 51% aus der Note des Bachelorabschlusses bzw. eines als gleichwertig anerkannten Abschlusses und zu 49% aus der Note eines Auswahlgesprächs zusammen.” page

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

How to apply
Directly to the university
Source
“Master's Programs via UDE Application Portal For all other master's programs applications are submitted through the UDE's application portal”

www.uni-due.de/international/international-admissions-en.php · checked 9 November 2026

Applicants from non-EU countries apply in UDE's own application portal, not through uni-assist.

India, Pakistan, Nigeria

Rules for applicants from India, Pakistan and Nigeria

English test waiver
Possible for applicants from India, Nigeria, Pakistan, with a school-leaving certificate from an English-medium school or with enough English at school
Source
“at least B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference (8 years of English lessons (High school diploma, Abiturzeugnis)”

www.uni-due.de/studienangebote/studiengang.php?id=132 · checked 9 November 2026

Eight years of English lessons shown on a high school diploma is listed as proof in its own right, alongside the tests. The page names the German Abiturzeugnis as an example but writes "High school diploma" first, so a school certificate from India, Nigeria or Pakistan showing eight years of English should qualify; applicants should have it confirmed, because the wording is ambiguous.

Rules that name these countries
  • India: Applicants from India must hand in the APS certificate with the documents for enrolment.
    Source
    “APS certificate if you're from China, India or Vietnam”

    www.uni-due.de/international/international-admissions-en.php · checked 9 November 2026

    The certificate is listed among the attachments to the enrolment e-mail, i.e. after admission, not with the application. The German embassy requires the APS for the student visa in any case.

The rules for your country across all universities, and the visa rules on English tests, are on the India, Pakistan and Nigeria pages.

More on this programme

Every value was read on an official page and is stored with a verbatim quote; open “Source” to see it. “Not stated by the university” means none of the pages we checked says, and lists those pages. Rules change: confirm with the university before you apply or pay.