Bachelor’s Programme Biology
Are you interested in all core areas of biology and want to learn to understand nature?
The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Biology offers a broad education in the main branches of biology. The students acquire theoretical knowledge and practical skills through extensive laboratory work and field experience. With this basic education the graduates know how to detect, analyse and assess biological systems and their interaction with their environment at the molecular, organism and ecosystem level.
Study Code
UC 033 630
Supplemental Examination
The supplemental examination in Biology and Environmental Protection is dropped
- if a minimum of four hours in natural sciences, biology or biology in conjunction with other teaching areas per week were successfully attended at a secondary school after the 8th school grade.
- if the knowledge from the fields of natural sciences, biology or biology in conjunction with other teaching areas are already part of the admission procedure prior admission (concerns all admission processes acc. to §65a and §§71b, c, d UA 2002).
FAQ
Graduates are able to elaborate, evaluate, assess and implement scientific developments in the fields of biology and to apply them in interdisciplinary contexts. They possess theoretical and methodological problem-solving skills as well as multidisciplinary skills, such as learning strategies, literature research and information retrieval, and scientific communication.
The Bachelor's Programme Biology, incorporating the fundamentals of the natural sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, physics) and general abilities (multidisciplinary skills, laboratory methods, field methods, experimental design, statistics), offers wide-ranging instruction in the individual branches of biology (botany, zoology, microbiology, ecology and molecular biology).
The modules convey both theoretical knowledge, based on extensive laboratory and field experience, and necessary practical skills. Students are made familiar with scientific writing and research and are able to develop problem-solving skills. Individual specialization may be pursued through the selection of specific elective modules from the branches of biology, allowing students to adapt their programme to meet individual occupational goals.
The Bachelor's Programme Biology specifically prepares students for activities in private and public institutions in the fields of agriculture and forestry, environment and nature conservation, landscape planning and management, pharmaceutics, medicine, public administration, museums and libraries, botanical and zoological gardens, and nature reserves.
Graduates tracking: Shows which occupational fields students enter after graduation
Faculty of Biology Examination Office Information for students with disabilities
Curriculum
The curriculum is the basis of a degree programme. A look at the curriculum for the Bachelor's Programme Biology gives you a detailed overview of the structure, content, examination regulations and qualification profile of this Bachelor's degree.
The curriculum can clarify several important questions before you start your studies. For example, which criteria must be fulfilled for enrolment in the Bachelor's Programme Biology, how long the programme lasts, which modules must be completed and much more.
The 2019W curriculum currently applies to the Bachelor's Programme Biology.
Information on the Curriculum (2019W)
The complete version of the curriculum reflects the currently valid version of the curriculum. It is for informational purposes only and is not legally binding. The legally binding version of the curriculum, including any amendments, may be found in the University of Innsbruck Bulletins.
In order to determine which version of the curriculum is applicable in your case, see the Catalogue of Studies
available at: https://lfuonline.uibk.ac.at/public/lfuonline_meinestudien.studienblatt
Section: Current Curriculum version
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin February 5th 2025, Issue 27, No. 326 (Modification Regulation of Admission Procedure)
- University of Insbruck Bulletin February 7th 2024, Issue 24. No. 420 (Modification Regulation of Admission Procedure)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin February 2nd 2023, Issue 19, No. 275 (Modification Regulation of Admission Procedure)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin February 16th 2022, Issue 19, No. 281 (Modification Regulation of Admission Procedure)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin December 9th 2020, Issue 26, No. 242 (Modification Regulation of Admission Procedure)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin February 4th 2020, Issue 13, No. 206 (Modification Regulation of Admission Procedure)
- English version of the Curriculum (from December 18th 2019)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin December 18th 2019, Issue 10, No. 138 (Amendment of the Curriculum)
- English version of the Curriculum
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 8th 2019, Issue 43, No. 432 (Equivalence List)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin April 8th 2019, Issue 32, No. 379
Supplemental Examination
The supplemental examination in Biology and Environmental Protection is dropped
- if a minimum of four hours in natural sciences, biology or biology in conjunction with other teaching areas per week were successfully attended at a secondary school after the 8th school grade.
- if the knowledge from the fields of natural sciences, biology or biology in conjunction with other teaching areas are already part of the admission procedure prior admission (concerns all admission processes acc. to §65a and §§71b, c, d UA 2002).
Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP)
- SL The Bachelor’s Programme Biology at the University of Innsbruck (Compulsory Module 1 lit. a/1h/0.5 ECTS-Credits)
- VO Botany (Compulsory Module 1 lit. b/2 hrs/3 ECTS-Credits)
- VO Zoology (Compulsory Module 1 lit. c/2 hrs./3 ECTS-Credits)
- VO Microbiology (Compulsory Module 1 lit. e/2 hrs./3 ECTS-Credits).
(2) Successful passing of the examinations listed in paragraph 1 entitles to passing all further lectures and examinations beyond the studies induction and orientation stage as well as to writing the Bachelor’s Thesis as prescribed by the curriculum. The registration requirements specified in the curriculum must be met.
(3) Before the completion of the studies induction and orientation stage, courses corresponding to 20.5 ECTS-Credits may be passed. The registration requirements specified in the curriculum must be met.
Recommended Course Sequence
The exemplary course sequence given below is recommended for full-time students beginning their study programme in the winter semester. The table shows one possible course sequence for the bachelor's programme and is not compulsory. Delays resulting from repeated examinations are not taken into account.
The standard duration of the study programme is 6 semesters or 180 ECTS-Credits, whereby according to the Universities Act of 2002, a workload of 1,500 (real) hours per academic year must be fulfilled, corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits (one ECTS-Credit is equivalent to a workload of 25 hours).
12.5 ECTS-Credits: Introduction to the Biological Disciplines
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Fundamentals of Biology
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Fundamentals of Chemistry and Physics
2.5 ECTS-Credits: Biochemistry
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Fundamentals of Human Biology
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Microbiology I
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Botany I
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Zoology I
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Fundamentals of Scientific Working
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Ecology I
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Microbiology II
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Zoology II
7.5 ECTS-AP: Botany II
7.5 ECTS-AP: Ecology II
7.5 ECTS-AP: Microbiology II
2.5 ECTS-AP: Presentation
5.0 ECTS-AP: Practical Skills: Fieldwork or Practical Skills: Lab Work
7.5 ECTS-AP: Elective Module
7.5 ECTS-AP: Elective Module
7.5 ECTS-AP: Elective Module
7.5 ECTS-AP: Elective Module
7.5 ECTS-AP: Elective Module
7.5 ECTS-AP: Elective Module
15.0 ECTS-AP: Bachelor's Thesis
| Semester | ECTS-AP | Titel |
|---|---|---|
Extension Programme
Within the scope of the Study Programme, a Extension Programme corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits may be passed. Admission to the Extension Programme requires the admission to or the having passed of one of the selected Study Programmes. Detailed information: https://www.uibk.ac.at/studium/angebot/es-informatik/
Information about examination regulations, assessment and grading
Examination regulations
The examination regulation is an integral part of the curriculum, detailed information can be found under the paragraph examination regulations.
The grade distribution table is a statistical representation of the distribution of all successfully completed examinations in a given programme of study or subject (based on all registered students for the programme or subject). The grade distribution table is updated in regular intervals.
| A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austrian grading scheme | Definition | %-age | ||
| 1 | EXCELLENT: Outstanding performance | 21.4 | = 100% | |
| 2 | GOOD: Generally good, but with some errors | 28.5 | ||
| 3 | SATISFACTORY: Generally sound work with a number of substantial errors | 28.8 | ||
| 4 | SUFFICIENT: Performance meets the minimum criteria | 21.3 | ||
| 5 | INSUFFICIENT: Substantial improvement necessary; requirement of further work |
December 2021
Overall classification of the qualification
Not applicable
Explanation: An overall classification (mit Auszeichnung bestanden/pass with distinction, bestanden/pass, nicht bestanden/fail) – is awarded, in accordance with § 73 Üara 3 UA, only for examinations that conclude a programme of study and consist of more than one subject (an examination of this type is not specified in the curriculum of this programme of study).
Contact and Information
Examination Office
Standort Technikerstraße 17
Dean of Studies
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Birgit Weinberger
Information portal for Biology Students of the University of Innsbruck
biopage.info:
Information about the Programme (in German only)
Older curricula can be found in the archive Course Catalog
From the field
A molecular fountain of youth for the brain
What happens in the brain as we age? Might it be at all possible to rejuvenate nerve cells? Seeking answers to these questions, a research group led by Frank Edenhofer at the Department of Molecular Biology has succeeded for the first time in observing mini-brains age.
The unknown climate factor from the permafrost
Ecologist Christina Biasi is exploring the conditions under which tiny organisms contribute to permafrost soils emitting nitrous oxide. Her research could be essential for the development of future climate scenarios.
High-alpine animal species need more protected areas
Melting glaciers due to global warming caused by the climate crisis have massive consequences for biodiversity in the Alpine region, as an international team of researchers including the Innsbruck ecologist Leopold Füreder has now shown for the first time for a period between 2020 and 2100. According to the study, numerous invertebrate species are threatened with the loss of their habitats. The researchers call for the expansion of protected areas, also in glacier forelands. The study has been published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
The carbon cycle is speeding up
Soil is the largest natural carbon storage in the world. In Northern ecosystems particularly large amounts of carbon are stored, but they are also particularly strongly affected by global warming. A recently published study by an international team led by Michael Bahn of the University of Innsbruck investigated how ongoing warming affects the uptake and release of carbon dioxide in subarctic grassland. The researchers used a geothermally active area in Iceland as a natural „climate chamber”.
Related studies
Bachelor’s Programme
Biology
The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Biology offers a broad education in the main branches of biology. The students acquire theoretical knowledge and practical skills through extensive laboratory work and field experience. With this basic education the graduates know how to detect, analyse and assess biological systems and their interaction with their environment at the molecular, organism and ecosystem level.
Detailed Information Apply Online
Please note: the language of instruction for this programme is German.
Info
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Duration/ECTS-Credits
6 semesters/180 ECTS-Credits
Mode of Study
Full-time
Language
German
Requirements
Secondary school completion certificate or equivalent, language certificates
Supplemental Examination
Biology and Environmental Protection
Curriculum
Information on the curriculum
The right degree for me?
Highlights
- obtain basic education in the main branches of biology
- gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills
- study specific topics and functions of biology
- work at the molecular, organism and ecosystem level following high professional standards
- develop innovative solutions
Post graduation
Master's Programmes
- Botany
- Ecology and Biodiversity
- Environmental Management of Mountain Areas (EMMA)
- Microbiology
- Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Pharmaceutical Sciences - Drug Development and Regulatory Affairs
- Zoology
Continuing Education Programmes
Career Service (in German)
My career
My career opportunities
- work with government agencies and public authorities
- positions in biotechnological companies
- employment in botanical gardens and zoos
- work in agriculture and forestry, landscape ecology
- positions in the food and cosmetics industry
- work in life sciences, medicine, medical technology and pharmaceutical industries
- employment in museums, scientific collections and libraries
- work in quality assurance and management
- jobs in the field of environmental protection and conservation
- employment in environmental and outdoor education
Graduates tracking: provides information on the occupational fields students enter after graduation