How to apply: Winter Semester 2026/2027

WHEN? 1 March 2026 to 15 April 2026                HOW? Please submit your application via uni assist (short manual: how to apply)

The number of applications usually exceeds the number of spots available. Therefore, please provide us with your complete application documents.

Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Biology	Bachelor Degree not awarded yet? Applications   can be submitted if the degree is awarded   within the year of the application. Please add a   transcript of records including all completed   modules and grades to your application.
Non-biological Bachelor degrees	Demonstrate a minimum of 60 ECTS (>30%)   within the field of biology by adding the   respective module descriptions to your   application
Minimum grade point average of ‘good’ (i.e. 2.5) in the German university grading system
Proficiency in English	CEFR level C1,  TOEFL internet-based: 90 points, paper-   based: 580 points,  IELTS: 6.5 average, no section below 6.0,  Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English:   grade C,  Cambridge Certificate for Proficiency in English:   grade B,  Bachelor program taught in English,  equivalent tests
APS certificate	Mandatory for all Applicants from China,   Vietnam and India

Additional Application Documents

• Letter of Motivation in English addressing the following questions
  • What distinguishes the Biological Oceanography program from other programs? Why are you applying to this program specifically?
  • Which areas or contents of the study program correspond to your interests and skills?
  • Which topics and contents could be suitable for your Master’s thesis?

Note: Do not use AI assistants! We are interested in your own personal experience and your very own choice of words. Grammatical errors will not be taken into account.

• Internship Certificates

Plan ahead and do an internship in the field of Biological Oceanography or related areas of research. We are interested to see if you have already put some thought into your future study focus and possible scientific career paths.

• Confirmation of Cruise Participations
• Confirmation of Student Assistants’ Positions
• Abstract of your Bachelor Thesis or semester project if your curriculum does not require a thesis

FAQ

Bachelor thesis opportunities at GEOMAR?
We also provide Bachelor thesis spots to external students. Please take a look at the research groups in the research department 3 “Marine Ecology” or research department 2 "Marine Biogeochemistry" and contact the respective group leaders to ask for any ongoing projects.

Application Feedback

You will receive feedback on your application at the end of July. We will then provide you with information on the enrollment procedure and further steps. Our classes start in mid-October.

International Applicants

Please contact the International Center of CAU Kiel for further information and assistance. The orientation program of the International Center will provide you with everything you need to know about studying in Kiel and living in Germany.