Next application period: March 1 to April 15, 2026!
More information at "how to aply"
How to Apply: Winter Semester 2026/2027
| WHEN? 1 March 2026 to 15 April 2026 |
Due to the high number of applications we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible within the application period. Only those complete applications that are handed in by 15 April can be considered in the selection process.
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 |
| Mandatory for all Applicants from China, Vietnam and India | |
| Letter of Motivation | Please address 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. |
Additional Application Documents
- 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
Application Feedback
You will receive feedback on your application by mid-June. We will then provide you with information on tfurther steps towards enrollment CAU Kiel. In order to plan ahead we ask each admitted student to give us feedback on whether they accept their spot or not.
The winter semester 2025/2026 starts on 12 October 2026 with our introductory event. Please note that you need to be present on the first day of classes as the first semester contains mandatory, fundamental modules that must not be skipped.
International Applicants
If you need a visa to study in Germany, we strongly recommend for you to get in contact with the respective embassy or consulate before you have received any feedback on your application. The visa process can take a very long time and securing an appointment can be tedious. Usually, you can make visa appointments without having received final feedback on an application. You will, however, need an admission letter for the physical appointment.
For more information on visa requirement please take a look at the website of study-in-germany.
At CAU Kiel the International Center is your place of contact for further information and guidance. The orientation program of the International Center will provide you with everything you need to know about studying in Kiel and living in Germany.
If you are interested in learning about scholarships, please consult the programs offered by DAAD.
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.
