Next application period: 1 March to mid-April 2027
More information at "how to apply"
Exams
! Be responsible and do not miss any important deadlines !
What to do? In order to sit an exam and receive credits for a class, you always need to register for each exam during the registration period towards the end of the respective semester.
Register via the CAU-Portal. Please take a look at the information on the examination procedures and the frequently asked questions.
| Note: Exams are generally scheduled only for the semester that the modules are taught in. This may differ for blocked courses that are held after the first examination phase. Please consider carefully: Failed exams in the second exam period will likely result in a lengthy waiting time until the exam is offered again. |
Dates and Deadlines? Download an overview of the important semester dates here.
Issues with the registration? Please take a look at the instructions on using the online tool (German version only). If you have any further questions, reach out to the examination office of Biology at Kiel University.
Exam period? There are two exam periods each semester: Two weeks after the end of classes and two weeks before the beginning of classes of the following semester. There may be different schedules for blocked courses or summer courses. Oral presentations are mostly held during the semester. Always register for all exams that you have completed before the application period (presentations, home work etc.) or that you are going to take and hand in during the examination period.
| Note: For examinations taken before the registration period, examination attendance is considered as binding registration. However, you must also technically register for these examinations during the registration period, so that your grades can be recorded in the system. |
Withdrawing from an exam? It is possible to withdraw from an exam up to two weeks before the examination period (extended period for written exams) → “Dates and Deadlines” above and examination cancellation.
! If you need to withdraw due to sickness of you or your child, you and your doctor need to provide the respective forms to the examination office of Biology.
! If you need to withdraw due to other valid reasons, you need to provide the respective form as well as a written justification / explanation.
Failing an exam? If you did not pass the exam in the first examination period, please register for the retake option in the second exam phase.
Student duties? Check your admission status two days before the start of the exam period.
Results? Results are available via the campus management system. Lecturers are required to enter the grades into the system until a given deadline (see “Dates and Deadlines” above).
Master Thesis
Master Theses at GEOMAR
Towards the end of the third semester when you are preparing your thesis proposal, consult your future supervisor (and second reviewer) and the examination office of biology regarding the procedure connected to your master's thesis (the master thesis is comprised of the written master thesis and an oral defense).
As your proposal is your "detailed roadmap" for your thesis, most issues like the exact title, the supervisor, the second reviewer etc. are solved this way before you start your thesis work.
You can register your Master thesis when you have completed a minimum of 70 ECTS from the compulsory and compulsory elective classes. These need to include the module BiOc301-01a Biological Oceanography 3.
Further Information Concerning Master Theses
- Procedures advice - here you find some answers to "when, how, where" questions.
- Example of a declaration of authorship - needed as part of your submitted thesis
- Example of a thesis
Additional Procedures (consult the Examination Office and the academic study advisor)
- Change of title: Please send an e-mail request to the Examination Office of Biology
- Extension of deadline: Please send an e-mail request to the Examination Office of Biology
- in case of sickness, please submit a doctor's notice (German Attest)
- in all other cases: please include the reason as to why you need an extension with your request. The examination office then forwards it to the examination board of Biological Oceanography for assessment.
Ocean Rep
You can find a list of master's theses prepared at GEOMAR within OceanRep. OceanRep is an open access digital collection containing the research output of GEOMAR staff and students. Included are journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, theses and more.
