Course Contents
The objectives, format and content of the course are specifically designed to accommodate the needs and wishes of industry and authorities, giving a much stronger, practice-oriented study of biology.This course gives students the opportunity to study a scientifically-funded – but at the same time highly-practical-based – qualification from a tertiary education establishment.
The course is made up of modules. Modules are subjects that are constructed on the basis of length and theme, and are made into compact and examinable units. All modules have the same length of four semester periods per week that students have to attend, and have to complete some form of performance assessment during the course of the semester; this can take the form of an examinations, lab tests, reports or presentations etc. Five modules will be studied per semester, each yielding six ECTS points (European Credit Transfer System) in examination.The whole course of study amounts to 210 ECTS points.
The first and second years of study contain foundation courses themed in Chemistry and Mathematics, as well as the Biology classes.
The third year of study enables the student to pursue a specialisation of their choice during the year abroad and the work placement.
The seventh and final semester will allow for a further study in this specialisation, which will be determined by project work in the main fields of Biotechnology / Biochemical Engineering as well as Applied Environmental Biology. Project work is generally conducted within small groups, requires independent planning, implementation and evaluation of lab and outdoor tests and is overseen by several professors. The course is completed by a Bachelor’s thesis.
The International Study of Technical and Applied Biology (ISTAB) B.Sc was accredited by the Zentralen Evaluations- und Akkreditierungsagentur Hannover (Central Evaluation and Accreditations Agency in Hannover, or ZEvA) in February 2005.