Jump directly to the page content
  • AULIS
  • CampInO
  • Webmail
  • Wi-Fi (eduroam)
  • Change password
  • Semester Dates
  • Account Activation
  • Prospective students For prospective students
  • First-semester students For first-semester students
  • Exchange students For exchange students
  • Press and media For press and media
  • Job seekers
  • DE
  • Dark Mode
  • Experience studying
    • Programmes
      • Bachelor
      • Master
      • International MBA & Master
      • Dual study
    • Before your studies
      • Step by step to university
      • Orientation for prospective students
      • Application and admission
      • International applications
    • During your studies
      • First-semester students
      • Semester dates
      • Logins and portals
      • Formalities
      • Going abroad
      • Complementary offers for students
    • After your studies
      • Master's degree programmes
      • Career perspectives
      • Continuing education
      • Information for Alumni
      • Doctorates
    • All about studying
      • Student life
      • Student participation
      • Healthy through your studies
      • Mensa, canteens and cafeterias
      • Culture
      • Sports
    • Advice and support
      • Central Student Advisory Service
      • Doubting Your Studies
      • Finances
  • Experience research
    • Research and transfer profile
      • Strategic partnerships
      • Institutes
      • Research projects
    • Research clusters
      • Blue Sciences
      • Digital transformation
      • Quality of life
      • Aerospace
    • Early career researchers
    • Transfer and cooperation
    • Research Services
    • Start-up service & FreiRAUM@HSB
      • Makerspace
  • Experience continuing education
  • Experience HSB
    • News
      • Press Releases
      • News Items
      • Events
    • Faculties
      • School of International Business
      • School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering
      • School of Social Sciences
      • School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
      • School of Nature and Engineering
    • Organisation
      • University Management
      • Administration
      • Central Units
      • Inter-university units
      • Committees and representation of interests
    • Our profile
      • Mission Statement
      • Internationality
      • Equality
      • Diversity
      • Sustainability at HSB
      • Hochschule Bremen at a glance
      • History
    • Working at HSB
    • Staff
    • AULIS
    • CampInO
    • Webmail
    • Wi-Fi (eduroam)
    • Change password
    • Semester Dates
    • Account Activation
    • Prospective students For prospective students
    • First-semester students For first-semester students
    • Exchange students For exchange students
    • Press and media For press and media
    • Job seekers
  • DE
  • Dark Mode
Experience studying
  • Programmes
    • Bachelor
    • Master
    • International MBA & Master
    • Dual study
  • Before your studies
    • Step by step to university
    • Orientation for prospective students
    • Application and admission
    • International applications
  • During your studies
    • First-semester students
    • Semester dates
    • Logins and portals
    • Formalities
    • Going abroad
    • Complementary offers for students
  • After your studies
    • Master's degree programmes
    • Career perspectives
    • Continuing education
    • Information for Alumni
    • Doctorates
  • All about studying
    • Student life
    • Student participation
    • Healthy through your studies
    • Mensa, canteens and cafeterias
    • Culture
    • Sports
  • Advice and support
    • Central Student Advisory Service
    • Doubting Your Studies
    • Finances
Experience research
  • Research and transfer profile
    • Strategic partnerships
    • Institutes
    • Research projects
  • Research clusters
    • Blue Sciences
    • Digital transformation
    • Quality of life
    • Aerospace
  • Early career researchers
  • Transfer and cooperation
  • Research Services
  • Start-up service & FreiRAUM@HSB
    • Makerspace
Experience continuing education
Experience HSB
  • News
    • Press Releases
    • News Items
    • Events
  • Faculties
    • School of International Business
    • School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    • School of Social Sciences
    • School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    • School of Nature and Engineering
  • Organisation
    • University Management
    • Administration
    • Central Units
    • Inter-university units
    • Committees and representation of interests
  • Our profile
    • Mission Statement
    • Internationality
    • Equality
    • Diversity
    • Sustainability at HSB
    • Hochschule Bremen at a glance
    • History
  • Working at HSB
  • Staff
  1. Homepage
  2. Study
  3. International Degree Programme Industrial and Environmental Biology B.Sc.
Eine Studentin hält einen Objektträger für ein Mikroskop hoch und betrachtet die Probe, die sich darauf befindet.
© HSB - Marcus Meyer Photography

School of Nature and Engineering

International Degree Programme Industrial and Environmental Biology B.Sc.

Overview

Degree Bachelor of Science
Start of study Winter semester
Application period Winter semester 01 June until 15 July
Standard period of study 7 semesters
Credits 210
Accredited

Yes

Admission restricted Yes
Admission requirements
  • Higher education entrance qualification
Language of instruction German
Faculty/institution School of Nature and Engineering
Integrated stay abroad Yes

Biology is playing an increasingly important role in so many areas. Developments such as climate change and the energy transition, dwindling species diversity or the application of innovative bio-technologies are creating new career fields for graduates of the field. If you are you interested in the study of life, interactions between molecules, cells, organisms and biotic communities, but also in topics such as industrial biology, environmental protection and sustainability, the International Degree Programme Industrial and Environmental Biology, is just the right thing for you. Our attractive programme specifically prepares you for leading positions in practice. It combines a clear scientific biological profile with numerous elements that specifically qualify students for the occupational practice. Special features of the degree programme are, for example, the integrated year abroad with a separate work practical, project studies with partners from the professional practice, laboratory practicals, excursions, scientific business games and project management. We attach great importance to maintaining close contact with companies, public authorities, engineering offices and NGOs. 

From the 3rd semester onwards, you specialise either in industrial biology or environmental biology based on the core subject of biology (programme structure below). This explicitly encompasses the interfaces between production, sustainable development, resource and environmental protection.

Career prospects

When you graduate from the programme, you will possess the competences, skills and knowledge required for careers surrounding the application and management of biological systems. The basis for this is provided through a sound scientific competence in biology – from the molecular level to whole ecosystems. Furthermore, great importance is attached to training competences such as communication, teamwork, self-reflection and critical faculties. Knowledge and capacity building with regard to the development of sustainable solutions are an integral part of the programme concept. 

  • Eine Studentin im Laborkittel beugt sich über ihren Arbeitsplatz neben einem Mikroskop.
  • [Translate to English:] Studentinnen am Mikroskop
  • [Translate to English:] Studenten im Labor

Programme structure

The degree programme has a modular design. All modules have the same attendance requirement of four contact hours per week, are completed within one semester and have graded examinations/course work (written examinations, laboratory protocols, presentations).  

In addition to biology, the first and second years of your studies are taken up by foundation courses in relevant mathematics and chemistry. 

In your third year, you begin profile building with the chosen specialisation during the compulsory phase of studies at a university abroad as well as the work placement abroad. 

The final seventh semester deepens this specialisation and is essentially taken up by working on a project in the focus area of biotechnology / bioprocess engineering or applied environmental biology. The project work is usually undertaken in small groups. It includes the independent planning, implementation and evaluation of laboratory and field experiments and is supervised by different professors. The programme ends with a Bachelor's thesis. 

  • Based on practice-oriented examples and in close contact with professional practitioners, you will learn to transfer methodological knowledge and biological principles to applied industrial problems. The focus is primarily on the independent planning, implementation and evaluation of scientific or technological research and experiments. In preparation for your future professional activities in industry, research, quality assurance or administration, you will learn how to properly assess, record, evaluate and present your own and other people's findings. To this end, research and teaching are already closely linked in the degree programme. 

    The results of research projects carried out at the Hochschule Bremen are incorporated into the course content of Industrial Biology. Moreover, you will even have the opportunity to actively participate in research projects as a student assistant. Finally, the Biotec work group regularly invites project and corporate partners as well as graduates of our degree programme to report on current research finding, but also on the professional practice of biotechnologists. 

    Advisory board 
    Since 2005, the industrial biologists teaching the programme are being supported by a voluntary advisory board comprising practitioners from industry. Members of the advisory board are: Dr. U. Hedtmann (Sanofi Aventis, Frankfurt), Prof. Dr. C. Lang (Organobalance, Berlin), Dr. B. Oberheitmann (Q-Bioanalytic, Bremerhaven) and Dr. P.H. Flore (Hall Allergy, The Netherlands). The advisory board meets regularly once a year and is pro-actively involved in the further development of the Master's programme. 

  • The focus of environmental biology is on biodiversity, species and biotope conservation, applied nature conservation, ecology and the sustainable use of ecosystems. The Environmental Biology area works closely with local industry at all levels. Topics for research and teaching frequently arise directly from cooperation in regional environmental work. Projects, theses, joint research and development projects are carried out together with partners involved in the administration of nature and environmental protection, regional nature conservation associations as well as planning and engineering offices. 

    Methodological and technical foundations and competences for the protection, maintenance and development of ecosystems are core topics in the Environmental Biology programme. In our cultural landscapes, the restoration of destroyed or severely impacted habitats is also of great importance. The programme is pro-actively involved in the management of regional and supra-regional restoration projects. Examples are the restoration of species-rich wet grasslands (Prof. Dr. Zacharias) or the renaturation of corrected watercourses (Prof. Dr. Heiko Brunken). 

    In a joint working group between Biology (Prof. Dr. Heiko Brunken) and Computer Science (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heide-Rose Vatterrott), tools are being developed for the presentation of faunistic and floristic distribution data on the internet. The first products are digital atlases for fish, amphibians and reptiles as well as mammals. The tools were developed in several languages and are based on the use of licence-free software. This also makes their use feasible in the context of the degree programme’s international cooperation, for example the projects taking place in Brazil.

  • Modul manual (German) (PDF, 762 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards)

Examination regulation

  • BPO ISTAB 2012 (PDF, 2 MB, File does not meet accessibility standards)
  • BPO ISTAB 2021 (PDF, 643 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards)
  • BPO ISTAB 2024 (PDF, 571 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards)
  • BPO ISTAB 2012 (PDF, 2 MB, File does not meet accessibility standards)
  • BPO ISTAB 2021 (PDF, 643 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards)
  • BPO ISTAB 2024 (PDF, 571 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards)
  • General Part of the Bachelor Examination Regulations

Internationality

English is part of the programme, supplemented by Portuguese, Spanish, French, etc. (as appropriate). Your third year is taken up by the stay abroad with studies at a partner university and a work placement abroad: both are compulsory components of the degree programme. During your stay abroad you will encounter foreign cultures and people and learn to find your way around and study in a foreign, (non-)European country under new learning conditions. In the course of this year abroad, you turn to one of the two specialisations, biotechnology or environmental biology. After your return, you will attend a symposium to present the experiences made during your respective stay abroad in English. These events offer following student cohorts the opportunity to prepare for their year abroad. It is also compulsory to write a report in English that reflects the project work in an academic format. 

Every year the HSB also hosts foreign exchange students. These students spend one or two semesters here in Bremen. In this way, internationality is lived in the everyday life of HSB students, which is reflected not least in the fact that many courses are held in English. 

Furthermore, internationality is reflected in the fact that academics from partner universities frequently hold guest lectures and deliver compact courses and seminars at the Hochschule Bremen. The custom of inviting guest lectures has been an integral part of the final seventh semester for many years. Likewise, HSB professors are also invited to teach within programmes (mostly Master's level) at partner universities abroad (Bordeaux / France, Groningen / Netherlands, Recife / Brazil, Salford / UK). 

 
Moreover, the members of the Biotechnology Advisory Board either work for foreign companies, usually operate on an international level, or they themselves come from abroad.

All partner universities of HSB
  • Sweden
    Linnaeus Universität (LNU) Kalmar
    Göteborgs Universitet (GU)

    Norway
    NTNU Ålesund
    Nord Uni Bødo
    University of Western Norway (Bergen, Hauges.)
    Inland Norway University (INN), Hedmark, Norw.

    UK
    Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

    Ireland
    LYIT Letterkenny

    Netherlands
    Riksuniversitet Groningen
    Hanze University Groningen
    VHL Leeuwarden/ Velp

    France
    Univ. Bordeaux 1

    Spain
    Universidade do Valencia
    Universidade Vigo
    UPO Sevilla

    Portugal
    FCUL Lisboa, Portugal 

    Greek
    University of West Attica

    Poland
    ZUT Stettin Nicolaus Coperni-cus Univ. Torun
    Univ. of Silesia in Katowice

    Slovakia
    University of Zilina

    Czech Republic
    JCR Budweis

    Turkey
    ITU Istanbul  

    India
    IIT Madras/ Manipal University

    South Korea
    Pusan National University

    Vietnam
    Long Nam Universität Vietnam

    Australia and New Zealand
    Victoria Univ. Melbourne
    Murdoch University Perth

    Canada
    Memorial University of Newfoundland
    Vancouver Island University

    Costa Rica
    University of Costa Rica

    Brasil
    Universidade federal de Pernambuco Recife

    South Africa
    University of Kwazulu-Natal Durban Südafrika
    Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, SA

    Mauritius
    University of Mauritius

Ein Piktogramm, das eine Person darstellt

„The Industrial and Environmental Biology programme is ideal for people who want strongly practice-oriented and demanding studies in a pleasant, friendly environment, and don‘t see themselves being an anonymous student sitting in a huge lecture hall.“

Jakob Katzenberger ISTAB graduate

Application

  1. Information

    Check the application deadlines and admission requirements for your desired degree programme.

    Questions about the degree programme can be answered by the contact persons on the degree programme pages. If you have any further questions about your decision to study at HSB, our advisory and service institutions will be happy to help.

    • Advisory & Service at HSB
  2. Apply

    • Online application
    • International applications
  3. Admission and enrolment

    • Accepting a place and enrolling online
  4. Welcome to HSB!

    • Information on the start of studies

Contact

Head of programme

Porträtfoto Dietmar Zacharias

Dietmar Zacharias
Email

Secretary's Office

Angela Verwold
+49 421 5905 4249
Email

Application, admission, enrolment and examination matters

Lena Jacobs
+49 421 5905 2158
Email

  • Visit our Instagram profile Visit our Instagram profile
  • Visit our Facebook page
  • Visit our YouTube channel
  • Visit our Xing profile
  • Visit our LinkedIn profile
  • Contact
  • Cookies
  • Location and access
  • Career
  • Legal notice
  • Data privacy policy

© HSB - Hochschule Bremen 2025