Master Program - 1^st Phase of Direct Track

Exploring interdisciplinary boundaries

In the 2-year Master's phase, the courses and modules are curated to give you a comprehensive understanding of the topic of Matter to Life (MtL). Apart from a solid foundation in the key scientific disciplines of physics, chemistry and biology, you will also learn a common scientific language through the joint courses, a key skill indispensable for interdisciplinary research. The Matter to Life program brings together students with different study backgrounds from all around the world, thus encouraging peer to peer learning and input.

General structure of study 

The 1^st phase in Matter to Life can be carried out at one of our teaching universities offering different foci. In the 1^st term you share all lectures with your fellow students from both universities. The course work covers topics including Quantitative Analysis of Chemistry of Life, Synthetic Biology, Physics of Complex Systems, Biophysics and Physical Chemistry of Life, and Ethics in Synthetic Biology taught by MtL faculty members who are experts in the respective fields. You will learn to appreciate that tackling a problem from different perspectives can give you invaluable information and help you devise novel approaches to solve complex issues situated at the interface of chemistry, biology and physics. In the 2^nd term you will specialize depending on your study focus. Find more information below to decide which focus would suit you best.

The 3^rd and the 4^th term are devoted to gaining practical experience in the form of lab rotations and the Master thesis. This will give you enough time to get familiar with the research of the MtL faculty. Overall, the program is heavily research-oriented and encourages students to think and learn autonomously.

Welcome Course 

To give you a smooth start, you will have access to optional preparatory courses before the start of your study. This gives you the opportunity to assess your own competency, and a chance to address and rectify any knowledge gaps you might have. The program will commence with a welcome course in September, spanning several weeks, wherein you will be introduced to your cohort and fellow students. You will participate in a range of courses, talks, and workshops designed to enhance both your scientific and soft skills. These activities are carefully crafted to give you a comprehensive understanding and equip you with the tools to excel in your Master's course studies.

Who are we looking for? 

We are looking for highly motivated students with a Bachelor or a comparable undergraduate degree in chemistry, physics, biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, materials science, engineering or related subjects, and who are interested in an interdisciplinary curriculum. The program is entirely taught in English and we welcome international students. Small cohort sizes enable strong scientific and cultural exchange and will give you the chance to not only interrogate scientific questions from the perspectives of various disciplines, but also from different cultural contexts. The application phase is usually from September – December, one year prior to the start of winter study semester. Find all detailed information about your application on our application page.

"With many leading scientists throughout Germany, the course is strongly connected to current research in the field of Matter to Life and I get the chance to work on interdisciplinary research projects in many areas that I could otherwise not pursue."

Jan-Niklas Haug, MtL PhD Candidate

Degree foci

Shared core courses

Degree focus at University of Göttingen

Master in Matter to Life: Complex Systems and Biological Physics

The MtL program at University of Göttingen focuses on the field of Complex Systems and Biological Physics. Students will learn theoretical concepts and experimental tools that can be used to quantitatively study biological systems. They will also investigate the physical and chemical principles that can either modulate the emergence of life or life-like behaviors from inanimate matter.

Specialized courses

Including but not restricted to:

• Soft Matter Physics
• Active Matter
• Statistical Biophysics
• Theoretical Biophysics
• Biomolecular Physics and Simulations
• Micro- and Nanofluidics
• Theoretical and Computational Biophysics

Degree focus at Heidelberg University

Specialized courses

Including but not restricted to:

Apart from the course work and lectures, students are expected to participate in biannual MtL Days of the Max Planck School, Max Planck School days (with students from other Max Planck Schools). These are excellent platforms for them to connect with faculty and fellow students, and thus establish and expand their scientific network.

After successful completion of a Master’s degree, students move onto the 2^nd phase, wherein PhD candidates will continue the last three years of the program conducting their doctoral studies with any of the MtL faculty members within the network (see faculty page).

Exemplary Study Plan