The concept of this unique study program provides a common "basic education" in chemistry and biochemistry in a "Y-model" in the first four semesters. The fifth and sixth semesters are followed by the so-called "orientation studies", in which the students can choose subject specializations and prepare the bachelor's thesis.
The LMU Bachelor's program "Chemistry and Biochemistry" is completed in the four sub-subjects Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry in a regular course of study of six semesters. The study of chemistry and biochemistry is designed to familiarize students with experimental methods in a close combination of theory and practice, to impart thorough knowledge, and to train the powers of observation and manual skills that are prerequisites for independent scientific work.
The bachelor's degree enables an early transition into professional life and at the same time prepares students for the two specialization courses leading to master's degrees in chemistry or in biochemistry.
This degree program is admission-free. The course can only be started in the winter semester. The language of instruction is German. The standard period of study is 6 semesters (180 ECTS credits).
General description of the study program on the central LMU websites
The program’s design and its components
The bachelor program "Chemistry and Biochemistry"at the LMU is divided into four components: inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry, and should be completed in six semesters. The program should acquaint the student with the theory and practice of experimental methods, impart a thorough knowledge of the subject and train the student's power of observation and develop his or her technical skills, all of which are requirements for independent scientific work.
The bachelor program in chemistry and biochemistry always begins in the winter semester and consists of two parts:
Please read the following information carefully. If you have any questions, please contact studchem@cup.uni-muenchen.de.
Admission and enrollment
Matriculation (enrolment) in the degree program takes place at the Student Office. You must submit the required documents there. The deadlines and requirements will be announced by the Studentenkanzlei (see links below).
Depending on your nationality, you can find further information on the enrollment procedure on the central LMU website.
Flyer of the Central Student Advisory Service on the topic of enrollment (PDF, 516 KB) (PDF, 516 KB)
Placement in a higher semester
You can use the time between graduating from high school (Abitur) and starting at the LMU by preparing yourself for the program.
Although courses and lab work are organized so that students can be successful without large amounts of prior knowledge, the time-consuming work load at the beginning of the first semester can be handled more easily if you prepare yourself optimally.
In addition to the following preparation suggestions, you can test your prior knowledge of stoichiometry, for example, by using interactive learning programs (below).
Info-Videos
Here you can find info about the study program in (short german) videos.
Preparing for chemistry
In the first semester, teaching will concentrate on chemical equilibrium and the chemistry of the elements. Concepts such as acids and bases, redox reactions, solubility and crystallization will be focussed upon. These are concepts which are also treated in non-natural-sciences-based schools. Good textbooks, such as Mortimer, Chemie - Basiswissen der Chemie, Thieme Verlag, can be of great use.
Preparing for mathematics and physics
New entrants to our program have shown major differences in the levels of basic knowledge in mathematics and physics. That is why the courses "Mathematics for Chemists" and "Mathematics for Physicists" in the first two semesters of the program often cause problems and are also very time-consuming. We strongly recommend a review of the material from the basic math courses of the 10th through 13th grades of Gymnasium.
Current Module Catalogue of this study program:
MHB LMU-BachelorChemieBC_01-07-2024_en.pdf (PDF, 831 KB)
Please register here for the Lab Courses
If no times are specified for the internships, they take place during the lecture period.
1. Semester (WiSe=winter term)
2. Semester (SoSe=summer term)
Following 2 lab courses are consecutive during the lecture period, 6 weeks each.
3. Semester (WiSe)
4. Semester (SoSe)
Following 3 Lab Courses are consecutive during the lecture period, 4 weeks each.
5. Semester (WiSe)
6. Semester (SoSe)
General information about the Bachelor thesis
The Bachelor's thesis should be written in one of the two subjects from which the elective modules have been chosen in accordance with Appendix 2 of the examination regulations.
Admission requirements: all achievements of the basic studies (semester 1-4 : 120 ECTS).
The duration of the work is fixed in the examination regulations in §14 at 10 weeks, which corresponds to a total of approx. 400 working hours. For the experimental work, approx. 6 weeks (full time) are planned in the lecture-free period and approx. 8 weeks (slightly more than half time) in the semester, i.e. approx. 240 working hours.
The extent of the written work depends on the topic and the subject, but should be less than the master's thesis, which is equivalent to a diploma thesis.
The student clarifies the topic and the working hours with the working group leader (first examiner). The first examiner must then sign the registration form. This is available in the examination office as soon as the admission requirements are fulfilled.
The registration form for the Bachelor thesis must be submitted to the examination office at the latest when the work begins!
A single copy of the written version of the thesis must be submitted to the Examination Office no later than 4 months after registration.
Two further copies are to be prepared for the first and second examiners respectively.
The paper should be reviewed and graded by the first and second examiners no later than 1 month after submission.
First and second examiners must be members of the examination board.
Informationen zur Bachelor-Arbeit als Download (PDF, 25 KB) (PDF, 25 KB)
Additional regulations for the preparation of external bachelor theses
The Bachelor thesis may be produced at institutions external of the LMU departments of Chemistry or Biochemistry (national as well as abroad).
Therefore you have to submit an informal proposal to the examination office, which will be evaluated by the chair of the examination committee.
The proposal should express the following points:
If you plan a thesis in industry, you also have to submit a transcript. Additionally, you have to mention that the external supervisor has to furnish an opinion (including marks), that he/she transfers to the official supervisor of the departments.