At the beginning of the semester...

Pre-Courses in Mathematics and Chemistry

At the beginning of October, precourses in mathematics and chemistry will be offered to "revitalize" your skills in these topics. Please, take advantage of these courses to have a good start of your studies. The knowledge taught in the precourses will be needed to understand the courses taught during the winter term and the following semesters. During the semester there will be little time to fill gaps you might have...

The pre-course in Mathematics (Module A0.1) covers basics in mathematics such as complex numbers, vector products and differential/integral calculus. We strongly advise you to participate in this course, if you need to brush up your knowledge in mathematics. Contents taught in this pre-course are essential to many courses starting in the first semester.
The pre-course in Chemistry (Module A0.2) covers basic topics in organic chemistry. We strongly recommend that you participate in this course, when you need to brush up your knowledge in chemistry. Basic knowledge in General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry will be necessary to follow the courses in Human Biology I + II and Physical Chemistry.

Further information on the pre-courses can be found here.

Information on mandatory modules of the first year

Modules offered at the beginning of the master programme aim at complementing the students' knowledge in the neighboring disciplines (see this link for a detailed description of the course organization).

Depending on your first university degree different modules of the "Adjustment block" are mandatory for you. Furthermore, some additional courses are highly recommended (see the advices given below).

Recommendations for students having a Bachelor's degree in Physics

Students having a Bachelor’s degree in Physics are required to participate in the modules of Physical Chemistry (A1.3), Light Matter Interaction (A2.2), and Human Biology I+II (A1.4, A2.3). You do not need to attend to the physics modules offered in the “Adjustment Block”. However, if you do not have a strong background in optics, we recommend that you attend to the modules Physical Optics (A1.2) and Optical Engineering (A2.1) as well, since the topics covered in these lectures will be important to successfully pass classes of the following semesters.

On the start of October, a pre-course in Chemistry (A0.2) will be offered covering basic topics on organic chemistry. We strongly recommend that you participate in this course, when you need to brush up your knowledge in chemistry.

Recommendations for students having a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Students having a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry are expected to participate in the modules of Mathematics (A1.1), Physical Optics (A1.2) and Optical Engineering (A2.1), and Human Biology I+II (A1.4, A2.3). Since you have a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry you do not need to attend to the lectures in Physical Chemistry (A1.3) and Light Matter Interaction (A2.2) offered in the Adjustment Block. However, we recommend that you attend to these classes as well, if the topics covered in these modules have not been part of your curriculum.

We strongly advise to participate in the pre-course of Mathematics (A0.1), if you need to brush up your knowledge in mathematics. Contents taught in this precourse are essential to many courses starting in the first semester.

Recommendations for students having completed studies in Medicine or Biology

Students having a degree in Medicine or Biology are supposed to participate in the modules of Mathematics (A1.1), Physical Optics (A1.2) and Optical Engineering (A2.1), Physical Chemistry (A1.3), and Light Matter Interaction (A2.2).

Students of Medicine and Biology do not need to attend to the lectures of the modules Human Biology I+II offered in the Adjustment Block. However, students of Medicine are advised to attend to the respective lectures of the modules Human Biology I+II, if basics in Molecular Biology or Physiology have not been part of the curriculum. accordingly students of Biology should attend the respective lectures of the modules Human Biology I+II if basics in human anatomy and human physiology have not been part of the curriculum.

On the start of October, a pre-course in Mathematics will be offered covering the basics in mathematics such as complex numbers, vector products and differential/integral calculus. We strongly advise you to participate in this course, if you need to brush up your knowledge in mathematics. Contents taught in this pre-course are essential to many courses starting in the first semester.

Recommendations for students not having a degree in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine or Biology but in related study programmes

According to §2 of the study regulations the M.Sc. programme of Medical Photonics is primarily designed for students of chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry/molecular biology, or medicine. Prerequisite for the admission to the study programme Medical Photonics is proof of the successful completion of a first university degree in one of these fields.

But, also students of related study programmes (e.g. Biomedical Engineering) are welcome (and encouraged) to apply. Our experience of the last years shows that students of these disciplines benefit equally from participating in the programme. However, since no degree in the "core" disciplines is earned, no modules of the first university degree programme can be recognized.

If you have no degree in chemistry, physics, biology, or medicine, you will have to show that you have acquired the knowledge in these disciplines by passing all exams of all modules of the “Adjustment block”.

This, however, does not mean that you will have to attend to all lectures offered in the "Adjustment block". You may select the lectures according to your needs so that you can complement the knowledge which you have gained in your previous studies.

If you need to brush up your knowledge in Mathematics or Chemistry we recommend that you take the respective pre-courses to be adequately prepared for the modules starting in the first semester.