Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology Appendix 1 / Admission
Appendix 1
To the Programme Regulations 2023 of the
Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology
05.07.2022 (Version: 05.07.2022)
Applies to students who commence or re-enter the degree programme in Autumn
Semester 2023 or later. Students who entered or re-entered the degree programme up to
and including Spring Semester 2023 are governed by the previous pertaining stipulations.
This English translation is for information purposes only. The German version is the legally binding document.
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This Appendix sets out the academic and language prerequisites for and further details
regarding admission to the Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology
(BCB). It supplements the stipulations of the ETH Zurich Admissions Ordinance 1 and the
Directive on Admission to Master’s degree programmes 2.
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Contents
1 Profile of requirements
1.1 Degree qualifications
1.2 Academic prerequisites
1.3 Language prerequisites
2 Specific stipulations for persons holding a Bachelor’s degree in
Biochemistry - Chemical Biology
2.1 Bachelor’s degree in BCB from ETH Zurich
2.2 Bachelor’s degree in BCB from another Swiss university
2.3 Bachelor’s degree in BCB from a university outside Switzerland
3 Specific stipulations for persons holding a Bachelor’s degree in a
qualifying discipline
3.1 Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university
3.2 Bachelor’s degree from a university outside Switzerland
3.3 Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences
4 Entering the Master’s degree programme
4.1 Bachelor’s degree in BCB from ETH Zurich
4.2 Bachelor’s degree from ETH Zürich in a qualifying discipline
4.3 Bachelor’s degree from another university
1 SR 414.131.52
2 www.directives.ethz.ch
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Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology Appendix 1 / Admission
5 Application and admission procedure
6 Fulfilling additional admission requirements
6.1 General regulations
6.2 University Bachelor’s degree
6.3 Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences
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1 Profile of requirements
For admission to the Master’s degree programme in BCB (subsequently “the degree
programme”) all of the following prerequisites must be satisfied.
1.1 Degree qualifications
1 For admission to the degree programme one of the following is required:
a. A university Bachelor’s degree in BCB comprising at least 180 ECTS credits or an
equivalent university degree in BCB
b. or an university Bachelor’s degree comprising at least 180 ECTS credits or an
equivalent university degree or a Bachelor´s degree from a Swiss university of applied
sciences3 in the qualifying disciplines of chemistry, biochemistry and biology (subject
direction Chemistry) which – provided that any pertaining additional requirements can
be completed – satisfies the academic prerequisites.
2A Bachelor's degree qualifies its holder for admission to an ETH Master's degree
programme only if it also qualifies said holder to enter, without additional requirements, the
desired Master's degree programme within the university system where the Bachelor's
degree was acquired. The Rector may also demand proof of this, and will determine whether
such proof must come from the home university or from another university in the country
where the Bachelor's degree was acquired.
1.2 Academic prerequisites
1 Attendance of the Master’s degree programme in BCB presupposes basic knowledge and
skills in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics which must
in content, scope, quality and skill level be equivalent to those covered in the Bachelor’s
degree programme in BCB at ETH Zurich (discipline requirements profile).
2The discipline requirements profile detailed below comprises 145 ECTS credits in total
and is based on knowledge and skills covered in the ETH Bachelor’s degree programme in
3 A Diploma from a Swiss university of applied sciences is considered equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in
the same discipline. A Bachelor’s degree from a German or Austrian university of applied sciences is
considered equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences.
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Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology Appendix 1 / Admission
BCB. This includes training in the relevant methodological scientific thinking and in
experimental competence.
3 If a candidate does not completely satisfy the academic prerequisites, admission may be
subject to the acquisition of the missing knowledge and skills in the form of additional
requirements (admission with additional requirements). Completion of additional
requirements is expressed in ECTS credits.
4 The discipline requirements profile is structured in two parts. Information on the content of
the course units is published in the ETH Course Catalogue (www.vvz.ethz.ch).
Part 1: Basic knowledge and skills (115 ECTS credits)
Part 1 comprises 115 ECTS credits and covers basic knowledge and skills in the
Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics and Informatics as well as in
practical laboratory work.
Part 1A: Natural Sciences and Mathematics (88 ECTS credits)
The substance of the following course units is required:
– Chemistry (Inorganic, Organic, Physical
and Analytical Chemistry) 42 ECTS credits
– Biology and Biochemistry 17 ECTS credits
– Mathematics and Statistics 17 ECTS credits
– Physics 8 ECTS credits
– Informatics 4 ECTS credits
Part 1B: Laboratory work (27 ECTS credits)
Part 1B comprises 27 ECTS credits and covers practical laboratory knowledge and
competences in Chemistry (General and Organic Chemistry and Analytical
Biochemistry) and Biology.
Part 2: Subject-specific knowledge and skills (30 ECTS credits)
Part 2 comprises 30 ECTS credits. The substance of the following course units is
required:
– Molecular and Structural Biology 6 ECTS credits
– Proteins and Lipids 6 ECTS credits
– Nucleic Acids and Carbohydrates 6 ECTS credits
– Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry 12 ECTS credits
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Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology Appendix 1 / Admission
1.3 Language prerequisites
1 The teaching language of the degree programme is English.
2For admission to the degree programme, proof of sufficient knowledge of English (level
C1 4) must be provided.
3The required language certificate(s) must be submitted at the latest by the last day of the
application deadline. A list of recognised language certificates is published on the
ETH Zurich website.
2 Specific stipulations for persons holding a Bachelor’s degree
Biochemistry – Chemical Biology
2.1 Bachelor’s degree in BCB from ETH Zurich
Holders of a Bachelor’s degree in BCB from ETH Zurich are unconditionally admitted to the
degree programme.
2.2 Bachelor’s degree in BCB from another Swiss university
1A Bachelor's degree or an at least equivalent degree in BCB from another Swiss university
allows admission to the programme, provided that a major in BCB with at least
180 ECTS credits has been completed.
2 Admission is subject to fulfilment of the language prerequisites of this Appendix.
3 Admission may be subject to additional requirements.
2.3 Bachelor’s degree in BCB from a university outside Switzerland
1Holders of a Bachelor’s degree in BCB or equivalent from a university outside Switzerland
must satisfy all of the academic and language prerequisites of this Appendix.
2 Admission may be subject to additional requirements.
3 Admission is not possible if
a. the language or performance prerequisites are not satisfied; or
b. the content, scope, quality and skill level of the degree are not equivalent to those at
ETH Zurich; or
4The required language level is measured according to the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages scale (CEFR).
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Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology Appendix 1 / Admission
c. the number of additional ECTS credits required to satisfy the academic prerequisites
exceeds
1. 30 ECTS credits in total; or
2. more than 11 ECTS credits from Part 1 of the discipline requirements profile.
3 Specific stipulations for persons holding a Bachelor’s degree in a
qualifying discipline 5
3.1 Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university
1Holders of a university Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in a qualifying discipline may
be admitted to the degree programme if they can satisfy the following prerequisites:
a. They fulfil the academic requirements of this Appendix.
b. They satisfy the language prerequisites of this Appendix.
c. They produced very good academic achievements during Bachelor’s degree studies.
2 Admission may be subject to additional requirements.
3 Admission is not possible if
a. the language or performance prerequisites are not satisfied;
b. the number of additional ECTS credits required to satisfy the academic prerequisites
exceeds
1. 30 ECTS credits in total; or
2. more than 11 ECTS credits from Part 1 of the discipline requirements profile.
3.2 Bachelor’s degree from a university outside Switzerland
1Holders of a university Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in a qualifying discipline may
be admitted to the degree programme if they can satisfy the following prerequisites:
a. They fulfil the academic requirements of this Appendix.
b. They satisfy the language prerequisites of this Appendix.
c. They produced very good academic achievements during Bachelor’s degree studies.
2 Admission may be subject to additional requirements.
3 Admission is not possible if
a. the language or performance prerequisites are not satisfied;
b. the content, scope, quality and skill level of the degree are not equivalent to those at
ETH Zurich
5Revised version, applies to all students entering the degree programme from autumn semester 2024
onwards.
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Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology Appendix 1 / Admission
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Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology Appendix 1 / Admission
c. the number of additional ECTS credits required to satisfy the academic prerequisites
exceeds
1. 30 ECTS credits in total; or
2. more than 11 ECTS credits from Part 1 of the discipline requirements profile.
3.3 Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences
1 If they can fulfil the academic and language requirements of this Appendix within the given
framework, and if they produced very good academic achievements during their Bachelor's
degree studies, persons holding a Bachelor's degree from a Swiss university of applied
sciences may also be admitted to the programme.
2Admission is always subject to the compensation of missing academic and methodological
knowledge and skills with additional study achievements comprising at least
40 ECTS credits. The additional requirements include course units from Parts 1 and 2 of the
academic prerequisites.
3 Admission is not possible if
a. the language or performance prerequisites are not satisfied;
b. the number of additional ECTS credits required to satisfy the academic prerequisites
exceeds 60 ECTS credits.
4 Entering the Master’s degree programme
4.1 Bachelor’s degree in BCB from ETH Zurich
1The following stipulations apply to all Bachelor’s degree students in BCB enrolled at
ETH Zurich who transfer to the ETH Zurich Master’s degree programme:
a. The normal ETH enrolment dates and deadlines apply.
b. Admission is provisional until the Bachelor’s degree is issued. Admission will be
revoked if the Bachelor’s degree is not or cannot be issued.
2Students of the Bachelor’s degree programme in BCB already matriculated at ETH Zurich
may enrol directly in the degree programme via www.mystudies.ethz.ch as soon as they
have passed the examination block of the third Bachelor’s study year.
4.2 Bachelor’s degree from ETH Zürich in a qualifying discipline
The following stipulations regarding entry to the Master’s degree programme apply to
students from an ETH Bachelor’s degree programme (other than BCB) who have been
granted admission:
a. The normal ETH enrolment dates and deadlines apply.
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Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology Appendix 1 / Admission
b. They can enrol in the programme once they have acquired that number of credits which
would qualify them to enrol in the Master’s degree programme consecutive to their
original subject. 6
c. Admission is provisional until the Bachelor’s degree is issued. Admission will be
revoked if the Bachelor’s degree is not or cannot be issued.
4.3 Bachelor’s degree from another university
Candidates with a positive admission decision can enter the programme if they have
successfully completed the previous (Bachelor's) degree programme.
5 Application and admission procedure
1All candidates – with the exception of students matriculated at ETH Zurich in the Bachelor’s
degree programme in BCB – must submit an application for admission to the degree
programme. The specifications for application, in particular the documents required and the
dates and deadlines for submission, are published on the website of the ETH Zurich
Admissions Office (www.admission.ethz.ch).
2 Application may be made at a time when the required preceding degree has not yet been
issued.
3The admissions committee of the degree programme determines how far the background
of the candidate corresponds to the profile of requirements and submits an application for
admission/rejection to the Director of Studies.
4On the request of the Director of Studies the Rector makes the final decision regarding
admission, admission with additional requirements, or rejection.
5 The candidate receives a written admissions decision which includes the relevant
information concerning any additional admission requirements.
6 Fulfilling additional admission requirements
6.1 General regulations
1Candidates who are admitted subject to the fulfilment of additional requirements must
acquire the required additional knowledge and skills before or during the Master’s degree
programme via independent study or by attending classes. The corresponding individual
performance assessments must take place by set deadlines.
2 If the candidate fails said performance assessments or does not respect the set deadlines
they will be regarded as having failed the programme and will be excluded from it.
6The permitted number of missing credits is set out in the Programme Regulations of the respective
consecutive Master’s degree programme (e.g., BSc Physics → MSc Physics).
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Master’s degree programme in Biochemistry – Chemical Biology Appendix 1 / Admission
3 The deadlines and conditions for undergoing said performance assessments depend upon
the background of the candidate.
6.2 University Bachelor’s degree
1 Candidates holding a university Bachelor’s degree must undertake all of the performance
assessments pertaining to the additional admission requirements by the end of the first year
of the Master’s degree programme at the latest. All additional requirements, including any
repetitions of performance assessments, must be fulfilled within 18 months of the start of
the Master’s degree programme at the latest.
2 A pass grade in each individual performance assessment is required.
3 A failed performance assessment may only be repeated once.
6.3 Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences
1 Candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences must
undertake all of the performance assessments pertaining to the additional admission
requirements by the end of the first year of the Master’s degree programme at the latest. All
additional requirements, including any repetitions of performance assessments, must be
fulfilled within two years of the start of the Master’s degree programme at the latest.
2Performance assessments may be combined in examination blocks. A pass grade in the
examination block is achieved if the average of the individual grades is at least a 4.
3 A failed performance assessment or a failed examination block may be repeated only once.
The repetition of an examination block entails repeating all of the examinations belonging to
it.
