Biotechnologie

Laboratory Courses and Exercises

Students acquire a range of skills, from basic techniques—solution preparation, redox reactions, distillation—to preparative synthesis and product characterization. In the advanced phase of the program, the focus is on enzyme technology: purification, activity determination, and immobilization of beta-glucosidase using CLEA technology provide hands-on experience with industrially relevant biocatalysis.

• Chemistry – Introductory Lab (BT-B 03, 1st semester)

• Chemistry – Lab (BT-B 08, 2nd semester)

• Biocatalysis – Lab (BT-B 16, 4th semester)

Equipment and Infrastructure

Fume hoods, titration apparatus, distillation and filtration units, analytical measuring instruments, FPLC system (upper-division), microplate readers (fluorescence, luminescence, absorption, kinetics, automated dispensing)

Laboratory Courses and Exercises

Students gain experience with a broad range of methods directly applicable to real-world situations: from wet chemical methods such as acid-base titration and water hardness determination, through photometric food analysis, to chromatographic separation using DC and HPLC. The goal is not only to master these methods but also to critically interpret and evaluate analytical results.

• Analytical Chemistry – Laboratory (BT-B 13, 3rd Semester)

Equipment and Infrastructure

Photometers, electrochemical measuring instruments, HPLC system, DC/HPTLC equipment

Laboratory Courses and Exercises

Over the course of several semesters, students gradually develop their skills in microbiology and molecular biology: from working with pure cultures and analyzing real environmental samples to cloning and modern detection methods such as ELISA, qPCR, and FISH. In the 6th semester, they also analyze the inflow and outflow of real wastewater treatment plants and evaluate their treatment performance based on legal limits.

• Biotechnology – Introductory Lab (BT-B 01, 1st semester)

• Microbiology – Lab (BT-B 08, 2nd semester)

• Genetic Engineering – Laboratory (BT-B 15, 3rd/4th semester)

• Wastewater Treatment – Laboratory (BT-B 25, 6th semester)

• Biotechnological Processes from Lab to Market – Laboratory (BT-M 11, 1st semester)

Equipment and Infrastructure 

Laminar flow hoods, autoclaves, fluorescence microscopes, PCR and qPCR instruments, electrophoresis systems, ELISA readers, incubators, genetic engineering safety level S1, Biological Agents Ordinance / Infection Control Protection Level S2

Laboratory Courses and Exercises

Students culture human cell lines in adherent culture, isolate immune cells from blood, and perform a complete quality control process, including viability testing and mycoplasma screening. Particular emphasis is placed on the toxicological characterization of active substances.

• Applied Cell Biology – Laboratory (BT-B 28, 6th semester)

Equipment and Infrastructure

CO₂ incubators, laminar flow hoods, flow cytometers (four collinear lasers), fluorescence microscopes, cryopreservation

Hochschule Offenburg charges an administrative fee of 80.00 euros per semester and a social contribution of 65.00 euros for the Studierendenwerk Freiburg. In addition, the University’s student body charges all enrolled students a student body fee of 25.00 euros per semester to fulfill its responsibilities. Students on leave of absence from their studies are also required to pay these fees; however, foreign students enrolled on a temporary basis are exempt pursuant to Section 60(1), sentence 2, of the Higher Education Act (LHG).

= 170 euros per semester

Additional costs for PLUS Education degree programs (degree programs with a teaching certification option)

For students in the following bachelor's programs 

• Elektrotechnik/Informationstechnik PLUS Pädagogik

• Mechatronik PLUS Pädagogik

• Media Technology/Business PLUS Education 

• Wirtschaftsinformatik PLUS Pädagogik

an additional fee of 28.00 euros for local public transportation (semester ticket) applies, in accordance with the fees regulations of the Freiburg Studierendenwerk.

Note: You pay the semester fee to Hochschule Offenburg; however, you are enrolled at both Hochschule Offenburg and Freiburg University of Education. 

Additional Costs for International Master's Programs

Students in international master's programs must also pay a flat-rate service fee of 150.00 euros per semester.

Since the 2017/18 winter semester, universities in the state of Baden-Württemberg have been charging international students tuition fees of 1,500.00 euros per semester and students pursuing a second degree 650.00 euros per semester.

You can find more information about these fees here:

https://www.landesrecht-bw.de/bsbw/document/jlr-HSchulGebGBWrahmen

https://mwk.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/universities-studies/studying-in-bw/studying-financing/fees-for international students and second studies/faqs?highlight=Studying-fees

http://www.bw-studyguide.de/en/studying/finance-and-funding.html

Exceptions to Tuition Fees for International Students:

According to Section 3 of the LHGebG, international students who are not citizens of an EU/EEA country and do not hold a German university entrance qualification are required to pay tuition fees. However, the law provides for a few exceptions.

To determine whether you are required to pay tuition fees, you can use the following information form and send it, completed and accompanied by the necessary supporting documents, to studiengebuehren@hs-offenburg.de:

Tuition Fee Information Form (PDF)

To apply for an exemption from tuition fees, please use the corresponding application form:

Application for Tuition Fee Exemption for International Students (PDF)

Application for Tuition Fee Exemption for a Second Degree Program (PDF)

Pursuant to Section 6, Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the LHGebG, Hochschule Offenburg may fully or partially exempt a limited number of international students from tuition fees if it deems them to be particularly gifted. The requirements, etc., are set forth in the bylaws governing tuition fee exemptions for international students based on exceptional talent. Students at the University can find more detailed information in the relevant announcement on the intranet.

Information about BAföG is available on the website of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. If you have any questions about BAföG, the Freiburg-Schwarzwald Studierendenwerk—which is responsible for Hochschule Offenburg—will also be happy to assist you under the “Money” section. You can submit applications for financial aid at the Studierendenwerk’s branch office on the Offenburg campus.

Studierendenwerk Branch Office

Badstraße 24, 77652 Offenburg

Phone: 0781 205-328

Office hours:
Mon and Wed from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.,
as well as by telephone appointment

Here you’ll find a PDF in which we’ve summarized the criteria for what are known as “standard achievements”—the requirements you must demonstrate to continue receiving funding after two years of BAföG support.

A scholarship takes the financial pressure off you. Find the right support in our overview of scholarship programs.

Application period begins: April 29, 2026

Step 1: Sign-up/Registration and Online Application

First, log in to our portal to complete your application online. There are two ways to do this:

• Are you already a student here? Then you don’t need a new account. Just log in at the top right using your existing student account. Under the “Application” menu item, you can select your desired program directly.

• Are you new to Hochschule Offenburg? Then first register on our applicant portal. You will receive an email with your password—please keep this in a safe place. Once you have confirmed your access, you can fill out your application online and submit it directly. 

Go to the applicant portal

Then print out the application and the privacy policy and sign both.

Step 2: Submit your documents

Send us the signed application and the signed privacy policy along with the other documents by mail. You can see exactly which documents we need in the checklist (German, pdf).

Very important: Please be sure to include a current transcript of your academic performance (showing passed, failed, and definitively failed exams).

Want to change your major?

If you have already studied for at least 3 semesters, you must consult with an academic advisor before submitting an application for a higher semester.

1. Get in touch: Ask the Student Secretariat who chairs the examination board for your desired program.

2. Get advice: Schedule a meeting with the appropriate person.

3. Submit proof: Bring the printed consultation form (German, pdf) to the meeting and include the signed proof with your application afterward.

Please send the documents to the following address:

Hochschule Offenburg
Admissions Office
Badstraße 24
77652 Offenburg

Checklist (German, pdf)
for Bachelor's Degree Application

Important information for you:

• Orientation Test: Please remember to take an orientation test before enrolling. You can find more information here: Academic Orientation.

• Check your status: After you’ve submitted your application, you can log in to the applicant portal at any time to see how far along we are in processing it. There you’ll also find out if we need anything else from you.

• Transferring credits: You should only apply for the official transfer of your previous academic credits after you have enrolled. You can find out exactly how this works at your Student Secretariat.