Buchungsfristen und sämtliche Module

Module registration takes place online via the University of Zurich's student portal. To access the student portal, you will neen your UZH login credentials (ID and password), which will be available in the application portal a few days after payment of the semester fees.

A distinction is made between three types of module registration:

• directly bookable modules (Buchungsmodule)
• request-based modules (Anfragemodule)
• application-based modules (Bewerbungsmodule)

Most Biology modules are either directly bookable (lectures with no enrolment limits) or cannot be booked directly (e.g. all block courses, for which registration is carried out via the Biology Block Course Tool). Request-based and application-based modules have limited places and early registration and cancellation deadlines. The current Course Catalogue is authoritative in all cases. The registration deadlines for each module are listed in the current Course Catalogue. Registration for the autumn semester opens in May, and registration for the spring semester opens in October.

• Modules in the Basic Studies phase: Must be registered for no later than one week before the start of the semester.
• Other modules: Early registration is recommended so that students receive email notifications from lecturers regarding the module and can access the course material on OLAT.
• UZH and ETHZ Zurich Biology block courses: These must be registered via a dedicated online tool. Please note that the two-week registration window opens in July and December, respectively. Make sure you do not miss these deadlines!

If you wish to attend courses at ETHZ Zurich, you must register with ETHZ as a special-status student (Fachstudierende) via the ETH student portal. Registration is valid for one semester and is free of charge. Once registered, you will receive login credentials for the ETH system, allowing you to enrol in courses and register for examinations. The registration deadline is the end of the second week of the lecture period. Students who have reserved places in Biology block courses through the joint UZH/ETHZ registration system must also register with ETHZ Zurich. Further information is available here.

ETHZ Zurich students wishing to take modules from the University of Zurich's Biology degree programme must register for cross-university studies (hochschulübergreifendes Studium) no later than Friday before the start of the semester.

Students from other Swiss universities are subject to an earlier registration deadline:

• Autumn semester: 31 July
• Spring semester: 31 January

Further information: UZH – Application deadlines.

The Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes of the Faculty of Science (MNF) are structured into modules. A module consists of one or more courses.

Each module is assigned to a lecturer who is responsible for it (Module Coordinator). Students may contact this person with questions relating to the module.

• Compulsory modules: These modules are mandatory.
• Compulsory core elective modules: Modules that must be selected from a predefined list.
• Elective modules: Modules that may be freely selected from the range of courses offered by the University of Zurich (UZH) and ETHZ Zurich (ETHZ).

ECTS credits are awarded on the basis of academic assessments. The dates, formats and scope of these assessments are announced in the Course Catalogue. The following principles apply:

• No credits are awarded without an assessment.
• One ECTS credit corresponds to an average student workload of approximatey 30 hours. This includes contact hours, independent study (self-study and completing assignments), examination semester. Fewer credits may be earned in part-time studies.

Most modules are graded in increments of half grades on a scale from 1 to 6. If a student achieves a grade of 4 or higher, all ECTS credits assigned to the respective module are awarded. Otherwise, no credits are awarded. Some modules are assessed on a pass/fail basis only.

A total of 180 ECTS credits is required to obtain a Bachelor's degree, followed by a further 90 or 120 ECTS credits to obtain a Master's degree. This means that the Bachelor's programme takes at least six semesters, while the Master's programme requires a further three to four semesters (standard duration of study, which should be regarded as the minimum).

The standard maximum period of study is 12 semesters for each degree programme (Bachelor's and Master's). Students may continue their studies beyond 12 semesters. However, tuition fees will double. Credits already earned do not expire. Upon submission of a justified request, the Dean of Study may grant an extention of the regular tuition fee arrangement for one additional semester at a time.

Once per semester (in mid-March and the end of October), students receive an overview of the ECTS credits earned and grades obtained to date via the student portal (Transcript of Records = electronic academic record).

Any discrepancies must be reported to the Office of the Dean of Studies within four weeks.

The language of instruction for each module is determined by the respective Module Coordinator.

In the Basic Studies phase, the language of instruction is predominantly German, although some modules are taught in English. In the Specialised Studies phase, the language of instruction is generally English. 

A very good command of both languages is required for the Bachelor's degree programme.

Module examinations are offered exclusively in the respective language of instruction. Students are not entitled to request a translation of the examination.

Modules in the Basic Studies ("Grundstudium")
Full details such as dates, course descriptions, learning objectives, prerequisites, assessment requirements, as well as booking and cancellation deadlines, can be found in the current UZH course catalogue (make sure to select the correct semester in the top right-hand corner).

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Abkürzungen:
_{FS = Frühjahrssemester 
HS = Herbstsemester       
VL = Vorlesung
PR = Praktikum
SE = Seminar
UE = Übungen}

Bereich Grundlagenfächer (total 35 ECTS):

Bereich Biologie (total 55 ECTS):

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Abkürzungen:
_{FS = Frühjahrssemester 
HS = Herbstsemester       
VL = Vorlesung
PR = Praktikum
SE = Seminar
UE = Übungen}

Please also refer to the timetables for the basic studies programme.

Wahlpflichtgruppe 1, Bereich 1a

Module der Wahlpflichtgruppe 1 aus den Grundlagenfächern Chemie CHE, Biochemie BCH, Mathematik MAT, Statistik STA und Physik PHY, und quantitativer Biologie.

Wahlpflichtgruppe 1, Bereich 1b

Module der Wahlpflichtgruppe 1 aus der Biologie (BIO) und verwandten Studienprogrammen (Biomedizin BME, Biodiversität EEE, und Neuroinformatik INI).

Ehemals hier aufgelistete, bereits absolvierte Module können weiterhin als WP 1 angerechnet werden (z.B. BIO 137, BME 247, UWW 172, UWW 181, UWW 182, EEE 260, ESS 111 und ESS 121, INI 415).

Die Module BIO 138 - BIO 237, BIO 390, BME 247, BME 248 und EEE 267 sind auch als Wahlpflichtmodule des Fachstudiums (WP 3) im Bachelorstudium anrechenbar. Die Module aus dem Wahlpflichtbereich 1 können jedoch in der Regel nicht im Masterstudium angerechnet werden, auch nicht als Wahlmodul.

Die Biodiversitäts-Exkursionen EEE 221 und EEE 222 können im Mono und Major BSc Biologie ebenfalls als WP1b angerechnet werden, Studierende mit Major oder Minor Biodiversität haben aber Priorität bei der Platzzuteilung.

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Abkürzungen:
_{FS = Frühjahrssemester 
HS = Herbstsemester       
VL = Vorlesung
PR = Praktikum
SE = Seminar
UE = Übungen}

Please also refer to the timetables for the basic studies programme.

Fall Semester

Pflichtmodule

Spring Semester

Pflichtmodule

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Please also refer to the timetables for the basic studies programme.

Pflichtmodule

Wahlpflichtmodule Bereich 1a

Wahlpflichtmodule Bereich 1b

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Please also refer to the timetables for the basic studies programme.

Pflichtmodule

Wahlpflichtmodule Bereich 1a

Wahlpflichtmodule Bereich 1b

Modules in the Advanced Studies ("Fachstudium")
Courses from the third year of the ETH Zurich Bachelor’s degree programme in Biology may also be credited towards the specialized study phase, with block courses counting as WP 2 and concept courses as WP 3. Please consult the ETHZ course catalogue (links are listed below under ETHZ courses WP 2 and WP 3) for a current list and contact the Biology Study Coordination Office at UZH if in doubt. UZH course catalogue

WP = Wahlpflichtgruppe

For modules in the Advanced Studies phase, the respective Module Coordinator determines the examination arrangements and is responsible for awarding grades. For most lecture courses, examinations take place during the last week of the semester. Students should therefore avoid registering for lectures that take place at the same time, as their examinations will also be scheduled simultaneously. No alternative examination dates are offered. Students who are unable to attend an examination due to illness or other compelling reasons must withdraw immediately via the student portal and notify the repective Module Coordinator. The Module Coordinator decides whether a repeat examination is offered, the entire module may be repeated the following year. Each failed module may be repeated once, either by retaking the examination or by repeating the entire module. If a compulsory core elective module is failed twice, students may take another module from the same compulsory elective group instead, until the corresponding compulsory core elective requirement has been fulfilled.

Block Courses: Block courses provide research-based teaching and learning in small groups. Their organisation and delivery require considerable effort. Due to limited places, specific regulations apply and must be followed by all students to ensure fair allocation.

• Registration: Timely online registration is required for block courses in the Advanced Studies phase. The exact registration deadlines are published on this booking website. The registration period for block courses begins in July for the autumn semester and in December for the spring semester. Each registration period lasts two weeks. The final allocation of places can be viewed in the block course registration tool one week before the start of the semester. Please note that block courses do not appear as "booked" in the UZH app. They are only entered into the system once the grade has been awarded. 
• Withdrawal: Once allocated a place, students are required to attend the respective course. Therefore, please consider carefully which courses you register for. If you have been allocated a place but are unable to attend for compelling reasons (e.g. illness), you must notify the Module Coordinator directly and immediately. Otherwise, or if you withdraw for other reasons, the course will be recorded as failed.
• Attendance requirements: Attendance and active participation throughout the entire duration of UZH Biology block courses are compulsory. Absences are not permitted, regardless of the reason.
• Allocation of places in block courses: Students must have completed the Basic Studies phase (i.e. passed all compulsory modules) before they are eligible to attend block courses. Please read the course descriptions in the Course Catalogue carefully and take note of any recommended parallel courses in the Advanced Studies phase. For biomedical block courses (e.g. Cancer, Virology and Immunology), it is strongly recommended that students have already completed the compulsory elective modules BME235, BME245, BME236, BME246 and, where appropriate, BME248. Allocation criteria: Priority is generally given to: 
  • Master's students whose block course is included in their confirmed Learning Agreement.
  • Bachelor's students who have not yet completed the required number of block courses for their Bachelor's degree.
• There is no entitlement to a place in any particular block course. Students who are expected to complete the Basic Studies phase through repeat examinations or January examinations before the start of the course will also be allocated places where possible. However, students who have already passed all compulsory modules at the time of registration are given priority. The average grades across all compulsory modules is also taken into account when allocating places. To maximise their chances of obtaining a place in a block course, students should indicate as many references as possible during registration, including all courses they would be willing to attend. If too few preferences are indicated, there is a high likelihood that students will not be allocated the desired number of places. 

Research internships:  Research internships can only be undertaken as part of the Bachelor's degree programme. Students work on a specifically defined research project under the individual supervision of an advanced researcher and write a scientific report upon completion of the project. Further information. 

A research internship is considered internal if the supervisor teaches in the Department of Biology. Otherwise, the research internship is considered external. Internal research interships are arranged directly with a research group leader and last between 6 and 12 weeks full-time. One ECTS credit is awarded per week. External research internships must be approved in advance by the module coordinator and the Biology Study Coordination Office. A maximum of 6 ECTS credits can be awarded for external research internships. No ECTS credits are awarded for paid internal or external positions as research assistants or interns, or for voluntary work. A maximum of 12 ECTS credits from research internships can be counted towards the degree. Upon completion of the internship, the internship supervisor must submit the grade achieved and the number of ECTS credits to be awarded in writing to the Biology Study Coordination Office. The same regulations apply to the museum internship BIO 780.

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Research internships, iGEM, the museum internship and the curatorial internship at the Zoo are counted in "Wahlpflichtgruppe 2", but only in the Bachelor study programs.

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Autumn Semester 2026, provisional schedule. Online registration: 20 July–7 August 2026

The final allocation will be available from xx. September 2026 under "block course allocation" 

Contact: kresimir.rados@biol.uzh.ch (Academic support office)

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Schedule of the spring semester block courses
Courses run from 1 p.m. Tuesday through to 5 p.m. Friday. You will find the content, time, venue, type of learning outcome examination, and the participating lecturers for the individual block courses in the annotated course catalogue. 

Spring Semester 2027, provisional schedule. Online registration: end of 2026

The final allocation will be available from x February 2027   block course allocation

Contact: kresimir.rados@biol.uzh.ch (Academic support office)

Semester week (calendar week 8-22)

¹⁾ every second year (even years), ²⁾ every second year (odd years)

Core elective modules

Information / Online registration ETHZ 

Please consult the course catalogue of the ETH Zurich:

Fall semester

Spring semester

Please see information Concept Courses ETHZ

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Abbreviations:

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Abbreviations:

 Spezialvorlesungen und Seminare im Frühlingssemester (WP 3)

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

Abbreviations:

See also Field Bock Courses EEE 329, EEE 331, BIO 268, BIO 341.

Modules in Master's Studies Only

Letzter Update 21 October 2026.

These modules are open to Master’s students only. Some vary from year to year. For current courses, details, and registration information (often not via module booking), please refer to the course catalogue.

Courses of the Functional Genomics Center

Entire Course Offer

UZH Course Catalogue

ETHZ Course Catalogue

Zurich Basel Plant Science