Frequently Asked Questions
Can you give information about Molecular Biotechnology Department and Profession?
Molecular Biotechnology combines two important elements of modern biology: molecular methods and their transformation into technology. Thus, it aims to produce a wide range of solutions to today's important problems and to apply these solutions in industry. These include new methods for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the efficient use of biosources for environmental and energy problems, and the exploitation of biological potential for the food and chemical industries.
The primary goal of our department in education and training is to provide students with a general and solid background in modern branches of biology. Therefore, in the "Molecular Biotechnology" undergraduate program, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, cell biology and microbiology, bioinformatics and biotechnology courses are given. In addition, the quantitative skills required by technology and the engineering pillar are complemented and reinforced with courses such as physics, mathematics and programming. One of the distinguishing features is the high degree of German connection in research and education, targeted through regular exchange programs with partner universities, especially the University of Potsdam.
Our research is mainly in the field of medical biotechnology. In this field, we are particularly interested in a spectrum ranging from microbial infections to neurodegenerative diseases.
Could you briefly introduce your department?
The Department of Molecular Biotechnology at the Turkish German University was established in 2016 and started accepting students two years later in 2018. It is preparing to give its first graduates by the end of the 2022-23 academic year. In addition to the support of our university with its entire academic staff, it continues its education with 5 faculty members and 7 research assistants. It is a partner university with the University of Potsdam, Germany, and academicians from this department also make active contributions to our education. It is a department that also offers the opportunity of double diploma education with this department. Since the establishment of our department, the rate of preference in the university exam has increased steadily day by day.
Is the education in your department completely in German?
Education in our department is 100% in German language.
Are there German professors in your department?
There are foreign lecturers in our university, mostly from Germany, and these lecturers also contribute to our department courses. In addition, guest lecturers from our department's partner Potsdam University come periodically and give lectures. During the pandemic, these courses were held as distance education, but guest lecturers will continue to come to the courses during the normal education process.
In the base scores of your department in previous years, there are two different quotas and two different base scores, can you explain the reason for this?
At TAU, each department has a general quota and a special quota for German-language high schools. The general quota does not require any German proficiency or knowledge. All candidates who want to receive their education in German and want to make a difference in their career by learning German can choose our university through the general quota. The fewer quotas, which usually close with lower scores, are reserved for students graduating from high schools that teach German. You can find detailed information on our university's homepage or on our social media accounts.
Which title will I have when I graduate?
Graduates of our department have a "Bachelor's Degree in Molecular Biotechnology". It is possible to carry out academic studies and find job opportunities in all biological sciences such as molecular biology and genetics, biotechnology, biology, nanobiotechnology.
If I enroll in your department, can I transfer to engineering departments in the future?
Our department enrolls students with SAY score just like engineering departments. For this reason, students of our department can transfer to engineering departments in the future through the horizontal transfer process. Similarly, engineering departments can be transferred to our department in the same way. In these transitions, normal transfer procedures between technical departments work.
What is the ranking of your department in Turkey compared to similar departments?
Our department ranked 12th among similar departments such as Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biology and Biotechnology Departments in the entrance score ranking of 2021. However, it is moving up in the ranking every year and the trend of the last four years shows that it will rise even higher in a few years.
Is there a chance for me to go to Germany after graduation or while studying?
Graduates of our department can find the opportunity to get job opportunities and go to Germany by applying to German companies after graduation. This process is carried out in the normal way for everyone.
In order to go during the student period, it can be through internship or student exchange programs or through the double diploma process mentioned earlier.
How are the opportunities to go abroad with Erasmus or similar programs while studying?
Students of our department can go to different countries with the student exchange program (Erasmus) periodically like students at other universities. Among these countries, Germany comes first. Similarly, our students can also go to Germany during the vacation periods for internship purposes by finding internship opportunities in German companies. In addition, our department also offers our students the opportunity to receive a double diploma, which is a joint diploma of two departments, by studying at our partner university, Potsdam University, for two semesters.
I have not taken German lessons before. Will I have difficulty if I enroll in the department? Is German difficult?
Like all other departments, the main criterion for admission to our department is academic success. In case your level of German knowledge is not sufficient to receive education, you are provided with a preparatory class so that your level of German knowledge is sufficient to follow the university lectures. One year of German preparatory education at our university can bring many students to a level where they can establish daily dialog and follow and participate in academic level courses.
In which fields do your graduates find jobs/work?
Our graduates continue their careers mainly in academia. In the sector, they can work in R&D Laboratories and Units of pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, biotechnology companies and enterprises. Our graduates are especially preferred by companies with international trade and cooperation.
Is transportation to the campus difficult?
Our campus is close to Beykoz District Center, and it is 8 km away from every point of Istanbul after reaching the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (2nd Bosphorus Bridge) on the Anatolian side after reaching the Kavacık Turnstile stop and can be reached by various public transportation vehicles after reaching Kavacık. You can find detailed information about transportation to our campus on our university's homepage. In addition, it is also possible to reach our campus by ring services departing from Kavacık during the education periods.
Are there any student accommodation places (such as dormitories) close to your campus?
There is a female student apartment in our campus. You can find detailed information at https://sks.tau.edu.tr/barinma-hizmetleri. In addition, Anadolu Hisarı KYK Girls' Dormitory in Anadolu Hisarı in Beykoz district serves as a state dormitory. Apart from this, there are private dormitories in Beykoz district.
You can find answers to your questions about the opportunities offered to students and the university in general on our main web page.
If you cannot find an answer to your questions on our page, you can contact the relevant unit via mbt.tanitim@tau.edu.tr e-mail address.
