Curriculum Overview

Courses during the 1st semester

Participants of the SãMBio double degree program will start the 1^st semester at their home university. In addition to the regular courses, the double degree specific preparatory course will be offered in Münster, to get ready for the stay abroad. This course, which is equivalent to an advanced module, will consist of:

• advanced module "Molecular Physiology"
• a portuguese language training
• an intercultural training

It is important to note that the german students cannot complete advanced and research modules with more than 20 ECTS in total before going abroad, because 30 ECTS need to be completed at the partner univeristy.

Courses during the 2nd semester

During the 2^nd semester, all SãMBio students will be joining a research group at the partner university abroad and attend courses to earn 30 ECTS.

Brazilian students who come to University of Münster can attend one of the research groups in these institutes at the Faculty of Biology or the Faculty of Medicine. In addition they can attend these advanced modules (5 ECTS) and research modules (10 ECTS).

German students who go to USP can work in one of these research groups at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB) or the Institute of Biosciences (IB) and can attend the following courses:

• advanced modules (5 ECTS)
  • Molecular Analysis of Gene and Protein Level of the Arginase of the Human Malaria Parasite
  • Molecular Biology of Plasmodium falciparum – A Practical Course
  • Principles and Applications of Flow Cytometry
  • Vitamin B6 Biosynthesis in Plasmodium falciparum: Functional Analysis of the Dynamic Assembly of the Enzyme Complex
• research modules (10 ECTS)
  • Analysis of Organelle Specific Oxidative Stress in Malaria
  • Opportunities in Parasitology: Combining Field and Laboratory Research
  • Protein Analysis in Plasmodium falciparum

In addition to these courses USP organizes a practical course on molecular malaria diagnostics including a field trip to amazonas rainforest. This course is mandatory for german SãMBio participants and counts as a course credit at USP. In 2024, the course was held in partnership with the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo (IPSP).  The following video gives an impression of what this course looked like in the past years in Juruá river valley.

MSc thesis during the 3rd and 4th semester

During the 3^rd and 4^th semester the MSc thesis will be conducted. This can either be partly done abroad or completely at the home university. In both cases, the students will be jointly supervised by scientists of both universities. When deciding to conduct the first part of the MSc thesis abroad, the DAAD scholarship will be extended to a total duration of 10 months.

More detailed information about the program and the specific examination regulations can be found in the academic agreement between the University of Münster and the USP.