BSc in Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology Constructor University Undergraduate Programs

The global pharmaceutical industry requires well-trained scientists who have the education and ambition to drive innovative drug development. The Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology (MCCB) program places the student at the forefront of those efforts by providing a fundamental understanding of the drug-body interaction from the molecular to the physiological level. By engaging this broader approach, that is, not only trying to cure disease (medicinal chemistry) but also placing an emphasis on the underlying associated cellular pathways (chemical biology), further innovative opportunities for treating the disease will come forward. In this regard, the MCCB program is unique within the German academic landscape and should help bridge the evolving needs of the high-growth pharmaceutical industry.

Why study at Constructor University

International experience

Train your intercultural skills by studying with talents from more than 100 countries and excellent study abroad options.

Top rankings

Benefit from the highest standards in teaching, interdisciplinary learning, early research involvement, and hands-on education.

Global career

Connect with Alumni to broaden your professional network & start your career with our individual career service support.

Students who have completed the MCCB program will understand how the life of cells, organisms, and humans is organized at the chemical molecular level. This opens the door to graduate education (most often in biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, or organic chemistry) but also to a wide variety of career choices ranging from the strictly scientific (entry-level industrial positions in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or food industries) to education (elementary or high school), to regulatory affairs (analytical food testing laboratories, quality management, etc.) to legal counsel (patent attorney, licensing, etc.) to start-ups. The critical, goal-oriented, skills acquired from your in-depth analysis of chemical-biological problems may also be recognized by headhunters as transferable to non-scientific areas of employment. The mandatory MCCB summer internship, most often within the industrial research sector, is a professional growth experience that is invaluable for aiding students in their career-making decision process.

The Career Services Center (CSC) as well as the Constructor Alumni Office help students in their career development. The CSC provides students with high-quality training and coaching in CV creation, cover letter formulation, interview preparation, effective presenting, business etiquette and employer research as well as in many other aspects, thus helping students identify and follow up rewarding careers after their time at Constructor University. Furthermore, the Alumni Office helps students establish a long-lasting and worldwide network which comes in handy when exploring job options in academia, industry, and elsewhere.

Career services center

Today’s business world requires disciplinary knowledge from graduates as well as the ability to apply this knowledge. Career-related services at Constructor University provide information, counseling and training, networks, and events. Constructor University’s students participate in training on project management, business communication, job interview skills, and more. Digital job and internship portfolios help students to prepare for their careers.

Alumni association

Studying at Constructor University gives you connections – often for your whole life.

The Alumni Association E.V. was founded in 2004 by the first generation of graduates. Since then, around 4,500 students have obtained their degrees from this University.

The undergraduate program at Constructor University is a three-year, 180-credit-point program designed to prepare students for a wide range of career paths.

Throughout this 3-year full-time program taught in English, students will learn how to analyze and interpret large data sets, design, and develop software applications, and solve complex problems using data-driven approaches. Students will also gain a strong foundation in computer science, programming, and related disciplines such as mathematics and statistics.

The “4C Model” is the program's backbone, with disciplinary content grouped into three themes according to study years: CHOICE-CORE-CAREER. Additionally, the “CONSTRUCTOR Track”, an integral part of the program, runs parallel throughout the program. It provides students with multidisciplinary content and essential skills such as argumentation, data visualization, societal engagement, and communication.

The curriculum allows students to tailor their education to their goals and to explore different fields of study, with the flexibility to change their major within the first year. Moreover, the programs include a mandatory internship and a study-abroad opportunity in the fifth semester to provide students with hands-on experience and a global perspective.

Study program structure

Year 1

The first study year is characterized by a broad offer in disciplinary education that builds on and extends the students’ entrance qualification. MCCB Students select introductory modules with a total of 45 credit points from the CHOICE area of a variety of study programs, of which 30 credit points will be from their intended major.

Students can still change to another major at the beginning of the second year of studies if they have taken the corresponding modules of the study program in the first year of studies.

MCCB students take the following discipline-specific CHOICE Modules in their first year of study:

• CHOICE Module: General Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology (7.5 credit points)
• CHOICE Module: General Biochemistry (7.5 credit points)
• CHOICE Module: General Organic Chemistry (7.5 credit points)
• CHOICE Module: General Cell Biology (7.5 credit points)

Year 2

In their second year, students take modules with a total of 45 credit points from in-depth, discipline-specific CORE modules. These modules aim to extend the students’ critical understanding of the key theories, principles, and methods in their major at the current state of knowledge and best practice.

MCCB students take 30 credit points from the following CORE modules:

• CORE Module: Medicinal Chemistry (5 credit points)
• CORE Module: Chemical Biology (5 credit points)
• CORE Module: Advanced Organic Chemistry (5 credit points)
• CORE Module: Pharmaceutical Chemistry (5 credit points)
• CORE Module: Advanced Organic and Analytical Laboratory (5 credit points)
• CORE Module: Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology Laboratory (5 credit points)

Students can decide to either complement their studies by taking the following mandatory elective CORE modules (15 credit points) within MCCB:

• CORE Module: Scientific Software and Databases (5 credit points)
• CORE Module: High Throughput Screening (5 credit points)
• CORE Module: Physical Chemistry and Molecular Modelling (5 credit points)

Or substitute these modules with CORE modules from a second field of studies according to interest and/or with the aim to pursue a minor.

Year 3

During their third year, students prepare and make decisions for their careers after graduation. To explore available choices fitting individual interests, and to gain professional experience, students take a mandatory summer internship.

The 5th semester opens also a mobility window for ample study abroad options. Finally, the 6th semester is dedicated to fostering the research experience of students by involving them in an extended Bachelor thesis project.

MCCB students take major-specific or major-related, advanced Specialization modules to consolidate their knowledge at the current state of research in areas of their choice.

MCCB students can choose four of the following Specialization Modules:

• Specialization: Fluorine in Drug Development (5 credit points)
• Specialization: Advanced Organic Synthesis (5 credit points)
• Specialization: Drug Discovery (2.5 credit points)
• Specialization: Synthetic Biology (5 credit points)
• Specialization: Current Topics in the Molecular Life Sciences (5 credit points)
• CORE (CBT): Physical Chemistry (5 credit points)
• CORE (BCCB): Advanced Biochemistry I (5 credit points)
• CORE (BCCB): Advanced Biochemistry II (5 credit points)
• CORE (BCCB): Infection and Immunity (5 credit points)

Available for MCCB students minoring in CBT and meeting the pre-requisites

• Specialization (CBT): Organometallic Chemistry (5 credit points)

Available for MCCB students who take CHOICE (CBT): Introduction to Biotechnology

• Specialization: Chemical & Pharmaceutical Technology (5 credit points)

Internship / Start-up and career skills module

As a core element of Constructor University’s employability approach students are required to engage in a mandatory two-month internship of 15 credit points that will usually be completed during the summer between the second and third year of study. This gives students the opportunity to gain first-hand practical experience in a professional environment, apply their knowledge and understanding to a professional context, reflect on the relevance of their major in employment and society, reflect on their own role in employment and society, and find professional orientation. As an alternative to the full-time internship, students interested in setting up their own company can apply for a start-up option to focus on the development of their business plan.

Constructor University Track

The Constructor University Track, an important feature of Constructor University’s educational concept, runs parallel to the disciplinary modules across all study years and is an integral part of the study program. It reflects a university-wide commitment to in-depth training in scientific methods, fosters an interdisciplinary approach, raises awareness of global challenges and societal responsibility, enhances employability, and equips students with extra skills desirable in the general field of study. Additionally, it integrates (German) language and culture modules.

Methods and Skills modules

Methods and skills such as mathematics, statistics, programming, data handling, presentation skills, academic writing, and scientific and experimental skills are offered to all students as part of modules within the Methods and Skills area. Students are required to take 20 credit points in the Methods/Skills area.

MCCB students have to take the following Methods modules:

• Methods Module: Mathematical Concepts for the Sciences (5 credit points)
• Methods Module: Physics for the Natural Sciences (5 credit points)
• Methods Module: Analytical Methods (5 credit points)
• Methods Module: Plant Metabolites and Natural Products (5 credit points)

Big Questions modules

The modules of the Big Questions area intend to broaden the students’ horizons with applied problem-solving between and beyond the disciplines. The offerings comprise problem-solving-oriented modules that tackle global challenges from the perspectives of different disciplinary backgrounds and that allow, in particular, a reflection of the acquired disciplinary knowledge in economic, societal, technological, and/or ecological contexts.

MCCB students take 2-4 modules (10 credit points) from a broad portfolio of modules.

Community Impact Project

In their 5th semester, students are required to take a 5 credit points Community Impact Project (CIP) module. Students engage in on-campus or off-campus activities that challenge their social responsibility, i.e., they typically work on major-related projects that make a difference in the community life on campus, in its neighborhood, in Bremen, or on a cross-regional level.

Language modules

Constructor University supports its students in acquiring and improving these skills by offering a variety of language modules at all proficiency levels. Emphasis is put on fostering German language skills of international students as they are an important prerequisite for non-native speaking students to learn about, explore, and eventually integrate into their host country and its professional environment.

All students take four language courses in the first and second year.