Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS)
Study ELLSwhere!
Join ELLS International Master's Programmes, Summer Schools, Scientific Student Conferenes, Student Exchange and International Networking
The Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS) is a network of leading universities cooperating in the fields of Natural Resource Management, Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Life Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Food Sciences, and Environmental Sciences.
The focus of ELLS is on joint teaching and learning, student and staff mobility, and quality assurance. These activities will result in highly qualified graduates, who are prepared for the demands of the European and international market. Furthermore, through the sharing of expertise and resources, this network will enhance the national and international position and potential of all partner universities, as part of the development and implementation of their degree programmes.
Through this network, BOKU realizes many international (educational) projects, like international masterprogrammes, summer schools, scientific student conferences...
The member universities are:
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CULS)
- University of Hohenheim (UHOH)
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW)
- Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR)
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway (NMBU)
- L’Institut Agro, France (AGRO)
- Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia (EMÜ)
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)
ELLS Events & Announcements at BOKU
![[Translate to English:] BOKU group at ELLS Conference 2025](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/4/csm_2025_ELLS_Conf_BOKU_Claus_Michalek_mit_Logos_dd052b9a36.png)
- “Living the ELLSperience | Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
BOKU at the ELLS Conference 2025
https://www.slu.se/ells2025
From 13 to 15 November, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) welcomed around 400 participants to the General Assembly & Forum as well as the Scientific Student Conference of the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS). BOKU was once again strongly represented: 39 staff members and students made the journey to the far north.
In recent years, the Euroleague for Life Sciences has grown significantly. Today, 13 universities work together on activities and projects that extend far beyond what individual institutions could achieve on their own. The strong commitment of all partners, as well as the active involvement of students, remain key strengths of the Alliance – as the current Chair, Rector Carolien Kroeze of Wageningen University, emphasized in her opening speech.
A new development is the stronger focus on PhD students. The EU project “DocBEST,” in which BOKU plays a leading role, was presented during the event. At the same time, new interdisciplinary initiatives are continuously emerging – including in the area of micro-credentials.
Once again, the ELLS General Assembly & Forum offered a wide range of opportunities for exchange: colleagues from the respective Subject Areas and Support Teams presented the results of the past year, and in numerous discussion sessions, new cross-Alliance plans were forged – for example, for closer cooperation in the development of Summer Schools or for topics for Institutional Learning Workshops.
Looking ahead: 25 years of ELLS
In 2026, ELLS will celebrate its 25th anniversary. A central task of the newly elected Chair, the University of Hohenheim, will be to increase the visibility of the Alliance. New branding is already underway; the name has been modernized to better highlight the Alliance’s character:
Euroleague for Life Sciences Universities (ELLS).
Successful young researchers from BOKU
As every year, the Scientific Student Conference – organized by the Euroleague Student Association and SLU – followed the General Assembly & Forum. The young researchers presented their work with high professionalism and great enthusiasm and took the opportunity to network with students and teaching staff from all ELLS universities.
BOKU was once again particularly successful: as the only ELLS university, it produced two winners in the category of Oral Presentations and two winners in the Poster category.
We warmly congratulate all winners!
Student Presentation Prizes:
Clemens Mazelle (Oral, category FooDture of flavor – Eat, drink, innovate)
Amelie Merbach (Oral, category Wat’erth ELLS – Life flows from the ground up)
Josephine Karth (Poster, category WOOD you beLEAF it?)
Magdalena Schöller (Poster, category Nature’s Code – Understanding life from cELLS to species)
ELLS Prize for Excellent Master Theses
Sara Fiedler, EnvEuro
Jadzia Jule Heck, EnvEuro
Isabell Kuhn, EnvEuro
We are already looking forward to the next ELLS Conference – in November 2026 in Montpellier, France!
- ELLS at the International Days at BOKU
We kindly invite you to the presentations of the English and International Master programmes as well as to the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS) at BOKU as part of the
International Days !
When? Thursday, 27 November 2025 from 11:30-13:00 pm (CET) --> Zoom in!
The ELSA student representatives also answer all questions around ELLS at the International Café, 26 November, 13:30-16:30, Aula Schackhöferhaus
We look forward to seeing you and your friends!
ELSA Wanted!
The Euroleague Student Association (ELSA) is not only an important decision maker within the Euroleague for Life Sciences but also conducts many projects, e.g. ELSA organises the ELLS Scientific Student Conference every year. Every ELLS university has 2 members in ELSA. BOKU looks for a new ELSA representative from summer semester 2025 onwards.
-> Are you open and eager to get to know students from other European Life Science universities?
-> Are you interested in improving your learning environ ment by working on international educational projects?
-> Would you like to meet with other student represent tatives physically twice a year at one of the partner universities?
-> Do you want to join and actively participate in designing the Scientific Student Conferences?
-> Are you willing to represent your fellow BOKU students as member of the Department of International Affairs of the ÖH BOKU in the Euroleague for Life Sciences?
-> Then become a member of ELSA, the student association of the Euroleague for Life Sciences.
Send an e-mail with a motivation letter and a CV to euroleague(at)oehboku.at by 9th of December 2025!
- Summer Schools der Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS)
Spend your summer differently - study ELLSwhere!
Also in 2025 BOKU supports BOKU participants of on summer schools with a travel grant:
Call + Application Form 2025
Four BOKU Students awarded at the ELLS Scientific Student Conference
Wageningen University hosted the annual Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS) conferences from November 21-23. For the first time, faculty members and students from 14 universities were present – since 2024, the University of Lleida, Spain, and the University of Tuscia, Italy, are new members of the university network.
During the "General Assembly and Forum," staff from the ELLS universities participated in various workshops on topics such as "AI in Education," "Student Challenges," "Summer Schools," "Joint Programmes," and "Educational Portfolio Management," focusing on the theme "Innovation in Higher Education."
"The puzzle of Life Sciences - Add your piece" was the theme of the student conference, where students from ELLS universities presented their bachelor’s and master’s theses. BOKU was exceptionally well represented this year compared to other universities, both in oral presentations (11 out of 51 abstracts), posters (11 out of 63 abstracts), and among the awardees: Two presentation awards for the best oral presentation and the best poster presentation were given to BOKU students.
Congratulations to Kilian Kasper Wallner, Gregor Nowotny, Martin Ladurner, and Rosina Neubauer!
![[Translate to English:] BOKU group at SSC 2024](/fileadmin/data/H05000/H12000/Baum_2012/A-_BOKU_Studierende_go_international/ELLS-Euroleague_for_Life_Sciences/ELLS2024_BOKU_group_1800x1200_c_Claus_Rainer_Michalek.jpg "ELLS2024_BOKU_group_1800x1200")
![[Translate to English:] 1st Prize Poster Presentation](/fileadmin/data/H05000/H12000/Baum_2012/A-_BOKU_Studierende_go_international/ELLS-Euroleague_for_Life_Sciences/ELLS_SSC_2024_Poster_Preis_c_Michael_Stummer.jpg)
- Would you like to write your master thesis at another ELLS university?
Please check out the new information on the ELLS website: 'Master thesis abroad'!