It was in 1949 that Koepcke obtained her doctorate in zoology from the University of Kiel. During her time in Kiel, she met her future husband, Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke, also a student of zoology.
In 1949, Dr. Koepcke earned her doctorate in zoology from the University of Kiel.  She met and married her future husband, Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke, who was also studying zoology at the same institution.