Materials underpin virtually every technological advance — from early human history through today's high-tech industries. Many of the pressing engineering challenges now (large-scale renewable power generation, electric mobility, hydrogen-based industry, and carbon capture/conversion) are limited not by concepts but by the absence of materials that meet demanding property, durability and sustainability requirements. Examples include materials that tolerate very high temperatures and corrosion for power plants, battery materials with high capacity and low environmental impact, robust hydrogen storage and separation systems, and effective catalytic surfaces for CO2 conversion.
This international Master's programme provides a broad, engineering-focused education in materials science that spans the full development chain: atomic‑scale design and modelling, through processing and manufacturing, up to the construction of bulk components with complex, application-specific property profiles. A central theme is the interplay between composition, structure, processing and resulting properties, so you learn to tailor materials for specific technological needs and manufacturing constraints.
Graduates leave able to tackle both fundamental scientific questions and application-driven engineering problems. The curriculum prepares you to conduct theoretical and experimental work, run and contribute to interdisciplinary projects, and apply modern materials simulation and characterisation techniques to develop innovative materials and production processes for industry or research settings.
Key facts and essentials
Overview of the study plan and progression
The program is structured to move students from foundational knowledge to advanced, research-based work over four semesters. In the first semester you cover essential, cross‑disciplinary basics that prepare you for specialized study. The second and third semesters are devoted to core modules within your chosen specialization, allowing in-depth technical and applied learning. The fourth semester is reserved for an independent Master’s thesis, where you apply acquired knowledge to a substantial research or development project.
Specialisations, key modules and learning outcomes
You choose one of several specialist tracks that focus on different aspects of modern materials engineering: Materials Physics and Design; Energy Materials; Materials Science of Steel; Corrosion Engineering; Structural Integrity; Sustainable Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling; and Sustainable Metal Forming and Casting. Core modules in these tracks typically develop expertise in material behaviour, processing, characterization, degradation mechanisms and lifecycle considerations. By the end of the program you should be able to critically evaluate and design materials and processes for technical and sustainability targets, carry out experimental and/or modelling investigations, and communicate technical results in written and oral form.
Individualisation, research links and practical options
The curriculum is flexible: you can tailor your course selection by choosing core modules from a catalogue, and you may pick student mini‑thesis and Master’s thesis topics from any institute within the department or from affiliated institutes at Forschungszentrum Jülich—independent of your chosen specialisation. With approval from the Examination Board, industrial internships can also be integrated into your study plan to strengthen practical experience and industry links. This combination of focused coursework, research project work and optional industry exposure prepares graduates for roles in R&D, industry, consultancy or further academic study.
Key curriculum requirements (concise)
Admissions overview
This master's track is designed for both domestic and international students who hold a Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, chemistry or a closely related discipline. Applicants must demonstrate that their prior studies included the foundational scientific and engineering topics needed to succeed in an advanced materials engineering curriculum.
You will need to document specific course credit attainment in core subjects and provide evidence of English proficiency, since the entire programme is taught in English. Details about the exact credit requirements and how they are verified are set out in the programme’s examination regulations.
Admission requirements
Winter Semester (International)
1 March 2026
Summer Semester (International)
1 September 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are prepared for roles in research and development, product and process engineering, and materials testing across sectors such as energy, automotive (including e-mobility and battery technologies), metallurgy, and chemical processing. They are equipped to contribute to material-related challenges like high-temperature components, battery materials, hydrogen storage, and catalytic systems for CO2 conversion.
The programme also provides a strong foundation for doctoral studies and careers in interdisciplinary teams, as well as for positions requiring project management and advanced simulation/characterisation skills.
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