Master's in Materials Science Powered by Large Scale Facilities (MaMaSELF²)

Overview This two-year, English-taught European Master's programme in Materials Science focuses on the use of large-scale research facilities (synchrotrons, neutron sources, reactors, spallation sources) for both fundamental and applied materials research. The degree is conferred jointly by two of the six partner universities involved in the consortium: Poznań (PL), Rennes 1 (FR), Montpellier (FR), Torino (IT), Technische Universität München (DE), and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE). The programme is interdisciplinary and designed to strengthen scientific cooperation between universities, large-scale research infrastructures, and industry.

What you will learn and do You will build broad theoretical and practical skills for probing materials with neutrons and synchrotron radiation. A mandatory two-week summer school introduces state-of-the-art beamline instrumentation (spectrometers, diffractometers) and teaches how to select the right source and setup based on resolution, time-scale and energy requirements. Students prepare their own experimental proposals and carry out experiments at large-scale facilities as part of their training, gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge equipment and experimental design.

Partnerships, mobility and career relevance Several major European large-scale facilities actively support the programme and co-organise the summer school: FRM II (Munich, Germany), PSI (Switzerland), ESRF and ILL (Grenoble, France), LLB (Saclay, France), and DESY (Hamburg, Germany). In the second year students spend time at one of these facilities to pursue research projects agreed in advance between a supervising university professor and facility scientists. The programme prepares graduates for careers in academic research, facility-based science, or industry roles that require expertise in advanced characterization techniques.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent 180 ECTS) in physics, chemistry, geoscience, or materials science
• Proficient scientific English (reading, writing and oral communication)

Program structure and year‑one overview The first academic year combines lectures, practical classes and hands‑on training worth 60 ECTS. The Material Science teaching component is delivered at one of the partner universities: Rennes 1 (FR), Montpellier (FR), Torino (IT), Technische Universität München (DE) or Ludwig‑Maximilians‑Universität München (DE). Before classes start, all students meet in Rennes for a mid‑September welcome week to complete administrative formalities, meet the coordinating team and build cohort connections ahead of semester mobility.

Summer school and thesis topic selection At the end of year one, students attend a two‑week summer school in Montpellier focused on the application of large‑scale research facilities. Core lectures are delivered by the programme’s lead academics (J. Kubicki, W. Paulus, S. Bordiga, Ph. Rabiller, W. Petry and W. Schmahl), and are complemented by seminars from university colleagues and researchers from national and European large‑scale facilities. During this intensive session students choose their Master’s thesis topic from a list proposed by the partner institutions.

Second year: research placement and dissertation In year two each student relocates to a different partner university (Rennes 1, Montpellier, Torino, Technische Universität München, Ludwig‑Maximilians‑Universität München or AMU Poznań) to carry out an independent research project. The thesis work typically lasts six months (extended to 12 months at TUM) and is closely linked to experiments at large‑scale facilities when relevant. Projects may be based at such facilities and then jointly supervised by a facility scientist and a consortium adviser. The degree is completed with a written dissertation that must be defended before an examination committee. European students also have the option to write their thesis at associated partner institutions outside the consortium (examples cited: Kyoto University, Uji; Yamanashi University; PSI/ETH Zurich; IIT Madras).

Key modules

• Core Material Science lectures and theory courses (delivered at one of the partner universities)
• Practical laboratory classes and hands‑on training (part of the 60 ECTS year‑one workload)
• Two‑week summer school on large‑scale facilities methods and instrumentation (Montpellier)
• Research methods seminars and facility‑led specialist talks from national/European centres
• Independent research project culminating in a Master’s thesis (6 months; 12 months at TUM)

Expected learning outcomes

• Practical competence in materials characterization techniques and experimental protocols used at large‑scale facilities
• Ability to design, execute and document an original research project in materials science
• Experience working across international and interdisciplinary teams and institutions
• Skills in scientific communication: writing a dissertation and defending research before an academic committee
• Familiarity with the operation and research opportunities offered by national and European large‑scale research infrastructures

Graduates are prepared for experimental and applied roles that require expertise in advanced characterisation techniques, such as research scientist positions at universities and national laboratories, beamline or instrumentation scientist roles at large-scale facilities, and R&D positions in industry (materials, energy, nanotechnology and related sectors). The programme’s strong links with major facilities and its emphasis on experimental design and data interpretation also make it a solid foundation for PhD studies.

The international mobility and consortium network open opportunities for collaborative research appointments and positions that value hands-on facility experience and cross-border project work. Graduates may also find roles in consultancy, technical service companies that support synchrotron/neutron instrumentation, or in industry groups that rely on advanced materials characterisation.