This English-taught Master’s program delivers a solid grounding in the scientific and technical foundations of contemporary energy conversion and storage technologies, with particular attention to fuel cells and batteries. Coursework and practical training emphasize chemistry, materials science and energy-related laboratory work, so you gain hands-on experience alongside theoretical knowledge.
You will learn within a lively research and development setting that links fundamental university research with applied projects at nearby institutes and industrial development in the region. The program explicitly collaborates with adjacent research centers such as the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) and the Helmholtz Institute for Electrochemical Energy Storage (HIU), offering exposure to both academic and industry perspectives.
Reflecting its interdisciplinary nature, teaching staff come from natural science and engineering departments as well as from participating research institutes and companies. That mix offers a blend of classroom instruction, lab practice and opportunities to engage with active R&D—valuable for students aiming at careers in academia, research institutes or the energy industry.
Curriculum overview
This Master's programme brings together motivated international students from a variety of science and engineering backgrounds and is designed to bring everyone to a common level of advanced training. Over three semesters you will take a mix of lectures, seminars and hands‑on laboratory courses that build across core and applied topics in chemistry, materials and engineering with a clear focus on energy-related applications.
Key modules and learning focus
Core teaching covers Physical Chemistry; Organic and Inorganic Materials Chemistry; Materials Science; Engineering aspects of energy systems; Energy Science and Technology; Surfaces, Interfaces, Heterogeneous and Electrocatalysis; and Simulation and Modelling. The curriculum combines theoretical classes with practical lab work and seminars, so you gain both conceptual depth and experimental experience in energy materials, interfaces and catalytic systems as well as computational tools for modelling and simulation.
Learning outcomes and progression
By the end of the taught phase you will be able to apply principles from chemistry, materials science and engineering to analyse and design energy-related materials and processes, run experiments in laboratory settings, and use simulation/modelling tools to interpret and predict system behaviour. The programme culminates in a research‑oriented Master’s thesis during the final semester, which is carried out full time for six months and allows you to demonstrate independent research skills and contribute original results—preparing you for professional roles in industry, research institutions, or further doctoral study.
Programme structure — key requirements
Admission requirements
This MSc programme is aimed at applicants who hold a relevant undergraduate degree (minimum three years) in chemistry, applied chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, energy science with a natural-scientific focus, physical sciences, or a closely related subject from a university, university of applied sciences, cooperative university or a recognised foreign higher-education institution. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient prior coursework in laboratory chemistry, mathematics and physics, show capability for independent scientific work, submit a concise CV and a short motivation letter, and meet the programme’s English-language requirement.
If your bachelor’s degree has already been awarded, the overall final grade must be 2.7 or better. If your degree is still in progress, your current study and examination results up to the time of application must show an average grade of 2.7 or better. International applicants should supply official transcripts, translated documents where necessary, and any credit-conversion information if their home institution does not use the ECTS system.
Required documents and academic prerequisites (bullet points)
Tips for international applicants
Winter Semester (International)
15 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 March 2026
Graduates are prepared for research and development roles in the energy sector, including work on batteries, fuel cells, electrochemical storage systems and materials development. Career paths include R&D positions in industry, technical roles at specialised research institutes, and continuing to doctoral studies in energy and materials research.
The programme’s close ties with local institutes and companies (e.g. ZSW and HIU) strengthen opportunities for project work, internships and professional networking that can help launch careers in both applied industrial development and academic research.
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