Chemistry University of Siegen

The Department of Chemistry and Biology offers a four-semester Master of Science in Chemistry programme with excellent training and research opportunities. It builds on a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and further deepens your knowledge through a variety of specialised and research-oriented modules.

You will be provided with an in-depth scientific education in a small classroom setting. Your first semester modules will further develop your knowledge of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. In addition, you can select modules in analytical chemistry, macromolecular, or building chemistry and gain practical experience in laboratory courses. In the second and third semesters, you can already start to specialise in an area of your choice and gain practical research experience in modern topics of chemistry. In your final Master's thesis project, you will work with a professor in the specialist area of your choice, giving you practical experience with modern equipment and a valuable postgraduate experience.

We have a strong teaching record in chemistry and were among the first universities in Germany to offer an international chemistry programme. Many of our international students stay on to join our research groups in the Department of Chemistry as PhD students or are hired by some of the world's largest chemical companies.

The programme is built upon the recommendations of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and is fully accredited.

While the programme consists of some mandatory modules, a lot of elective courses are available. You may select areas of chemistry that you wish to specialise in, such as analytical, building, inorganic, materials, macromolecular, organic, physical, and theoretical chemistry. 

Topics of courses include:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomimetic Molecular Machines
• Chemo- and Biosensors
• Chemistry of Building Materials and Ceramics
• Fast Ion Conductors
• Interface and Colloid Science
• Ionic Liquids
• Languages and Soft Skills
• Luminescent Materials
• Materials Science and Testing Methods
• Micro- and Nanofabrication Techniques
• Modern Microscopy and Surface Analysis
• Nanostructured Functional Materials
• Nanotechnology
• Organic Radicals
• Photochemistry and Photobiology
• Polymer Chemistry
• Quantum Chemistry
• Solid State and Coordination Chemistry
• Solid State NMR Spectroscopy
• Supercritical Fluids
• Supramolecular Nanoassemblies
• Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy

The Master's programme will provide you with an in-depth scientific education. You will be trained in high-quality theoretical and experimental chemistry modules comprised of lectures, seminars, and laboratory courses.

Your first semester modules will further develop your knowledge of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. In addition, you can select modules in analytical chemistry, macromolecular chemistry, or building chemistry and gain practical experience in laboratory courses. In the second and third semesters, you can already start to specialise in an area of your choice and gain practical research experience in modern topics of chemistry. In your final Master's thesis project, you will work with a professor in the specialist area of your choice; through this, you will gain practical experience with modern equipment and a valuable postgraduate experience.

The Master of Science degree in Chemistry will be awarded upon successful completion of the programme. The Master of Science degree requires a total of 120 credits. The grades and credits of the programme are based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), which guarantees an international acceptance of the MSc degree.

Research Opportunities
The Department of Chemistry and Biology is home to excellent groups across the chemistry disciplines and offers state-of-the-art research equipment, including DTA, TG/DTG, automatic synthesizer, high-resolution NMR, SEM, several X-ray diffractometers, HPLC-MS, GC-MS, ToF-SIMS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, IR and Raman spectroscopy, and AFM. Much more special equipment is available in the individual research groups.

Research projects in the third semester can be performed outside the university if support from a lecturer is secured. Examples include research projects in German companies and research institutes as well as stays abroad.

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry certificate or equivalent (with grade 2.5 or better according to ECTS)
• Transcript of records
• Tabular résumé
• Proof of English language skills (see below for details)
• Two professional references (name of two scientists or former employers) are needed. Formal reference letters are not required.

All applications must be submitted online via Unisono.

Students have to pay a semester contribution of approximately 372 EUR, which is due before the start of each semester, as part of (re-)registration. This fee covers the cost of a public transport ticket (valid for six months in all of Germany), a social services contribution, and student activities.

The city of Siegen has very moderate costs for accommodation, offering attractive living conditions for students. Living expenses range from only 800 EUR to 1,000 EUR per month, including rent, health insurance, food, clothing, learning materials, phone/Internet, travel expenses, entertainment, and sports. This estimated cost of living can vary depending on lifestyle, type of accommodation, budget, and spending habits.

It is important that students plan and manage their finances throughout the duration of the degree programme to ensure they have enough funds to cover semester contributions and living costs.

Students can find part-time jobs with the help of the job placement service of the university. Siegen and the surrounding area are home to a large number of medium-sized industrial enterprises (SMEs), or so-called hidden champions in electrical and mechanical engineering. Some bigger examples include the companies SMS and Achenbach Buschhütten. A lot of smaller, yet very successful and quickly growing high-tech companies are located here as well, for instance, PMD Technologies and Asentics, which are spin-off companies of the university. Therefore, there are employment prospects in the region, particularly for positions that are available during the semester break and following graduation.

Students at the University of Siegen can apply for the “Deutschlandstipendium / Studienförderfonds”, which can cover part of the students' cost of living. Scholarships for doctoral students are available at the House of Young Talents of the University of Siegen.

The career services team helps with all questions regarding career entry and career planning. It offers information on occupational fields, helps with the career-related structuring of studies and provides direct support with individual coaching and consulting services when it comes to finding a good career start after graduation.

Furthermore, the programme "Forging International Talents - FIT in Siegen" specifically supports international students during their whole studies with a focus on preparation for the German job market. Additionally, the offers of the "Alumniverbund" provide a good opportunity to network and to benefit from the experiences of former students.

There are student residences (dormitories) of the "Studierendenwerk" (student services) close to the university. The rent for a room is between 240 EUR and 460 EUR. Please be aware that German universities do not usually have campus systems like universities in some other countries, where all students can find accommodation directly on the university property. Therefore, some students might have to find rooms on their own. The private accommodation costs per room are 400 EUR on average. Detailed information concerning general accommodation can be found here.

Early application/search is advisable.