Air Quality Control, Solid Waste and Waste Water Process Engineering (MSc WASTE) University of Stuttgart

The Master of Science in Air Quality Control, Solid Waste and Waste Water Process Engineering (MSc WASTE) is a four-semester, international English-taught programme at the University of Stuttgart.

In the first semester, students attend four out of five compulsory modules (advanced modules) concentrating on the fundamentals of environmental and process engineering. These modules lay the foundations for the specialised areas and lectures of the second and third semesters.

In the second semester, students attend the fifth compulsory module and choose two out of three specialised areas: Air Quality Control, Solid Waste and Waste Water Treatment, and Ecosystems Analysis.

Each specialised area consists of one core module, two elective modules, and practical work or an industrial internship. Depending on the individual study plan, additional elective modules, a student research project and/or an industrial internship can be taken in the second and third semesters as well.

The individual study plan enables students to develop their professional profiles in accordance to their own interests and needs. Furthermore, it allows them to either broaden their studies or to specialise. The modules are supplemented by excursions and practical work within the research facilities of the university institutes. An adviser ensures that each individual programme is efficient and goal-oriented.

The fourth semester is dedicated to the Master's thesis, which can be done at the University of Stuttgart, at a company, or at another university/research facility.

Students without prior German language proficiency have to participate in German courses throughout the programme. If students are exempt from the German language courses, other interdisciplinary module(s) with equivalent credits have to be taken instead. These can be selected from a broad catalogue of key qualifications. Students who are proficient in German may also choose additional electives taught in German.

Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be awarded a Master of Science degree (MSc).

The first two semesters are accompanied by German language classes.

During the first semester, all students attend four compulsory modules (advanced modules), which include the fundamentals of process and environmental engineering.

1. Module: Thermodynamics and Fluid Dynamics

2. Module: Pollutant Formation and Air Quality Control

3. Module: Chemistry and Biology for Environmental Engineers

4. Module: Sanitary Engineering

5. German as Foreign Language I

In the second semester, two modules are mandatory:

1. Module: Process Engineering

2. German as Foreign Language II

Students also choose two out of the three specialised areas. Each area consists of one core module, two elective modules and practical work. The following core modules must be attended for each specialised area:

• Air Quality Control: Firing Systems and Flue Gas Cleaning or Measurement of Air Pollutants
• Solid Waste and Waste Water Treatment: Biological, Mechanical and Thermal Waste Treatmentor Urban Drainage and Design of Waste Water Treatment Plants
• Ecosystems Analysis: Microbiology in Natural Ecosystems or Environmental Chemistry: Sources of Chemicals and Their Impact on the Environment

Additional elective modules must be chosen in the second and third semesters. Some examples of the elective modules include the following:

• Air Quality Management
• Biological Waste Air Purification
• Chemistry of the Atmosphere
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Emissions Reduction at Selected Industrial Processes and Environmental Policy Analysis
• Engine Combustion and Emissions
• Industrial High Temperature Processes
• Industrial Internship (optional)
• International Waste Management
• Multiscale Environmental Process Engineering
• Polluted Habitats
• Practical Work in Air Quality Control
• Processing and Visualisation of Air Quality Data
• Project Management
• Sanitary Engineering — Practical Work
• Sectors and Bioremediation
• Student Research Project
• Sustainable Circular Processes
• Water Quality and Treatment

You can find a detailed list of the course descriptions in our Module Handbook. The fourth semester is dedicated to the Master's thesis.

An optional industrial internship can be included in the study plan.

The following admission requirements must be met:

Bachelor's or equivalent degree in chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical, process engineering, or in a related field

Approx. 200 EUR per semester

Living expenses amount to about 1,050 EUR per month. Non-EU students will have to demonstrate that they have sufficient finances to cover living expenses for 12 months. EU citizens may apply for state-guaranteed loans during the time of enrolment. 

For more information, see the links on our website.

Please be aware that it may be very challenging to finance your whole studies by working. Non-EU citizens are allowed by law to work for a maximum of 140 days per year; only students who are employed by an institute or department at the University of Stuttgart ("Studentische/Wissenschaftliche Hilfskräfte") are exempt from this regulation, however, other restrictions may apply.

For detailed information, please consult our websites:
International Students: financing your studies and Working during your studies.

The University of Stuttgart offers additional information about financial aid and scholarships: Financial aid and scholarships | University of Stuttgart (uni-stuttgart.de).

Both the campus in Stuttgart-Vaihingen and the campus in the centre of Stuttgart have on-site halls of residence. Dorm rooms (ranging from 320 EUR to 650 EUR per month) are furnished. Some are equipped with a sink, and all have access to a kitchen and sanitary facilities, telephone and Internet. From the campus in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, the city of Stuttgart can be reached by suburban railway within ten minutes.

Intelligent systems to benefit society

The University of Stuttgart is one of the leading technically oriented universities in Germany with global significance. It sees itself as a centre of university-based, non-university, and industrial research. Furthermore, it takes on a role as a guarantor of research-based teaching, focused on quality and holism. The university promotes the transfer of knowledge and technologies to society in all its areas of expertise and competence. The "Stuttgarter Weg" (Stuttgart Way) means an interdisciplinary integration of engineering, natural sciences, humanities, management, economics and social sciences based on the fundamentals of cutting-edge research at a disciplinary level. Our vision is “intelligent systems to benefit society”.

Excellent research and teaching

The University of Stuttgart implements innovative concepts in research and teaching in order to provide knowledge and strategies for a meaningful and sustainable development. It focuses on basic research that is both knowledge-oriented and application-related. To facilitate this research, the university is actively part of regional, national and international research networks.

The university is committed to the principle of unity between research and teaching. Students acquire knowledge, expertise and the power of judgement, in accordance with the guidelines of scientific research and awareness. The university fosters fascination for the sciences, supporting its students and junior researchers at all stages of their careers. It promotes independent thinking and provides an environment for responsible action. In doing so, it educates individuals into becoming exceptional experts who think in an integrative and global manner and act responsibly in the sciences, economics and society.

A powerful region

Founded in 1829, at the beginning of the Industrial Age, the University of Stuttgart continues to prepare the way for innovation within an economically and scientifically powerful region and contributes to the economic success and prosperity of our society. This process combines the requirements of a social and cultural change, which allows for an early and extensive input of social interests in research and design as well as teaching and further education.

Open-mindedness

The University of Stuttgart stands for open-mindedness, individuality and community spirit. It brings together students who are eager to learn, highly motivated employees, outstanding teachers, and excellent researchers, as well as visionary thinkers and inventors. By means of its culture of integration, the university creates and conveys knowledge for shaping the future of our society.

The University of Stuttgart is nestled in one of Europe’s most vibrant industrial regions. This fosters many forms of interdisciplinary collaboration — for instance, in numerous Collaborative Research Centres (also known as CRC or sometimes CRC/TRR) and in application-oriented research assignments. The University of Stuttgart sets up a close relationship and a successful transfer of knowledge and technology between its research institutions and business enterprises in the region and beyond. This very practical orientation benefits research and teaching. At the same time, economic players profit from rapid access to new scientific knowledge and contact to experts in their specialised fields. There are numerous possibilities of collaboration for businesses. Furthermore, the university also maintains a close relationship with non-university research institutions such as the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society, the German Aerospace Centre, and the German Literature Archive Marbach. Thus, the optimal prerequisites for cutting-edge research at the highest level are all to be found in Stuttgart.