Chemical Sciences University of Stuttgart

Chemical Sciences is a research-orientated Master's programme designed for international graduates with a Bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related field. The programme offers specialisation across a broad spectrum of research areas, combined with advanced, hands-on laboratory training. It aims to deepen students’ conceptual understanding and analytical skills while preparing them for the execution of independent research projects.

Students benefit from a flexible programme structure where they can specialise in our four research profiles:

• Sustainable Synthesis and Catalysis
• Smart Materials and Functional Molecules
• Biological Chemistry and Biotechnology
• Theory and Simulation in Chemistry and Materials Sciences

Chemical Sciences begins every winter semester (October) and is designed to be completed in four semesters, requiring a total of 120 ECTS credits.

The curriculum includes a homogenisation phase during the first two semesters, covering the core areas of chemistry through lectures, laboratory practicals, and seminars. Additionally, students will explore one further area of the faculty, choosing from biochemistry, polymer chemistry, technical chemistry, or theoretical chemistry.

In the second and third semesters, students enter the specialisation phase, focusing on our four research profiles:

• Sustainable Synthesis and Catalysis
• Smart Materials and Functional Molecules
• Biological Chemistry and Biotechnology
• Theory and Simulation in Chemistry and Materials Sciences

During this phase, students also complete two research internships, allowing them to engage with cutting-edge research topics. The Master's thesis is written in the fourth semester.

• A Bachelor's degree of at least six semesters in duration (or equivalent) in chemistry or in a closely related field of study
• Knowledge and skills equivalent to those required to complete a Bachelor's degree in chemistry

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 120 days per year. Only students who are employed by the university in one of the institutes or departments ("Studentische/Wissenschaftliche Hilfskräfte") are exempt from this regulation, but other restrictions apply.

For more detailed information, please consult our websites:

• International Students: Financing Your Studies
• Working During Your Studies

Please check our website on financial aid and scholarships:

• https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/study/new-in-stuttgart/finances/international/

Internships, mentoring and getting on the career ladder 

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.