Master of Science in Soft Matter and Materials Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

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The Master of Science in Soft Matter and Material is a jointly offered, research-focused degree programme with an increasing emphasis on practical components. It is offered by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Technical University of Darmstadt, both members of the Rhine-Main Universities Alliance.

The study of soft matter and soft materials requires a comprehensive understanding of physics and chemistry in this field. The goal of the Soft Matter and Materials Master's programme is to provide technical knowledge and conceptual competence in the production of building blocks (e.g. polymers, supramolecular tectons, colloids) and in the structure-dynamics-property relationships of soft matter and materials. Functional concepts will be taught using both general synthetic components and biologically-relevant components.

Knowledge of the technical processing and industrial utilisation of soft materials will round off the training. All teaching and learning content will be in English.

The first two semesters of the programme lay the physical and chemical foundations and take place exclusively on the Mainz and Darmstadt campuses, respectively. Following the initial two semesters, the programme offers research-focused content that can be flexibly selected. Throughout all semesters, there is a gradual increase in practical components.

As early as the second semester (assuming you start your studies in the winter semester), students will be offered a module in which they can choose two of four main subjects, e.g. polymers at interfaces, sustainable polymer chemistry, and technical polymer science. In the third semester, students will choose two research modules from a wide range of courses offered by the chemistry and physics faculties of TU Darmstadt and Mainz University (JGU) as well as the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Mainz. In addition, a flexible module is available where students can choose from several current offerings each semester.

Technical University of Darmstadt

An internship is not a mandatory part of the programme, but students are encouraged to pursue an internship and will be supported in their search for intern positions at private companies and public institutions.

• Academic admission requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or Materials Science from a university in Germany or abroad that is not significantly different from the JGU.
• Evidence of practical laboratory exercises amounting to at least 18 credit points (CP), with a portion of it completed using chemical working techniques
• Evidence of achievements in molecular sciences amounting to at least 3 CP
• Evidence of achievements in thermodynamics amounting to at least 3 CP
• Achievements that were not completed during the Bachelor’s degree may also be taken into account. The examination board will decide on this.

The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz charges an administrative fee of approx. 350 EUR per semester. This includes a public transport ticket, which allows you to use regional trains, buses, trams, and the underground for free in Germany (“Deutschland-Ticket”).

The cost of student housing varies between 350 EUR and 500 EUR (find more details on accommodation here). The price for a lunch on campus is around 3 to 4 EUR. The German Academic Exchange Service also offers information on the cost of living in Germany.

The Rhine-Main area offers a rich array of job opportunities both in the private sector and at public institutions. Particularly successful students may also qualify for part-time jobs as research assistants or tutors.

The career service centre at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz supports students and graduates in choosing their careers, planning their professional futures, and acquiring interdisciplinary skills. The centre offers a variety of services, such as counselling, workshops, and recruiting events. More information is available here.

There are numerous shared houses or apartments available, as well as rooms in student housing, which make living affordable and provide opportunities to connect with other students.
More information is available here.