Master of Science in Polymer Materials Science Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Polymer Materials Science is an interdisciplinary English-language Master's programme in the field of polymer science. You will obtain a multifaceted education in one of the central industrial growth sectors. Nowadays, polymer research is performed as a multidisciplinary collaboration among physicists, chemists, and engineers who are seeking new knowledge on making, characterising, processing, and understanding the molecular basis of novel functional materials. Our course programme is research-oriented and offers a polymer synthetic or a polymer physical specialisation. It thus qualifies you for work in industry as well as advanced training on the PhD level.

Faculty of Natural Sciences II – Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics
Our faculty, with its two Institutes of Chemistry and Physics, is prominently oriented towards research in the broad area of condensed matter and materials science. About one quarter of the 30 chairs and research groups work in the area of macromolecular science and soft matter. Synthetic polymers are the main topic of the Experimental and Theoretical Polymer Physics Groups, the Macromolecular Chemistry Group, the Physical Chemistry of Polymers Group, the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Group as well as the Materials Science Group. Several other groups at the Max Planck and Fraunhofer Institutes, as well as at the Centre of Engineering Sciences and the Life Science Faculties, have activities in the polymer field and are actively contributing to the teaching provided within the Master's programme.

Main focus:

• General introduction to polymer science
• Polymer synthesis and characterisation
• Polymer physics
• Polymer processing and application
• Independent research and industry cooperation

Additional research and studies can be carried out at other institutions in Halle, e.g. the Fraunhofer Institute for Materials Mechanics, the Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics, etc. For detailed information, e.g. curriculum, course contents, etc., please visit our website.

General Modules:

• Basics of Materials and Polymer Physics (10 ECTS) (semester 1)
• Introduction to Polymer Research (15 ECTS) (semester 3)
• Polymer Chemistry (10 ECTS) (semester 1)
• Polymer Physical Chemistry (10 ECTS) (semesters 1 & 2)
• Polymer Physics (10 ECTS) (semester 2)
• Polymer Engineering (10 ECTS) (semesters 1 & 2)
• Polymer Engineering Science (8 ECTS) (semester 3)
• Polymer Physical Chemistry (10 ECTS) (semesters 1 & 2)

Compulsory Modules (10 ECTS, semester 2; 7 ECTS, semester 3):

Science Focus:

• Advanced Polymer Chemistry or Physics (10 ECTS)
• Polymer Science Focus (7 ECTS)

Engineering Focus:

• Advanced Polymer Engineering (10 ECTS)
• Polymer Engineering Focus (7 ECTS)

Final Master's thesis (30 ECTS, semester 4)

Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

Applicants for the MSc Polymer Materials Science must

• hold a Bachelor‘s degree (minimum 180 ECTS, or credit points [CP]) or equivalent in Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering with focus on polymer technology and,

• prove language proficiency in English at level B2 (according to the CEFR) via German Abitur or by means of an internationally recognised test result such as TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate or UNIcert II.

• Furthermore, extensive technical knowledge in chemistry, physics, mathematics and polymer technology and processing is strongly recommended and will be considered in the selection procedure.

Approx. 330 EUR per semester incl. public transport in Germany (local and regional trains)

Approx. 950 to 1,000 EUR per month

Several assistant jobs (research, measurements) after the first (passed) semester

• Single apartments in student hostels at or near the campus offered by the Student Services (Studentenwerk: https://studentenwerk-halle.de/)
• Single/double apartments near the campus from a private provider

All apartments are furnished. Prices range from 220 EUR to 440 EUR per month. Reservations are necessary!