Entrance requirements for the master’s program in Soft Matter and Materials:

• Proof of a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, or materials science from a higher education institution in Germany, or an equivalent degree obtained in Germany or abroad in a subject area that does not differ significantly.
• Proof of practical laboratory exercises amounting to at least 18 credit points, part of which must be carried out using chemical working methods.
• Proof of at least 3 credit points earned in nuclear and molecular sciences.
• Proof of at least 3 credit points earned in thermodynamics. Qualifications that were not part of the bachelor’s degree program may also be recognized.

Proof of English language proficiency at a minimum level of B2. Submission of a German university entrance qualification (Abiturzeugnis), which shows the applicant completed five years (four years in the G8 program) of English in school with a grade of at least “adequate” (4), or 5 points, is also counted as proof of sufficient English language skills.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the master’s degree program’s examination regulations.

The first two semesters will focus on the fundamentals of physics and chemistry. If you begin your studies during the winter semester, you will start in Mainz; if you begin your studies during the summer semester, you will start in Darmstadt. You will subsequently be able to focus on research-oriented content with increasing practical applications. There is a broad array of specializations from which you may choose which are either offered by TU Darmstadt, JGU, or the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) in Mainz.

1st semester (JGU):

• Macromolecular Chemistry
• Modern and Industrial Aspects of Ploymer Materials
• Colloids and Interfaces
• Modern Aspects of Macromolecular Chemistry (Practical Course)
• Advanced Statistical Physics

2nd semester (TU Darmstadt):

• Physics of Soft Matter I
• Physics of Soft Matter II
• Physics Experiments & Theory (Practical Work)
• Advanced Polymer Chemistry and Polymer Nanotechnology
  
  2 of the following 4 options:
  • Polymers at Interfaces
  • Chemical Technology of Pulp and Paper
  • Sustainable Polymer Chemistry
  • Engineering Aspects in Macromolecular Chemistry

3rd semester:

• Advanced Soft Matter and Materials
• Two 8-week research modules as part of current projects concerning research topics of a supervising work group (either at JGU, TUDa, or MPI-P)
  
  or:

• Advanced Soft Matter and Materials
• One 16-week research module as part of current projects concerning the research topics of a supervising work group (either at JGU, TUDa, or MPI-P)

4th semester:

• Master’s thesis

Stays abroad

The two research modules that each amount to 12 credit points may instead be completed abroad as a single module that amounts to 24 credit points.

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Lab courses, research modules, and internships

During the course of your studies, you will complete three or four lab courses: Two of the lab courses are completed in the areas of macromolecular chemistry (180 hours) and physical experiments & theory (300 hours). The other two lab courses are completed as part of research modules 1 and 2 (360 hours each). Alternatively, you can replace these with one longer lab course (720 hours).

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

The successful completion of the master’s program in Soft Matter and Materials will open up numerous employment opportunities for you at large chemical companies, for instance at Bayer, BASF, Tesa, Beiersdorf, Evonik, Merck, Saint-Gobain, Rhodia, P&G, or 3M.

The program’s strong focus on physics also affords you the qualifications necessary for a career at IT companies and banks, including in managerial roles.

You will also be sought after to work in private-sector companies, especially in the realm of project management or foundation work.

If you would like to pursue an academic career, we recommend that you pursue a doctorate upon completion of your program of study, as it is a prerequisite for this career path. A doctoral degree can also expand your career opportunities, including in the above-mentioned career fields.

Thanks to your profound English language proficiency as proven by your studies, you will hold qualifications that are decisive factors for employers when it comes to working for transnational and international companies.

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.