Materials Engineering (International Profile) M.Sc.

 

Materials ever since are key enabler for nearly all technological processes. Coming from the Stone Age through the Bronze Age and the Iron Age to the Modern Age new material classes exhibiting superior properties have defined eras in human development. This does not only include technological progress, but also directly affects the economic, ecologic, and social development of human mankind.

Current technological challenges of high relevance include power generation from renewable sources, e-mobility, CO₂ reduction, to name but a few. Still, the major barrier for technological breakthrough in these fields is the lack of suitable materials meeting the technological demands on their property profile, for example.

• Largescale power generation:
  Lack of suitable materials withstanding the high operating temperatures and corrosive attack
• Electric mobility:
  Lack of battery materials offering high electric capacity with a small ecological footprint
• Hydrogen-powered heavy industries:
  Lack of suitable H2 capture and storage solutions due to the high mobility of hydrogen
• Direct CO₂ and conversion:
  Lack of suitable catalytic materials

The international Master course of Materials Engineering at RWTH Aachen University aims at addressing the abovementioned challenges by offering a broad study program in the field of materials science and engineering. This includes the entire materials development process starting with materials design on the atomic scale all the way to the construction of bulk components of high structural integrity and complex property profiles, naturally including the underlying production and manufacturing processes required. Specific emphasize is put on the correlation between materials composition, structure as well as production and manufacturing processes on the evolving properties.

Knowledge and understanding of these correlations will enable graduates of this study major to theoretically and experimentally address scientific as well as engineering problems both, in fundamental research and application-oriented development in industry. Graduates are able to manage projects and work in interdisciplinary teams using state-of-the-art materials simulation and analysis techniques to create novel materials solutions for innovative engineering applications and production processes.

 

Degree Content

Curriculum

1. Semester	Basic subjects
2./3.Semester	Core subjects in specialization fields
4. Semester	Master thesis

Specialization fields:

• Materials Physics and Design
• Energy Materials
• Materials Science of Steel
• Corrosion Engineering
• Structural Integrity
• Sustainable Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling
• Sustainable Metal Forming and Casting

The curriculum may be individualized by partly selection of core subjects from a catalogue and the choice of student mini thesis as well as master thesis topics from any institute of the department as well as affiliated institutes at Forschungszentrum Jülich, independent of the selected specialization field. Upon application to the Examination Board industrial internships may also be integrated in the curriculum.

 

Prerequisites

The Master course Materials Engineering (International profile) is dedicated to national as well as international Bachelor graduates in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or related fields.

Applicants have to provide evidence of a predefined number of credits in fundamental subjects - mathematics, physics, chemistry et cetera - as well as engineering subjects - mechanics, electric engineering, machine elements et cetera - as outlined in the examination rules.

English language skills are required: The program is entirely taught in English.

 

Module Handbook and Examination Regulations

The module handbook provides a description of all modules of a degree program and offers a comprehensive insight into the program contents.

The examination regulations are comprised of legally binding provisions on learning objectives, prerequisites for study, the course structure and processes, and examination procedures.

Regulations that generally apply to all Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, including information on language proficiency requirements, can be found in RWTH's General Examination Regulations. These general regulations are further specified and complemented by the subject-specific examination regulations.

If two examination regulations are valid for a degree program during a transition phase, the most current version shall apply to students enrolling in the program for the first time.

Please note that only the German examination regulations are legally binding.

Module Handbook
Subject-Specific Examination Regulations
RWTH's General Examination Regulations

 

Faculty

The Master course of study in Materials Engineering (International Profile) is offered by the Division of Materials Science and Engineering in the Faculty of Georesources and Materials Engineering.