Master in Chemistry and Chemical Technology

Master in Chemistry and Chemical Technology is one of 9 English-taught Chemistry programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 5 institutions. 9 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 727 to EUR 1,453; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 8 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

The Master's degree in Chemistry and Chemical Technology at Johannes Kepler University Linz is a technical chemistry programme taught in English. It takes four semesters and 120 ECTS, and you graduate as a Diplom-Ingenieur or Diplom-Ingenieurin, a degree the JKU says is equivalent to a Master of Science.

What you study

The programme focuses on the technical and industrial side of chemistry and process engineering, and you can specialise in different areas of chemistry. Mandatory subjects (63 ECTS) are Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Process Engineering, Chemical Technologies of Inorganic Materials, Chemical Technologies of Organic Materials, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Catalysis and Soft Skills.

You then pick elective tracks (18 ECTS) from Electives Synthesis, Electives Chemical Analysis, Electives Technologies, Electives Materials, and Electives Physical and Biophysical Chemistry. Free electives add 12 ECTS, and the Master's thesis with its seminar and examination counts for 27 ECTS.

Core teaching covers organic, inorganic, physical and technical chemistry, including catalysis, materials chemistry, polymer chemistry and sustainable synthesis. On the process side you learn to analyse, model and optimise chemical processes, from separation processes to energy-efficient and environmentally friendly production. You can set your own focus in areas such as green chemistry, renewable energies, bio-based materials, organic electronics or drug development.

How the programme is organised

It is a full-time degree at the JKU's Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences in Linz. Laboratory courses run in small groups with hands-on support. You work in chemistry labs and technical pilot plants on campus, and the JKU says its pilot plant lets students test technical processes on an industrial scale, not just in the lab. The Master's thesis is where you join current research projects.

The programme crosses into other disciplines, with collaboration in plastics technology, medical engineering, physics, computer science, mechatronics and mechanical engineering. Soft skills cover intercultural communication, presentation techniques, teamwork, and legal and social aspects. You also learn to assess how new technologies affect society and the environment.

Who it suits

It suits chemistry graduates who want the industrial and process side rather than a purely laboratory career, and who like the idea of choosing a niche, whether sustainable plastics, green energy, new materials or active ingredients. Linz is one of Europe's traditional chemical centres, and the JKU points to close cooperation with companies in petrochemicals, plastics technology and process engineering, which gives access to applied projects and potential employers. If you want small lab groups and a campus that mixes engineering and science, this fits.

Admission, language and next steps

Teaching is in English, and you need proof of English at level B2. A Bachelor's in Chemistry and Chemical Technology or Biological Chemistry from the JKU, Technical Chemistry from TU Wien, or Chemistry from NAWI Graz, the University of Vienna or the University of Innsbruck lets you enrol without admission constraints. A comparable degree from another university, university of applied sciences or recognised institution can also be accepted if content and scope match, and you must have at least 25 ECTS from chemistry laboratories and practical courses. The curriculum has the details.

At a public university like the JKU, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester. Questions about enrolling go to the JKU Admissions Office or the Student Information and Academic Advising Services (SIBS).

The master's programme provides the students with a deeper understanding of the subject area on an advanced scientific level, focusing on the technical and industrial aspects of chemical technologies and process engineering. Moreover, the students can specialise in different areas of chemistry. The programme allows the students to acquire skills to successfully implement innovative approaches in the development and improvement of chemical syntheses and processes. The students will be able to critically assess the impact that new technologies may have on society and on the environment.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here Johannes Kepler University Linz. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.