Master in Chemistry and Physics of Materials

Master in Chemistry and Physics of Materials is one of 5 English-taught Materials Engineering programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 3 institutions. 5 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 5 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 Programme in Chemistry and Physics of Materials at the University of Salzburg is an interdisciplinary course taught in English. It runs over four semesters and 120 ECTS and leads to a Master of Science (MSc).

What you study

The programme focuses on the development, design, synthesis and characterisation of natural and synthetic functional materials. A key part is exploring the link between the chemical and physical properties of materials and how those properties affect the function of a component, for example mechanical stability, environmental impact or biocompatibility. You also learn how to select materials for a given function and how to process them from raw material to product. The course aims to create awareness of materials life cycles and cradle to cradle concepts. As the programme puts it, future materials scientists face the challenge of producing sustainable and recyclable materials.

How the programme is organised

The programme is taught entirely in English. It is interdisciplinary, with an interdisciplinary team of lecturers. A large amount of practical and research oriented laboratory courses give you time in the laboratory to gain hands-on experience with modern instruments and analytical methods. The student-teacher ratio is described as excellent, which the programme says helps students gain a strong understanding of theory and experiments. The degree is awarded as a Master of Science (MSc).

Who it suits

This master's suits you if you have a bachelor's degree in science or engineering and want to work at the interface of chemistry and physics on real materials. The admission requirements state that applicants must have completed the PLUS-TUM Joint Degree Bachelor of Engineering Science or an equivalent study course in science or engineering at an accredited tertiary institution. Suitable study courses include physics, chemistry, materials science or engineering, nanosciences, mineralogy and chemical engineering. If you like laboratory work and want to understand how a material's properties determine its function, this is a good fit.

Admission, language and next steps

Admission requires a completed bachelor's degree as described above. The language of instruction is English, and you need proof of language proficiency. The programme page says the dates and deadlines change every semester and directs you to the current deadlines and dates on the university's site. There is no central application portal: you apply directly to the University of Salzburg, and its own page gives the application period. As a public university, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester. The programme is run by the Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials, and graduates can continue to a doctoral programme at the Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences.

The English-taught international master’s course in Chemistry and Physics of Materials is a master’s programme which is structured in an interdisciplinary way along MINT subjects (mathematics, computer sciences, natural sciences, technology) and which focuses on the production, characterisation and knowledge-based further development of functional materials from laboratories and from nature. With regard to the desired material functions it is the chemical, physical and, in many cases, also biological factors that determine the property, stability and environmental compatibility of a material. Besides focusing on the function and stability of functional materials the students are to be made aware of material cycles, sustainability strategies and biological compatibility in connection with the selection and processing of materials and primary matters.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Salzburg. 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.