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Faculties
Materials Science and Engineering (M.Sc.)
Materials science is one of the key technological fields of the 21st century. Together with three research institutions located on campus, Saarland University is one of the leading centres for materials science and engineering in Germany. Around 250 scientists and engineers are currently working at the Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM), the Fraunhofer Institute for Non-Destructive Testing (IZFP), the Material Engineering Center Saarland (MECS) and the University's Department of Materials Science.
The Department of Materials Science at Saarland University is particularly well equipped. The university has a focused ion beam apparatus and a transmission electron microscope and is the only university in Germany equipped with a commercial instrument for atom probe tomography.
The Master's programme boasts an excellent student-staff ratio and offers considerable scope for students to tailor course content to suit their personal interests. Students on the programme have the opportunity to select courses and modules that best reflect their personal academic interests in the field. Thanks to the combination of excellent facilities and the close cooperative ties that exist between Saarland University and other research institutes, Master's students also have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to research projects during their studies.
Graduates from the programme have a wide range of possible career paths. In the materials fabrication and materials processing industries, graduates can find interesting positions in production, development, quality management, occupational safety, technical consulting and key account management. Graduates from the M.Sc. programme are also qualified to join the Ph.D. programme, which is a key stage for anyone looking to pursue a research-based career in academia or elsewhere.
Modules
The programme comprises 120 credit points (CP) and is divided into the following module categories:
- General compulsory modules (18 CP)
- Compulsory specialisation modules in materials science (24 CP) or materials engineering (24 CP)
- Elective modules (at least 15 CP)
- Elective area
- Master's thesis (30 CP)
Specialisations
The specialisation is usually selected when first registering for one of the modules included. After that, the modules of the non-selected specialisation are available in the elective area.
The elective modules also include key competencies, such as voluntary work, committee work, mentoring or tutoring. These are valued at 2 CP per semester hour and can be credited with a maximum of 4 CP in total.
For detailed information on modules and module elements, courses, examinations and grading, please refer to the documents under Downloads.
The specialisation in Materials Science provides an introduction to methodological techniques of materials characterisation, modelling and simulation, which are supplemented by an extended consideration of material-specific properties and processing technologies.
The specialisation in Materials Engineering focuses in particular on technological aspects of materials development, production engineering with new manufacturing and processing methods, and the development of new areas of application, supplemented by an expanded consideration of methodological and theoretical subject areas.
Admission requirements
Admission to the Master's programme requires a Bachelor's degree (B.Sc.) or equivalent university degree in materials science and/or materials engineering with an overall grade of 2.5 or better. Bachelor's graduates whose final grade is lower than 2.5 may apply to take an aptitude test.
Bachelor's degrees from German universities or equivalent higher education institutions in materials science and/or materials engineering are recognised without examination. Other degrees are recognised upon application, provided there is no significant difference to a Bachelor's degree in materials science and materials engineering.
For details, please refer to the examination regulations
- Study regulations
- Examination regulations
- Examination regulations (Engl.)
- Fachspezifische Bestimmungen
- Modulhandbuch
- Studienplan
(Regulations available in German only.)
The programme can usually be started in the winter semester and the summer semester. Applications can be submitted early. Please prepare the following documents for your application: Curriculum vitae, letter of motivation, transcripts from your previous degree program, proof of eligibility for university admission, and, if applicable, proof of German language proficiency.
The application period for the
- winter semester runs from the beginning of December of the previous year until 15 September (first possible from the beginning of March 2026) and for the
- summer semester from the beginning of June of the previous year until 15 March.
Applications for admission are submitted online via Saarland University's student information management (SIM) portals. If you have any questions about using the SIM portals, please check out our SIM Saarland help pages.
Note for international applicants:
Applicants who require a visa to study in Germany are strongly advised to submit their application early. Applicants are solely responsible for applying for a visa, including ensuring that there is sufficient time for visa processing and travel arrangements. If the visa is issued too late for the intended semester, a new application (referencing the already approved application) is required for the following semester, as applications cannot
be automatically transferred between semesters.
| Standard period of study | 4 semesters |
| Language of instruction | German and English |
| German language requirements | German skills |
| Restricted entry | No |
| Application deadline |
|
| Tuition fees | Not applicable |
| Semester fee | See current fee structure |
| Web page | www.uni-saarland.de/fachrichtung/mwwt |
Course adviser
Franziska Maurer, M.Sc.
Department of Production Engineering
Campus Saarbrücken
Building A4 2, Room 1.13.1
66123 Saarbrücken
Phone: +49 681 302-2077
studium-mwwt(at)uni-saarland.de
Central Student Advisory Service
Saarbrücken Campus
Building A4 4, Ground floor
Phone: +49 681 302-3513
studienberatung(at)uni-saarland.de
www.uni-saarland.de/studienberatung
Schwerelos forschen
Schweben wie ein Astronaut im All – Lucas Ruschel hat dies bei einem Parabelflug erlebt. Schon seit dem Bachelorstudium arbeitete der Materialwissenschaftler im Team von Professor Ralf Busch mit an internationaler Spitzenforschung. Die Forschungsgruppe zählt weltweit zu den Vorreitern für metallisches Glas und wird bald mit der Besatzung der Internationalen Raumstation ISS zusammenforschen. Auch Lukas Ruschels Forschung war so vielversprechend, dass er ein Patent anmeldete. Nach der Promotion nutzt er seine Expertise nun für die Qualitätssicherung von Dialyseprodukten im medizinischen Bereich.
Central Student Advisory Service
Saarbrücken Campus
Building A4 4, Ground floor
Phone: +49 681 302-3513
studienberatung(at)uni-saarland.de
Central Student Advisory Service
Accredited study programmes
Saarland University was one of the first universities in Germany to achieve Quality Assurance Accreditation and has held the Accreditation Council's official quality mark continuously since 2012.
Quality management