About this programme
Materials are key enablers for nearly all technological processes. 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 it also directly affects the economic, ecological, and social development of human mankind. Current technological challenges of high relevance include power generation from renewable sources, e-mobility, and CO2 reduction, to name but a few. 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: Large-scale 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's programme in Materials Engineering at RWTH Aachen University aims at addressing the above mentioned challenges by offering a broad study programme 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. A specific emphasis is put on the correlation between materials composition and structure as well as production and manufacturing processes on the evolving properties. Knowledge and understanding of these correlations will enable graduates of this programme to theoretically and experimentally address scientific as well as engineering problems both in fundamental research and in 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. Curriculum First semester: basic subjects Second and third semester: core subjects in specialisation fields Fourth semester: Master's thesis Specialisation 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 individualised by the selection of core subjects from a catalogue and the choice of student mini thesis as well as Master's thesis topics from any institute of the department as well as affiliated institutes at Forschungszentrum Jülich, independent of the selected specialisation field. Upon application to the Examination Board, industrial internships may also be integrated in the curriculum.
Course details verified 09 Sep 2026 — intakes, entry requirements and course facts · official source