Chemistry and Management - Master of Science (M.Sc.)

The concept of Chemistry and Management is highly interdisciplinary, successfully combining the two very different disciplines of Business Management and Chemistry. The study programme is aimed at prospective students with an interest in chemical questions and challenges and a desire to follow a career outside of the classical laboratory path. An increasing interconnection of business areas like research and development or controlling and marketing has created a diverse range of employment opportunities for scientists with management expertise.

More about the programme

In addition to an in-depth theoretical and practical education in the core subjects of Chemistry, the programme offers a diverse range of courses to choose from in the manifold disciplines of Management and Economics. Fundamentals of Computer Science and an internship in a business enterprise round out the programme to deliver a modern, topical and ambitious education in Chemistry and Management.

The students acquire in-depth knowledge in the following areas:

  • economical and chemical research methods, academic work and business management know-how,
  • topical challenges in the core disciplines of Chemistry,
  • scientific and occupation-qualifying competences at the interface between science and economics.

Study

Accredited courses of studies

The degree programs of the Department of Chemistry have been accredited since 2012. Program accreditation by the ASIIN agency was valid in the period from 2012 to 2018, and since 2019 the courses have been accredited as part of university-internal system accreditation. This accreditation is valid until 2027.

Interdisciplinarity

The Faculty of Natural Sciences unites competences in the MINT areas under one roof and maintains excellent contacts to affiliated institutes as well as external research facilities. Particularly involved in study and teaching are the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research and the Helmholtz Institute with its outstanding research in the areas of electrochemistry and energy technology. We also collaborate closely with other faculties and departments.

Excellence in teaching

We pride ourselves in providing the best possible education and care for our students and complement certain lectures in the Bachelor's programme with additional support offers like classes and tutorials. Regular evaluations by the students provide valuable feedback on how well we are doing.

Quality, not quantity

Manageable student numbers and a favourable student to teacher ratio ensure that you don’t have to complete your degree in a setting of educational mass production. We guarantee a laboratory place for every student in every laboratory course to avoid unnecessary elongation of your overall study time. A personal atmosphere and direct contact with your teachers complete our ideal learning conditions.

Networks and business contacts

We offer you a practice-relevant education with numerous well established contacts to local businesses as well as many application-oriented research projects, some of which are conducted directly on the University’s doorstep in the renowned companies and research facilities of the Science City Ulm.

Attractive career prospects

Our graduates have excellent chances on the job market. This is partly owed to the fact that Chemistry is most important to our daily lives in many aspects and is therefore a driving force in the big challenges of our time. Another factor is the accredited high-quality education with all its possibilities to establish a specialised profile in areas of expertise with great importance to the future.

Study objectiveI

The Master’s programme in Chemistry and Management aims to deepen and expand the scientific and methodological qualifications acquired in the Bachelor’s programme. The objective of the education is to enable the students to independently apply scientific methods to complex questions both in the field of Chemistry and particularly at the interface between Chemistry and Economics. This includes competences and the qualification to:

  • perform planning, development and research work in industry and economy as well as public institutions,
  • manage the business side of chemistry-related projects in industry and economy,
  • work as scientific staff at a scientific institution,
  • conduct PhD/doctoral studies.

Study contents / specialisations

In contrast to the Bachelor’s programme, the Chemistry part of the Master’s programme is not the main focus of the study contents. You will gain a deeper understanding of what you learned about Chemistry in you Bachelor's degree in mostly freely selectable sub-disciplines to an extent that equals roughly one semester. Part of your study achievements will be research-oriented internships in institutes. The more significant part of the Master’s programme is Management and Economics. Here you can choose two out of four specialisations (Economics, Accounting and Auditing, Technology and Process Management as well as Business Management and Controlling), and within each of these specialisations you can then customise your individual course programme according to your personal interests. Specific courses in Chemistry and Management as well as Fundamentals of Computer Science complete this part of the study programme. In a compulsory external work placement you have the opportunity to put your acquired knowledge into practice. It is up to you in which company you wish to do your internship. Anything is possible, from small or medium-sized businesses to big international corporations. You also have free choice regarding your internship contents. These can be interdisciplinary or exclusively focussed on either Chemistry or Management and Economics. The same goes for your Master’s thesis.

 

In the age of economic globalisation most German enterprises maintain international business contacts. International competence is therefore one of the most important key qualifications. Developing this competence during your studies certainly increases your chances on the job market. One option to do so is to spend a semester abroad, either studying at a partner university or as an internship. This not only improves your language proficiency, but also benefits your personal development. You will collect important experiences in interacting with people from other cultures and foreign work and communication styles. The Chemistry department supports you with the planning of your semester abroad.

 

Current relevant information on exams, timetables and other subjects can be found on the websites of  the Department of Chemistry.