Advanced Materials Analysis TU Bergakademie Freiberg

Courses are in English (100%).

At TU Bergakademie Freiberg, we bring together experienced researchers and lecturers from different scientific communities to offer our graduate students the education needed for a successful career in industry and research institutions dealing with modern materials science.

Development of advanced materials of all types requires the use (and combination) of various instrumental analysis techniques for materials characterisation that is a precondition for a correct description of the structure-property relations and targeted tailoring of materials properties in the production process.

The course of study Advanced Materials Analysis provides profound insight into important techniques for analysis of solid materials like advanced steels, materials for electronics, shape memory alloys and energy materials by using microscopic, spectroscopic and diffraction methods.

Graduates will be well-prepared to pursue their successful careers in different materials-related industrial fields, particularly in research and development. Thereby, the strongly methodological character of the study course will open the door to a quite versatile range of industrial fields, from metallurgy to the semiconductor industry. In addition, they can pursue a career with academic research centres.

1 January – 15 April

For applicants from India, China and Vietnam, please note: the APS certificate must be submitted with the application. The submission form alone will not be accepted.

A minimum of four semesters (two years) is required to complete the programme. This MSc programme starts in the winter semester, and the language in all courses is English.

The study course consists of compulsory as well as two types of elective modules. The compulsory modules include solid-state physics, spectroscopy, and topics related to microstructural analysis (microscopy, diffraction) as well as courses on coatings technology and functional nanomaterials.  A speciality is the module “Materials Research with Free-Electron X-ray Lasers”, which takes place at the European XFEL in Hamburg. This module introduces cutting-edge materials analysis techniques by employing laser-like x-rays. 

One part of the elective modules is chosen individually by the students to complement their knowledge from the Bachelor’s degree. Other elective modules can be chosen freely from a list.

The last semester is reserved for the Master's thesis.

No tuition fees

107 EUR

• 650 EUR to 950 EUR per month, depending on individual lifestyle
• Rent in a student hall of residence per month: an average of 290 EUR

Candidate Profile

The Master's programme Advanced Materials Analysis (AMA) is open for students to upgrade their knowledge in materials science, engineering science, or in the fields of natural science specialised in physics or chemistry. The AMA programme is designed to attract students from different fields of science and engineering to emulate an interdisciplinary environment and enable teamwork between scientists and engineers. The candidates should be interested in the behaviour and analysis of solid material down to the atomic level combining the natural scientist's and engineer's points of view.

Minimum Conditions of Admission
A Bachelor's degree (at least six semesters) or an equivalent degree in the field of Engineering Science with a major in Materials Science or the field of Natural Science with a major in Physics or Chemistry which should include subjects related to solid-state physics or solid-state chemistry. 

Please note: applicants with a degree in "Mechanical Engineering" who have not taken any of the listed majors during their studies will generally not be admitted for professional reasons.

It is planned that applicants will be required to pass an online test for admission from 2026 onwards. The test includes questions in the fields of maths and physics.

TOEFL with at least 90 points (Internet-based), IELTS score 6.5, or equivalent tests

1 January – 15 April

For applicants from India, China and Vietnam, please note: the APS certificate must be submitted with the application. The submission form alone will not be accepted.

1. The "Deutschlandstipendium" is a national scholarship programme that supports above-average students with excellent grades. Social commitment, a willingness to take responsibility and special social, family or personal circumstances will also be taken into account (300 EUR per month for one year).
2. Study completion grant (300 EUR per month for three months)

Part-time employment on campus (e.g. student assistant, canteen) as well as in town (e.g. in supermarkets, cafés, restaurants)

Different kinds of accommodation are available on campus and in the city of Freiberg. The average monthly rent for a room in the student halls of residence, including utilities, is 290 EUR. The most common form of accommodation is the shared flat. Each student has their own room, with the bathroom and kitchen shared.

A separate online application is required to apply for accommodation in the student halls of residence. The recommended time to submit this is three months before the start of the semester.