Environmental Chemistry (MSc) University of Bayreuth

All courses are in English, and the Master's thesis will be written in English.

Environmental Chemistry addresses today's global challenges caused by increasing industrialisation and over-exploitation of natural resources. Contamination is seldom restricted to one compartment (air, soil, or water), but affects whole ecosystems and often has a considerable political dimension. The key to future sustainable resource management, current impact prediction, and prudent clean-up of past contaminated sites is a solid understanding of environmental chemistry.

The internationally-oriented Master's programme in Environmental Chemistry is interdisciplinary in nature. It is structured in individual modules that focus on the environmental compartments air (A), soil (S), and water (W) as well as on chemical modelling, analytics, and toxicology (chemistry and analytics C), experimental biogeochemistry (EB) and isotope geochemistry (ISO). Additionally, integrative and methodological modules (M) and electives (E) are offered.

In the two-year Master's programme, you learn to address global environmental chemical challenges with knowledge, skills, and experience from an application-oriented and strongly interdisciplinary perspective. Aside from the core understanding of processes in air, soil, and water, subjects include inorganic and organic chemistry, microbiology, toxicology, ecosystem analysis, and human-environment interactions. Exercises in small groups enable hands-on experience of the front-end analytical techniques in the individual research groups and development of solution-oriented thinking and creativity. You are trained in critical reflection, abstraction, and logical argumentation as well as oral and written communication. Different perceptions of environmental challenges by students from different countries at different stages of development and with different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds are integrated to sharpen understanding of international contexts.

A detailed module handbook is provided for an overview of content and the qualification objectives of all modules, as well as the credits to be acquired as a measure of the workload and a description of the type of assessment components required for the award of credits.

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The MSc degree programme in Environmental Chemistry should be undertaken in four semesters (full-time) or eight semesters (part-time). It requires attendance and active participation and concludes with the MSc thesis. All courses are offered on an annual basis, and new students can only enter the programme in the winter semester. The students earn 30 ECTS per semester, 120 ECTS in total.

The programme is structured in individual modules that focus on the environmental compartments air (A), soil (S) and water (W), as well as on chemical modelling, analytics and toxicology (chemistry and analytics C), experimental biogeochemistry (EB) and isotope geochemistry (ISO). Additionally, integrative and methodological modules (M) and electives/internships (E) are offered. Each module is equivalent to 5 ECTS, whereas the MSc thesis is equivalent to 30 ECTS. The compulsory part of the degree programme in the first semester focuses on lectures, accompanied by practical courses to compensate for the potentially non-uniform level of education. In the second and third semester, the fraction of practical courses increases depending on the selection of subjects that are often taught in project-like modules and, in particular in the third semester, in seminars to stimulate and further intensify scientific communication and discussion. Graduates receive a Master of Science (MSc) degree.

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Internships can be integrated into the E-modules.

No tuition fees

In Bayreuth, students do not have to pay any tuition fees.

They pay a semester contribution. It covers your contributions to student services and the student government. Attending the University of Bayreuth (which combines the campus in Bayreuth and our Faculty VII located in Kulmbach) includes a "semester ticket" that allows you to use public transportation in the region. The semester contribution is 163.04 EUR per semester.

The costs of living in Germany, e.g. living, food, clothing, and activities, are about average compared to other European countries. The city of Bayreuth, compared to other large German cities (Munich, Berlin, Hamburg), offers a uniquely attractive combination: low cost of living, affordable housing, and a high quality of life. This makes Bayreuth especially appealing to students, young professionals and families. Whether it's outdoor sports in the nearby Fichtelgebirge, cultural highlights like the world-famous Festival, or the rich culinary scene – the city offers a rich variety of experiences right at your doorstep. 

Bayreuth combines affordability with vibrancy – making it easy to study, live and enjoy life to the fullest.

Here is an example: https://www.gamechanger-campus.de/en/cost-of-living.

A Bachelor's degree from a higher education institution in Germany or abroad in biology, chemistry, geoecology, geology, forestry, agricultural sciences, hydrology, ecological engineering, limnology, meteorology, physical geography, environmental physics, environmental economics, environmental law, or an equivalent degree that was completed with a total of at least 20 credit points in physics, biology, and chemistry along with at least 20 credit points in environmental science and a final grade of "good" (2.5) or better.

There will be an aptitude assessment process.

(For details, please see our website: http://www.bayceer.uni-bayreuth.de/environchem/en/reg/gru/html.php?id_obj=9515.)

Applicants who did not gain their higher education entrance qualification or initial degree in the English language can demonstrate their English language skills by way of a thesis or by way of a B2 level language certificate according to the Common European Framework.

Proof of German language at A1 level has to be shown by the end of the second semester.

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Scholarships for international students: International students and doctoral researchers have the opportunity to apply for a study grant at the International Office. Limited funding from the State of Bavaria and the DAAD is available for this purpose. The application deadline for the winter semester is 31 August and for the summer semester 28 February. All grants can be awarded for up to two semesters.

Unfortunately, first-semester students cannot be funded, i.e. applications cannot be submitted until the second semester of study for funding starting in the third semester of study. Above all, academic achievements from the previous semester are decisive for the evaluation of the application.

There are many ways for international students to earn money while they study, but there are some restrictions. For more detailed information, please visit the DAAD website.

The University of Bayreuth’s Career Services team provides a central interface between student and professional life. The team offers guidance and support to students of all subjects with regard to starting their careers.

Accommodation for students
Bayreuth and Kulmbach have a number of student dormitories (both private dormitories and dormitories offered by the Association for Student Affairs) and a vast array of private rooms available. Under no circumstances should you assume that you will be assigned a room in the student dormitories! You will need to actively search for a room on your own – either in a private dormitory or on the private market.

More information regarding accommodation for students is available here: https://www.gamechanger-campus.de/en/accommodation. Please also read the DAAD’s information.

Accommodation for international guests
All other international guests are requested to register via the Welcome Services Database (WelSe).

Accommodation for short visits
For short visits, we recommend searching for accommodation on Airbnb. In addition, a limited number of apartments are available in the Alexander von Humboldt Guest House.

For in between: youth hostels

If you can not find a long-term accommodation from the start, you could look for a living space at the youth hostels directly next to our campus.

https://www.jugendherberge.de/en/youth-hostels/bayreuth/