Study Chemical Engineering, Process Technology in Germany

Chemical engineering and process technology can be found in virtually all industry sectors – in the production of foodstuffs or medicine, the treatment of wastewater and exhaust air, or even in the utilisation of agricultural waste materials. Courses of study in this field combine perspectives from the natural sciences and engineering. You should have basic knowledge of the natural sciences, especially in chemistry, as well as a basic technical understanding. The programme will build on this knowledge, and you will learn about the areas of, e.g., reaction and process technology, plant engineering, and apparatus construction. It is possible to specialise in biotechnology, reaction technology, or numerous other subject areas later on in your studies. Modern computer aided methods are used throughout your education.

Compulsory internships, excursions and/or project work are often part of your degree programme. Internships in the industry enable you to gain first experience working with large-scale production facilities. They can also help you evaluate which of the diverse occupational profiles in industry and research you might like to consider for your future career. Some courses of study make an entire practical semester an integral part of the curriculum.

By the way: Some degree programmes, especially at the Master’s level, are offered entirely in English. But even if you choose a German-language degree programme, you should ideally still have solid English language skills. Sometimes, individual courses or modules are held in English. Also, some of the specialist literature is only available in English.

In general, you need a higher education entrance qualification for admission to a degree programme, i.e. a general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification, a university of applied sciences entrance qualification or equivalent. Sometimes, however, vocational qualifications are also accepted for admission.

Some degree programmes are also subject to admission restrictions. It is therefore possible that you have to prove that you have completed a pre-study internship or that you meet a certain numerus clausus (NC), i.e. a minimum grade average. There may also be aptitude tests and/or selection interviews.

Overall, however, you do not have to worry too much about admission restrictions, as many degree programmes are free of admission requirements.

The costs of studying are often manageable in Germany: In most cases, you do not have to pay tuition fees at public higher education institutions, only semester contributions. You can expect to pay between 100 and 400 euros per semester. Sometimes your semester contribution covers a ticket for local public transport or you can purchase a discounted ticket. Depending on where you study, this may be valid for the city, the region or even for all of Germany. Ask your higher education institution whether such an offer is currently available. In addition, there may be costs for learning materials, lab work or excursions. However, these costs are often kept within reasonable limits. A good tip for learning materials is also the libraries, where you can borrow many things for free or for little money.

Please note: Even though most degree programmes at public higher education institutions are tuition-free, there are exceptions. And private higher education institutions or distance learning usually always require you to pay tuition fees.

Rent and living expenses often make up a significant portion of the expenses during studies. How much you will have to budget for these items varies greatly between German cities; large and popular (student) towns are often significantly more expensive than, for example, small towns. However, since student halls of residence or shared flats are often much cheaper everywhere, this type of accommodation is also very popular among students. As soon as you have decided on where you want to study, you should start looking, as halls of residence can fill up quickly. Here, you can find information on local halls of residence and the respective application process for most cities.

To finance your studies in Germany, you should also find out about scholarships. There are many different scholarship programmes and excellent grades are not the only deciding factor. You can learn more about scholarships here and find suitable programmes directly on My GUIDE.

Depending on the contents and specialisations you choose, after graduating, you can work in various industries. The following fields of work are open to you with a degree in chemical engineering or process technology:

• You can work in the chemical, pharmaceutical or biotechnological industry as well as in material processing industries. The material processing industries include, for example, the wood and building materials industry, the glass and ceramics industry, but also the iron and steel industry and the plastics industry. You can also find a job in the textile or food industry.
• Other job opportunities are in plant construction, mechanical engineering and automotive engineering.
• In addition, energy production companies, energy technology and waste and sewage disposal or treatment offer further job prospects. Environmental technology and (technical) environmental protection are also open to you.
• Of course, you can also work with patent issues, in authorities and associations or in quality assurance.

Basically, you can take on a wide variety of jobs in research, development (planning and design), production, (technical) sales, administration or management in all these different sectors. For management positions, however, you usually need a completed advanced degree, such as a Master’s degree or a PhD.

Compared to other engineering fields, graduates in chemical engineering and process technology are paid above average. Within the sector, the chemical and pharmaceutical industries pay the best.