What you can expect in our master's program

The master's program in Chemical and Process Engineering at KIT makes a decisive contribution to the development of technically feasible approaches on the way to a climate-neutral society. KIT has its own Department of Chemical and Process Engineering. The special feature of this master's program is therefore its numerous elective options and the research-related teaching program. The standard period of study for the master's degree is 4 semesters, during which 120 ECTS credits are earned.

The two specialization subjects that must be taken in the master's degree can be chosen from an extensive catalog:

• Applied Rheology
• Biopharmaceutical Process Engineering
• Fuel Technology
• Chemical Process Engineering
• Energy Process Engineering
  
• Entrepreneurship in Process Engineering
• Gas Particle Systems
  
• Food Process Engineering
  
• Modeling and Simulation
  
• New Bio-Production Systems - Electro-Biotechnology
  
• Bioresource Engineering
• Mechanical Process Engineering
  
• Control Engineering and System Dynamics
  
• Technical Thermodynamics
  
• Thermal Process Engineering
  
• Environmental Process Engineering
  
• Combustion Technology
  
• Water Technology

It is compulsory to take the subject Advanced Fundamentals. In addition to Process Technology, you will choose a further four modules from the following options:

• Kinetics and Catalysis
• Particle Technology
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Thermodynamics 
• Thermal Process Engineering
• modules from the Bioengineering degree program
  

The curriculum also includes a Technical Supplement Course, for which you can also choose from numerous options. An overview of the offered subjects can be found in the module handbook. Interdisciplinary Qualifications (e.g. courses offered by the House of Competence, language courses) and an internship of at least 3 months round off the curriculum.

Program structure

Internship

The master's degree program in Chemical and Process Engineering includes a compulsory internship of at least three months to gain a first impression of industrial practice. You choose your internship yourself. In addition to the chemical industry and process engineering plant construction, possible sectors include automotive suppliers or companies in the agricultural and food technology, pharmaceutical or cosmetics industries as well as biotechnology and environmental technology.

Completed relevant vocational training (e.g. Medical Technical Assistant / Pharmaceutical Technical Assistant) is recognized as an internship. Recognition of an internship completed between your bachelor's and master's degree is also possible.

You can also complete a voluntary internship during your studies. If it serves your objectives of your studies and covers at least half of the lecture period, you can apply for a semester off (leave of absence). Such an internship offers you valuable experience outside the university and can make it easier for you to start your career later on.

Make your studies international

You have various options for integrating a stay abroad into your master's degree course. For example, you can study at a foreign university of your choice for one or two semesters via Erasmus+ or as a freemover. You can also do an internship abroad. In addition, selective mobility is possible via Eucor - The European Campus: KIT students can flexibly attend individual courses in addition to courses at KIT or study full-time for an entire semester or year at an Eucor partner university.

In the case of a stay abroad during the master's degree program in Chemical and Process Engineering, it is recommended to complete the Technical Supplement Course or the internship in this context.

Further information can be obtained from the contact persons responsible for stays abroad at the KIT Department or at the International Students Office.

Master's thesis

At the end of your studies, you will complete your master's thesis (30 CP), an academic paper that allows you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It deals with a specific topic from your field of study and requires independent research, analysis and the preparation of a written thesis. The master's thesis takes 6 months to complete. You can start it as soon as you have successfully completed the Process Techonology module examination and three further module examinations in the subject of Advanced Fundamentals and the professional internship. Upon request, the master's thesis can also be completed at a company or at another KIT Department.

After graduation, many opportunities open up in industry and research. Possible roles include plant planning, project management, production management, quality management, safety concepts and sales, as well as purification, research and product development. Industries that require specialists include the energy industry, food industry, plastics industry, cosmetics manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, utilities companies, engineering consulting, recycling industry and others. There are also job opportunities with public authorities and in the public sector. If you would like to set up your own business with your own idea, you will find support in setting up your own business from the KIT Gründerschmiede or the student Pioniergarage.

With a good master's degree, you can also apply for a doctorate. There are many opportunities for this at KIT and its partner organizations.

Characteristic features of Chemical and Process Engineering M.Sc. at KIT

• own department  CIW with a wide range of courses
  
• many options for an individual profile
  
• research-oriented teaching, application at large-scale research facilities
  
• internationally networked (CLUSTER, CESAER, Eucor...)

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in Chemical Engineering and Process Engineering are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a successful bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in Chemical Engineering and Process Engineering or a degree program with essentially the same content at a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or at a foreign university. The course must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
  
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the following areas
  • mathematical fundamentals and programming amounting to at least 20 CP
    
  • fundamentals of natural sciences amounting to at least 15 CP
    
  • engineering fundamentals amounting to at least 24 CP
    
  • thermodynamics & transport processes of at least 20 CP
    
  • process engineering fundamentals of at least 12 CP
    
  • a bachelor's thesis or a comparable thesis worth at least 12 CP
    
  Important: If minimum achievements amounting to a maximum of 15 CP from a maximum of two of the areas mentioned are missing, admission can be granted on the condition that achievements are made up within the first three semesters of the master's degree program.
  

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in Chemical Engineering and Process Engineering, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

To apply for admission to a higher semester, you must have either German language skills at level C1 or English language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). You can only be admitted to a higher semester with proof of English language skills at level B2 if you can already demonstrate that you have completed the Advanced Fundamentals part from the master's curriculum. You can look up exactly which courses this includes in the module handbook.

Important: you must provide proof of the required language skills regardless of your citizenship and by the end of the enrollment period at the latest, but preferably at the time of application.

In what form do I have to provide the language certificates? Please read the following chapters on this website carefully. If you have any further questions, please contact

• Students Office if you are applying as a German, German national or a person with German equivalent status
• the International Students Office if you are a non-EU national

Proof of sufficient German language skills

As proof of your German language skills, your higher education or master's entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, university degree or a professional qualification that entitles you to study) is sufficient if you have acquired it at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction.

In concrete terms, this means that you do not have to submit additional proof of German if you

• have obtained your Abitur at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,
• are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB) or
• you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country regarding the recognition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany.

A complete list of foreign school-leaving qualifications and language certificates that are recognized as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the website of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Laender (KMK) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

If you have already completed a German-language degree at a German university, this can also count as proof of German language proficiency - but only if the diploma supplement, transcript of records or degree certificate clearly states that German was the sole language of instruction and examination.

If, on the other hand, you did not obtain your higher education or master's entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction, you must provide proof of German language proficiency at least at DSH-2 level. This corresponds to CEFR level C1.

Only the following certificates are accepted in accordance with the KIT admission and enrollment regulations:

• passed German section of the Feststellungspruefung (assessment test)
• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with overall result DSH-2
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 4 in all four parts of the exam
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs - second level (DSD II)
• Goethe certificate C1 or higher
• passed telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam
• Austrian Language Diploma C1 or higher

Note: The above-mentioned tests are accepted as proof of language proficiency for an unlimited period of time, even if the provider specifies an expiration date.

What if I cannot provide suitable C1 proof of German at the time of application?

If you are unable to provide any of the C1 certificates listed above demonstrating your German language skills by the application deadline, you may still be admitted if you can provisionally demonstrate at least B1 language proficiency. Proof of B1 level is provided by a recognized language certificate or other certification from a language or other educational institution that clearly shows that B1 level has been achieved.

But please don't forget: you still have to submit the C1 certificate by the end of your enrollment period at the latest, which is stated in your admission letter.

Therefore, check early on whether you can provide the necessary language certificates by the deadline and, if necessary, plan to take a recognized language test.

In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of the enrollment deadline to provide proof of your language skills, but this extensvion can only be granted up to the day before the start of the lecture period. Please contact the Student Office or the International Students Office - depending on who is named as your point of contact in your letter of admission.

Proof of sufficient knowledge of English

The following is sufficient proof of your English language skills

• your university entrance qualification, if
  • it certifies English language proficiency at CEFR level B2 or higher or
  • it shows that you have studied English for at least five years up to graduation and your final grade or average grade of the last two years of English lessons corresponds to at least the German grade 4 (sufficient) or at least 5 grade points or
• a university degree with English as the only language of instruction and examination in the completed degree program - this must be clearly stated in the Diploma Supplement, Transcript of Records or in the degree certificate.

Otherwise, only the following English tests listed in the KIT admission and enrollment regulations are accepted as proof of English proficiency:

• TOEFL iBT (internet-based) with at least 90 points
• IELTS with an overall score of at least 6.5, no section below 5.5
• TOEIC with at least 400 points in Listening, 385 in Reading, 160 in Speaking, 150 in Writing
• Cambridge Certificate C1 Advanced (CAE)
• Cambridge Certificate C2 Proficiency (CPE)
• UNIcert, at least level II

Note: The above tests are accepted as proof of language proficiency for an unlimited period of time, even if the provider specifies an expiration date.

What if I cannot provide suitable B2 proof of English at the time of application?

If you are unable to provide any of the B2 certificates listed above demonstrating your English language skills by the application deadline, you may still be admitted if you can provisionally demonstrate that you have already acquired English language skills.

But please don't forget: you will still have to submit the actual B2 certificate by the end of your enrollment period at the latest, which is stated in your admission letter.

Therefore, check early on whether you can provide the necessary language certificates by the deadline and, if necessary, plan to take one of the recognized language tests.

In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of the enrollment deadline to provide proof of your language skills, but this extension can only be granted up to the day before the start of the lecture period. Please contact the Students Office or the International Students Office - depending on who is named as your point of contact in your letter of admission.

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Chemieingenieurwesen und Verfahrenstechnik
• Fachstudienberatung
• Prüfungsausschuss
• Praktikantenamt
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft MACH/CIW

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