The medium of instruction for all mandatory courses and seminars is English. You may choose to write your Master's thesis either in English or in German. The same applies to oral exams. Written exams are usually only in English.
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.
The ever-accelerating technological progress of today's society requires engineers and scientists that are perfectly equipped with thorough knowledge of natural and materials sciences and who are highly skilled in programming and simulation techniques as well as in data handling and data analysis.
These "Computational Materials Scientists" will become key players in industrial R&D efforts; they will shape scientific and engineering research focusing on the design, processing and application of novel high-tech materials with superior mechanical, thermodynamic, and electronic properties.
At TU Bergakademie Freiberg, we bring together renowned researchers and enthusiastic lecturers from different scientific communities to offer our graduate students the education required for an outstanding career in computational materials science (CMS).
Theoretical concepts introduced during CMS lectures will be illustrated by cutting-edge research applications. An intense introduction seminar will bring you up to speed with scientific programming and modern computing environments. During research seminars, you will have the possibility to interact with leading scientists and experienced engineers from industrial partners. During accompanying hands-on tutorials, the application of all relevant state-of-the-art simulation methods will be learned – which is only one of the truly outstanding aspects of this course. Elective classes will introduce you to specialised topics of computational engineering/mechanics – or even to advanced subjects of data mining and machine learning in data-driven materials science.
Among others, you will learn the theoretical background and hands-on application of the following numerical/simulation methods:
CMS students are chosen among the top 3% of their undergraduate classes, ensuring an intense study environment of excellence. Small classes foster interaction and discussions, allowing you to develop your ideas. Furthermore, the study environment shines with an exceptional ratio of teaching staff to the total number of enrolled students.
A minimum of four semesters (two years) is required to complete the programme. This MSc programme starts in the winter semester (an academic year has two semesters in Germany), and the language of instruction is English in all courses.
The first semester has the purpose of bringing all students to the same level of knowledge in materials science, continuum mechanics, and programming. This is the knowledge upon which the following semesters strongly build. Additionally, you will improve your German language skills, which will help you to explore the culture of Germany. Some of the most important courses during the first semester are:
The second semester focuses on introducing important simulation methods, the accompanying theoretical and numerical concepts, and the advantages and pitfalls of all methods. Advanced aspects of materials science and engineering are introduced in hands-on approaches using dedicated simulation tools. Some of the most important courses are:
During the third semester, you can additionally choose from elective courses, covering emerging topics such as data-driven materials science and big data methods or advanced topics of plasticity. Your programming skills will be further developed during the "Personal Programming Project", where you have to solve a problem of relevance for materials science, mechanics, or machine learning by using the programming and simulation skills that you have acquired during the first two semesters. Further mandatory courses are:
The last semester is reserved for the Master's thesis.
For more details, see: https://tu-freiberg.de/en/master-computational-materials-science
PDF DownloadInternships at German companies are possible, but they are not mandatory.
94 EUR
750 EUR to 900 EUR per month, depending on individual lifestyle, rent and utilities: 250 EUR to 380 EUR
Deutschlandstipendium:
Typical Candidates' Profiles
A typical CMS student is interested in materials, simulations and programming and is curious to know how things work. A distinctive feature of this student is that she/he would like to know how computer simulations and data analysis can be used to predict the behaviour of specimens, devices, or maybe even of yet non-existent "virtual materials" with superior properties.
Candidates who have a background in applied computer science, applied mathematics and similar subjects strive to achieve domain knowledge in linking software development and methods of deep learning with materials science in order to broaden their professional profiles.
Minimum Conditions for Admission to CMS
English:
German:
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.
It is possible to find part-time employment on campus, e.g. as a student assistant or in the canteen.
Different kinds of accommodations are available on campus and in the city of Freiberg, from single flats to shared flats. Prices vary from 250 EUR to 380 EUR, including utilities. In the dormitory, each student has her/his own room, but usually the bathroom and the kitchen have to be shared with other flatmates. Living in a dormitory is usually the first choice for new international students. There is a good chance that you will get a place in a dormitory if you apply early. The International Office supports international students in finding accommodation.
The Technische Universität Bergakademie – TUBAF – has a unique profile as a "resource university" with expertise in sustainable raw materials and energy management, along with material and substance recycling. Together with national and international partners, TUBAF develops modern technologies and processes for the responsible use of finite resources. In order to address the economic and ecological challenges of the 21st century, the six faculties conduct interdisciplinary research regarding alternatives for raw material extraction, energy technologies, materials and recycling processes.
The Bergakademie Freiberg was founded in 1765. It is therefore one of the world's oldest technical higher education institutions.
Freiberg is located in the centre of the state of Saxony in the picturesque Erzgebirge Mountains, 40 km south-west of Dresden and 240 km south of Berlin.
Freiberg is more than 850 years old, and it was founded after the discovery of silver ore in 1168. Today, Freiberg has around 40,000 inhabitants. The medieval heart of the town, which is almost completely intact, is very attractive. It features the Upper Market Square with its late Gothic patrician houses and the Freiberg Cathedral at the Lower Market Square with its famous Silbermann organ and golden portal. Along with the world's oldest town theatre, a modern multiplex cinema, and nightclubs, more than a hundred restaurants, cafés, and pubs invite you to take a break and enjoy life.
There are sports facilities, a modern open-air and indoor swimming pool, and a park which surrounds the town centre like a green belt. Since 2008, the "Terra Mineralia" mineral collection has functioned as a centre of attraction for tourists, students, and inhabitants of Freiberg. The mineral collection, one of the largest collections in the world, is shown in the "Freudenstein", a refurbished castle in the town centre.
The nearby Saxon Switzerland National Park and the Erzgebirge Mountains are beautiful places for a wide variety of outdoor activities, including hiking and climbing in the summer and skiing in the winter. Dresden, Leipzig, and Berlin are easily accessible by train and offer plenty of social, cultural, and recreational alternatives.
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