Information for prospective students

The Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in Chemistry

Chemical knowledge and practical experience are essential when dealing with chemical solids, liquids and gases during their refinement, use, processing, recycling, etc. The study of chemistry at the TU Dortmund University is based on the different tasks for chemists.

The Bachelor's programme primarily imparts theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the basic subjects of chemistry (general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry) as well as in mathematics and the neighbouring disciplines of natural sciences and engineering.

In the Master's programme, a specialisation in the major subjects "Molecules and Materials" (inorganic and organic chemistry) or "Experiments and Theory" (physical and industrial chemistry) is possible.

After graduation, chemistry students are well prepared to face the professional challenges and to participate in the shaping of our living space and our environment as well as in sustainable, future-oriented progress.

Professional fields for chemists

The natural science of chemistry deals with the properties and transformations of chemical substances. This results in a wide range of activities for chemists in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry as well as in other professional fields.

Research and development in chemistry contributes significantly to progress in various fields such as environmental protection, transport technology, information and computer technology and medicine. Due to the limited supply of fossil fuels and global warming, it will be necessary in future to develop new sources of energy and to make better use of raw material reserves through recycling. Integrated environmental protection also requires the development of environmentally friendly products, the consistent further development of production processes and their control by reliable and sensitive analytical methods. The new or further development of materials with defined properties and the synthesis of new active substances with a specific action profile are also challenges for chemists.

As analyses of job advertisements carried out in 2014 using examples have shown, Bachelor's graduates are primarily sought in the fields of analytical chemistry and technical chemistry, but also for tasks of organisation, evaluation, ordering and documentation. However, the labour market is still underdeveloped. Most students therefore follow a Master's programme after a Bachelor's programme. Master's graduates can, for example, work in the fields of analytics, production, sales and distribution, quality assurance, project management and patents. But there are also career opportunities outside the chemical and related industries, such as in insurance and management consultancy. Most students, however, follow the Master's programme with a doctorate (doctoral thesis). On the one hand, graduates with a doctorate have more opportunities to work in research and development and, on the other hand, often take up a management position in a company right at the beginning of their professional life. The earning opportunitiesand are good to very good.

1-subject bachelor and master programme in chemical biology

In research, a rapidly growing frontier area between biology and chemistry, chemical biology, is establishing itself. It deals with chemical processes in biological systems. The Chemical Biology course differs from biochemistry courses in that it is more strongly chemically oriented and specifically highlights topics from the border area between chemistry and biology, such as the chemical synthesis of biologically active substances, the development of biosensors or targeted chemical modifications of biomolecules. Special areas from classical biology, such as botany, zoology or ecology, are not relevant to chemical biology and are therefore not covered. The Chemical Biology course is run with the participation of the neighbouring renowned Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology in Dortmund and is the first of its type in Germany.

The Bachelor's programme in Chemical Biology primarily imparts theoretical knowledge and practical skills in chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology and cell biology as well as in mathematics and in the neighbouring disciplines of natural sciences and engineering.

In the Master's programme, students can choose from various courses in the fields of medicinal chemistry, molecular cell biology, chemical biology and chemistry as well as from various other scientific and non-scientific courses according to certain framework requirements.

After completing their studies, students of Chemical Biology are well prepared to take on professional challenges and to participate in the shaping of our living space and our environment as well as in sustainable, future-compatible progress.

Occupational fields for graduates of chemical biology

The course of study is aimed at research and development in the field of molecular biotechnology with topics such as new active pharmaceutical ingredients, biomedical analysis and diagnostics. Chemical biologists can also work in the food and cosmetics industry and in medical device development. Another very important professional field is basic biological and medical research. In this highly topical field, the profound training in chemistry is of great benefit to chemical biologists.

As analyses of job advertisements carried out in 2014 using examples have shown, Bachelor's graduates are sought above all in the fields of pharmaceutical analytics and diagnostics for the organisation of studies, the further development of existing test systems, evaluation, ordering and documentation. The labour market for Bachelor's graduates is still very limited. However, it may be that it will develop further in the next few years. Most students are currently pursuing a Master's programme following a Bachelor's programme. Master's graduates can work in the fields of diagnostics, analytics, production, sales, quality assurance, project management, admissions procedures, patents, etc. Outside the pharmaceutical and related industries, there are career opportunities in, for example, insurance and management consultancy. The majority of students complete a doctorate (PhD) after completing their studies. On the one hand, graduates with a doctorate have more opportunities to work in research and development and, on the other hand, they often take up a management position in the company right at the beginning of their professional life. Graduates have good to very good earning opportunities, depending on the degree.

2-subject bachelor and master programs for all teaching positions

In addition, the faculty is involved in the teaching of the subject "Sachunterricht" for a teaching profession in elementary school.

Since the winter semester 2011/12, the TU Dortmund University has been offering the teacher training program in accordance with the new law on teacher training in NRW of 12.05.2009 (LABG 2009, last amended on 21.07.2018). All teacher training courses comprise a 3-year Bachelor's program and a 2-year Master's program.

Entry into a higher semester or lateral entry

Recognition of already acquired achievements in chemistry for an entry into the 2-subject bachelor or master program is possible. For technical questions regarding the recognition of achievements in the field of chemistry and admission, please contact the student advisory service.
Academic counseling