AMASE: Joint European Masters Programme in Advanced Materials Science and Engineering – (M.Sc.)

This 2-year master´s, carried by the EU´s Erasmus Mundus Program since the winter semester 2005/2006, is an integrated, European program of study with strong global recognition. It is being supported by four partner universities in Germany, France, Sweden and Spain; whereas the Saarland University in Germany holds the position of coordinator.

Each of these universities brings its main research into the consortium. Therefore, the program offers a far wider diversity of specialisations as would be possible within a national program. These studies arrange for each student to attend courses at two different universities in the consortium and to obtain a Dual Master´s Degree at the two universities concerned.

The selection of effective students is ensured by the global dedication of high-ranking scientists, who are are appointed to be coordinator of their contries on the basis of the network of the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation. This way, and within only a few years, it was possible to establish a close contact to a multitude of renowned partner universities on all continents, which present their best students to the AMASE Program.

As well as focusing on the professional studies, a primary goal of this program is to get to know not one, but two or more European cultures in-depth, so as to involve the best possible intercultural competence. The very special language concept contributes to the European surplus of these studies. Apart from the self-evident use of English, all students study along with local students in the respective national language. This intensive language promotion constitutes the basis for a long-term relationship between, for example, international participants in Saarbrücken and various centers of science, research and business located throughout Germany.

The attentive selection of participants, good professional and peer mentoring, as well as numerous methods for quality assurance, ensure the realization of this concept of an excellent education with high professional and non-professional standards. It is therefore not surprising that more than half of the alumni of the first academic year have chosen to pursue a Ph.D. after the completion of their Master´s studies.