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The program has a total duration of two academic years and accounts for 120 credit points (cp), based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The academic year, starting in September and ending in July, is divided into two semesters, each accounting for 30 cp.

The Master´s program (see for the Master´s Program an overview table and extended program tables) offers you three different specializations in Chemical Engineering:

- Molecular Engineering
- Polymers & Composites
- Process Engineering

These specializations, which are related to the three major research areas the department focuses on, enforce the strong interrelationship between research and education at the department. Essentially, the Master's program, as defined in the tables, provides you with a framework for a personalized study program, in which you have quite some freedom of choice. In co-operation with your supervisor(s) you design your own program, which eventually has to be approved by the Examining Board. While designing your own program you have to answer two basic questions to yourself: firstly, which specialization in chemical engineering corresponds with my interest?
And secondly, what type of profession am I striving for? (E.g. researcher, practical engineer, staff member,...)
A clear answer to these questions will be of great help.
Though the program as shown in both tables will speak largely for itself, some elements will be explained in greater detail.
An extensive study guide with all details is available at the student´s website STipt.

Subject Information

On the student´s website of the department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry (STipt) you can find descriptions of the subjects in the Master´s program. In addition you can also find subject information on the general website of the TU/e.

Industrial Work Placement

An industrial training course (see the program table) of at least 12 weeks offers you a chance to see how Chemical Engineering 'works' in real practice. Moreover, you will also experience a new working environment, with different people, a different culture, different facilities and a different organization. Industrial training takes place outside the university, either in the Netherlands or -for Dutch students preferably- outside the Netherlands. A special staff member within the faculty, who maintains contacts with many companies and institutions all over the world, is responsible for all aspects related to this industrial work placement.

Multidisciplinary Project

In a Multidisciplinary Project (see the program table) you will learn to cooperate in a team (typically 6 students) and to integrate knowledge from different disciplines in order to solve a complicated design problem. It is essential that students from other departments (e.g. mechanical engineering, applied physics) should participate in such projects as well. Besides the engineering aspects you will also learn how to work in a team, how to apply the principles of project management and how to communicate efficiently and effectively.

Orientation on Society & Technology

At the TU/e it is found that the MSc in Chemical Engineering should also be aware of environmental, economic, social and ethical aspects of their future work. This means that you have to attend the course FACTS ( Foundations, Analysis & Contexts of Technological Sciences) of 6 cp in this direction.

Compulsory Program

The subjects to be done here are basic and typical of the specialization you have chosen. The subjects are mentioned in the extended program tables. Through completion of these subjects you qualify for the graduation project. The compulsory program plus the graduation project form the core of your chosen specialization.

Optional Program

You are entirely free to make your own choice from all subjects available; thus you are not bound to the specialization you have chosen. You may even choose compulsory subjects from a non-chosen specialization or from subjects offered by other departments of the university. Though the choices are yours, it is strongly recommended that you discuss them with your supervisor. The Examining Board will check your choices for academic level and degree of overlap.

Graduation project

You will gain more in-depth scientific knowledge during your graduation project, (see the program table) which is carried out in one of the research laboratories of the department. During this graduation project, you must learn to apply yourself in a creative manner, through scientific research or design, to the solution of problems, all based on the expertise and skills acquired.

The graduation project should not be regarded as a specialty, since in general many graduates will later be working in a field deviating from their graduation project. You may choose a graduation project accounting for 53 or 38 cp; accordingly the optional program is adapted to 12 cp respectively 27 cp. For instance, in case you intend to do some PhD project later, you will probably choose the larger graduation project.