Study Nanosciences in Germany

The nanosciences are a young and future-oriented branch of the natural sciences. They are built on the basics of other natural and engineering sciences, e.g., chemistry, physics, and electrical engineering. During the course of your studies, you will also acquire necessary skills in quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, or nanostructure physics to transfer nanoscientific materials into industrial manufacturing practice and mass production.
Several areas of study belong to the field of nanosciences, including:

• Nanoanalysis
• Nanochemistry
• Nanoelectronics
• Nanomaterials
• Nanotechnology

Most higher education institutions place particular emphasis on practical training in state-of-the-art laboratories. For this purpose, well-equipped clean rooms and many large-scale devices are available for training as well as for research and development.

A course of study in nanosciences is a good fit for people with a broad interest in the natural sciences who want to acquire interdisciplinary skills in the natural sciences. For a Bachelor’s degree in nanosciences, an interest in biology, chemistry and physics is much more important than solid or above-average knowledge picked up in your classroom. Most courses of study will briefly repeat the relevant material so that all students can have a good start to their studies.

Most Bachelor’s degree programmes are open-admission programmes and therefore do not have a numerus clausus (NC), so you do not need to have a minimum average grade in your school leaving certificate. However, you must always be able to present the higher education entrance qualification or a recognised equivalent.

If you want to take up a Master’s programme in nanosciences, you should have already obtained your first degree in an engineering or natural science programme. You should be able to present modules that fit the content.

Even if you choose a German-language degree programme, you will probably also have to prove that you have sufficient knowledge of English, as specialist literature and the latest research results are sometimes only available in English.

A pre-study internship, on the other hand, is rarely a prerequisite for application.

A Bachelor’s programme in nanosciences usually takes six to seven semesters, and a Master’s programme three to four. There are hardly any higher education institutions that still offer a programme that lets you graduate with a German “Diplom”. You would have to plan on ten semesters for that.

In Germany, you can study nanosciences at universities or at universities of applied sciences. If you choose a state higher education institution, you will probably not have to pay tuition fees. There are only rare exceptions. The situation is quite different at private higher education institutions, where you may have to pay high tuition fees.

Even at state higher education institutions, however, studying is not completely free. You will have to pay the so-called semester contribution every semester. This is usually somewhere between 100 and 400 euros. Sometimes this also covers the cost of public transport. Depending on where you study, this may be valid for the city, the region or even for all of Germany. Ask your higher education institution whether such an offer is currently available.

It is not possible to say exactly how high your other costs will be during your studies. Depending on the city you will be studying in, you may have to spend a lot of money on rent each month. This is especially true in large cities and those that are very popular with students. In smaller, less popular cities, it is usually easier to find affordable accommodation. In any case, student halls of residence are usually your cheapest option. As soon as you have decided on where you want to study, you should start looking, as halls of residence can fill up quickly. Here, you can find information on local halls of residence and the respective application process for most cities.

To finance your studies in Germany, you should also find out about scholarships. There are many different scholarship programmes and excellent grades are not the only deciding factor. You can learn more about scholarships here and find suitable programmes directly on My GUIDE.

As a graduate, you have promising career perspectives, as nanosciences are becoming increasingly important in modern industry, regardless of the specific sector. Whether in medical technology, environmental technology, the automotive industry, microelectronics, or energy technology: Nanoscientists are in demand everywhere – and the prospects for a satisfactory starting salary are consequently good. You should bear in mind that many students continue with a Master’s degree after their Bachelor’s degree, if not with a PhD.

Possible jobs can be found in large-sized industrial companies as well as in medium-sized companies and research institutions. It is also possible to make a lateral entry into completely different areas that may not be obvious, such as patent law or consulting. Your career options after graduation are as diverse as your studies.