Materials Science is one of the most exciting emerging fields of the 21st century — a fundamentally interdisciplinary science that draws from physics, chemistry, mechanics, and engineering to understand how matter behaves, and how we can engineer it. At MSI, we embrace this fully.
Our curriculum spans 18 modules: 15 compulsory and 3 electives drawn from a broad pool of specializations. Importantly, no module has prerequisites — any study order works. This gives students maximum flexibility to adapt their schedule around work, life events, or personal learning pace, all while receiving full academic guidance from our faculty.
The program is built around three pillars of depth:
- Master's Thesis (30 ECTS): An independent, original research project — the flagship capstone of your academic journey, conducted under direct supervision of OVGU and VGU faculty.
- Research Lab: Hands-on, equipment-driven research from the very first semester. Students work directly with characterization instruments — no sample-sending, no outsourcing — building real experimental intuition.
- Team Project & Literature Research: Collaborative scientific investigation that trains academic reading, critical thinking, and team problem-solving — the skills that separate scientists from technicians.
Core Modules
Elective Modules
Elective modules are offered in collaboration with partner programs and OVGU chairs, enabling deeper specialization in areas such as computational materials, biomaterials, surface engineering, and more. Students choose 3 from a curated pool of options.
Additive manufacturing
Advanced Machine Learning Techniques for Engineering Applications
Advanced Simulation (FEM application and numerical simulation)
Biotechnlogy, Bioengineering and Applications
CAD Modelling and Engineering Design
Enterpreneurship Management
Managerial Finance and Controlling
Material Modelling and Simulation
Physical and Chemical Sensor Principles
Technology and Materials
Master’s Thesis Topics & Research Opportunities
8 Topics OfferedMaster’s Thesis projects are conducted under the academic supervision of participating chairs and research groups at OVGU and VGU. Students are encouraged to contact individual module lecturers or department professors directly to discuss topic availability or propose research directions — the list below outlines representative thesis offers across our core specialization modules.