With a degree focusing on engineering and the natural sciences, you will be in demand in industries such as the pharmaceutical and process engineering research sector.
Knowledge of process engineering and pharmaceutics is needed in particular in the process from the active ingredient to the finished dosage form.
By introducing two areas of specialisation (pharmaceutical engineering and pharmaceutical research), the objectives of the programme and the qualifications obtained are more closely aligned with the students’ previous knowledge and their personal subject-specific interests.
The specialisation in pharmaceutical engineering focuses on the second part of the process chain, from research into active ingredients to the production plant. The emphasis here is on the scale-up of processes, the further development of manufacturing processes on a larger scale and on participation in the planning and supervision of pharmaceutical plants. Graduates from this specialisation are entitled to use the professional title “engineer”.
The specialisation in pharmaceutical research, on the other hand, is more focused on the initial part of the process chain. The content of the programme is therefore more closely aligned with preclinical drug development, formulation development and the production of test patterns for the clinical test phases. Compared to studies in pharmacy, students gain a much deeper insight into process engineering, so that manufacturing processes can be aligned with later production already at the beginning of the process chain. In addition, the Master’s programme places a significantly greater emphasis on developing competence in research.
Your studies
Based on the different previous knowledge obtained from various undergraduate degree programmes, an individual study plan is developed for each student before the start of the degree programme. For this purpose, you will need to select the area of specialisation before you start your studies. Each student can choose between the two areas of specialisation. It is possible to change the specialisation during the course of study. However, in this case, it is necessary to create a new study plan.
The study programme is divided into different parts:
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compulsory modules
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basic modules
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compulsory elective modules
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interdisciplinary specialisation
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final module (Master’s thesis)
Should you already be familiar with the contents of modules from the basic studies, either the credit points will be shifted to the compulsory electives, or—in the case of basic studies with more than 180 credit points (without work placement semester)—the achievements will be recognised, which can lead to a shortening of the study programme. Recognition of modules from the compulsory electives is also possible. In the case of the Second State Examination in Pharmacy, which has a standard period of study of 8 semesters, up to 55 credit points, i.e. almost half of all the required credits, can be recognised when specialising in the area of “pharmaceutical research”. This means that the study programme can be shortened to two semesters.
The compulsory and basic modules are accompanied by interdisciplinary qualifications and compulsory elective modules in which you can further your personal interests. The programme is completed with a Master’s thesis in which you work independently on concrete issues of current research projects.
