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Welcome to Polymer Science
Polymer science is an interdisciplinary area comprised of chemical, physical, engineering, processing and theoretical aspects. It also has enormous impact on contemporary materials science. Its goal is to provide the basis for the creation and characterization of polymeric materials and an understanding for structure/property relationships. Polymer science is of increasing importance for everyone's daily life. Many modern functional materials, gears, and devices have polymers as integral parts. Not surprisingly, roughly 30% of all scientists in the chemical industry work in the field of polymers. Despite its importance today and potential for future economic growth, there is no adequate university-level study program for polymer science in Germany.
The Berlin-Brandenburg Polymer Society (Berlin-Brandenburgischer Verband für Polymerforschung e.V.) became aware of this misbalance and initiated a two-year Master of Science polymer program, which started in the winter semester of 1999/2000. It was jointly designed by polymer scientists of the three Berlin universities, Free University Berlin (FU), Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Technical University Berlin (TU) and the nearby University of Potsdam (UP) with the goal in mind to be competitive with renowned polymer centers abroad. To make it more attractive to foreign students the program is in English.
This challenging interdisciplinary program benefits from the close proximity of several other Berlin and Potsdam scientific centers such as the institutes of the Max Planck, Fraunhofer, and Helmholtz Societies, as well as the BESSY II synchrotron. The universities are very well equipped with the most state-of-the-art technical equipment and laboratories, specialty work shops, large service units, and modern computer facilities. The work of the polymer scientists in charge of the Polymer Science program is internationally renowned and endowed by industry, state, and private grants and awards.
General Information
Master of Polymer Science Program of the Free University Berlin, Humboldt University Berlin, Technical University Berlin and University Potsdam.
Entrance requirements:
- qualified Bachelor of Science
- competency in English
Starting dates: October 1 / April 1
Two-year program
1st Year - Basic Polymer Science:
- Polymer Chemistry/Synthesis (FU Berlin)
- Polymer Physics/Characterization (HU Berlin)
- Polymer Engineering/Processing (TU Berlin)
- Polymer Properties/Colloids (U Potsdam)
2nd Year - Advanced Polymer Science
- In-depth courses and lab work in a special discipline (essentially at one of the four universities)
- Master thesis at the same university
- M.Sc. in Polymer Science Degree (granted jointly by the four universities)
Total of 120 ECTS credit points (including thesis).
Possibility to continue within a PhD program.
Joint Commission
The Joint Comission of the M.Sc. Polymer Science program plays the role of a faculty. It consists of the following members:
FU Berlin
Rainer Haag, Professor, Head of Joint Comission Christoph Tzschucke, Professor, Examination Committee (substitute) Wiebke Fischer, Research Associate Mariam Cherri, Student Deputy
HU Berlin
Hans Börner, Professor Benjamin Lindner, Professor Stefan Kirstein, Research Associate, Examination Committee Sylwia Bojarzen, Staff
TU Berlin
Dietmar Auhl, Professor
Michael Gradzielski, Professor Head of Examination Committee
Frank Beuster, Research Associate
Maria Bülth, Staff
U Potsdam
Svetlana Santer, Professor (substitute) Helmut Schlaad, Professor Joachim Koetz, Professor (substitute) André Laschewsky, Professor (substitute) Dieter Neher, Professor, Examination Committee Sabine Kosmella, Research Associate Sunil Choudhary, Student Deputy (substitute) Amanda Silaib Tofic, Student Deputy Eldho Sunny, Student Deputy Prathiba Rajalakshmi Yellapragada, Student Deputy
Joint Office
Please send all inqueries to the joint office:
Joint Office of Ms. Sc. Polymer Science
Ms. Dr. Wiebke Fischer
Freie Universität Berlin
Institut für Chemie und Biochemie - Organische Chemie
Room 14.11
Takustrasse 3
14195 Berlin
Tel. +49-30-838-72681
Fax +49-30-838-460388
email: polymscifub (at) chemie.fu-berlin.de
Examination Committee
The Joint Comission appoints an Examination Committee from all participating universities. It consists of the following members:
FU Berlin
Christoph Tzschucke, Professor, (substitute) Daniel Stoebener, Student
HU Berlin
Stefan Kirstein, Research Associate
TU Berlin
Michael Gradzielski, Professor Head of Examination Committee Maria Bülth, Staff, secretary
U Potsdam
Dieter Neher, Professor, Deputy head of Examination Committee Carla Pinilla, Student (substitute) Amanda Silaib Tofic, Student Deputy Eldho Sunny, Student Deputy Prathiba Rajalakshmi Yellapragada, Student Deputy
Examination Office
Please send all inqueries to the examination office:
Examination Office of Ms. Sc. Polymer Science Prof. M. Gradzielski / Mrs. M. Bülth Technische Universität Berlin Institute of Chemistry, Stranski Lab Secretary TC7/TC9 Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin Tel. +49-30-314-21544 Fax +49-30-314-26602 email: examoffice (at) polymerscience.de
Contact
Freie Universität Berlin (FU)
Joint Comission Head
Prof. Dr. R. Haag
Program Secretary: Dr. Wiebke Fischer
Institute of Chemistry
Tel. +49-30-838-53358
Fax +49-30-838-53357
Homepage
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU)
Prof. Dr. J.P. Rabe
Program Secretary: Frau S. Bojarzen
Institute of Physics
Tel. +49-30-2093-82107
Fax +49-30-2093-7632
Homepage
Technische Universität Berlin (TU)
Examination Committee Head
Prof. Dr. Michael Gradzielski
Program SecretaryFrau M. Bülth
Institute of Chemistry, Stranski Lab
Secretary TC7/TC9, room 402
Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin
Tel. +49-30-314-21544
Fax +49-30-314-26602
Homepage
Universität Potsdam (UP)
Prof. Dr. D. Neher
Program Secretary: Frau E. Derlig
Institute of Physics and Astronomy
Tel. +49-331-977-1751
Fax +49-331-977-5615
Homepage

Due to the joint participation of the four universities in Berlin and Potsdam the program's students have a special opportunity to get to know four distinctly different culturally interesting areas:
- The Free University is located in the green, culturally interesting residential area of Dahlem with many of its departments housed in either villas or specially built modern facilities.
- The Humboldt University has the added charm of being an integral part of Berlin's old historic center. The HU Berlin's Chemistry and Physics department is in Adlershof, a scientific park in the Southeast of Berlin.
- The Technical University is located in Tiergarten near Berlin's governmental district.
- The campus of the University of Potsdam is famous for its proximity to the beautiful palace grounds of Potsdam and Sanssouci.