FAQs and information about the Master of Science Chemistry program

This PDF¹ provides a broad overview of the content of our Bachelor’s program in a self-assessment style. Since our Master's program is the direct continuation of our Bachelor's program, almost all content of our Bachelor's program is needed to study successfully in our Master's program. We recommend that all applicants go through the questions and tasks provided before they start their application to check whether they are confident about studying with us.

We do not provide assistance with the content of the self-assessment-PDF¹.

An application is only possible during the application period, which will be published on our homepage. The application portal can be found here:

https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/application-admission-and-enrollment/application-admission-and-enrollment²

We do not accept applications via email or applications sent by postal service.

An application guide with additional information regarding the single steps during the application process can be found here³.

Here is a list of courses we can definitely not take into account as our Master’s program is a continuation of our Bachelor’s program and nearly all content from our Bachelor’s is needed to successfully study in our Master’s program. Therefore, courses which are too far from the content of our Bachelor’s courses cannot be considered. To get an overview of the content of our Bachelor’s, please have a look at the course overview and module guide (both only available in German): 

course overview⁴
module guide⁵

This list is being updated regularly. No claim to completeness is made.

These courses (Course titles, in alphabetical order) cannot be considered for accountable credit points in Organic and Biochemistry, Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry nor Physical and Theoretical Chemistry:

Advanced Separation Techniques
Application of Computer in Chemistry
Applied Chemistry (and all other courses with "Applied" in front of the title)
Biochemistry of Metals
Chemical Energetics
Chemical Entrepreneurship
Chemical Technology
Chemistry of additives
Chemistry of Cosmetics and Parfums
Chemistry of Fats, Oils and Waxes
Chemistry of high molecular compounds
Chemistry of medicinal substances
Chemometry
Colloid Chemistry
Color Chemistry
Comprehensive Chemistry
Computer applications in Chemistry
Computer Chemistry
Dye Chemistry
Engineering Courses
Environmental Chemistry
Fine Chemicals
Fluid Mechanics
Food Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry
Fuel Chemistry
Fundamental Chemistry
Gas Chemistry
General Chemistry 
Green Chemistry
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Industrial Catalysis
Industrial Chemistry
Inorganic Biochemistry
Magneto Chemistry
Manufacture of Petrochemicals
Material Chemistry
Mathematical Chemistry
Medicinal Chemistry 
Molecular Biology
Molecular Spectroscopy
Nano Chemistry
Nanotechnology
Nuclear Analytical Techniques
Nuclear Chemistry
Organic Physical Chemistry
Petrochemistry
Petroleum Chemistry
Pharmaceutical Chemistry 
Physical Colloidal Chemistry
Physical Organic Chemistry
Physiologically Active Compounds
Polymer Chemistry
Principles of chemical calculations
Process Chemistry
Radio Nuclear Chemistry
Separation Methods
Spectroscopy (exception: the specific field of spectroscopy is listed, e.g. “X-Ray Spectroscopy”)
Statistics for Chemists 
Structural Chemistry
Surface Chemistry
Technical Chemistry
Textile Chemistry
Thermal Methods of Analysis
Water Pollution

Grades will be converted using the modified Bavarian formula. Different credit point systems will be converted using the following formula to ECTS points (German credit point system): 
ECTS = CP * 60 * length / total-CP

CP = credit points in your system

length = your bachelor’s program length in years

total-CP = total number of necessary credit points in your bachelor’s system

As there is no mandatory attendance in the lectures, you can (in principle) join whenever you want. However, we would recommend not coming later than two weeks after the start of the lectures. You will have to catch up on the missed lecture’s content on your own, which of course will get increasingly difficult the later you join the lectures and exercises.

There are two modules (MCh 1.3 and MCh 1.4) with exercises, where you need to achieve 50 % of all points (accumulated over the entire semester) in order to be able to take part in the exam at the end of the semester. If you just miss the first 2-3 ones, you can compensate for this during the rest of the semester.

We do not provide any funding or scholarships within our department, but you can have a look here:

https://www.studierendenwerk-bonn.de/en/jobbing⁸

https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/consultation-and-service/financing-and-support/scholarships⁹

Please have a look at our provided Self-Assessment-PDF¹ to make sure you are familiar with the content from various areas of chemistry necessary to know from your Bachelor studies in order to successfully study our Master's program.

Because in order to successfully complete our Master's degree, you should have already learned certain content from various areas of chemistry in your Bachelor's degree and also be able to work with this knowledge and skills in theory and practice. IThe self-assessment PDF gives you a good overview of the contents of our Bachelor's program in Chemistry at the University of Bonn. Since our Master's program is the direct continuation of our Bachelor's program, almost all contents of our Bachelor's program are required to successfully complete our Master's program.

Furthermore, we recommend to have already worked and be familiar with the contents of these books:

Moore, Elaine A. & Lesley E. Smart: Solid State Chemistry - An Introduction
Bruice, Paula: Organic Chemistry
Housecroft, Catherine E. & Alan G. Sharpe: Inorganic Chemistry
Levine, Ira N.: Physical Chemistry
Atkins, Peter W., de Paula, Julio & James J. Keeler: Atkins' Physical Chemistry

All newer book editions (of the last 10 years) are sufficient to work with.

We also recommend to arrive as soon as possible to start with your studies in time. The later you arrive the harder it gets to follow the content of the modules. Also, there are two modules (MCh 1.3 and MCh 1.4) with exercises, where you need to achieve 50 % of all points (accumulated over the entire semester) in order to be able to take part in the exam at the end of the semester. If you just miss the first 2-3 ones, you can compensate for this during the rest of the semester.
If you arrive at least one week before the lectures start, you have more time to settle in, get your housing situation as well as your bank account in order and get used to all university portals and programs (e.g. BASIS, eCampus, Communigate). Handling the lectures, exercises and private matters, e.g. appointment at the city council, at the same time will be very stressful.

We (department of Chemistry) cannot do anything. We cannot interfere with the Studierendenwerk nor fasten the process of providing rooms for students (in case you applied for a room there). Yes, we know how expensive the rent here in and around Bonn is; no, we cannot change that and no, we cannot support you financially. 

Tips we can give:

Do not only rely on the Studierendenwerk for housing.
Have a look for private dormitories in Bonn or Cologne.
Have a look at Facebook groups, Kleinanzeigen, wg-gesucht, immoscout, house4students, boennschkwartier, etc. and apply for all the rooms you can afford.
Ask your fellow students if they know someone who rents out a room/know where something might be available.
 Do not only search for rooms in the city center of Bonn or near the Chemistry department, broaden your search radius to the surrounding area and villages around Bonn and Beuel, even have a look at available rooms in Cologne and every town in between – even in the areas around Euskirchen or Siegburg something might be available.
Up to about one hour and a half of commuting is manageable; you can go around with the public transport in NRW for free thanks to your student ID (except ICE, IC and EC trains!).
 

If you need more assistance:

• https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/university/university-life/living-in-bonn¹⁰
• Flyer "Studentisches Wohnen"¹¹ (student living, only available in German)
• "Zimmer Frei!?" Bonn, Contact: +49 (0)228/ 73-66002, zimmerfrei@uni-bonn.de
• Amt für Soziales und Wohnen der Stadt Bonn (The Social Security and Accommodation Office of the City of Bonn), Contact: +49 (0)228 / 77-48 10 or +49 (0)228/ 77-49 59, address: Friedrich-Breuer-Straße 65, 53225 Bonn
• General Students’ Committee (AStA) -The Office “Wohnen für Hilfe”, Contact: Wednesday and Fridays +49 (0)151/51433701, wfh@asta.uni-bonn.de

If you are not able to attend the exam out of health reasons, you need to go the doctor (on that same day!) and let him/her fill out a special form you can find on our website: https://www.chemie.uni-bonn.de/de/studium-lehre/medien/pdfs/formular_pruefungsunfaehigkeit_2025.pdf¹²
A normal “Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung” (certificate of incapacity for work) or “Krankmeldung” (notification of sick leave) is not enough in this case.

Additionally, you need to write an email to Mrs. Monika Klein (chemiestudium@ticket.uni-bonn.de) and let her know that you will not be able to attend the exam. Please send her your certificate of incapacity as well.

Please check your student email account on a daily basis. All important information is sent out by email to your student mail account, provided by the university of Bonn. 
Important nnouncements by the study program management are sent out via the eCampus course of the study program management to your student email address. Please make sure to register for the course in the beginning of your studies:

https://ecampus.uni-bonn.de/goto_ecampus_crs_210646.html¹³

Open positions, invitations to workshops, documents regarding the elective modules or information on funding opportunities as well as other information and documents are all uploaded in that course. There is a section/folder especially for the Master's students. 
To get emails from eCampus on your student mail account, you have to change your mail settings (log into eCampus, click on Settings -> Mail Settings -> Incoming Mail) to either "forward to e-mail address" or to "local and forwarding", depending on if you want to get the messages in your eCampus as well.

The University of Bonn offers German classes:
https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/research-and-teaching/support-for-researchers-and-teachers/welcome-center-for-international-researchers/learning-german¹⁴
https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/international-students/learning-german/in-semester-german-language-courses¹⁵
https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/en/language-learning-center/sprachlernzentrum¹⁶

If these courses are already full/have already started, here are some more possibilities. You may find more and other resources on the internet, this is just a first glimpse:

Online-German class from Deutsche Welle: https://learngerman.dw.com/en/beginners/c-36519789¹⁷
YouTube Videos to learn German from Goethe Institute: https://www.youtube.com/@24Deutsch¹⁸
Courses provided at the adult education center: https://www.vhs-bonn.de/programm/deutsch-und-integration.html¹⁹ (online and in person)
Here is a list, provided by the university, of all language schools in Bonn: https://www.uni-bonn.de/de/forschung-lehre/angebote-fuer-forschende-und-lehrende/welcome-center-fuer-internationale-forschende/download/sprachschulen-bonn_.pdf²⁰