Engineering and Materials Science B. Sc. Joint Degree
Technological progress emerges where smart ideas meet scientific expertise and creative problem-solving. This is exactly where the Bachelor’s programme in Engineering and Materials Science begins: it bridges fundamental scientific knowledge with practical engineering applications and offers you the opportunity to actively shape future innovation.
During your studies, you will delve deeply into physics, chemistry, and mathematics, connecting this knowledge with exciting fields such as mechanical engineering, materials science, and modern application areas of the engineering sciences. You will not only learn how materials function, but also how they can shape our future—from sustainable materials and high-tech industries to innovative energy and mobility solutions.
A particular highlight of the programme is its joint-degree structure. This means you will study at two renowned universities—the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM)—benefiting from exceptional academic expertise, international exchange, and two vibrant campus environments.
The programme is ideal for those who
- enjoy developing, understanding, and practically implementing ideas,
- have a talent for logical, methodical thinking and want to apply it in a technical context,
- think creatively, remain curious, and wish to pursue scientific and technical questions independently.
If you have always wanted to know how to make materials more efficient, optimise technical systems, or develop sustainable innovations, this programme will equip you with the tools you need. You can look forward to:
- a varied blend of scientific foundations and applied engineering
- modern laboratories, international perspectives, and close ties to cutting-edge research
- a study environment that fosters technical curiosity and creative problem-solving in equal measure
| Type of Study | Full Time | Main Locations | Munich, Salzburg |
| Standard Duration of Studies | 6 Semester | Application Period | Details on how to apply can be found on the website of the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg. |
| Credits | 180 ECTS | Required Language Proficiency | German |
| Start of Degree Program | Winter Semester | Tuition Fees | Semester fee, Fees for Students from Non-EU Countries |
The Bachelor’s program in Engineering and Materials Science is designed to be interdisciplinary. It builds a bridge between mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering sciences, combining competencies from physics, chemistry, materials science, and mechanical engineering. Students gain a solid foundation in STEM subjects and acquire hands-on experience with modern measurement and analysis techniques. The mandatory internship included in the programme—completed either in industry or in research institutions—provides valuable insights into relevant professional fields and strengthens students’ abilities to solve engineering-related problems.
The program’s objective is to educate outstanding engineers who can serve as a link between research and development and production across various industrial sectors. Graduates possess methodological expertise drawn from multiple disciplines and are shaped by an interdisciplinary perspective. In their professional careers, they are able to apply their comprehensive scientific competencies to solve practical, real-world problems.
Students of the Joint Degree Bachelor’s degree program in Engineering and Materials Science at the Technical University of Munich and the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg learn to investigate, develop, and use innovative materials in line with these requirements.
The program combines subjects from physics, chemistry, materials science, computer science, and mechanical engineering. Students acquire the fundamentals of natural sciences and learn how to transfer them to various applications. In particular, they deal with the investigation and analysis of different materials to identify and utilize the potential of new materials for lighter, more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and safer construction methods.
They use modern investigation and analysis methods, such as spectroscopy, microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, as well as innovative methods in additive manufacturing, circular economy concepts, battery technology, or hydrogen technology. In addition, they can develop individual competence profiles in chemistry and physics of materials, energy and process technology, mechanical engineering, nature-inspired materials, and general materials.
Graduates of the degree program have a sound knowledge of materials science and natural sciences, which they can apply particularly at the interface between materials technology tasks and the various fields of application in engineering. They are, therefore, just as well qualified to start a career in the industry as they are to continue their education in a corresponding Master’s degree program.
In the first two semesters of the joint-degree Bachelor's program in Engineering and Materials Science, PLUS teaches the scientific basics of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer-aided measurement technology and data acquisition (including programming skills). There are courses that have a so-called connecting function that enables students to establish contact with TUM at this stage. These courses are designed and taught jointly by lecturers from both universities and are offered in hybrid form. In addition, TUM teaches initial engineering content in digital form (live transmission, teaching videos, blended learning concepts).
In the third and fourth semesters, TUM teaches the engineering fundamentals of technical mechanics, machine elements, production engineering, process engineering, and simulation technology. It focuses on expanding knowledge in materials science. Soft skills are also offered, focusing on presentation, communication, and teamwork. Similarly, PLUS hybrid courses are made available as live streams and recordings from Salzburg.
In the subsequent fifth and sixth semesters, the students choose, as part of an elective module, which specialization and thus also at which university (PLUS or TUM) they want to continue their studies and where they want to complete their final Bachelor's thesis. In addition, during the lecture-free period of study, students must complete (at least) 6 weeks of compulsory work experience in a relevant subject in the sense of full-time employment. This practice serves to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the degree program. Information on the structure and content of the compulsory work placement can be found on the PLUS website.
The standard study period for the Bachelor's degree course in Engineering and Materials Science is 6 semesters.
The course begins in Salzburg, where the first two semesters are devoted to mathematics and the basics of natural sciences. Students then move to Munich to spend the following two semesters learning engineering methods at TUM. The fifth semester includes compulsory practical work, which is supplemented by various elective modules. The final semester consists of the Bachelor's thesis, which can be completed in Salzburg or Munich.
Current information
All information can be found on the website of the Paris-Lodron Universität Salzburg.
Students of the joint-degree Bachelor's program in Engineering and Materials Science must complete at least two semesters at TUM and two semesters at PLUS. Semesters three and four or one and two are planned in the curriculum for this purpose.
In addition, students can complete a semester abroad. Semesters five and six of the degree course are suitable for this. The responsible study law body at the PLUS recognizes courses completed abroad. The applicant must submit the documents required for the assessment.
It is ensured that semesters abroad (if not completed at TUM) are possible without delays in the progress of studies if the following conditions are met:
- courses amounting to at least 30 ECTS credits are completed per semester abroad;
- the courses completed during the semester abroad do not coincide in content with courses already completed at the University of Salzburg;
- before the start of the semester abroad it has been determined by official decision which of the planned examinations are equivalent to the examinations prescribed in the curriculum.
In addition to the subject-related competences, the following qualifications, among others, can be acquired through a study period abroad:
- Acquisition and deepening of subject-specific foreign language skills;
- Acquisition and deepening of general foreign language skills (language comprehension, conversation,...);
- Acquisition and deepening of organisational competence through independent planning of everyday study in international administrative and university structures;
- Getting to know and studying in international study systems as well as broadening one's own subject perspective;
- Acquiring and deepening intercultural competences.
Students with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses are actively supported by the university (DE disability & diversity) in finding a place for a semester abroad and in planning it.
For detailed information on stays abroad, visit the PLUS page.