Course content

We owe our current quality of life to developments in the exact sciences in general and more specifically to chemistry. Chemistry has had, and continues to have a major influence on numerous branches of Science, such as medicine, biology, agriculture and geology, but also connects to sciences such as physics and mathematics, establishing it as a truly central science.

The impact of chemistry is omnipresent in industry: numerous areas of industry involve chemistry, including for example production, quality control but also product improvement, waste processing.

Innovation and the development of new products and processes are simply not possible without a fundamental knowledge of chemistry. The structure of matter and insights into molecular processes and reactions contribute to scientific breakthroughs that will address current and future challenges.

Chemistry, with its characteristic strength in analysis and synthesis of molecules and molecular processes is indispensable within this frame. The development of long-lasting production-processes, new high-tech materials, products in nutrition - and pharmaceutical industries and methods for controlling diseases, … none of these can be seen separately from the evolution in chemistry.

Programme

We owe a great part of our quality of life to the development of sciences, chemistry in particular. Its influence can be found in numerous different branches, such as medicine, biology, agriculture, etc. The chemical impact is also omnipresent in the industrial world. Almost every branch has to do with chemistry at some level: in the production process, in quality control, in product improvement, waste processing … The students can choose from three main subjects: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, (Bio)organic and Polymer Chemistry, Materials and Nano Chemistry.

Course structure

DEGREE STUDENTS

The two-year master’s programme (120 credits) consists of 108 credits related to the main subject (30 credits general courses, 12 credits specialisation courses, 6 credits professional skills, 30 credits master thesis, 30 credits internship) and 12 credits elective courses.

In the second year, a research project (master’s dissertation) is scheduled. The topic of the master’s dissertation is in accordance with the chosen main subject. The master’s dissertation is an original piece of research work. It aims to develop and strengthen the research capacity skills of the students. The student selects a topic and is given guidance by a promotor or supervisor. The master’s dissertation consists of a literature review part, practical research and an original analysis of the topic. Students have the possibility to do a part of their master’s dissertation abroad.

The internship (academic or industrial) is the final part of the master curriculum and will give the student the opportunity to apply the learned knowledge to an international research or non-academic context. This will allow to develop further practical skills that cannot be taught in the classroom. The student will experience working in an international research environment or in a professional environment of an industrial company or a non-academic research institute.

EXCHANGE STUDENTS

The exchange programme contains a preferred list of English courses taught at UGent for the Master of Science in Chemistry.
The programme offers a wide selection of courses with subjects in all five major branches of chemistry: analytical, inorganic, macromolecular, organic, and physical and theoretical chemistry, as well as exciting research projects in these areas.

Career perspectives

It is a fact that chemistry is involved in several industrial branches, important for the economy and employment, such as chemical industry,  pharmaceutical industry, agriculture, … Due to the broadness of the scientific program, master graduates in chemistry are fit to apply for jobs in different sectors of industry and their possibilities on the job market are very diverse.  

Masters in chemistry can for instance be involved  in scientific research, product development, quality control,.. or they can take management functions for their account, and this in companies as well as in government institutions.  Besides that, they are also well prepared for a career in the services branch (including education).

The most important assets of university graduated chemists are that they are research minded, oriented towards solving problems and that they are polyvalent.

Admission requirements

diploma

• For non-Flemish degrees:

the course is open to students with at least a Bachelor degree in the field of chemistry with minimum 180 credits.

• For Flemish degrees:

the list of degrees giving access to this master can be consulted in the online course catalogue.

language

Check the language requirements for English study programmes.

Application Procedures

DEGREE STUDENT

International students who want to obtain a diploma or degree at Ghent University apply and enroll as regular students on the basis of a diploma obtained abroad.

EXCHANGE STUDENT

International students who temporarily live in a foreign country and attend courses or are involved in other academic activities, have to follow the procedure of exchange students.