About ProMat
The ProMat course of studies is conceived for individuals who plan to pursue a research career in the STEM fields.
The students in ProMat
- design their own curriculum;
- choose from more than 350 courses in the STEM subjects;
- are accompanied by a personal mentor through the study (info);
- conduct research in modern areas and topics of their choice;
- gain international experience through a research stay abroad;
- get prepared for a following PhD programme of their choice.
The master's programme Process-oriented materials research is carried out jointly by the faculties 1 - 5 of the University of Bremen. The programme is embedded in the MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes.
The ProMat master´s studies comply with the growing complexity and interdisciplinarity within the wide area of material sciences and material technologies. In the foundation modules, students first acquire in-depth basic knowledge in mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering and computer science tools. In the two specialization modules, they gain theoretical as well as applied and practical skills. Within these seven modules, the students are free to shape their individual curricula through a selection from out of more than 350 courses. Thus, the selected study content is optimally adapted to the personal interests and the already acquired competences.
Based on the individual curriculum, the program provides particular expertise in
- materials physics, materials chemistry, materials science or materials informatics;
- the relationship between materials properties and process parameters;
- the synthesis and production of materials, components and systems;
- methods for process control and optimisation;
- the computer-based modelling of materials and processes;
- nanotechnology;
- the sustainable use of materials.
The research-based and internationally-oriented layout of the ProMat programme is emphasized by a specially designed module "research processes" and a compulsory research stay abroad. Through the MAPEX network and the personal mentor, all ProMat students are integrated into research activities from the first semester. ProMat thus offers targeted preparation for a following PhD programme and further career steps in science and research.
Design your own individual curriculum and select your courses within the given module structure of ProMat out of a wide range of core subjects anchored in the MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes from faculties 1 to 5.
Here are some examples of curricula that ProMat students have chosen:
Materialmodellierung (Manuel Vollbrecht) (in German)
Elektrochemische Bio-Verfahrenstechnik (Alenica Heußner) (in German)
Faserverbundwerkstoffe (Yan Yorrick Dietrich) (in German)
Funktionale Oberflächenstrukturen - Materialbearbeitung (Reinhard Iseke) (in German)
Theorie und Simulation von Festkörpern (Erik Macke) (in German)
Werkstofftechnik polymerer Werkstoffe (Eike Krull) (in German)

The module Research Processes (9 CP) stretches over 2 semesters and plays an important role in the curriculum with the purpose of introducing students to independent scientific work.
Information on necessary research-related methodologies as well as competences like oral presentation and paper writing skills are part of the syllabus of the Research Processes. Social skills are thought through a hands-on experience by organising a scientific workshop and/or preparing the research stay abroad in small groups and under supervision. The mentioned workshop is a platform for students to meet other scientists working in the field of materials research as well as a chance to present their research results and experience gained during the research stay abroad. Lectures and seminars on topics such as research ethics, good scientific practices, career planning and project and time management are part of the curriculum with the main goal to further developing the students´ self-competence.
In addition, this module provides the central networking place where all students studying in the ProMat master´s programme get the chance to exchange their knowledge, experience and skills.

The module Research stay abroad (12 CP/ECTS) is an obligatory part of the curriculum. During a minimum of eight weeks students carry out scientific work at a university or research institution outside of Germany. It is possible and very welcome to combine the research stay abroad with a semester abroad, attending lectures and giving exams at an exchange university (preferable in the third semester). To this aim, a Learning Agreement,stating on how the attended lectures and the achieved grades will be recognised upon return, needs to be signed.
In this module the personal mentors are guiding the students, helping them in finding the most suitable research institution according to their research topic, and supporting them while planning the research stay abroad. The International Office of the University of Bremen and the ProMat coordination team are supporting the students in finding suitable financing options for their stay abroad. These may include e.g. the Erasmus plus programme, the DAAD exchange programme, MAPEX and university grants and funding.
In case of hardship, for instance due to severe family or personal reasons, students may ask for an equivalent replacement of the module, or to complete the research stay in Germany. The Examination Board of the master´s programme ProMat will take a decision on the individual basis and grounds for every student.
Established in 2014 as the governance form of the high-profile area Materials Science and Production Engineering MAPEX is focused around the system-oriented research and development of materials and processes for sustainable transport and energy applications. The research encompasses the fields of natural and engineering sciences as well as mathematics, aiming at a thorough understanding of the process-properties-performance relationships in materials.
MAPEX merges the know-how of 800 scientific and technical staff, 430 of which are doctoral candidates. The about 60 Principal Investigators and 30 Early Career Investigators are affiliated to five different university faculties and four external research institutes on the university campus and are eligible to mentor the students of the ProMat master´s programme.
The unique nature of ProMat allows the students to tailor their individual scientific and research interests within the MAPEX research landscape:
Materials | Technologies | Methods |
---|---|---|
Soft and hybrid materials | Manufacturing engineering | Materials synthesis and characterization |
Metals | Materials engineering | Process modelling |
Porous materials | Process engineering | Materials modelling |
Nanomaterials | Energy-related technologies | Materials informatics |
Semiconductors | Photonics | System integration |
More about MAPEX: here.