Chemistry MSc

Chemistry in Groningen is the home of 2016 Nobel Prize winner Ben Feringa, who has won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on a light-driven rotary molecular motor.

How can I make a flexible solar cell out of organic molecules? Can I build a car engine on a molecular level? Can I synthesizer life? Can I cure tuberculosis? You will encounter such questions in the Master's degree programme in Chemistry at the University of Groningen.

The 2-year programme is fully taught in English and embedded in an internationally leading research environment. The programme offers a great deal of freedom in topics and has a strong focus on research; students spend 50% of their time in research labs. It is organised along three main specialisations:

› Advanced Materials

Focus of this specialisation lies the chemistry of functional materials, including aspects like material synthesis and self-assembly, supra-molecular chemistry, structural characterisation techniques and functional properties.

› Catalysis and Green Chemistry

This specialisation focuses on different aspects of catalysis by enzymes as well as synthetic homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts and key industrially relevant transformations.

› Chemical Biology (also offers an honours programme)

This specialisation studies biology and the processes of life using the tools of chemistry and deals with topics ranging from understanding how biochemistry works, to protein engineering and the engineering of biological systems.

› Science, Business and Policy

This profile emphasises the societal aspects of Science. You will learn to implement your chemistry knowledge in companies and policy organisations.

The Chemistry research project takes place in a research group within or across one of these specialisations. These groups are associated with three main research institutes that focus on chemistry: the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, the Zernike Institute of Advanced Materials and the Groningen Biomolecular Science & Biotechnology Institute. The programme also offers the opportunity to do research in a lab abroad or in industry.

Apart from general subjects including reaction mechanism and spectroscopic methods, we teach and offer research projects across the entire spectrum of Chemistry, including: (in)organic synthesis, stereo-chemistry, polymer chemistry, supra-molecular chemistry, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, bio-catalysis & protein engineering, organometallic chemistry, molecular dynamic, quantum mechanics, green chemistry, synthetic biology and systems chemistry.

Why study this programme in Groningen?

• Excellent research training by world leading scientist
• Opportunity to spend time in industry and/or go abroad
• Best Chemistry Master's degree programme in the Netherlands according to Elsevier
• Our Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials belongs to the THES top 15 of best materials research institutes in the world

After your studies

This degree programme in Chemistry is primarily meant for students who want to become researchers or research managers. It also provides an excellent preparation for a PhD project, either in Groningen or elsewhere.

Our recent alumni found jobs very quickly after graduating; 79% had a job lined up immediately following graduation! Groningen students have found jobs all over Europe and beyond in major companies, including DSM, Akzo Nobel, Corus, ASML or Philips as well as in smaller companies such as Syncom, Merchachem, PolyVation etc.

In addition, many chemists who are trained as researchers find jobs that are less research-oriented. This is because the programme also pays attention to communication skills, teamwork, presentation techniques and IT skills. During their training as researchers in chemistry, students develop general competences that make them highly versatile and widely employable, so Groningen chemistry graduates can be found in consulting agencies, commercial functions, product research and development, product management or teaching.

Job examples

• PhD research project
• Work for a major multinational such as Akzo Nobel or Philps
• Consulting agencies
• Product management or commercial positions

Visit the Chemistry MSc page on the University of Groningen website for more details!