Start of Studies

Degree course structure

Main elements

Modules are the main component of the curricula in our Master's courses. Classes such as lectures, seminars or tutorials are combined into thematically related blocks/units and thus form modules. Modules are completed with a module examination. Each module examination is a component of the final examination.

Credit points (CP or ECTS) describe the estimated workload for a module. In contrast, grades provide information about the quality of a performance. One credit point represents 30 hours of work (attendance time and self-study). The standard course of study provides for the acquisition of 30 CP per semester. In a two-year Master's degree course, for example, a total of 120 CP (3600 working hours) must be completed. This corresponds to an assumed average weekly working time of around 40 hours (with seven weeks' vacation per year).

• Obligatory modules (5 cp each): modules that a mandatory within a Master`s program
• Choice obligatory modules (5 cp each): modules that can be freely chosen from a list of modules offered at the faculty
• Compulsory elective research practical courses (10 cp each): 

In a research practical course, students have an opportunity to do scientific research in many different areas (the list of modules can be found in the course catalogue). In this part of the course, much freedom is provided to students to choose what they would like to do. A practical course is done individually, and generally, within this course, you help research groups in the faculty to contribute to their scientific studies. A laboratory course has 10 credit points corresponding to 300 h workload and a maximum allowed duration of 6 months. To decide where you would like to do a laboratory course, it is helpful to read about the research of different professors and their groups. The list of the institutes and professors working in each of them with the description of what kind of research they do can be found on our webpage. We have provided information on how to register for a research practical course on our webpage on timetables and module registration.  

 

M.Sc. Structural Chemistry and Spectroscopy

4 obligatory modules, one per chemistry branch:

• Inorganic chemistry - Structural Analysis in Inorganic Chemistry;
• Organic Chemistry - Chemistry of Natural Products;
• Analytical Chemistry - NMR on Biosystems;
• Physical / Theoretical chemistry – here one of four modules can be chosen to count as obligatory: Physical Chemistry of Clusters / Function Control at Complex Surfaces / Surface Spectroscopy - Methods and Applications / Modern Methods in Theoretical Chemistry

8 Choice obligatory modules

2 to 3 research practical courses

Master thesis (30 cp)

 

M.Sc. Advanced Spectroscopy in Chemistry 

You usually have to complete 30 cp per semester that you stay at Leipzig University

Obligatory module: Structural Analysis in Inorganic Chemistry (each summer semester)

Choice obligatory modules (25-30 cp, for semester 2/ semester 3)

1 research practical course (Semester 3) 

Master thesis (30 cp)

 

M.Sc. Chemistry and Biotechnology

You arrange your individual study programme with the local Leipzig programme coordinator. For advice you can also contact the Office of Study Affairs. 

 

Exchange students

For more information please have a look at the section titled “course catalogue and module registration”. 

Further Details: 

The study documents form the basis of every degree programme and contain all the important information needed to plan and organize your studies. The examination regulations (PO) contain all the specifications for the examinations of a degree program, including examination structure, examination requirements, deadlines, assessment, examination repetitions and much more. The study regulations (SO), on the other hand, contain the legally binding definition of the admission requirements, the duration and volume of study, the subject matter of the study program, as well as the structure and content of the study program. The annex to the study regulations also contains a study plan and the module descriptions. If you have specific questions, these documents provide legally binding information. 

Course catalogue and module registration

Please note that you must enrol for the modules and the corresponding courses within the enrolment period. Enrollment takes place via TOOL. When you register for a module, you automatically register for the module examination(s). Please note that you will not be able to take the examination without a valid registration.

Course Catalogue We publish the current course catalogue via AlmaWeb in January or July before the start of the semester. See the Academic Calendar for dates. Exams for the modules of a given semester are usually scheduled for dates within the first three weeks after classes end. Re-takes normally take place towards the end of the break between semesters. 

TOOL is used by our Faculty for online registration. After the end of the module registration period, the registrations are transferred to AlmaWeb. See the current module registration period and further details on the faculty's web page on module registration and course catalogue.

AlmaWeb is the study portal for students at Leipzig University - the campus management system. There you can view and download study certificates, view the course catalogue and exam registrations or deregister from modules. Your personal timetable for each semester is available via AlmaWeb after you have enrolled for the respective modules. 

Moodle courses are also available for many modules. Moodle is a learning platform that gives students and lecturers the opportunity for cooperative learning (e.g. provision or communication of supplementary teaching material, deadlines, assignments). Please note: Enrolment in Moodle does not entitle you to take an examination, nor does it entitle you to attend the course. You will receive information on Moodle courses from the lecturers.

Erasmus+ and exchange students

At Bachelor‘s level, we offer modules taught in German. At Master level, you can choose from a number of English taught modules. Both types of modules are taken from our regular Bachelor's or Masters' programmes. They are listed in our course catalogue. In order to be able to follow classes in German and take the exams, you should have language German language proficiency at level B2. For modules in English we require proficiencey of English at level B2 (recommendation: C1).

If you are a Master’s student, you have the option of doing a practical research course. Learn more about this in the degree course structure session.

For Master's modules in English, you can use the course catalogue to make your choice. For modules in German and/ or at Bachelor's level, please have a look at the modules offered in the B.Sc. Chemie and M.Sc. Chemie programmes respectively in the course catalogue. Please include the modules of your choice in a Learning Agreement and let us have it in due time, allowing for a few weeks to advise, revise and modify the draft. Your Learning Agreement should be completed before the start of module registration. Please send the draft of your Learning Agreement to us by email (erasmus[at]chemie.uni-leipzig.de) 

Please make sure to register for your modules online during the registration period. 

 

Before you arrive

• Accept your study place at Leipzig University. Details are given in your Letter of Admission.
• Apply for a visa (if applicable).
• Pay your semester fee. The deadline is stated in your Letter of Admission. Please note that the fee is not refundable and consider paying the fee only if you are certain to receive your visa in time for enrolment at Leipzig University. Further information: in your document which you will receive in AlmaWeb after accepting your study place.
• Get familiar with the structure of the Master`s program.
• Join us online for the induction event prior to the start of classes and get all important details about your Faculty and your study program and classes. Specific dates are given on this webpage. 
• Register for your modules 
• You will get a chance to take part in an online guided module registration during the module registration period. Specific dates are given on this webpage.

Applying for a German Study VISA

For non-EU citizens, one important thing to take care of is applying for a visa – if necessary. You will likely need a German student visa in order to study in Germany. If you are unsure whether you require a visa for studying in Germany, this can be answered by the German embassy in your home country. Applications to your local German embassy or consulate should be submitted as early as possible to avoid enrollment delays. 

Please note: For applicants with a university degree from certain countries like China, India or Vietnam the embassy might require an additional assessment of their university diplomas. For this so-called APS some additional time must be allowed.

 

What if my VISA is not ready on time for the start of the studies?

Please note that after classes have started enrolment is generally not possible and also not recommended. The reasons are extra costs you might have to carry such as health insurance, dormitory etc., and most importantly, it is difficult to catch up with the missed lectures. Primarily, there will be face-to-face classes. If it becomes clear that the visa will not be issued in time, then use the option to defer your admission for one semester.

To defer your admission, send an email to Annegret Cornehl at the Office of Study Affairs including your current Letter of Admission, then a fresh Letter of Admission for the next semester can be issued to you in May/ June app. (winter semester) or January/ February app. (summer semester). We therefore recommend that you already apply for your visa before you have received a new Letter of Admission using your Letter of Admission for the previous semester and additionally attaching an email by Annegret Cornehl confirming your deferral. Students who have to defer for the second time due to visa delays should also contact Annegret Cornehl, she will inform you on what you can do in this situation. 

After you arrive

• Enrol at Leipzig University – the enrolment is taking place in person. You need to book an appointment for your enrolment using the booking system. Dates and details are given in your Letter of Admission.
• Pick up your UniCard. Details are given in your documents provided in AlmaWeb
• Take out mandatory health insurance 
• Register with the city authorities 
• Register with the Foreigners’ Authorities (Ausländerbehörde) if you need a residence permit for Germany. 

 

Housing

Student dorms
Studentenwerk Leipzig offers housing for students as well as several other services that aim at bettering and supporting the lives of university students. In order to apply for a room in the student dorms please follow the instructions on their website. 

We recommend the dormitories 'Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 29-33', 'Straße des 18. Oktober 23- 33' and ‘Tarostraße 12-18', since they are closest to the faculty. When you have signed your rental agreement, look up the termination deadline and terminate your lease with the Studentenwerk in a timely manner, should you stay in Leipzig for less than a year.

In addition to Studentenwerk Leipzig, a few providers let furnished student rooms in commercial student dorms.

Private housing
The rent for private rooms in Leipzig differ and cost on average 365 Euros per month. Most of our students renting private rooms choose to live in the parts of city not too far from our Faculty buildings, i.e. Südvorstadt and Reudnitz. Private rooms for rent are published on a number of commercial internet platforms. 
 

During your chemistry studies, you will have to use all kinds of software for the protocols in the practical courses. This is provided by the faculty on our document server  (this is only accessible from the university intranet).