Why Environmental Chemistry in Bayreuth?

An individualized study programme, short communication ways, and excellent relationships between supervisors and students create a family atmosphere where studying is both an intellectual challenge and a personal joy. Our teaching concept is interdisciplinary, solution-oriented, and research-lead with a strong practical focus. Individual coaching in small groups, extensive discussions with lecturers and an early integration into ongoing research projects will help you develop your specific scientific profile and establish a network for your later career. Our structured and well-balanced study programme will enable you to complete your master´s degree successfully and within the foreseen duration of 2 years.

But where the hell is Bayreuth…?

Bayreuth is located in the middle of Europe, in the southern part of Germany and the northern part of the Federal State of Bavaria. It is a small town of 70,000 inhabitants, among them 15,000 students. The University of Bayreuth is currently rated among the top young universities according to the Times Higher Education global ranking “100 under 50”. This ranking focuses on the top 100 universities worldwide which were founded less than 50 years ago. As a medium-sized campus university, we place less emphasis on growth and more on ensuring the highest quality of our infrastructure. In so doing, the University of Bayreuth focuses on the areas of emphasis in the various disciplines and on developing a range of interdisciplinary links that ensure it a place among the best universities internationally.

And what do they have to do with Environmental Chemistry…?

Environmental Research has a long‐standing tradition in Bayreuth. The study programme geoecology (today with a bachelor and master programme) was designed in Bayreuth in the late 1970s and rapidly became a success story. Today, it can be studied at 6 universities throughout Germany. In 1989, the Bayreuth Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystem Research was founded to investigate complex ecological interdependencies with a focus on forest die-back. Today, the focus has further broadened and about 25 research groups are organized in the Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research. The assembled expertise provides unique opportunities for national and international students joining weekly seminars, using our joint laboratory facilities or our national and international network for your master´s theses. The new programme Environmental Chemistry is centrally organized by six groups, which are the research groups for Atmospheric Chemistry, Environmental Geochemistry, Experimental Biogeochemistry/Microbiology, Hydrology/Hydrochemistry, Isotope Geochemistry, and Soil Ecology/Soil Chemistry (for further details see Your Lecturers).