Frequently Asked Questions
The GDCh Office regularly receives enquiries regarding training and studying chemistry. Here you will find a selection of these. The answers provided are intended to serve as food for thought and a starting point for further research.
We would also like to point out at this stage that we are unable to provide academic guidance. There are dedicated departments at the universities for this purpose. You can find a list of contact persons for this under
There are plenty of options here. You can certainly get an initial overview from www.chemie-studieren.de. There you will also find contact details for the student advisory services at the respective universities. Some universities also offer taster days.
A comprehensive database of all chemistry degree programmes and further information can be found at www.hochschulkompass.de.
The GDCh also runs various networks that may be of interest for further discussion about studying chemistry. Firstly, there is the JCF (JungesChemieForum), in which students are active at a regional level and organise various events. Secondly, there are the local sections, which, for example, organise scientific lectures at universities.
The internet portal AusbildungPlus.
The database maintained on this site also contains many attractive training opportunities offered by companies in the chemical industry.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to recommend a specific university or higher education institution, as the choice of where to study depends on individual factors. These include, for example, the focus of the university courses, possible specialisms and areas of concentration, personal interests and goals, the cost of living, and whether moving away is an option or whether proximity to family and friends is important.
For an initial overview of subject areas, course structures, higher education institutions and contact details for student advisory services, we recommend www.chemie-studieren.de.
It can also be helpful to obtain information directly from universities, for example via their websites or student advisory services. www.hochschulkompass.de and university rankings can also help you find your way. Once you have shortlisted a few universities, open days, discussions with student advisers and talking to current students can provide further insights. Student initiatives, alumni projects and the JungesChemieForum (www.jcf.io) can also be helpful.
The ‘Statistics on Chemistry Degree Programmes’ also contains information on locations, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, student numbers and duration of study.
There are two ways to study with a ‘Fachabitur’, depending on whether ‘Fachabitur’ refers to the subject-specific university entrance qualification or the university of applied sciences entrance qualification.
In Germany, both the Fachhochschulreife and the subject-specific university entrance qualification allow you to study any subject at any University of Applied Sciences (HAW). With the subject-specific university entrance qualification, you can also study the subjects listed on your school leaving certificate at universities.
The requirements for studying with a Fachabitur depend on the respective federal state. The universities’ course advisory services are available to provide further information.
Further information on studying with a Fachabitur can be found, for example, at
https://www.azubis.de/ratgeber/berufsleben-im-blick/718
https://www.mein-studium-career.de/studium/studienformen/studieren-mit-fachabi/
For an overview of the various career paths in chemistry, please see the ‘Career Profiles’ section and the testimonials on www.chemie-studieren.de, as well as the information provided by the GDCh Career Service:
The key terms here are probably Bafög, scholarships and part-time jobs. However, student loans might also be an option. The GDCh’s careers service provides a brief overview of this.
Work experience placements for school pupils are very rarely advertised. Generally speaking, placements are available either in industry or at universities/directly within working groups. If you are interested, you should contact the relevant institution or company directly.
Company contact details can be found, for example, via
• the employers’ associations of the individual federal states. An overview of the 10 regional chemical industry employers’ associations under the Federal Chemical Industry Employers’ Association (BAVC) can be found here: https://www.bavc.de/ueber-uns/mitgliedsverbaende-partnerverbaende
• the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in your town https://www.ihk.de
• the business directory at https://www.meinestadt.de
When looking at companies, you should always check whether they offer apprenticeships; if they do, there’s a higher chance that they’ll also offer work placements.
You can find university contacts via https://www.chemie-studieren.de
The Fraunhofer Society explicitly advertises internship opportunities for school pupils on its website: https://www.fraunhofer.de/de/jobs-und-career/schueler/praktikum.html
Furthermore, you can find out about the programmes offered by school science laboratories at https://www.lernortlabor.de and, if appropriate, take advantage of these opportunities.
The GDCh Career Service also offers an internship exchange.