The Berlin Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Engineering (BIG-NSE) is part of the Cluster of Excellence "Unifying Concepts in Catalysis" (UniCat) founded in November 2007 by the
Technical University of Berlin and five further institutions in the Berlin area within the framework of the German government‘s
Excellence Initiative.
The main research interest of the UniCat and BIG-NSE Faculty is
Catalysis
Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...
, in a broad sense. The research fields involved cover a broad range of topics, from natural sciences to engineering. The faculty consists of professors and junior researchers from 54 research groups at 6 participating institutions and active in 13 research fields, who will be intensively involved in the supervision and mentoring of the BIG-NSE students, among them the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, the working place of Professor
Gerhard Ertl
Gerhard Ertl (; born 10 October 1936) is a German physicist and a Professor emeritus at the Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin, Germany. Ertl's research laid the foundation of modern su ...
, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2007.
Ph.D. Curriculum
The BIG-NSE offers a structured curriculum for obtaining the degree of "Doctor" within 3 years. The main characteristic of the BIG-NSE is a comprehensive integration and mentoring programme for its students, especially foreign students. It includes:
* An "Initial Phase", with intensive support, especially for administrative and integration aspects. Preparation of a schedule by the students themselves during the first semester.
* Continuous supervision by two professors/senior scientists and one mentor.
* Regular evaluation of the students’ work/study achievements.
* Continuous support for all professional and social aspects.
* Regular lectures presented by guest scientists from all over the world.
* Language and soft skill courses.
* Financial support for scientific and teaching materials.
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for the BIG-NSE are:
* A Master‘s degree or German Diploma in chemistry, biology, physics or engineering.
* A Certificate of English Proficiency (TOEFL with a minimum of 550 - paper-based version, or equivalent) for applicants whose native language is neither English nor German.
* Two letters of recommendation.
See also
* Cluster of Excellence
Unifying Systems in Catalysis (UniSysCat) (follow-up project of Unifying Concepts in Catalysis (UniCat))
*
Technical University Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin)
*
Free University Berlin
The Free University of Berlin (, often abbreviated as FU Berlin or simply FU) is a public research university in Berlin, Germany. It is consistently ranked among Germany's best universities, with particular strengths in political science and t ...
(Freie Universität Berlin)
*
Humboldt University of Berlin
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (german: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a German public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. It was established by Frederick William III on the initiative ...
(Humboldt Universität zu Berlin)
*
University of Potsdam
The University of Potsdam is a public university in Potsdam, capital of the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It is mainly situated across three campuses in the city. Some faculty buildings are part of the New Palace of Sanssouci which is known ...
(Universität Potsdam)
*
Fritz Haber Institute of the MPG
The Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (FHI) is a science research institute located at the heart of the academic district of Dahlem (Berlin), Dahlem, in Berlin, Germany.
The original Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physical Chemistry ...
(Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft)
*
Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces (Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung)
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Chemistry education
Education in Germany