Faculty of Engineering
Enrolling for this study plan is only possible based on your academic record.
You may also be asked to provide additional documents so we may evaluate your application.
Aanbevelingsbrief 1 / Letter of recommendation 1
Aanbevelingsbrief 2 / Letter of recommendation 2
Motivatiebrief / Letter of motivation
Puntenlijst / Transcript of records
The Master of Science in Chemical and Materials Engineering (BRUFACE) (120 ECTS), offers two profiles: a profile 'Materials' and a profile 'Process Technology'. The programme is built up modularly:
1) the Common Core Chemical and Materials Engineering (56 ECTS)
2) the Specific Profile courses (30 ECTS)
3) the master thesis (24 ECTS)
4) electives (10 ECTS) from 1 out of 3 options
Each of the modules should be succesfully completed to obtain the master degree. The student must respect the specified registration requirements. The educational board strongly suggests the student to follow the standard learning track. Only this model track can guarantee a timeschedule without overlaps of the compulsory course units.
The VUB curriculum of the first semester of the second master year can be replaced by an alternative programme of 30 ECTS at a university abroad. This Mobility Window offers the students extra freedom and flexibility to tune the content of their curriculum with additional courses and research projects without delaying their study progress. This also gives them the opportunity to collaborate with experts from other universities for their thesis research.
Student who want to apply for this mobility window have to contact the president of the Curriculum Council Chemical and Materials Engineering one academic year in advance.
The Common Core Chemical and Materials Engineering (56 ECTS) is spread over 2 years: 46 ECTS in the first and 10 ECTS in the second year. The Common Core emphasizes the interaction between process- and materials technology by a chemical (molecular) approach. The Common Core consists out of courses related to chemistry, process technology and materials and is the basis for the Process Technology and the Materials profiles.
Common Core I: compulsory courses (MA1)
These compulsory courses of Common Core I (41 ECTS) must be successfully completed in the 1st year of the model learning track.
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 41 ECTS credits.
Common Core I: project (MA1)
Students have to select one of these projects. The project must be successfully completed in the 1st year of the model learning track. The choice is irrespective of the selected profile.
General enrolment requirement: corequisite: at least 41 ECTS of Common Core I: compulsory courses.
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 5 ECTS credits.
| 5ECTS credits - Development Cooperation Project |
| 5ECTS credits - Team Leader Project |
| 5ECTS credits - Research project on sustainable chemical processes and materials |
Common Core II: compulsory courses (MA2)
These compulsory courses of Common Core II must be successfully completed in the 2nd year of the model learning track.
General enrolment requirement: prerequisite: at least 45 ECTS of the 1st year of the model learning track.
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 10 ECTS credits.
| 3ECTS credits - Environmental Technology |
| 3ECTS credits - Biotechnology: from biomolecules to biofabrication |
| 4ECTS credits - Reliability and risk analysis of industrial installations |
The profile 'Process Technology' (30 ECTS) consists out of 2 parts, spread over the 1st and the 2nd year of the model learning track: Process Technology I - 14 ECTS in MA1 and Process Technology II - 16 ECTS in MA2. The profile adds process technological courses to the common core.
Profile Process Technology I: compulsory courses (MA1)
Part 1 of the Process Technology profile (Process Technology I) includes 14 ECTS of compulsory courses in the 1st year of the model learning track.
General enrolment requirement: corequisite: at least 45 ECTS of Common Core I (compulsory courses and project).
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 14 ECTS credits.
| 6ECTS credits - Modeling and Design of Multiphase Systems and Reactors |
| 4ECTS credits - Sustainable Chemical Processes |
| 4ECTS credits - Heterogeneous catalysis |
Profile Process Technology II: compulsory courses (MA2)
Part 2 of the Process Technology profile (Process Technology II) includes 13 ECTS of compulsory courses in the 2nd year of the model learning track.
General enrolment requirement: prerequisite: at least 45 ECTS of the 1st year of the model learning track.
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 13 ECTS credits.
| 5ECTS credits - Design of chemical plants |
| 4ECTS credits - Simulation and design tools |
| 4ECTS credits - (Bio)Chemical Process Design and Control |
Profile Process Technology II: elective courses (MA2)
Part 2 of the Process Technology profile (Process Technology II) also includes 3 ECTS of elective courses. Students have to select one of these electives. It must be successfully completed in the 2nd year of the model learning track.
General enrolment requirement: prerequisite: at least 45 ECTS of the 1st year of the model learning track.
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 3 ECTS credits.
| 3ECTS credits - Molecular Nanosystems: from principles to applications |
| 3ECTS credits - Micro- and Nanobiotechnology |
The Master Thesis (24 ECTS) is compulsory. Registration for the Master Thesis is allowed provided that
1. the student doesn't have a combined bachelor-master enrollment
2. the student has already successfully accomplished 45 ECTS of compulsory courses of the master program (exemptions included).
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 24 ECTS credits.
| 24ECTS credits - Master Thesis Chemical and Materials Engineering |
| 24ECTS credits - Master Thesis Chemical and Materials Engineering ULB |
The elective courses are divided into 3 options:
- Option 1: Internship (10 ECTS)
- Option 2: Elective courses (incl. internship of 6 ECTS)
- Option 3: Entrepreneurship
The student has to select one option and at least 10 ECTS within that option. All options belong to the 2nd year of the model learning track.
General enrolment requirement for the electives: prerequisite: at least 45 ECTS of the 1st year of the model learning track.
Option 1: Internship
This option includes the Internship of 10 ECTS (60 working days). The Internship belongs to the 2nd year of the model learning track (MA2).
Remarks for students who want to select an Intership as part of their electives:
1. It is not allowed to register for both Interships.
2. The optional intership should preferably take place during the summer holidays in order to avoid interference with the course scheduling.
Prerequisites for taking one of the optional Internships:
1. The student must hold the diploma that is required for admission to this master. Students with a combined inscription bachelor-master, are not allowed to enroll for an optional intership; and
2; The student has already successfully accomplished at least 40 ECTS of compulsory courses of the master programme (exemptions included).
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 10 ECTS credits.
| 10ECTS credits - Internship (60 days) |
Option 2: Elective courses
This option includes master specific electives, including an internship of only 6 ECTS (40 working days). Students who select this option have to choose a minimum of 10 ECTS of elective course units from this list, in the 2nd year of the model learning track (MA2). They can choose these electives from the list mentioned below, or from outside of this list when sufficiently motivated and subject to approval by the chair person of the program. At most 6 ECTS of electives can be chosen outside of the list below.
The selected courses (10 ECTS) must be different from the courses the student is already enrolled for or has already completed within other modules in this programme.
Remarks for students who want to select an Intership as part of their electives:
1. It is not allowed to register for both Interships.
2. The optional intership should preferably take place during the summer holidays in order to avoid interference with the course scheduling.
Prerequisites for taking one of the optional Internships:
1. The student must hold the diploma that is required for admission to this master. Students with a combined inscription bachelor-master, are not allowed to enroll for an optional intership; and
2; The student has already successfully accomplished at least 40 ECTS of compulsory courses of the master programme (exemptions included).
Don't forget to look at the Bruface internship regulations on the website: http://www.bruface.eu/information-for-current-students .
Please consider carefully the required background knowledge before selecting these courses. Pay specific attention to the courses classified as specialised.
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 10 ECTS credits.
Option 3: Entrepreneurship
This option includes entrepreneurship related courses, that are complementary and broadening with respect to the profile. Students who select this option have to choose a minimum of 10 ECTS from this list, in the 2nd year of the model learning track (MA2).
Remark: it is not allowed to enroll for both 'Technological Business Development Project' (3 ECTS) and 'EUTOPIA Learning Unit - Technological Business Development Project' (6 ECTS).
From the courses listed below, students must obtain 10 ECTS credits.