Master's in Chemistry ((Bio)Organic and Polymer Chemistry)

Ghent University is a public university in Ghent, Belgium. It was founded in 1817 and is one of the largest universities in Belgium. The university has over 40,000 students and 6,000 staff members. It offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in the fields of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, medicine, and engineering. Ghent University is ranked #121-130 in the QS World University Rankings 2024. It is also a member of the League of European Research Universities and the Coimbra Group.

(Bio)Organic and Polymer Chemistry focuses on molecules: how to synthesize and understand them, how to adapt them and use them for biological applications, and how to bring them together to form macromolecular entities and polymers. We start with experimental and analytical organic chemistry (carbon chemistry), with a focus on the latest developments and techniques, and move to modified DNA and renewable or “smart” plastic materials. (Bio)Organic and Polymer Chemistry prepares you for a career in the fine chemicals industry, in the pharma and life science industry, or in the polymer industry. For whom The admission requirements vary. Depending on your preliminary training, you are either able to enrol directly, or there are additional requirements. Structure Half of the curriculum consists of project-based education. Already in the first-year curriculum, you will take a start with your Master’s dissertation. You end the Master’s programme with a full-term work placement, which you can complete at a company or a foreign research laboratory. In addition to the (domain) Master’s programme described above, you can also choose a Master’s Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: Educatieve Master). However, this is a fully Dutch-taught programme. More information can be found on www.ugent.be/educatievemaster. Labour Market It is a fact that chemistry plays an important role in various branches of industry, which in turn, are crucial to the economy and employment. Take, for instance, the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, or agriculture. Our broad academic programme ensures that our graduates find employment opportunities in different branches of industry. Their career opportunities are as ample as they are diverse. Chemistry graduates can for instance be involved in academic research, product development, quality control … or they can take on managerial positions in companies as well as in government agencies. In addition, they are also well-equipped for a career in the public sector, including education. The most important assets of university graduates in Chemistry are their research-mindedness, their problem-solving skills and their polyvalence.