Photovoltaics Engineering Science (M.Sc.)

Department of of Electrical, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Course content and objectives

Photovoltaics Engineering Science is a 3 semesters Master’s program in English language, which requires a Bachelor’s degree in engineering science or physics. No professional experience is needed. It consists of 2 semesters courses in solar cell physics, technology of crystalline silicon and thin-film solar cells and modules, cell and materials characterization, components of a PV system and their reliability, system design, monitoring, yield and performance analysis, storage systems, power electronics, and electric grids and solar energy integration. The technical subjects will be accompanied by a course in business administration, and voluntary courses in German language for daily life (which are not credited; usually at beginner level). A final research semester under supervision of a professor from the university concludes the program. The courses combine lectures with exercises, seminars or practical laboratory work. The tuition in compact form will build up on a requested solid basis of knowledge in mathematics, physics, chemistry (or materials science), fundamentals of electrical engineering and semiconductor technology, and scientific methodology, which the applicant is expected to have acquired in a previous Bachelor's program.  The research for the Master’s thesis can be performed in the PV laboratory of Anhalt University, at the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP (in nearby city of Halle), or in any other PV laboratory or any PV company worldwide.

 

Requirements

  • University degree

    An academic degree in engineering science, physics or related fields of study of at least 7 semesters (210 credits) is required.

  • Language skills

     

    English language proficiency by appropriate scores of TOEFL min. 90 pts. (ibT) , IELTS min. 6.0 or similar tests (e.g. TOEIC, Cambridge Certificate) with minimum B2 level according to the GER (common european framework of reference for languages). An evidenced graduation from an English-medium college or university is also accepted.

     

     

  • Aptitude test procedure

    1. final grade first academic degree:

    • overall grades up to 2.5 (German grading scale) go into the selection process
    • overall grades > 2.5 (German grading scale) cannot be admitted

     

    2. other criteria:

    • letter of motivation (at most one A4 page)
    • pertinence of the Bachelor's degree program
    • proficiency in English (at least B2)
    • CV (complete and up-to-date)
    • summary of the Bachelor's degree thesis (to evaluate the ability of scientic working and writing; one A4 page + list of cited references)
    • if necessary, online interview

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Master’s program Photovoltaics Engineering Science will be qualified to work as engineers in research and development, production of cells and modules, design, construction, operation or management of photovoltaic power plants. Due to the forecast strong increase of photovoltaic power generation, especially in the sun-rich countries around the world, excellent job perspectives are expected.

Therefore, this program is especially well suited for students from countries, in which PV is currently strongly growing, and who want to participate in this process after having graduated. Although Germany is still a leading nation in research and development in PV, most of the production has meanwhile moved to the Far East, and the installation of big new PV power plants to the sun-rich countries all over the world.

But due to Germany´s ambitious plans for the energy transition, the world-wide necessity to fight the climate change, a certain recovery of the German PV manufacturing industry, and increasing lack of qualified engineers in the German job market, opportunities for foreign employees in German companies are expected to improve in the future, especially for those applicants with at least a medium knowledge of the German language.