Master in Advanced Spectroscopy in Chemistry (ASC)

Advanced Spectroscopy in Chemistry (ASC) is a joint Master's programme offered by a consortium of five European universities: Leipzig, Lille (coordinating institution), Bologna, Helsinki, and Krakow. Every student studies in at least two countries over the course of the programme, with a standard two-semester abroad period built into the design. The first semester is held at the University of Lille and covers obligatory courses in Quantum Chemistry and Chemical Bonds, Mass Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Optical Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, and English and Professionalisation, each worth 5 credit points. From the second semester onwards, students choose their location from the consortium universities based on their scientific interests. At Leipzig in semester two, compulsory courses in Synchrotron Radiation and its Applications and Structural Inorganic Chemistry are supplemented by a range of elective modules including Selected Topics of NMR Spectroscopy, Surface Spectroscopy, Modern Concepts in Catalysis, and Separation Techniques. In semester three, Leipzig-based students undertake a research project or internship in areas such as Inorganic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Heterogeneous Catalysis, and Mass Spectrometry, alongside further elective modules. The fourth semester is devoted to the Master's thesis, which is based on a collaborative project between two partner institutions where possible. Applications are assessed by a centralised consortium commission, which evaluates academic records, scientific background, institution quality, motivation, recommendation letters, language proficiency, practical experience, and awards using a weighted arithmetic average. The programme is taught in English, with Leipzig University serving as one of the consortium partners in Leipzig.