Process Engineering

In this English-language master’s program, you’ll combine chemical engineering with biotechnology or food technology. You’ll conduct research on biofuels derived from waste, develop clean energy from biomass, or ensure the quality of our food. What makes this program unique: You’ll study one semester in Offenburg and one semester at our partner university in Olsztyn, Poland. By the end, you’ll have two degrees under your belt and be prepared for the multicultural environment of chemical engineering.

academic advising

Profile

Degree
Master of Science (M. Sc.)

Study Language
English

Standard period of study
3 Semester

Starts of study
Winter semester

Application deadline
March 31 (resident outside the EU) / July 15 (resident within the EU)

Admission requirements
completed bachelor's degree in a related field, APS (for applicants from China, India, and Vietnam)

Language requirements
TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.0

Practical requirements
Internship or verifiable practical experience desirable

ECTS
90 Credits

Place of study
Hochschule Offenburg, UWM (Poland)

Selection process
Yes (NC)

Everything You Need to Know

Course Content

In this English-language dual degree program, you will specialize and expand your knowledge in chemical and thermal process engineering, biotechnology, or food technology.

1st Semester (Offenburg)

At Hochschule Offenburg, we focus on a research-oriented education with a strong practical focus. Your areas of emphasis:

Gasification, pyrolysis, and combustion of biomass
Production, treatment, and storage of biogas
Impact-based environmental analysis

2nd Semester (Olsztyn)

At the University of Warmia and Mazury (UWM), you’ll choose your specialization.

State-of-the-art laboratories for environmental biotechnology or food technology are available to you:

Division of Environmental Biotechnology

Environmental Impact
Toxicology (specifically: the fishing industry and landfills)
Water and Sludge Treatment
Genetic engineering
Biopolymers and Biofuels

Division of Food Technology

Food physics and rheology
Food Quality and Safety Management
Fundamentals of Nutrition
Novel Food Products

3rd Semester (Anywhere)

Time for your master’s thesis. You can write it at HSO, UWM, another university, a research institute, or an industrial company of your choice.

Perspectives

After earning your dual degree, you’ll be ready for a career in the public sector, the private sector, or academia—and you’ll have valuable intercultural skills. In today’s multicultural world of process engineering, these skills are more important than ever.

We typically find our graduates in:

the chemical industry
the pharmaceutical industry
biotechnology companies
medical companies
mechanical and plant engineering companies
Government and non-governmental regulatory agencies
Insurance companies
Research institutes
Higher education institutions

A Ph.D. in process engineering is also a possibility: Through collaborations with our partner universities, there is an opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in joint projects.

Application

Would you like to join our international master’s program in Process Engineering? If you meet the requirements, we look forward to receiving your online application via HISinOne. We offer 20 spots per academic year—so don’t miss your chance!

Here’s what happens next:

You can find the application deadlines for the winter semester in the program overview. Once you’ve entered your personal information in HISinOne, our selection process begins.

In April, we’ll let you know if you’ve made the shortlist. If so, the next step is simple: you’ll receive a link to upload your complete application materials. And we’ll get back to you!

Important notes:

Proof of English proficiency: We accept the following certificates at the academic level:

TOEFL iBT: min. 79 points
IELTS: min. 6.0 (in all sections)
Cambridge Certificate
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic

We do not accept confirmations from other universities regarding the language of instruction (e.g., “Medium of Instruction”).

Provisional Application: You may apply even if you do not yet have your bachelor’s degree.

Transcript of Records: To assess your academic suitability, you must upload your current bachelor’s transcript to the online portal.

Climate protection from the reactor

From the outside, it’s just a glass container with a few tubes. But inside the reactor, something is happening that drives young engineer Buse: the transformation of an invisible climate killer. This report explores what she hopes to achieve with her research and how she’s gaining confidence in the process.

Your partner university in Poland

The University of Warmia and Mazury (UWM) – also known as the University of Warmia and Mazury – is a true heavyweight in research. Located in Olsztyn, in the heart of the Masurian Lake District, it consistently ranks among the world’s top research institutions according to the CWUR rankings. You will spend your second semester and, if you choose, complete your master’s thesis in Olsztyn. Here, you will experience excellent teaching and research that sets global standards.

How it all began: From Offenburg to Olsztyn

What began in 1981 as a bold relief effort is now a cornerstone of a strong academic partnership: The German-Polish dual degree programs at Hochschule Offenburg are built on a friendship that has grown during times of crisis.

Stepping up when it counts

In the midst of the Polish economic crisis of the 1980s, citizens of Offenburg sent a message of solidarity. They launched a relief effort for the 180,000 residents of Olsztyn. Georg Dietrich, a freight forwarder from Offenburg, didn’t hesitate: He immediately offered to provide a free relief transport. On August 22, 1981, after a grueling 29-hour journey, he arrived in Olsztyn with 18 tons of goods. It marked the beginning of a connection that endures to this day.

The “Christmas Bridge,” or: A Diplomatic Thriller

Things became particularly emotional in December 1981: Under the motto “Children Help Children,” schools in Offenburg collected 7,800 packages of candy and toys. But politics got in the way: The communist regimes wanted to stop the publicity, and border officials harassed the convoy. Only an intervention by the Foreign Ministry and a lucky coincidence—a meeting between Helmut Schmidt and Erich Honecker—clear the way. Just hours after the convoy crosses the border under the protection of the broader diplomatic climate, martial law is imposed in Poland. Georg Dietrich and his team escape at the last second.

The Bridge Is Secure

In the late 1990s, Prof. Dr. Johannes Vinke brings music to the relationship: During a choir tour, he establishes initial contacts with the University of Warmia and Mazury (UWM). Personal encounters soon give way to academic exchange. The Georg and Maria Dietrich Foundation has sustained this commitment since 1998 with scholarships and seed funding.

The success of this bridge today:

2009: Launch of the first dual master’s program in “Process Engineering”
2012: Support for the construction of Building E at the HSO
2018: Launch of the second dual master’s program in “Biotechnology”

Today, Rector Prof. Dr. Stephan Trahasch and his Polish colleague Prof. Dr. Jerzy Andrzej Przyborowski continue this tradition. For example, through cultural exchange or joint academic conferences. This is how we bring education to life across borders.