FAQ - to CMS, TUBAF, Freiberg
- Main sources about CMS@TUBAF?
- Why should I join the CMS master program at TUBAF?
- Which skills should I bring along?
- What are the skills that I will develop in the CMS at TUBAF, that I cannot acquire anywhere else?”
- Why should I study at TU Bergakademie Freiberg?
- Is it possible to finance my studies by working as a student worker in one of the university's institutes?
- Is there any tuition for the CMS at TUBAF program?
- Do I need to have a prior German knowledge to apply for this program?
- I am eligible to apply for CMS during my final bachelor's year?
- Is there any application fee involved?”
- Can an interested candidate with background in other engineering fields also apply?
- I have completed my studies at an institution where the medium of instruction was English, do I still need to submit English proficiency test report?
- Can I submit my IELTS result instead of TOEFL, or give any other proof of my proficiency in English?”
- What is the TUBAF TOEFL code for sending my results?
- Will I be informed/notified about the receipt of my application?”
- When will I be notified if my application has been successful?
- I have been accepted to join the program, what should I do before traveling to Freiberg?
- Are Freiberg and Freiburg the same city?
- How can I get an accommodation in Freiberg?
- What are the living expenses estimates in Freiberg?
- How is the weather / temperature in Freiberg?
1. General
Q: “Main sources about CMS@TUBAF?”
A: Here you go!
- https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/international-programmes/en/detail/4288/.
- https://tu-freiberg.de/master-computational-materials-science.
- https://cms-tubaf.de - this page.
Q: “Why should I join the CMS master program at TUBAF?”
A: CMS is a multidisciplinary program. The focus of CMS is on modeling of material properties at different length scales. You should join the CMS master program if:
- You are interested in solving problems of physics/mechanics/materials science by using computers,
- You want to understand how engineering problems can be modelled based on maths and physics and solved by computational methods,
- You want to conduct multiscale research, from the atomistic nanoscale up to the length scales of large engineering structures,
- You want to push theoretical concepts into real-world applications by “hands on” experience/approach,
Q: “Which skills should I bring along?”
A: You should have some joy in scientific thinking, independent work and a kind of "computer affinity" and be interested in the behavior of materials, since CMS combines these two fields.
Q: “What are the skills that I will develop in the CMS at TUBAF, that I cannot acquire anywhere else?”
A: In most of other programs, you will mainly focus on simulation in one area . For example, you will become an expert on DFT as physicist, on MD as material scientist or on FEM as mechanical engineer. However, a very small number of programs will offer you the possibility to get familiar with more than two modeling frameworks and the techniques to couple them. By joining the CMS program at TUBAF, you will not only become familiar with two modeling frameworks, but you will have the opportunity to learn about and experience with modeling at different length scales.
We designed the program to allow you enough time to “learn by practice”, meaning you will gain a lot of experience in developing and applying your own numerical tool during the third semester.
Q: “Why should I study at TU Bergakademie Freiberg ?”
A:Here you find a great community of leading scientists on all relevant fields of materials research, modeling and simulation
- You want to study in a small and friendly university
- You want to have close contact to your teachers with individual supervision
- You like to study in an international multicultural group of students
- You want to have broad choice of materials and applications (semi-conductors, ceramics, piezoceramics, glass, concrete, geomaterials, several engineering metals and alloys.
Q: “Is it possible to finance my studies by working as a student worker in one of the university’s institutes?”
A: Students jobs directly associated with research projects in the institutes (max 40 h/month)
are available on campus
. Hereby, you learn and earn money. Note: You will not be
able to receive a visa to enter Germany if you cannot finance your stay in Germany.
Q: “Is there any tuition for the CMS at TUBAF program?”
A: No. There is no tuition fee.
Q: “Do I need to have a prior German knowledge to apply for this program?”
A: No, German knowledge is no longer required to enrol in CMS. Of course, some German knowledge at the beginning of the studies is helpful.
2. About the program
Q: “What do you mean by “Research Seminar and Journal Club”?”
A: The abilities to read, understand and summarize scientific publications in written and oral
form is an integral part of the program. Beyond, the skills to identify relevant papers, codes
and datasets are trained, which goes far beyond academic research in that it prepares for the
world of industrial and technological applications. Even the assessment of the coding skills of
chat bots like ChatGPT has been included most recently; individually selected tasks related to
computational materials science are given as an assignment to the Chat bots – and critically
verified and validated. So we empower in pioneering formats the students abilities at the
interface of human-artificial intelligence.
Moreover, invited researchers give a special lecture on one particular topic of interest in the
context of multiscale/multiphysics modeling and simulation, where we will gather and discuss the
seminar’s topic. The goal of the Journal club is to prepare the students to attend the seminar
in an informed manner, and give the opportunity to the most shy students to interact with the
speakers.
Q: “Does this program offer studies at the Ph.D.-level as well?”
A: Not directly. The program graduates you as master. However, after the master thesis, some scholarships will be available to continue as PhD for another three years. This scholarships will be granted based on the student’s ranking at the end of master program. Furthermore, excellent students will get the opportunity to be affiliated as scientific co-worker in one of the institutes of the TUBAF or aligned research institutes, where you can qualify as PhD as well. As a matter of fact, several graduates go for a PhD, for a few examples see the testimonials of alumni in Alumni Experiences.
3. Application procedure
Q: “Am I eligible to apply for CMS during my final bachelor's year?”
A: No. You can apply for the program only after you have finished your bachelor degree.
Q: “Is there any application fee involved?”
A: No, there is no application fee.
Q: “Can an interested candidate with background in other engineering fields also apply?”
A: You should have a Bachelor degree in one of the following disciplines or equivalent study programs:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Materials Science
- Applied Physics
- Theoretical Physics
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Computer Science
Q: “I have completed my studies at an institution where the medium of instruction was English, do I still need to submit English proficiency test report?”
A: If you are a citizen of an English speaking country, that includes American Samoa, Australia, Canada (except the province of Quebec), Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, or Zambia, the submission of the English Test requirement is waived. All other applicant citizens will need to submit a proof of English skills.
Q: “Can I submit my IELTS result instead of TOEFL, or give any other proof of my proficiency in English?”
A: YES
Q: “What is the TUBAF TOEFL code for sending my results?”
A: TUBAF TOEFL code is 8233. In addition add a copy of the TOEFL results in your application package as well.
Q: “Will I be informed/notified about the receipt of my application?”
A: YES. You will receive an email at the address provided on the Application Form that acknowledges the receipt of your application by the program committee members.
Q: “When will I be notified if my application has been successful?”
A: We will notify you by email at the address provided on the Application Form by the end of April (Non-EU citizens) or by the end of August (EU citizens). You will then have one week to confirm your participation in the CMS program at TUBAF.
4. From being accepted to your start in CMS@TUBAF
Q: “I have been accepted to join the program, what should I do before traveling to Freiberg?”
Congratulations! We welcome you into the program, and are looking forward to working together. Before traveling to Freiberg you need to do the following:
- 4.1. Confirm your intention to join program
- 4.2. If you are not a German citizen, you need to apply for a Visa. (Please contact a German embassy or consulate in your home country to find out about visa requirements for students. Please apply for your visa early, as the issuing can take up to ten weeks. You are strongly warned against entering the country as a tourist. A tourist visa cannot be converted into student visa!)
- 4.3. Contact us for an accommodation in Freiberg.
5. Living in Freiberg
Most of the answers to your questions can be found on this page.
Q: “Are Freiberg and Freiburg the same city?“
A: No, this are two different cities. Freiberg is located in the east of Germany, Freiburg is in the south. Please find a map and more information about the arrival to Freiberg here.
Q: “How can I get an accommodation in Freiberg?“
A: Depending of your budget, you can either rent a room in one of the university student houses or look for a private apartment (by yourself or with roommates) in the city of Freiberg.
Q: “What are the living expenses estimates in Freiberg?“
A: Living in Freiberg is relatively inexpensive compared to the western part of Germany with expenses estimated at the sum of 500 € per month.
Q: “How is the weather / temperature in Freiberg?“
A: Please find a table with the average temperature of Freiberg here.