Study Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology
Understanding the Structure of a Degree Program
Discover Fields of Study
Bachelor's degree (6 semesters)
In the Bachelor's degree program, you will acquire the basic knowledge of Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology in a compact form. During your studies, you will specialize in one field of study and set your first professional priorities. The short specialization phase allows you to remain flexible. The Bachelor's degree enables you to start your career at an early stage as well as transfer to further Master's courses.
Curriculum Process Engineering and Natural Materials Engineering_Bachelor.pdf
Diploma program (10 semesters)
The diploma program follows the classic engineering education model. After a broad-based foundation phase, you will specialize in one field of study over several semesters and develop a clear professional profile. A central component of the course is the specialist internship in the 7th semester, which you complete outside the university. You will gain practical experience in an industrial environment and apply your knowledge directly to real tasks. The Diplom-Ingenieur degree is internationally recognized and is equivalent to a Master's degree in terms of qualification.
Curriculum Process Engineering and Natural Materials Engineering_Diploma.pdf
Diploma postgraduate course (5 semesters)
The diploma postgraduate course is aimed at graduates of related engineering courses who wish to expand or realign their specialist profile. By choosing a field of study, you will deepen your knowledge in a targeted manner and develop a specialized professional profile up to the degree of Diplom-Ingenieur.
Further legally binding information and conditions for the degree program, such as study requirements or application deadlines, can be found in the central study information system (SINS).
Foundation Phase (Semesters 1–4)
Whether you’re pursuing a Bachelor’s or a Diplom degree, during the first four semesters you’ll acquire the mathematical, scientific, engineering, and general foundations of Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology. Required modules cover topics such as Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology, mathematics, chemistry, measurement and automation technology, computer science, and business administration.
Advanced Studies
In the second part of the program, you’ll combine these fundamentals with an application-oriented specialization. Starting in the 5th semester, you’ll choose one of five specializations and develop your own individual academic profile. The required curriculum in the 5th through 9th semesters (Diploma program) or in the 5th semester (Bachelor’s program) is supplemented by elective modules, which you can select from a course catalog based on your interests.
Food engineering - synonymous with food technology - deals with all processing and procedural operations used to transform agricultural raw materials into edible and safe foods sustainably. This requires engineers with sound scientific and engineering skills who are familiar with the specific properties of the raw materials, the intermediate products and the foodstuffs at the end of the value chain when planning, implementing and monitoring the necessary procedures and processes, as well as taking into account the special features of food process engineering.
In addition to general process engineering content, students are taught specific knowledge of food chemistry, food microbiology and hygiene, and the processes and procedures required for food production and their technical implementation. According to personal interests and preferences, students can also specialize through individual module selection, e.g., in biochemistry and nutritional physiology, quality assurance and food sensory analysis, food rheology, plant and safety engineering, beverage technology and food additives, as well as cleaning technology, industrial hygiene, and food packaging.
The field of study is particularly suitable for students looking for a combination of scientific and technical content with strong relevance to everyday life. Graduates of food technology are employed primarily in food-producing companies, where they take on a wide variety of tasks, for example, in research and development, process and product development, as well as in production monitoring, and quality management.
Process technology is an interdisciplinary engineering discipline that deals with the industrial conversion of substances or mixtures of substances, such as organic or inorganic raw materials, building materials, foodstuffs, waste materials, water or air. The conversion of substances can take place with the aid of physical (thermal or mechanical), chemical or biological processes.
In general process engineering, the diverse conversion processes are traced back to so-called "basic processes" or "unit operations", the sequence of which represents a process from the raw material to the end product. These basic processes are initially considered and researched separately from the products.
On the basis of solid scientific and technical knowledge, General Process Engineering investigates in particular the microprocesses of material conversion, which can be used, for example, for the separation of very fine particles on and in filters, the drying of moist wood chips, the extraction of flavors from solids, the grinding of cereal grains, the mixing of color pigments into polymer materials, or the classification of abrasive particles according to their size. These micro processes are realized in technical apparatus or machines (stirred tanks, mills, distillation columns ). Process engineers learn to dimension these apparatuses, to operate them in a resource-efficient manner, to monitor them metrologically, to interconnect them in plants and to control them automatically.
An essential method of general process engineering is to abstract the respective concrete application in order to be able to transfer the developed model concepts to as many applications as possible. From the point of view of process engineers, there is no significant difference between shredding construction waste and grinding roasted coffee beans. The same applies to the distillative separation of petroleum into tar, fuel oils, light gasoline, etc. and the distillation of mash to produce whisky or bio-ethanol. T
his interdisciplinary approach opens up a wide range of professional fields of application (research, process and product development, production monitoring, plant planning, plant control, quality management) for graduates of general process engineering in many different branches of industry (e.g. pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pigments, large-scale chemicals, paper technology). In the specialization subjects, they can also acquire special skills in process automation, recycling technology, product development or particle technology, among others.
Bioprocess engineering, bioengineering, and industrial biotechnology are synonyms for the scientific discipline that deals with implementing biological material transformations in industrial processes. The focus is on the sustainable production of valuable chemical substances from renewable raw materials or waste streams.
Bioprocess engineering is located at the interface of biology and engineering sciences. In addition to general process engineering content, students are taught the knowledge necessary for developing and optimizing biotechnological manufacturing processes using microorganisms, isolated plant and animal cells, and enzymes.
Algenbioreaktor und Algenzellen (Haematococcus pluvialis) mit rotem Farbstoff Astaxanthin
Students can choose different emphases in their study program depending on their inclination. For example, they can choose subjects focusing on the apparatus engineering design and automation of biotechnical processes. Alternatively or complementarily, they can concentrate on content necessary for optimizing microbial production strains through targeted metabolic engineering.
This field of study suits students looking for a combination of biological and technical content. Graduates of bioprocess engineering are mainly employed in the (bio)chemical and pharmaceutical industries, where they translate the results of basic biological research into industrial processes.
Chemical engineering technology, chemical engineering, or in English-speaking countries, chemical engineering are synonyms for the scientific discipline at the interface between natural science and engineering, which focuses on processes and plants in which substances are changed according to type, property, and/or composition, e.g., with the help of catalysts. The methods and plants are used to extract various materials and valuable substances from conventional and renewable raw materials and waste materials for multiple industries. The spectrum ranges from A for agriculture to Z for the cement industry.
During their studies, students of chemical engineering technology intensively deal with chemical fundamentals and processes in material conversion, material separation, and material combination according to chemical, mechanical and thermal principles. In addition to general engineering and unique process engineering content, lectures, exercises, and extensive laboratory practicals are explicitly used to impart knowledge and develop skills necessary for developing and optimizing chemical syntheses and associated separation operations. Students can choose different emphases in their study program depending on their inclination. They can acquire material- and process-related special knowledge for various branches of industry and alternatively or complementarily focus on thermodynamic fundamentals or phenomena at particles and phase interfaces.
The field of study is particularly suitable for students seeking a combination of engineering with natural science and, in particular, chemistry. In their careers, chemical engineering graduates research new processes and methods for producing various materials, valuable substances, and active ingredients, plan and implement associated production facilities, and operate, monitor, and optimize them. In addition to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, the skills acquired are also required primarily in the cosmetics and care products industries, as well as in environmental, energy, and semiconductor technology, and apparatus and plant engineering. Graduates of chemical engineering thus find challenging and future-proof jobs in almost all industry sectors and make an indispensable contribution to the development of sustainable industrial production.
Wood and fiber materials technology encompasses three main areas of focus: Wood technology deals with the anatomical or chemical structure, physical properties, technical use, and processing of wood as a raw material. Fiber materials technology is dedicated to the extraction, modification, and processing of generally vegetable fibers into materials. Paper technology, in turn, is the field of expertise for producing and preparing paper fiber materials and their finishing.
With the increasing expansion of a sustainable economy based on natural resources, and the bio-economy, more and more new fields are being opened up for this purpose: Wood is by far the largest bio-based raw material source for use in products of all kinds. In this context, wood technology goes beyond craft-based apprenticeships to sustainably tap the potential of wood-based materials in technical industries. Individual interests can be pursued through a broad selection of scientific project work accompanying the course. In addition, employment as a student assistant is an often-appreciated opportunity to gain experience in the laboratory and with the state of diverse research.
Our graduates work in all wood processing industries, i.e., in particular the furniture industry, the pulp and paper industry, and companies that manufacture machines and chemicals for processing wood and composites from natural fibers.
Specialized and research internships in the Diplom program (7th semester), as well as modules focused on general and interdisciplinary skills—for example, in the humanities or Business Administration and Economics—help you further refine your academic focus and navigate your studies in a targeted manner. The program concludes in the 10th semester with the completion of the diploma thesis or in the 6th semester with the completion of the bachelor’s thesis.
Enrollment (no admission cap)
Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology at TU Dresden—Topics and Future Prospects
Josi, a student in Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology—Profile and Q&A
Josi is studying Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology with a focus on Food Technology. In this profile, she shares what excites her about the Department and how the degree program’s flexibility will help you choose the right department.
University Vlog—Join Toni in Her Everyday Student Life
Is studying a full-time job? Not for Toni! In addition to her studies in Process Engineering and Natural Product Technology at TU Dresden, she’s also the editor of queerdinx, a magazine for queer people. ✍️🏳️🌈 She even received the Deutschlandstipendium for her dedication! In the new university vlog, she gives us a glimpse into her colorful daily life—from the cafeteria to lab equipment to trips to the movies.
© Protagonistin und Dreh: Antonia Xenodochius Schnitt: Peggy Rudolph, Carola Queitsch
Studying Process Engineering: From Reactor Design to Lab Analysis! | alpha Uni
Matti Lehmann is in his 8th semester studying Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology at TU Dresden. His goal after graduation: to develop and design sustainable production processes. ARD alpha Uni followed Matti through his daily student life. In the video, he offers insights into his lab practicum, the friendly atmosphere during lectures and lab sessions, and the construction of a bioreactor for a seminar paper.
Verfahrenstechnik studieren: Zwischen Reaktorbau und Laboranalyse! | alpha Uni © ARD Alpha Uni
“I’ve always enjoyed getting creative in the kitchen. Chocolates, cakes, bread, and yogurt—homemade not only tastes better, but I’ve also always enjoyed expressing myself through cooking. But I wanted more. To know more—for example, how filled chocolates, which take me hours to make, can be produced by the thousands per hour. To understand more—why milk is liquid, but yogurt is solid. But do I want to spend my whole life working with food, or is this just a phase? After graduating from high school, I wasn’t quite sure. The TU Dresden offers a very flexible degree program in Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology. During the first four semesters, you have time to study general engineering subjects and get a taste of a wide variety of specializations—such as biotechnology, wood and fiber technology, or food technology—before deciding on a specific track. I’m very happy with my decision to continue focusing on food. The Chair of Food Engineering not only teaches fundamental processes but also the science behind them. Of course, hands-on experience plays a major role. Numerous field trips, internships, and tastings made learning easier. Current research is also given plenty of attention. Above all, the holistic use of food—and thus the conservation of resources and the development of new applications for food—is an important topic.”
She reveals more about the degree program and its content in the video.
Portrait of graduate Johannes Boenke (class of 2022)
1. What position do you hold and what does your day-to-day work look like?
As an engineer at the Dresden-based plant engineering company Sunfire, I am involved in the pre-development of electrolysers for hydrogen production. The activities are varied and cover theoretical and practical tasks. One day I work on new control concepts or carry out process engineering calculations. On other days, I work on one of our test benches to check the theoretical preliminary considerations. And on another day, I accompany a commissioning and proudly see how my ideas from pre-development have been implemented in a functioning production plant.
2. What fascinates you about your work?
I am fascinated by the fact that solving technical challenges always works best in a team. We discuss possible solutions with our colleagues. In order to implement the best suggestions, you have to deal with other internal departments, e.g. production or those responsible for the test stand. If a solution can be successfully developed in the end, it is a good feeling. Above all, there is always the fascination of being able to work on one of the key technologies of the future with hydrogen production.
3. Which experiences from your studies in Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology have benefited you the most in your career?
The practical work for the internship and the diploma thesis had a great impact on me, as you are prepared for solving problems from industry. In the exercises accompanying the lectures, all the necessary quantities for calculation tasks are known. In the practical course, you learn to find the required variables yourself or to make plausible assumptions in order to be able to complete a successful calculation at the end. You also get to know processes in companies and find out whether the industry interests you.
4. Did you have a specific career goal during your studies? How did your career develop in comparison?
After leaving school, I didn't know where I wanted to go. In the mechanical engineering-based foundation course, I was particularly interested in the automotive industry and saw my future there. However, I discovered my love for process engineering through the lectures in my main degree course and my specialist internship at IBU-tec Weimar. Against the backdrop of the major challenge of a decarbonizing economy, I completed a research internship and thesis in the hydrogen industry, which still holds me in its spell. Looking back, it was not a straightforward path, but one from which I was able to take away many different experiences.
5. What advice would you give to students starting out in their careers?
Just go for it. You gather a lot of new impressions in the first few months. You may be the newbie, but use this as an opportunity to ask questions and try things out. Don't wear yourself down by being too ambitious - you still have a whole working life ahead of you.
And most importantly: keep in touch with your fellow students. The friendships you make and get-togethers are worth even more, especially after graduation.
Process engineering enables the industrial conversion ofCO2 into synthetic fuels, milk into curd or molasses into biodegradable plastics. It plays an important role in almost all areas of our everyday lives, be it in the production of food, textiles, medicines or in the increasingly important production of energy from renewable raw materials. Process engineering is an engineering science for all-rounders that deals with the physical, chemical and biological conversion of materials in industrial processes. Natural materials technology focuses on the use of renewable resources such as wood, plant fibers or microorganisms.
In both process engineering and natural materials technology, the focus is on technical
processes in which a new product is created from a raw material. Like all areas of our daily lives, process engineering is also subject to ever-increasing digitalization. This development is taken into account in the training content through the increased teaching of knowledge in the computer-aided design and simulation of industrial processes.
Graduates of the Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology degree program at TU Dresden have a wide range of employment opportunities in research and all areas of industry thanks to their sound engineering education. They develop industrial processes for material conversion, design production plants and monitor their operation. They are involved in the development of new products from natural substances and take on tasks in the areas of management and quality assurance. The future well-being of our society can only be ensured through sustainable industrial management. Our graduates make a decisive contribution to this by developing resource-saving, highly efficient industrial processes and products based on renewable raw materials.
Process engineers find employment here, for example:
- Chemical industry
- pharmaceutical industry
- Cosmetics industry
- Food and luxury food industry
- Plastics and rubber industry
- Wood, paper, paint and varnish industry
- Environmental technology
- Energy technology
- Plant and apparatus engineering
- Automotive industry
- Medical technology
- Research and development
The education and research program of the Dresden Process and Natural Products Engineering is supported by the following professorships & working groups
Our expertise ranges from using natural substances to produce sustainable products and foodstuffs to classic topics in (bio)chemicals. But also from mechanical process engineering to modern information technologies to digitalize production processes. By working on our research topics, students have the opportunity to gain practical experience at an early stage and come into contact with socially and technically highly relevant topics.
Degree Program Reviews
How satisfied are students in the Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology degree program? Studycheck.de offers independent reviews of the degree program
Academic Advising for Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology
Do you have specific questions about the Process Engineering and Natural Materials Technology degree program, its structure, or its main areas of focus? The academic advising office can assist you with detailed questions about the program and help you determine which track or specialization is right for you.
© Tobias Ritz
Studienfachberater
NameThomas Schön
Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
Digital Information Sessions During the Application Period
In addition, our digital information sessions in the summer offer a concise, supplementary orientation for anyone who hasn’t yet made a final decision about which degree program to pursue at the Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering. You’ll gain brief insights into the degree programs and can engage directly with us—concise and hassle-free. This program complements individual academic advising and is intended as additional guidance for those who would like to get a clearer picture before making their decision.
Still unsure about which program to choose?
If you’re generally considering which degree program to pursue or are looking for help with academic orientation, the Central Student Information and Counseling Service at TU Dresden can assist you. Here, regardless of the specific degree program, you can get answers to questions about choosing a major, the application process, or making a decision.