Whether in research, teaching, or sales: those who have completed their bachelor's degree in Applied Polymer Engineering have bright career perspectives. There is no training in this field like the one offered at THWS. One thing is guaranteed: the chance to play an active role in creating a more sustainable future.
Published on 14 January 2026
A degree programme with a unique selling point
The bachelor's degree programme in Applied Polymer Engineering at THWS is virtually unique in Germany. "There is no other undergraduate degree programme in Germany that offers training in the field of elastomers or rubber technology with the same breadth and depth as ours," emphasises Professor Dr Volker Herrmann, one of the lecturers on this degree programme. "That is our unique selling point."
Elastomer technology is the technology surrounding rubber and caoutchouc. Whether tyres, seals, or hoses – all of these are products made from elastomers. In Germany, the necessary expertise is only available at THWS as part of a bachelor's degree programme. With this specialisation, THWS is responding to the needs of an industry that employs around 70,000 people in Germany and generates annual sales of around ten billion euros. Over 1,000 graduates of this degree programme work in the industry – the first ones have even already retired.
Enjoying your studies
The programme is aimed at anyone with an interest in technology and natural sciences. Maths, physics, and chemistry are part of it, but Professor Dr. Herrmann emphasises: "You don't study chemistry or physics with us, but you do have a certain amount of these subjects, as far as is necessary for understanding." Even those who did not excel in all science subjects at school can still succeed in this programme. The decisive factors are interest and commitment. "To excel you must enjoy what you are doing," says Professor Dr. Herrmann.
The foundation phase, i.e. the first and second semester, lays the groundwork: the curriculum here includes mathematics, physics, chemistry, and design engineering. From the third semester onwards, students delve deeper into the world of plastics. They learn about polymer processing, gain an understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry and materials science, and expand their engineering expertise. Professor Dr. Marcus Schuck, academic advisor for the programme, explains: "From the third semester onwards, the curriculum consists almost exclusively of subjects related to plastics technology."
One highlight of many degree programmes at THWS is the internship semester. During this semester, students spend six months working in companies in the plastics or elastomer industry – either in Germany or abroad. Many use this phase to gain insight into their future career path or to establish valuable contacts for their career start. Back at THWS, they deepen their knowledge of plastics and elastomers in the sixth and seventh semester. Teamwork and independent projects are just as much a focus as the fundamentals of business administration. The degree programme concludes with a bachelor's thesis, often in close cooperation with a company in the industry. This ensures that graduates are well equipped to enter an innovative and future-oriented industry.
Boundless learning: practical relevance and internationalisation
Practical relevance is a central element of the programme. In addition to the internship semester, there are also laboratory internships and project work. "We refer to the internship in the lectures and to the lectures in the internship. They are carefully coordinated," explains Professor Dr. Herrmann. In addition, THWS has close contacts with industry, which facilitates and enriches the cooperative version of the programme. He is enthusiastic about the cooperative programme variant: "Afterwards, the professional world is open to you."
In addition to the enriching practical relevance of the programme, internationalisation has also been strongly promoted in recent years. The English-taught TWIN programme Applied Polymer Engineering was recently launched. Professor Dr. Schuck reports on the expansion of the programme: "Cooperation has been expanded. We have symbiotic modules with other faculties, such as FANG or Mechanical Engineering, in order to become more effective." With regard to internationalisation, Professor Dr. Schuck emphasises another aspect: "We are starting an international cooperation programme with the German-Jordanian University (GJU), in which we are introducing a degree programme called Advanced Materials Engineering." This degree programme works in such a way that students spend the first four semesters, plus a so-called pre-year, studying plastics engineering in Jordan, learning German in the process, and then come to Germany to complete the German degree programme here. These new developments offer potential not only for the degree programme itself, but also for industry in view of the shortage of skilled workers.
Shaping a sustainable future with plastics
Graduates in plastics and elastomer technology are in high demand on the job market, especially in the rubber industry. "Our graduates virtually face no competitors in the rubber industry," explains Professor Dr. Herrmann. But what specific career opportunities does the degree offer? Everything from research and development to design and manufacturing to materials science is covered. Large companies such as BASF, Bayer, and Covestro regularly seek skilled workers in this field. Technical sales is also an attractive option, as is taking on product responsibility for plastic-processing machine components. Of course, there is also the possibility of starting one's own business.
Julia Mann is a graduate of the programme. She is employed at SKZ, the Plastics Center in Würzburg, where she works on various research projects with a special focus: "Everything revolves around the circular economy and sustainability." She emphasises that plastics technology today means much more than just production: it is crucial for resource conservation, waste prevention, and innovative solutions in the interests of environmental protection.
Plastics and elastomer technology not only offers secure and diverse career paths, but also the opportunity to actively contribute to a more sustainable future. "The circular economy only works if we work together and seek and find new innovative solutions," says Julia Mann. "That is why I can only encourage anyone who is interested in plastics and sustainability to learn more about it and pursue a career in this field."
Bachelor's degree programmes in Kunststoff- und Elastomertechnik / Applied Polymer Engineering
- Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
- Language of instruction: German or English
- Standard time to degree: 7 semesters, start of studies in winter semester
- Place of studies: Würzburg, Röntgenring Campus
- Study fees: none, only semester fee
To the Faculty of Plastics Engineering and Surveying
https://fkv.thws.de
Learn more about the German-taught programme
Kunststoff- und Elastomertechnik
Learn more about the English-taught programme
Applied Polymer Engineering
