• Laboratory internships help students better understand industrial processes. You will learn more about appled practices as part of industry-related research, term papers, course content, your Bachelor's thesis, or while perhaps working in addition to your studies.. 
• The JKU provides access to a wide range of equipment and software solutions to characterize, process, and design plastic products as well as recycle plastics. The LIT Factory is also home to industrial-scale machines.

• In addition to a broad, base-knowledge degree program, you can also personalize parts of the curriculum to focus on the areas that interest you most. For example, you can specialize in materials development and characterization, product design, processing and digital transformation, or recycling and upcycling.

The Bachelor's degree program in Polymer Engineering consists of the following areas:

The Curriculum and Studies Introduction & Orientation Phase (StEOP)

The curriculum contains detailed information about the program content. Once you have successfully passed the StEOP requirements at the start of the program, you will be able to continue on with your studies.

The curriculum for the JKU's Bachelor's degree program in Polymer Engineering is well-rounded and application-oriented, including a focus on the entire value chain of plastics. This ranges from chemical synthesis and design and processing to recycling and a circular economy. In addition, the curriculum emphasizes a base-knowledge educaion in mathematics, programming, mechanics, and mechanical engineering. Subject areas include:

• Processing: Injection molding and hands-on extrusion practice in the lab
• Design: Constructing plastic components and creating simulation processes
• Testing Materials: Learn how to characterize materials in terms of mechanical, thermal and optical features
• Recycling: Sustainably utilize plastic waste
• Chemistry: Learn more about plastic molecular structure and synthesis
• Mechanical Engineering & Mechatronics: Focus on base-knowledge lightweight construction, electrical engineering, and mechanics
• Fundaments in Natural Sciences: An in-depth focus into mathematics and programming
• Bachelor's Thesis: Specialize in the field you are most interested in

Let Andreas talk with you about what it's like to study polymer engineering at the JKU.

Graduates of the Bachelor's degree program in polymer engineering can work in the following industrial areas:

• Develop new plastic compounds, multi-functional polymer composites, and hybrid polymer materials
• Material-specific plastic processing, including advanced development and optimization for process technologies
• Design and create plastic products, including specification, qualification, quality assurance, and certification
• Recycling and the circular economy

Your skills in polymer engineering skills are in high demand, particularly in the following areas of industry:

Sports and Recreation: Polymers are multifunctional and play a key role in the production of countless high-performance products in a wide range of sports categories! This includes equipment for skiing and snowboarding, sports balls, lightweight bicycles, sailboats, sportswear, and much more.

Medicine: Multifunctional plastics can be used to create orthoses, prostheses and implants. Plastics are also used to make blood bags, tubes, syringes, etc., more hygienic. Packaging made out of plastic keeps sutures, bandages, hearing aids, contact lenses, condoms, pregnancy tests, coronavirus tests - and much more! - sterile.

Electrics and Electronics: You are only able read this text because your screen contains a considerable amount of plastics. Cable coverings and casing ensure your device is powered safely.

Energy: When it comes to photovoltaic systems, plastics are responsible for the long-term durability of silicon cells. Large wind turbines found in wind farms can only be constructed using lightweight plastics. In the area of housing construction, insulation panels and window frames are just a few examples of ways to guarantee energy savings and safety.

Mobility: Resource-efficient mobility requires lightweight plastic and composite solutions. Railroads, buses, airplanes, and automobiles are becoming lighter and more comfortable, thanks to plastics.

Packaging: This is where you help educate the public about a responsible approach to plastic packaging. In regard to plastic packaging, you also create solutions to support a true circular economy.

• Study for a Day: Spend a day at the JKU! You can accompany a student to class and ask questions about the program and student life. 
• Preparation Courses, opens an external URL in a new window: These courses for newly-enrolled students have been designed to review material taught at higher-level schools in a more condensed format and prepare for university lectures. Attendance is optional.
• The JKU Young Polymer Scientists Program, opens an external URL in a new window: Upper Austria's largest program for gifted students. During the school year, students at upper level AHS and BHS schools have a unique opportunity to attend various workshops organized by the departments of Chemistry and Polymer Engineering.

Contact Program Management:

Polymer Engineering
JKU Science Park 2
T +43 732 2468 6610
kt@jku.at, opens in new window
jku.at/kt, opens an external URL in a new window

After completing your undergraduate degree, you can continue your education by pursuing an advanced degree:

You might also find these academic degree programs interesting: