The degree courses are characterised by a high degree of flexibility, many optional alternatives and a large number of competent lecturers, whereby very good supervision is guaranteed and a wide range of material classes and processes is covered. This includes metallic materials, metallurgy, foundry engineering, metal working, glass, bonding agents, polymers and various functional materials.

Before and at the beginning of academic studies, there are regular preliminary tutorials, e.g. in Mathematics, Chemistry, and social events are held. Students from later semesters act as tutors or study guides to introduce the new students to their academic studies, provide advice on the chosen academic studies, show the students around the local area and provide induction in the use of student and university facilities. These services can be made available in English for foreign students, and there is intensive exchange with the academic advisor even before the start of the study phase.

The Institutes of Metallurgy, Materials Science and Materials Engineering, Non-Metallic Materials, and Polymer Materials and Plastics Engineering have outstanding test and analysis laboratories as well as all physical and chemical analysis facilities, the latest IT equipment, simulation tools etc., which are also accessible to the students.

A very wide range of diverse and current topics from the fields of metallic materials, metallurgy, foundry engineering, metal working, glass, bonding agents, polymers and functional materials is covered. This enables early collaboration in research, which students are involved in during the degree as standard. This is supplemented by a diverse range of industry contacts relating not only to materials but also manufacturing processes. The department therefore also conducts many projects together with Plant Construction and Engineering.

The start-up service at TU Clausthal supports graduates in all phases of the start-up project – from the idea to the successful start-up – with an appropriately trained team. The department takes on a multiplier role with the respective lecturers.

The department is an independent department at Clausthal and strongly linked to the areas of Raw Materials/Energy, Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering. The Centre for Materials Technology (CZW) in Clausthal focusses on interdisciplinary collaboration with a particular emphasis on ‘multi-materials’. The Clausthal Centre for Research in Environmental Engineering (CUTEC) is also available to students and focusses on environmental, energy and process engineering, e.g. for dissertations or jobs during the degree programme.