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Curriculum & Course Catalog

Explore the 4-semester curriculum structure below or use the dropdown filter to inspect specific courses in the M.Sc. Battery Science and Technology catalog.

Notice on Currency & Official Regulations: Course descriptions and semester allocations displayed here are updated periodically for convenience. The only legally binding documents are the official RWTH Aachen Module Handbook and Examination Regulations (SPO).

Official Module Handbook (PDF) Amtliche Bekanntmachungen (SPO)

Semester Curriculum Overview

Click on any module block below to view all corresponding courses & details.

1. Semester
2. Semester
3. Semester
4. Semester
* Scientific Integrity: Mandatory requirement for all RWTH Master students.
Click any block above to view associated modules.

Course Catalog by Category

Select a category from the dropdown or use the search bar to inspect course syllabi.

Compulsory Modules

5 Modules

Fundamentals of Chemistry and Engineering for Batteries (FCE)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-1
Category:Compulsory Modules
Recommended:Semester 1
Exam Mode:Written Examination
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the fundamental theories of reactions and properties of atoms and molecules relevant for batteries.
  • Translate this knowledge to similar reactions.
  • Discuss material structures on the atomic and microlevel and phase diagrams.
  • Understand electrical circuits (AC and DC) including voltage, current, resistance, power, and energy.
  • Apply Kirchhoff’s Law and explain transient processes.

Course Content

  • Chemistry: Atomic structure, periodic table, bonding types, galvanic cells, organic chemistry basics, thermodynamics.
  • Mechanical Engineering: Forces, moments, pressure, tension, ductility, elastic and plastic deformation, phase diagrams.
  • Electrical Engineering: Circuit basics, Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s rules, components, measurement methods.

Fundamentals of Lithium-Ion-Batteries and Battery Systems (FLIBS)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-3
Category:Compulsory Modules
Recommended:Semester 1
Exam Mode:Written Examination
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Elaborate fundamentals of electrochemistry and various cell chemistries.
  • Interpret different state variables and distinguish battery components.
  • Conceptualize battery testing and system design; understand battery aging processes and safety features.

Course Content

  • Topic 1: Electrochemical laws, energy storage mechanisms, and state variables.
  • Topic 2: Lithium-ion battery classification, design, emerging technologies, and safety.

Fundamentals of Thermodynamics and Data Processing for Batteries (FTD)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-2
Category:Compulsory Modules
Recommended:Semester 1
Exam Mode:Written Examination
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the concepts of enthalpy, entropy, and orders of chemical reactions.
  • Explain chemical and phase equilibria.
  • Apply the 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics and evaluate heat transfer processes.
  • Discuss probability distributions and basic control/data structures.
  • Identify key components of embedded systems and data transmission protocols.

Course Content

  • Thermodynamics: Laws, heat transfer (convection, conduction, radiation), gas properties, chemical kinetics.
  • Mathematics: Differential equations, Fourier and Laplace transforms, probability, regression analysis.
  • Information Technology: Programming basics, algorithms, embedded systems, ADCs/DACs, signal processing.

Energy Storage Systems - Future Technologies and Innovations (ESS-FTI)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-4
Category:Compulsory Modules
Recommended:Semester 2
Exam Mode:Written Examination
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Assess hydrogen technologies and alternative battery innovations.
  • Develop strategies for disruptive battery developments.

Course Content

  • Topic 1: Hydrogen production, fuel cells, and alternative chemistries.
  • Topic 2: Disruptive technologies, battery aging, and product/innovation cycles.

Fundamentals of Battery System Design (FBSD)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-5
Category:Compulsory Modules
Recommended:Semester 3
Exam Mode:Written Examination
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand industrial development processes for battery systems.
  • Analyze product conception, production steps, and factory planning.
  • Assess quality management and thermal management in battery production.

Course Content

  • Topic 1: Product development process, requirements, and factory planning.
  • Topic 2: Battery system design and thermal management (cooling concepts, temperature distribution).

Seminar

1 Module

Technical, (socio)economic and political analysis of energy storage components and a sector-coupled energy system (STEPES)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-6
Category:Seminar
Recommended:Semester 2
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze technical, social, and economic impacts of energy storage and power generation.
  • Discuss future energy system challenges and socio-technical acceptance.

Course Content

  • Examination of key technologies with integrated non-technical aspects; student presentations combining technical analysis and systemic discussion.

Research Lab Testing

1 Module

Battery Testing – Design of Experiment, Check-ups, Data Analysis and Model Parameterisation (RLT)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-7
Category:Research Lab Testing
Recommended:Semester 2
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand fundamentals of control theory in battery test design.
  • Develop experiments and test protocols for battery characterization.
  • Analyze testing results to drive design improvements.

Course Content

  • Introduction to measurement techniques, cell selection/characterization, test program development, and final data analysis.

Research Labs

8 Modules

Chemical and Physical Cell and Material Analysis (RLCMA)

10 ECTS
Module ID:mod-8
Category:Research Labs
Recommended:Semester 1
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:300 h

Learning Objectives

  • Apply chemical and physical methods to evaluate battery cells and materials.
  • Plan, conduct, and document independent laboratory experiments.

Course Content

  • Familiarization with lab equipment, measurement protocols, and data evaluation methods.

Production (RLP)

10 ECTS
Module ID:mod-12
Category:Research Labs
Recommended:Semester 1
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:300 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand production steps and quality assurance in battery manufacturing.
  • Analyze supply chain, logistics, and factory planning challenges.

Course Content

  • Examine production processes, energy requirements, factory layouts, and quality testing methods.

Diagnostics (RLD)

10 ECTS
Module ID:mod-9
Category:Research Labs
Recommended:Semester 2
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:300 h

Learning Objectives

  • Develop experiments and test protocols for battery diagnostics.
  • Analyze testing results and evaluate diagnostic algorithms.
  • Ensure safe handling during battery testing.

Course Content

  • Overview of diagnostic techniques, BMS hardware evaluation, and sensor data analysis.

Modelling (RLM)

10 ECTS
Module ID:mod-10
Category:Research Labs
Recommended:Semester 2
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:300 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand fundamentals of battery models and techniques for parameter fitting.
  • Apply advanced AI/ML methods for battery state estimation and diagnostics.

Course Content

  • Battery modelling from micro to system level and integration of AI/ML for diagnostics.

Sensors, Measurement Devices and Electronics (RLSMDE)

10 ECTS
Module ID:mod-14
Category:Research Labs
Recommended:Semester 2
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:300 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand fundamentals of sensor techniques and compare innovative methods (e.g. ultrasound, CT, EIS).
  • Analyze measurement and imaging data from battery systems.

Course Content

  • Electrical measurements, sensor technology, and physical/chemical analyses of battery cells.

Battery Pack Design and Battery Management System (HW) (RLBPDMS)

10 ECTS
Module ID:mod-13
Category:Research Labs
Recommended:Semester 3
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:300 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the battery system design process (mechanical, electrical, thermal) and sensor integration for BMS.
  • Analyze different BMS topologies.

Course Content

  • Plan, construct, and verify battery module/pack design with integrated management systems.
  • Utilize software for battery modelling and diagnostics.

Laboratory/Field Installation or Operation of Mobile or Stationary Battery Systems (RLLFIO)

10 ECTS
Module ID:mod-15
Category:Research Labs
Recommended:Semester 3
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:300 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand installation/operation procedures for battery systems in lab and field.
  • Analyze and interpret field test data from mobile or stationary applications.

Course Content

  • Overview of installation, maintenance, and operation techniques along with data acquisition and analysis.

Recycling and Life Cycle Analysis (RLRLCA)

10 ECTS
Module ID:mod-11
Category:Research Labs
Recommended:Semester 3
Exam Mode:Presentation & Colloquium
Workload:300 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand recycling challenges and opportunities for battery systems.
  • Apply life cycle analysis and assess sustainability in battery recycling.

Course Content

  • Topic 1: Battery recycling, mining, circular economy, LCA, and second-life challenges.
  • Topic 2: Charging infrastructure planning, standards, and economic considerations.

Elective Modules

8 Modules

Advanced Battery Production Technology (ABPT)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-19
Category:Elective Modules
Recommended:Semester 1
Exam Mode:Written/Oral Assessment
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze battery production processes and supply chain challenges.
  • Assess safety, quality, and new production methods in lithium-ion battery production.

Course Content

  • Topic 1: Battery cell production, quality assurance, sustainability, new production techniques.
  • Topic 2: Logistics, factory planning, transportation regulations.

Physical and Chemical Methods for Post-Mortem Investigations of Batteries (PCM-PMI)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-16
Category:Elective Modules
Recommended:Semester 1
Exam Mode:Written/Oral Assessment
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Classify imaging and analysis technologies for battery characterization.
  • Select appropriate methods for post-mortem investigations.
  • Learn advanced electrochemical methods and correlative analysis techniques.

Course Content

  • Overview of electrochemical methods, electron- and photon-based techniques, and multi-analytic approaches.

Advanced Battery Diagnostics and Mobile Applications (ABDMA)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-18
Category:Elective Modules
Recommended:Semester 2
Exam Mode:Written/Oral Assessment
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand battery state variables and advanced BMS diagnostic methods.
  • Analyze charging system requirements and life cycle aspects of mobile battery systems.

Course Content

  • Fundamentals of diagnostics, sensor integration, and analysis of mobile applications.

Battery Modelling and Machine Learning (BaMa)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-17
Category:Elective Modules
Recommended:Semester 2
Exam Mode:Written/Oral Assessment
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Develop electrical and thermal models for batteries.
  • Generate measurement data for parameterization.
  • Apply AI/ML techniques for battery state estimation and lifetime prediction.

Course Content

  • Battery modelling from micro to system level and integration of AI/ML for diagnostics.

Understanding Battery Degradation (UBD)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-22
Category:Elective Modules
Recommended:Semester 2
Exam Mode:Written/Oral Assessment
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the mechanisms and factors influencing battery degradation.
  • Evaluate methods for assessing battery aging and performance loss.

Course Content

  • Discussion on chemical, mechanical, and thermal degradation processes and diagnostic methods for battery health monitoring.

Fundamentals of Design and Performance of Active and Passive Materials for Advanced Batteries (FDAP)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-23
Category:Elective Modules
Recommended:Semester 3
Exam Mode:Written/Oral Assessment
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Design and synthesize active/passive materials for advanced batteries.
  • Evaluate performance of advanced materials.

Course Content

  • Fundamentals of material design, advanced battery chemistry, solid-state batteries, and next-gen concepts.

Hardware of Battery Packs & Stationary Applications (HPSA)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-21
Category:Elective Modules
Recommended:Semester 3
Exam Mode:Written/Oral Assessment
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Understand and evaluate battery ageing processes, including chemical reactions, ageing modes, electrolyte interfaces, and safety implications.
  • Apply molecular dynamics modeling and assess the impact of operating/storage conditions and charge loss origins on battery performance.

Course Content

  • Topic 1: Stationary battery systems are used in various grid applications and require cost-effective, optimized design considering life cycle costs.
  • Topic 2: Battery pack design involves mechanical structure, safety, communication interfaces, and thermal management.

Recycling, Circular Economy and Charging Infrastructure (RCEC)

5 ECTS
Module ID:mod-20
Category:Elective Modules
Recommended:Semester 3
Exam Mode:Written/Oral Assessment
Workload:150 h

Learning Objectives

  • Examine material dependencies, recycling processes, and second-life applications.
  • Develop business models for charging infrastructure.

Course Content

  • Topic 1: Battery recycling, mining, circular economy, LCA, and second-life challenges.
  • Topic 2: Charging infrastructure planning, standards, and economic considerations.

Master Thesis

1 Module

Master Thesis

30 ECTS
Module ID:mod-24
Category:Master Thesis
Recommended:Semester 4
Exam Mode:Independent six-month scientific project
Workload:TBA

Learning Objectives

  • Conduct an independent, methodical, and scientific research project.
  • Present and defend research findings before a scientific committee.

Course Content

  • Research, experimentation, writing, final presentation, and defense.