FAQ

In summer term, we offer the following modules:

• Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (BSc)
• Introduction to Process Engineering (BSc)
• Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering (BSc)   (a.k.a. Reaction engineering and fluid separations)
• Research lab energy and process engineering (MSc)

In winter term, we offer:

• Conceptual Design of Fluid Separations (MSc)    (a.k.a. Conceptual Process Design)
• Production of renewable fuels (MSc)
• Carbon Capture, Storage, and Utilization (MSc)
• Contributions to Energy and Process Engineering Project (MSc)

Between the terms in lecture breaks (usually around Easter) there is a lab course

• Praktikum Allgemeine Verfahrenstechnik (BSc)   (a.k.a. Lab course process engineering or Basic lab energy and process engineering)

Dates/times/places of the events are published via TUM Online, usually during the two weeks before the lecture period starts. Please wait until this time, as we only publish information after an official schedule has been established.

All documents/digital resources that we provide are accessible through the Moodle page of the respective class. Otherwise, contact fellow students who are attending class. They might be a good source for additional notes etc.

For some classes we are happy to provide videos, for others we cannot. If we provide videos for the course in question, you will find them in Moodle, otherwise you won’t.

For the exams on our modules, we offer excactly two attempts per academic year. The first exam will be directly after the lecture period in the so-called exam period (typically the 3 weeks following the lecture period). The re-take exam happens then at the end of the same lecture break (usually the last three weeks before the next lecture period).

Example:
Module taught in winter: First exam around January/February, Re-Take Around March/April
Module taught in summer: First exam around July/August, Re-Take Around September/October

The dates for written exams are centrally planned by Campus Straubing, and we do not really know them earlier than you do. As soon as the dates are official, you will find the exam in TUM Online. If they are not yet there, then we also do not know the dates. For oral exams we are a bit more flexible and will agree on a date with you during the lectures.

We understand that you have sometimes certain deadlines, e.g., “I have to pass exam […] till the end of September 30th. Otherwise I am exmatriculated." Bu sure that the planners try to accomodate this as much as possible. Ultimately, it is however your responsibility to plan ahead and take exams so that they fit to your needs. It's a bit like taking a public bus. The time tables (our exam offers) are known in advance and you can rely on them. If you miss a bus, you would not blame the driver. If the bus according to plan would arrive 10 minutes to late at your destination, you would have to take an earlier bus. You would to ask for an extra emergency bus 10 minutes earlier just for youself because you did not plan properly ahead.

And yes: making an extra exam just for you is a lot of effort. Check above how many modules we offer. Multiply this by two and add some extra exams for old modules not taught anymore. That number of exams are made by us per year. Any exam not made extra, gives us more time for improved teaching.

No, sorry. Exam grading takes time and requires several people to work together. We try to grade all exams as fast as possible. As soon as grading is done, we immediately upload the results to TUM Online. If the results are not yet uploaded, please wait. You are guaranteed to receive a grade by the end of the grading period. (Summer term: October 31^st , winter term: April 30^th). Although we usually upload the grades earlier than required, these dates should be considered if you need reliable planning.

That’s great! Instead of sending an email to Prof. Burger check out this page for open student projects. The topics can often be used either for theses or other formats. In all cases, contact the respective persons given in the topic description. Please do not contact other random people in the group or Prof. Burger. This would only cause confusion and delays. Ideally come by and talk to the indicated contact persons directly. You can also ask them whether they want a CV or other documents.

Generally, Prof. Burger only supervises theses in his area of expertise: certain areas of thermodynamics, reaction engineering, and fluid separations. For bioprocesses, mechanical process engineering, LCAs, solid processing, material development and testing, Prof. Burger is regularly the wrong person. Please reassure that your topic fits. If it does not fit, please find another professor at TUM.

If your topic fits our professorship, we request strongly committed co-supervision from the external partner: One person from the external partner needs to show responsibility for co-supervision, ideally a professor or an experienced scientist.

Please ask this designated co-supervisor to make the initial contact to Prof. Burger and to provide details about the topic and you (the student). If the co-supervisor is not a professor and does not yet know Prof. Burger, they are asked to supply a CV highlighting their experience in supervising students. Further, we do not sign an NDA just for a thesis. Please relay this information to your designated external supervisor.

For internships, similar conditions apply.

If the external thesis cannot be realized and you are interested in our topics, we usually have open positions in our lab.