When choosing my training, it was important to me to be able to combine theory and practice in the technical field.

Clausthal University of Technology offers me the opportunity to gain an insight into almost all types of materials. The research here at the university means it never gets boring and there are new challenges every day. It's great that we can be involved in research and development up close as apprentices and later, of course, as qualified materials testers.

The vocational school is located in the middle of Braunschweig, surrounded by woods and parks. Lessons take place twice a week in the first year of the apprenticeship and once a week from the second year onwards. During my training, I learned how to take micro and macro images with an optical microscope and how heat treatments and spectral analyses work, among other things.

In practice, materials testers are often responsible for quality assurance and quality control. For example, if a bridge collapses, the materials tester carries out a damage analysis and investigates whether the collapse was caused by a faulty weld seam. In this way, further accidents and damage can be avoided in the future.

I recommend this apprenticeship to anyone who would like to take on a variety of tasks and challenges.