Sustainability Science: Resources, Materials and Chemistry (M.Sc.)

Current topics - such as digitalisation (use of AI and other tools), planetary boundaries, renewable and finite resources, re­generative practices, real-life case studies (as future food) and diversity - for example, why gender matters in dealing with chemical pollution - are addressed, according to the most updated didactic approaches for developing critical and systems thinking committed to the planetary common good. We count on the national and inter­national partner­ships with recognized companies and industries, but also with other sectors, including educational institutions, associations, NGOs and tech-hubs related to chemistry, in an inter­disciplinary way.

If you're looking for relevant, cutting-edge knowledge and ready for the science of trans­formation that is sustainable chemistry, in an international, stimulating and supportive learning environ­ment, this is your place! You are more than welcome to be part of this new generation of professionals who will change the way we think about and do chemistry, with excellence and commit­ment.

• Degree awarded: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
• Application deadline: EU degrees: 1 June / Non-EU degrees: 1 May
• Highlights: Deep unterstanding of the role and significance of resources, materials and chemistry across industries and society, exploinge concepts of sustainable chemistry along the full cycle of chemical substances, materials and complex products, applying concepts to real-word problems in transdisciplinary projects
• Is aimed at: Innovation enthusiasts with a focus on chemistry, resource and material sciences and sustainability
• Type of programme: consecutive, restricted admission
• Study places: 25
• Start date: October 1
• Extent: 120 CP according to ECTS
• Duration: 4 semesters
• Language: English
• Semester contribution: ca. 390 EUR

In a full life cycle and systems thinking the significance of resources, material flows and chemical products in various sectors as industry and in society is set out at the earliest stages of this Master's course.

After successful completion students will be able to under­stand the resources required for a particular product, related issues as well as possible alternatives, including non-chemistry-based alternatives such as alternative business models.

Students will learn how to contribute to long-term sustain­ability. This requires to be familiar with metrics for green­ness and sustain­ability assess­ment, (e.g., E-factor or life cycle assess­ment), benign design of chemicals, materials, products and processes such as recycling and sustain­able separation and circularity in the scope of sustain­able chemistry as a back­ground, aligned with vanguard references, as well as relevant legal regulations and directives.

Thus, concepts of sustain­able chemistry along the full life cycle of chemical substances, materials and complex products will be explained, high­lighting the importance of resources and their extraction, opportunities and limitations of green chemistry, materials and products, specifics of renewable (i.e., bio-) and non-renewable ressources (e.g. metals and other chemical elements). This includes their flows, recycling, loss of resources by dissipation, safe and sustain­able by design, and other topics such as new business models, inter­national substance, material, and chemical management.

In this course, common foundations of natural, social and sustain­ability sciences as well as ethics and economics are provided in the first semester’s starting modules, as Sustain­ability Science, Trans­disciplinary Methods together with an introduction to the concept of Sustain­able Chemistry and Green Chemistry looking at Resources, Chemicals, Materials, Products, Recycling and related inter­national regulations.

In the following two semesters, modules related to Re­newable Resources and Finite Resources, LCA, Circularity and Recycling and Recent Advances in Green and Sustain­able Chemistry will deepen and add to this. The students can select elective modules to further specialize in their individual disciplines according to their interests.

The fourth semester will be dedicated to developing, writing and defending the Master's thesis.

The programme core is complemented with Leuphana’s complementary studies courses, organised in the three modules ‘Engaging with Knowledge and Sciences’, ‘Reflecting on Research Methods’ and ‘Connecting Science, Responsibility and Society’.

Here you can find further information on the course content of the Master's programme Sustain­ability Science: Resources, Materials and Chemistry.

The following link provides access to documents which set out the general conditions for examinations, an overview of the curriculum, as well as detailed and legally binding regulations.

General Assessment Regulations and the Subject-Specific Schedules

• Prof. Dr. Klaus Kümmerer (Sustainable Chemistry and Material Resources)
• Prof. Dr. Dr. Vânia Zuin Zeidler (Sustainable Chemistry and Renewable Resources)
• Prof. Dr. Andreas Möller (Life Cycle Analysis)
• N.N. Material Science
• Dr. Oliver Olsson
• Dr. Marco Reich
• Dr. Svenja Schloss

Students of this Master's programme have the opportunity to spend a semester of their studies abroad. For that, we recommend the third semester.

For any questions or to apply, please contact the Inter­national Center. The Inter­national Center will provide all further information on Erasmus+ funding, and on preparing for and organising your semester abroad.

In a challenged and increasingly complex world, chemistry plays a key role to promote sustain­able development, especially focusing on resources, chemicals, materials, products, their flows, processes, and end of live issues. Such knowledge will be indispensable for the transition to a sustain­able future including the necessary trans­formation of the related industrial sector itself.

Professionals with disciplinary, inter-, and trans­disciplinary background related to both chemistry and sustain­ability at the same time are urgently needed and thus have a wide range of career options open to them – in research, in institutions and non-governmental organisations, politics, public authorities and businesses - even beyond chemical industries, and in related fields.

Graduates who would like to continue their academic career are welcome to apply for our doctoral research group on Sustainability Science.

As a student of our Master's programme, you also have the opportunity to start your doctorate at an early stage via the Doctoral Track.

As a student in our programme, you have the opportunity to start your doctorate early via the Doctoral Track.

Thus, you to become part of the scientific community of our doctoral research groups at an early stage, giving you the unique opportunity to combine your Master's and doctoral studies and, with your doctorate in sight, to obtain your Master's degree en-route.

You can find all information about the admission and requirements, the application and the selection procedure on our "Admission and Requirements" page.

The study programme matches your interests? Then you will find further information for prospective inter­national students on residence and social matters, such as visa, residence permit, health insurance or finding accommo­dation, on the following pages.

Please note that the information for incoming exchange students and inter­national degree-seeking students differs slightly.

Information for incoming exchange students

Information for inter­national degree-seeking students