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

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 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) including 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 and 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 LCA and Non-Renewable Resources, Renewable Resources, Circularity and Recycling, and Benign by Design 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 Masters programme Sustainability Science: Resources, Materials and Chemistry soon.

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 Masters 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.

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

*** The study programme will start for the first time in the winter semester 2025/26. ***

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

Degree awarded: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Application deadline: EU degrees: 1 June / Non-EU degrees: 1 May
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. 320 EUR