Become a Sustainable Materials Engineer

SUMA is well-suited for applicants who hold a Bachelor’s degree in materials science and/or engineering and graduates from mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, metallurgy, physics and chemistry who already have had some courses in materials engineering during their bachelor’s programme. The programme particularly seeks motivated individuals that want to accept the challenge of transforming the materials ecosystem.

At the time of application, the candidate must already choose a desired track for the second year. The destination for the second year is therefore determined with the admission to the programme.

Candidates who are less than 30 ECTS away from obtaining their diploma may also apply and, if selected, will become part of a reserve list. However, it is not possible to enrol in the programme without having obtained a bachelor’s degree.

Candidates will be assessed by professors of the two universities in the chosen track based on their academic background and performance, interest and motivation in the programme and its scope, language proficiency, and other academic and professional achievements. Candidates must meet the admission criteria of the Master’s Degree Programmes for both institutions in a track. All candidates will be notified of the decision by email.

All candidates are required to have:

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering or equivalent. Candidates must have obtained(*) a BSc diploma (or equivalent) of substantial quality and at a level corresponding to at least three years’ study at a university, equivalent to 180 ECTS. Depending on the background, some students might need to follow additional preparatory courses.

(*) or demonstrate that they are less than 30 ECTS away from obtaining the BSc diploma at the time of application.

Proof of English proficiency test or certificate**. We only accept IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge English Exam (CAE). The minimum score required for IELTS is 7 (with no subscore under 6.5). For the TOEFL internet-based test the minimum score is 94 (with no subscore under 22). The minimum score required for the Cambridge English Exam (CAE) is 185 (with no subscore under 176).

(**) Applicants with a university degree or high school degree earned in Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, or the USA are exempted from this requirement: the degree and transcripts suffice, provided they confirm that the entire study was completed in English.

Required documents:

  1. Copy of an official translation to English of your diploma(s), award certificate(s), and official transcript of records + a copy of these documents in original language (in one PDF)
  2. Motivation letter
  3. CV
  4. Proof of English proficiency test or certificate

All documents are mandatory and should be submitted through the application portal on the SUMA website. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Note: To be admissible for the second year of a Dual Master’s Degree track, the student must have completed a minimum of 48 ECTS. If this minimum is not reached, the student cannot continue in the Dual Master’s track.

Who can apply?When to apply?Results
FIRST ROUNDAll candidates (recommended for non-EEA citizens15 Dec - 31 Jan, 2025Mid-Feb 2025
SECOND ROUNDAll candidates1 Feb - 31 Mar, 2025Mid-Apr 2025
THIRD ROUNDOnly for EEA citizens or applicants with a valid EU residence permit1 Apr - 30 Jul, 2025May, Jun, Jul 2025
Start of the academic year Sep 2025

The number of study places available is limited and the application process is highly competitive.

You are required to arrive at KU Leuven by mid-September 2025 at the latest!

Important: Non-EEA applicants are strongly advised to apply in the early rounds because, if selected, the migration processes take considerable time.

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Visa Request

Admitted applicants are responsible for initiating the visa application process and follow the specific procedures outlined by the embassy or consulate  in their respective countries. Obtaining a visa is an important step in ensuring eligibility to study in our programme.

We encourage all prospective students to proactively engage with their local embassy or consulate to gather the necessary information and documentation so as to be able to apply for the appropriate visa as soon as you receive your admission letter. Our universities could offer some guidance regarding specific questions, but we cannot interfere with any embassy’s timing. Therefore, we cannot contact embassies to prioritise applicants or accelerate the visa process.