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Become a Sustainable Materials Engineer

Change society for the better

The Master Programme on Sustainable Materials gathers some of the best educational programmes in the field of Materials Science and Engineering in Europe.

Our curriculum covers all aspects of the materials life cycle, including materials production and transformation, materials degradation, and the development of new materials, materials substitution and selection – both for structural and functional materials. In addition to the solid technical and scientific training, the programme offers 30 ECTS of courses exclusively focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Emphasis is given to topics like circular (eco)design and lifecycle engineering, energy-efficient production of materials, sustainable materials management in closed loops, and materials processing and recycling. At the same time, SUMA equips the students with the necessary, in-demand I&E knowledge and the transversal skills, attitudes, and competencies required on an engineering work floor.

The programme involves studies in two different institutions (depending on your selected track), an industrial internship and a Master thesis in collaboration with a company. Learn more about the course and partner university locations below.

The SUMA programme structure consists of the following parts:

  • The backbone: a solid scientific and technical basis (60 ECTS), broadly covering aspects of:
    • Materials and Processing
    • Sustainability and Recycling
    • Circular (eco)design and Life Cycle Engineering
    • Materials Substitution
    • Manufacturing
  • The heart and brain: courses on Entrepreneurship and Innovation (30 ECTS)
  • The arms and legs: an internship (6 ECTS) and the Master Thesis (24 ECTS)

SUMA aims to educate tomorrow’s materials engineers with:

  • Up-to-date technical skills and state-of-the-art technological knowledge
  • An entrepreneurial mindset, focused on the sustainability of industrial activities

All SUMA students develop their own research activities under the supervision of experienced mentors.

The proposed research areas are inspired by real-world industrial and technological challenges:

  • Materials recycling and upcycling
  • Industrial waste valorisation
  • Assessment of environmental impact and reduction of the environmental footprint of the Materials and Metals industry
  • Life cycle analysis of industrial products and consumer goods
  • Energy production, storage and reduction of energy use
  • Minimising environmental pollution
  • Saving natural resources for future generations

Explore where and what you can study

Five high-level European universities offer you the chance to obtain a double Master’s degree. More information on their Master’s programmes can be found on their respective websites:

Choose your Programme Path

Click on each programme path below to find out more about the curriculum for each university combination. Make your selection for the first year of study, then scroll down to select the second year. Return to the first year to change your selection and create a new combination.

You can find more information about the individual courses by clicking on the links above, which will lead you to a more detailed description on the website of the university organising the course.

CHOOSE YOUR 1ST YEAR OF STUDY

KU Leuven

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U. Trento

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Montanuniversitaet Leoben

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UNIMIB

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CHOOSE YOUR 2ND YEAR OF STUDY

INP Grenoble

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KU Leuven

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Montanuniversitaet Leoben

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U. Trento

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UNIMIB

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Your combined programme syllabus for...

KU Leuven – INP Grenoble

2023-2024 EEA Tuition fees

First year: €1,116.00 (See related link)
Second year: €1,473 

2023-2024 non-EEA Tuition fees

First year: €7,518.10 (See related link)
Second year: €5,000 
The student will pay tuition at KU Leuven for the first year and at INP Grenoble for the second year.

Curriculum

The first year at Leuven is mostly based on compulsory technical courses aimed at giving the general basic knowledge of materials science and engineering. Courses focus on different classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites) jointly with courses on materials properties and characterisation techniques, materials modelling and materials processing. The students interact with industrial partners through company visits and lab sessions.
The second year in Grenoble aims, apart from optimisation skills, to give students the complete and big picture of the field of “sustainable materials management” with technical knowledge but also economical, organisational and managerial knowledge. It gives students a profound education in the field of sustainable industrial engineering, with particular regards to material efficiency (recycling, reuse, additive manufacturing, product design) and new value chains (reverse logistics, supply chain, economics, processes performance). In Grenoble the students will specialise in sustainability and industrial engineering and will be able to make sustainable decisions on industrial value chains or on specific new technologies/processes regarding the materials value chain.

U. Trento – INP Grenoble

2023-2024 EEA Tuition fees

First year: Between 0 and €6,000 (per year depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)
Second year: €1,473

2023-2024 non-EEA Tuition fees

First year: Between €146 and €3,345 (per year depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)
Second year: €5,000

Curriculum

The first year at Trento is mostly based on compulsory technical courses aimed at giving the general basic knowledge of materials science and engineering. Courses focus on different classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites) jointly with courses on materials properties and characterisation techniques and mechanical design.
The second year in Grenoble aims, apart from optimisation skills, to give students the complete and big picture of the field of “sustainable materials management” with technical knowledge but also economical, organisational and managerial knowledge. It gives students a profound education in the field of sustainable industrial engineering with particular regards to material efficiency (recycling, reuse, additive manufacturing, product design) and new value chains (reverse logistics, supply chain, economics, processes performance). In Grenoble students will specialise in sustainability and industrial engineering and will be able to make sustainable decisions on industrial value chains or on specific new technologies/processes regarding the materials value chain.

UNIMIB – INP Grenoble

2023-2024 EEA / non-EEA Tuition fees

First year: € –
Second year: € –
On hold

Curriculum

The first year at Milano-Bicocca is based on mandatory courses characterised by three aims. i) Advanced knowledge in the physics and chemistry of materials. Aim of this part of the programme is the acquisition of a general scheme for the interpretation and the design of function vs. structure relationships in a wide class of materials. ii) Acquisition of competences in experimental techniques of material characterisation and synthesis, with activities in experimental laboratories interacting with research groups at the Department of Materials Science. iii) Specific classes of materials and function-related structures, giving also a basis for understanding the strategy for a sustainable technology.
The second year in Grenoble aims, apart from optimisation skills, to give students the complete and big picture of the field of “sustainable materials management” with technical knowledge but also economical, organisational and managerial knowledge. It gives students a profound education in the field of sustainable industrial engineering with particular regards to material efficiency (recycling, reuse, additive manufacturing, product design) and new value chains (reverse logistics, supply chain, economics, processes performance). In Grenoble students will specialise in sustainability and industrial engineering and will be able to make sustainable decisions on industrial value chains or on specific new technologies/processes regarding the materials value chain.

KU Leuven - Montanuniversitaet Leoben

2023-2024 EEA Tuition fees

First year: 1,116.00 (see related link)
Second year: €726.72

2023-2024 non-EEA Tuition fees

First year: €7,518.60 (see related link)
Second year: €1,453.44

Curriculum

The first year at Leuven is mostly based on compulsory technical courses aimed at giving the generalbase knowledge of materials science and engineering. Courses focus on different classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites), jointly with courses on materials properties and characterization techniques, materials modelling and materials processing. The students are interacting with industrial partners through company visits and lab sessions.
The second year at Montanuniversitaet Leoben has a strong focus on process- and business management as well as economics, building the base for an entrepreneurial mind-set and leadership skills. This is complemented by product development, production planning and logistics courses (innovation and sustainability). The master thesis and compulsory internship establish supplementary ties to industry.

U. Trento - Montanuniversitaet Leoben

2023-2024 EEA Tuition fees

First year: Between 0 and €6,000 per year (depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)
Second year: €726.72

2023-2024 non-EEA Tuition fees

First year: Between 0 and €6,000 per year (depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)
Second year: €1,453.44

Curriculum

The first year at Trento is mostly based on compulsory technical courses aimed at giving the general basic knowledge of materials science and engineering. Courses focus on different classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites), jointly with courses on materials properties and characterisation techniques and mechanical design.
The second year at Montanuniversitaet Leoben has a strong focus on process- and business management as well as economics, building the base for an entrepreneurial mind-set and leadership skills. This is complemented by product development, production planning and logistics courses (innovation and sustainability). The master thesis and compulsory internship establish supplementary ties to industry.

KU Leuven – U. Trento

2023-2024 EEA Tuition fees

€1,116.00 per year (See related link)

2023-2024 non-EEA Tuition fees

€7,518.60 per year (See related link)

 

Curriculum

The first year at Leuven is mostly based on compulsory technical courses aimed at giving a general base knowledge of materials science and engineering. Courses focus on different classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites), jointly with courses on materials properties and characterisation techniques, materials modelling and materials processing. The students are interacting with industrial partners through company visits and lab sessions.
The second year at Trento is based on the curriculum of Industrial Processes Management and Optimisation. This curriculum is characterised by a set of disciplines crossing the fields of Operations Research and Industrial Management aimed at building useful skills for an efficient management of manufacturing processes and optimisation of materials, considering all aspects, i.e., scientific, technological, economic and organisational. For the achievement of such skills, special emphasis is devoted to models and methods of mathematical and reticular programming, systems for the simulation and management of tails, decisions and quality control supporting systems, informative systems for logistics and production. The final goal is to build a Materials Engineer that combines good technical skills (acquired during the first year at KU Leuven) and well developed entrepreneurial attitudes to successfully drive innovation in large companies and SMEs.

KU Leuven - UNIMIB

2023-2024 EEA Tuition fees

1,116.00 per year (see related link)

2023-2024 non-EEA Tuition fees

€7,518.60 per year (see related link)

Curriculum

The first year at Leuven is mostly based on compulsory technical courses aimed at giving a general base knowledge on materials science and engineering. Courses focus on different classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites) jointly with courses on materials properties and characterisation techniques, materials modelling and materials processing. Students also interact with industrial partners through company visits and lab sessions.
The second year at Milano-Bicocca comprises various courses on entrepreneurship and industrial aspects in the area of materials science – including nanotechnology, composites, microelectronics, and molecular materials – which may be composed in a personalised programme through mandatory and elective courses. A relevant number of credits are devoted to the research activity of master Thesis and internship in close connection with research groups and industrial partners, putting the student in contact with cutting-edge research topics and up-to-date methods of investigation. The full immersion in team activities within research groups and international networks stimulates specific awareness for managing research, applications and curiosity for new problems and ideas. Additional activities include seminars from experts of industry on management and innovation topics, along with laboratories on scientific language and an Italian language laboratory (together with a wide cultural proposal on transversal competences).

Montanuniversitaet Leoben - KU Leuven

2023-2024 EEA Tuition fees

First year: €726.72 (see related link)
Second year: €1,116.00 (see related link)

2023-2024 non-EEA Tuition fees

First year: €1,453.44 (see related link)
Second year: €7.518.60 (see related link)

Curriculum

The first year at Montanuniversitaet Leoben is mostly based on compulsory technical courses giving students a basic knowledge in characterisation techniques, classes of materials (building materials, ceramics, and metals), material processing and recycling complemented by simulation and modelling courses.
The second year at Leuven has a strong focus on science based knowledge as a basis for innovation (master thesis), exposure to industry (through thesis and internship) and modules aimed at developing an innovative and entrepreneurial mind-set, as well as leadership values.

U. Trento – KU Leuven

2023-2024 EEA Tuition fees

First year: Between 0 and €6,000 (depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)
Second year: Between 0 and €6,000 (depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)

2023-2024 non-EEA Tuition fees

First year: Between 0 and €6,000 (depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)
Second year: Between 0 and €6,000 (depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)

Curriculum

The first year at Trento is mostly based on compulsory technical courses aimed at giving the general basic knowledge of materials science and engineering. Courses focus on different classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites) jointly with courses on materials properties and characterisation techniques and mechanical design.
The second year at Leuven has a strong focus on science based knowledge as a basis for innovation (master thesis), exposure to industry (through thesis and internship) and modules aimed at developing an innovative and entrepreneurial mind-set as well as leadership values.

UNIMIB – KU Leuven

2023-2024 EEA Tuition fees

First year: €456 – €3,756 depending of the country of residence. See related link. (For Italian citizens, the fee varies depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)
Second year: €456 – €3,756 depending of the country of residence. See related link. (For Italian citizens, the fee varies depending on the applicant’s financial conditions. See related link)

2023-2024 non-EEA Tuition fees

First year: €456 – €3,756 (depending of the country of residence. See related link.)
Second year: €456 – €3,756 (depending of the country of residence. See related link.)

Curriculum

The first year at Milano-Bicocca is based on mandatory courses characterised by three aims. i) Advanced knowledge in the physics and chemistry of materials. The aim of this part of the programme is the acquisition of a general scheme for the interpretation and design of function vs. structure relationships in a wide class of materials. ii) Acquisition of competences in experimental techniques of material characterisation and synthesis, with activities in experimental laboratories interacting with research groups at the Department of Materials Science. iii) Specific classes of materials and function-related structures, giving a basis for understanding the strategy for a sustainable technology.
The second year at Leuven has a strong focus on science based knowledge as a basis for innovation (master thesis), exposure to industry (through thesis and internship) and modules aimed at developing an innovative and entrepreneurial mind-set as well as leadership values.

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Atlantic Copper Chair SUMA Summer School, July 2023, Spain

The SUMA Summer school 2023 is organised by the Polytechnic University of Madrid and Atlantic Copper.

Atlantic Copper is a Spanish Company whose sole shareholder is the US global conglomerate Freeport-McMoran, one of the leading natural resources companies in the United States that produces copper, gold and molybdenum. Their main base of activity is in the Huelva Metallurgy Complex, which produces high-grade refined copper from ore mined in several places around the world. The production plant is formed by the smelter (producing anodes), and the refinery (producing cathodes), and three sulfur acid plants.

We will be hosting the summer school in person, with courses and field visits in Madrid,  Córdoba, and Seville.

Applications will open in January 2024.

In the 2022 Summer School, our students participated in keynote lectures, visited a copper and aluminum cable factory, spent a day in the largest open-pit mine in Europe, explored a hydrometallurgy plant and were welcomed at the Atlantic Copper Metallurgical Complex . Of course, there was also time to relax and enjoy the Spanish culture, gastronomy and landscapes!

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