Overview
- Educational areaEnergy and Sustainability Systems
- DegreeMaster of Science, MSc
- LanguageEnglish
- Duration2 years
- Rate of studyFull-time, 100 %
- Instructional timeDaytime
Important dates
- Application opens
- Application closes
Summary
Analysing and understanding the environmental impacts of industrial processes is the first step to making them more sustainable. Learn to translate data into strategy, with knowledge of what different technologies can do, and the social structures that affect their use. You will bridge the gap between technology and policy-making, helping shape sustainable decisions that create concrete impact across businesses, the public sector and society.
Specialisations
Programme description
Focus on the fundamental perspectives needed to contribute to creating more sustainable industries. Sweden is an international pioneer in industrial ecology and sustainability research. Chalmers has long been a key player in this field of work, with several researchers who were leaders in the development of life cycle assessment, for example. The programme draws on decades of leading research in fields like these.
You will investigate sustainable production and consumption, the science of environmental change, how technology affects the environment, and methods for environmental systems analysis. These perspectives form the conceptual and analytical building blocks that underpin the field of industrial ecology.
Following this foundation, you will be able to branch out into a wide selection of courses that allow you to integrate sustainability expertise with technical depth. The transition to a more sustainable society covers multiple sectors, and the specific technical expertise you will study is always combined with systems-level thinking and understanding.
The learning is built around problem-focused projects, giving you the chance to apply what you are learning to real challenges in authentic settings. These address ideas like sustainable product development, industrial symbiosis, and stakeholder management. These courses will see you working alongside students from other disciplines, and with external representatives from organisations like AkzoNobel, the Volvo group, and the Swedish Environmental Research Institute, to ensure you are ready and prepared for how work like this is done in real settings.
Job opportunities
Industrial ecology graduates hold a distinct and increasingly valuable position in the field of sustainability. You will combine engineering rigour with system-level understanding, allowing you to assess environmental impacts from the scale of individual products up to international supply chains. You will be ready for roles working with life cycle analysis, sustainability consulting, greenhouse gas accounting, sustainability management, as well as research and development roles.
Chalmers connections with companies like the Volvo group and IKEA also means you will have good opportunities to make early career connections during your studies. The breadth of the programme means you will be competitive across many sectors. Potential employers range from manufacturing and energy to public agencies like Vattenfall and Göteborg Energi, research institutes like RISE, consultancies and NGOs in the European Union and globally. Graduates from this programme also have found a career in green technology startups. You will also have a natural pathway into doctoral studies either at Chalmers or elsewhere.
Research
Chalmers carries out leading research in the fields of industrial ecology and sustainability, and the content of the programme is directly shaped by this. The division of environmental systems analysis, for example, has been a pioneer in developing life cycle assessment and circular economy frameworks for several decades.
Other areas of expertise include sustainable road, aviation and marine transport, and the transition to renewable energy. The programme also connects to research in sustainable built environments, product design and manufacturing through the fields of architecture and industrial design. You will also have the chance to carry out your master's thesis within research areas at Chalmers, like Environmental Observation, Energy Conversion and System Transition. This includes topics ranging from battery systems for long range trucks, to decarbonisation of shipping, or chemical-looping-combustion.
After graduation, you will be ideally suited for further studies at doctoral level.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in: Science, Engineering, Technology, Industrial engineering and management
Prerequisites: Mathematics (at least 18 cr), Environmental and/or Sustainability Science (at least 7,5 cr.)
English language requirements: Prove your English proficiency
How to apply
From application to admission
This guide explains how to apply for a Master's programme and which documents you need to submit to complete your application.