Avans University of Applied Sciences
Master of Science in Materials & Energy Transition
Breda, Netherlands
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 May 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 9,680 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EEA applicants | 01/05/2026 non-EEA applicants
** non-EEA nationality | EEA or Dutch nationality: EUR 2,530
Key Summary
The Master of Materials & Energy Transition focuses on engineering solutions for the energy transition and the circular economy. You learn to implement these technologies and make an impact as a professional.
This master lets you explore the problems in the unsustainable use of materials and energy. You also discover engineering solutions to these problems, such as bioplastics, heat pumps, photovoltaics, data-driven technologies, and more. You will learn about the science behind these solutions, but also about their engineering state-of-the-art. This gives you a firm background for your future career.
Most of all, you learn how to implement such solutions in the real world. It's not just engineering: financial aspects, policy measures, and acceptance by individuals, groups, and society, these all play their roles too. You will be able to identify the many stakeholders involved in transition processes, and how to take them along and make a real impact in practice for a sustainable future.
During this master's, you will not only learn in-depth theoretical knowledge but develop practical insights as well. The program contains 5 projects where you work on real-world issues, always in multi-disciplinary teams. You will be joining forces with people from different backgrounds.
Programme Features
- Combination of science, technology, and engineering
- You make a direct impact in transition processes
- Multi-disciplinary projects
- You implement technology in practice
In the 2-year programme, you combine engineering knowledge with practical projects for real-world companies. In year 1, you take courses and work on group projects. In year 2, you complete an individual graduation project, which you carry out in the professional field.
The MET Master cares deeply about building a community and guidance on a personal level. You develop a strong connection with your fellow students and with staff members. This community will support you for many years to come.
Year 1
Year 1 of the program consists of 4 quarters of 10 weeks each. In each quarter, you take 2 individual courses and complete 1 group project. The courses build up your generic knowledge and skills, the project is focused on application. After the introductory quarter, the focus is on materials, energy, and transitions. This order gives year 1 a clear structure and narrative.
Important Courses/Projects
- Science and engineering for EMT
- Material systems and solutions
- Energy systems and solutions
- Making transitions work
Year 2
In year 2 you complete your individual graduation project. For this purpose, you first make a plan of action about an issue you find interesting. You then complete your project at an external organisation or at an Avans research group. At the end, you present your project and graduate.
Once every 2 weeks, you return to Avans for the day. The focus of this day is on sharing experiences with fellow students, lecturers, and researchers. In this way, we build a community where we learn together.
Important Activities of the Graduation Project
- Define
- Analyse & synthesise
- Implement & evaluate
You enjoy working on real-life cases and want to deepen your theoretical and technical expertise. You are a team player. Someone who enjoys working with people within and outside your own field of expertise. You know that agreement is necessary to make your work impactful and usable. You are also interested in your own broad development and you think from an interdisciplinary perspective. You are not discouraged by the opinions of others and you are confident. Being socially involved is natural.
Your MSc degree in Materials & Energy Transition will offer you plenty of job opportunities. It equips you to make the societal transition to a circular economy, based on sustainable sources of materials and energy, a reality. It requires people who dare to take ownership of real-world challenges. In short, it requires you.
The transition is happening everywhere: at small companies and multinationals, but also at start-ups. In local or (inter)national governments, and in all sorts of organizations. By the end of the program, you will have learned much more about this and discovered where you want to make your impact. And, you will know what roles suit you best: project leader, product or process engineer, consultant, researcher. All are available to you.
Whatever job you will find, it will always involve real-world engineering solutions that can make a real difference. You will become a true transition maker, and such people are always needed.
Potential Careers After the Programme
Consultant
You will mainly work for consultancy and engineering firms, where you consult on the correct implementation of sustainable material use and sustainable energy.
Process Engineer
You will be responsible for the development and improvement of machines, processes and installations within companies. You will contribute to making the process industry and the energy-intensive industry more sustainable.
Project Engineer
You will be responsible for research and design. You possess solid technical knowledge of both sustainable materials and energy. And you know how to integrate this knowledge into existing and new products and systems.
R&D Technologist
You conduct research into innovative technologies. And you develop sustainable products and/or processes in the field of materials and energy transition.
Reliability Engineer
You will be working in the field of risk management, lifecycle management, sustainability and reliability of assets. You will ensure a reduction of the risks and costs, an improvement of the service life of assets and a reduction of the strategic use of materials.
Sustainability Coordinator/ Environmental Engineer
You will ensure that the projects are evaluated in terms of sustainability, so the right choices can be made in terms of sustainable material and energy usage.