Sustainable Materials Engineering Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences

In the light of the global environmental and resource crises, sustainable development has been adopted internationally as a guiding principle. Today, sustainability or sustainable development means, above all, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The "Sustainable Materials Engineering" Master’s programme aims to improve sustainability in the extraction, production, processing, sustainable use, and recycling of materials. This includes knowledge of (a) the synthesis and characterisation of sustainable materials for various applications (particularly regarding their chemical, mechanical, and thermal manufacturing and processing methods), (b) the optimisation of structure-property relationships with regard to the sustainability and performance of the raw materials used, as well as (c) an understanding of the behaviour, durability, degradation, and recyclability of materials under various environmental conditions.

A key objective of the programme is to provide students with a solid technical education in the sustainable use of the world’s limited resources. These concepts are applied to various key materials: polymers, composites, metals, and optical glasses — supplemented by aspects of circular economy. A particular emphasis is placed on new technologies that enable future scientists and engineers to develop more environmentally friendly and sustainable materials and processes.

During their studies, students will acquire the following qualifications:

• knowledge and skills for optimising the chemical composition and processing of polymers, composites, and metals
• developing techniques to optimise the service life and recyclability of these materials
• developing innovative bio-inspired materials

The international Master’s programme in "Sustainable Materials Engineering" is taught in English, and it offers its contents in either three (full-time) or six (part-time) semesters. It is equally suitable for both domestic and international students with sufficient English proficiency (minimum B2 level). The programme modules focus on specific types of materials, particularly those derived from renewable raw materials. Relationships between (biogenic) material structure and properties, biomimetic development principles, and sustainable production and processing technologies are addressed, taking into account circular value creation. 

The modules in the first semester cover various aspects of sustainability in the production, use, and recycling of conventional, bio-inspired, and bio-based polymeric materials. In the second semester, students have the opportunity to focus their studies on different areas — drawn from current research projects — as part of the “Research Lab Course” module. Students can choose to specialise in one of the following four areas:

• Sustainable Functional Polymers
• Bio-Inspired Functional Materials
• Sustainable Optical Materials
• Materials of Electrical Engineering

Furthermore, it is also possible to complete the “Research Lab Course” at a (partner) company during the second semester. In the Master’s thesis, students can further deepen their understanding of the chosen focus area. In addition to technical expertise, the thesis also fosters independent, critical thinking and enhances project management skills.

Please check our website for further information.

The prerequisite for admission to the Master's programme in "Sustainable Materials Engineering" is the successful completion of a Bachelor's degree programme with the degree Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) with a minimum of 210 credit points (ECTS). Subjects in science and technology with a minimum of 100 credit points (ECTS) must have been completed. Subjects in science and technology (including mathematics) are biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, bionics and comparable science and/or engineering subjects. Internships and purely practical modules are not taken into account. If the previous degree has less than 210 credit points (ECTS), students may earn up to 30 credit points (ECTS) by successfully completing one or more modules of the Bachelor's study programmes in “Sustainable Materials Engineering” or “Materials Science and Bionics” (formerly: “Materials Design, Bionics and Photonics”) at Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences. 

A semester fee is due upon enrolment and every semester upon re-registration. The amount might change from semester to semester. For the summer semester 2026, the semester contribution at Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences amounts to 334.30 EUR.

The Career Service of Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences offers a job portal and support.

The university offers a variety of scholarships for all students, for example, the "Deutschlandstipendium".

Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences strongly urges you to arrange your accommodation before arrival. See our website for details.

As a new university in Hamm and Lippstadt with plenty of design potential, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences has a modern campus, market- and practice-oriented courses of study, openness, tolerance, team spirit, and high demands from the start. The newly constructed and barrier-free campuses in Hamm and Lippstadt provide ideal conditions for the future-oriented education of engineers. A total area of 32,250 square metres provides laboratories with enough space for state-of-the-art equipment, such as a scanning electron microscope, an industrial CT scanner, 3D projection surfaces, embedded systems, and crane tracks, as well as plenty of space for student work, communication, teaching, and research. Learn more about HSHL in this video.

Lippstadt is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia with approximately 67,000 inhabitants. It is home to many big and medium-sized companies, known as the "German Mittelstand". Hella, a globally active automotive supplier, is based in the direct vicinity of the university's campus. With about 6,000 employees, this high-tech corporation is not just the largest employer in the city; it also offers you excellent career prospects during your studies, like the CARTEC Technology Centre, where many successful companies have been founded in the past. The railway station is only a ten-minute walk from campus. Via the B55 road, the motorway is within easy reach. And those who want to travel can reach many national and international destinations at cheap rates from the Paderborn-Lippstadt airport.