Science for Energy and Sustainability (SES) is a two-year interdisciplinary track within the Master's programmes Chemistry and Physics and Astronomy. It combines ‘hard’ scientific research with the analysis of societal issues, business models and government regulations. It is a joint degree programme with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam so you will benefit from the expertise, networks and research projects at both universities.

Is Science for Energy and Sustainability in Amsterdam the track for me?

It is, if you:

are interested in sustainable chemistry and catalysis want to become (more) aware of the scientific, technological and societal challenges for our future want to learn how to advance renewable energy resources, promote sustainable development, and use resources more efficiently want to study the development of technological solutions to global energy and sustainability problems, as well as the societal context of global developments in this field want to pursue a career that focuses on developing sustainable solutions to our current pressing global situation with regard to energy, climate and sustainability. What does Science for Energy and Sustainability in Amsterdam have to offer me? ... [-]

Technology for producing renewable energy is constantly being developed, whereas often the more challenging aspect of the energy transition is changing people's attitudes

Søren Hermansen, Samsø Energy Academy, Samsø, Denmark

Have you ever wondered how your community (village, neighbourhood, company, institution) can make the transition from fossil sourced energy to more sustainable sources? This key issue is the essence of the master Energy for Society program*.

The aim of the master program is to educate Energy Transition Strategists focussing on local and regional levels of energy transition. Upon graduation, you will have a broad competence base ranging from how to build (energy) communities, sustainable energy technologies, sustainable business models, governance, communication to spatial transformations. This will enable you to initiate and support local and regional energy transition projects entrepreneurially, i.e. help define and implement community-based projects that create social, environmental and monetary value. You will be able to catalyse complex bottom-up energy transition processes and foster change in people's 'energy behaviour'. Working with communities, cooperatives, clusters of companies, municipalities and regional organisations you will establish a dialogue between different groups of stakeholders.... [-]

Objectives

The aim of the European Master in Sustainable Energy System Management is to provide postgraduate students with the skills required for employment in the Sustainable Energy industry. Students will specialise in business case analysis, modelling, project design and implementation. As a result of the foreign contact, the course requires, our students will have the international outlook essential to the industry HR needs.

By structuring the course in three sections, students are guaranteed to spend time in at least two different EU countries and make contact with a wide range of European institutes and companies involved in the sustainable energy sector. The participating universities are all well-established in training and the education sector as well as being recognised at an international level for their work in the field of sustainable energy system management.... [-]