Graduate Programs in Green and Sustainable Chemistry
These green and sustainable chemistry programs provide unique advanced training opportunities for chemists with bachelor's degrees and related professionals. Now one of the fastest-growing employment sectors, there's never been a better time to get additional sustainability skills.
Why pursue a graduate program in green and sustainable chemistry?
Growing public awareness about the state of our environment, chemical product safety, and new chemical regulatory policies is driving demand for employees trained in environmental and green chemistry. These new challenges necessitate that leaders in business, government, and non-governmental organizations understand the fundamental science underlying both the environmental challenges we face and potential innovative solutions.
Graduates of such programs will be qualified to pursue employment opportunities as green and sustainable chemistry experts in:
- Government
- Private sector (industry)
- Environmental, sustainability, and toxicology consultancies
- Occupational health and safety
- new product development
- Environmental engineering
- Project management
Industry is increasingly establishing dedicated divisions focused on sustainability to cope with the changing landscape of global environmental responsibility. In the U.S., “green” jobs are one of the fastest-growing employment sectors, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What should I look for in a green and sustainable chemistry graduate program?
When comparing graduate programs, here are a few items you will want to consider:
- Core courses dedicated to the program: Inquire whether the program's key courses are focused on providing technical ability and knowledge in green and sustainable chemistry.
- Focus on problem-solving and design: Professional opportunities will likely require the use of multiple fundamental skillsets from the chemistry curriculum used in tandem (“a systems approach”) to solve specific problems or to design new chemicals and products. Look for courses, projects, or research that hone this skill set.
- Interdisciplinary coursework: Programs should allow students to develop an awareness in areas that relate to sustainability, including lifecycle thinking, chemical toxicology, process engineering, economics, and communications, among others.
- Project-based internship or capstone experience: Look for opportunities to independently identify a problem and devise appropriate methods for its solution, contributing original knowledge to the field. Such opportunities poise graduates to obtain employment or advance their professional development.
- For Doctoral degree programs: Discuss with potential research mentors how the research projects use green chemistry tools and how they apply to sustainability challenges or U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
- Graduate career paths: Lastly, ask where past graduates have found employment - this is often the most useful information about a program.
Graduate Programs
Chulalongkorn University
Doctor of Philosophy in Green Chemistry and Sustainability
or Master of Science in Green Chemistry and Sustainability
Bangkok, Thailand
Common Electives:
- Chemical Toxicology and Risk Management
- Understanding Environment, Development, and Sustainability
- Advancement in Green Technology
- Innovation Management in Chemical Science
George Washington University
M.S., Environmental & Green Chemistry
Washington, D.C., USA
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Renewable Energy
- Chemical Toxicology and Design of Safer Chemicals
- Environmental Chemistry: water, air, and soil chemistry
- Industrial Green Chemistry
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry
- Capstone Seminar
Common Electives:
- Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis
- Polymer Chemistry
Environmental and Occupational Health in a Sustainable World
Imperial College London
MRes Green Chemistry, Energy and the Environment
London, United Kingdom
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Sustainable Chemistry
- Recovery of Metals from Waste
- Green Chemistry Research Project
Leuphana University of Lüneburg
M.Sc. Professional Master in Sustainable Chemistry
Lüneburg, Germany
In the M.Sc. Sustainable Chemistry, you will learn how to design chemistry sustainably – from the molecular level to global impacts. Develop solutions that address climate change, resource use and technological innovation in a practice-oriented, part-time study format. Your expertise opens diverse career opportunities in industry, public authorities and NGOs.
A short video about the program is here.
Monash University
Graduate Certificate of Green Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies
Melbourne, Australia
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Introduction to Green Chemistry
- Green Chemistry Consultancy Project
- Green Chemistry Innovation: Transforming Industry and Manufacturing
- Designing Safer Chemicals
- Green Chemical Synthesis
Common Electives
- Environmental Governance and Citizenship
- Corporate Sustainability Management
- Biomass and Biorefineries
- Advanced Biopolymers
- Sustainability and Innovation
- Climate Change, Energy, and Human Security
- Processes to Influence Change
- Managing Innovation
- Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management
Stockholm University
Master's Programme in Sustainable Chemistry
Stockholm, Sweden
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Introduction to Sustainable Chemistry
- Materials Chemistry for Environmental Applications
- Chemistry of Renewable Materials
- Chemistry of Renewable Energy Generation and Storage
- Toxicology for Environmental Scientists
- Sustainable Organic Chemistry
- Chemistry of Sustainable Recycling
University of Birmingham
Birmingham, England
The MSc is a 1 year full-time advanced course. 120 credits of modules assessed through coursework, short reports and presentations and a 60 credit research project.
A short video about the program is here.
National University of Singapore (NUS)
MSc in Sustainable Chemistry for Energy and Environment
Singapore
The multifaceted curriculum equips students with expertise across energy science, sustainable synthesis, and environmental chemistry, while offering hands-on opportunities through research projects and industry-linked internships. Graduates will be well prepared to pursue diverse careers across a range of sectors, including in sustainable energy R&D, clean manufacturing, water and environmental technology, as well as consulting and strategic planning in the sustainability space.
University College London
MSc Sustainable Chemistry
London, England
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Core Concepts in Chemical Sustainability
- Chemical Sustainability Research Skills
- Literature Project
- Advanced Research Project: Sustainable Chemistry
- Transferable Skills for Scientists
- Topics in Modern Chemistry
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Green Chemistry Track in the Chemistry Ph.D. Program
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Introduction to Green Chemistry
- Environmental Toxicology
University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Sustainability Option
Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Toxicology and Health
- Sustainable Materials Design
Common Electives:
- Environmental Law and Policy
- Experimental Conceptualization
University of Nottingham
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sustainable Chemistry (PhD)
Nottingham, England
The EPSRC CDT in Sustainable Chemistry is a four-year programme that offers fully-funded studentships to 14 students with a background in chemistry, engineering or biosciences.
University of Toledo
Professional Science Master's Degree in Green Chemistry and Engineering
Toledo, Ohio, USA
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Green Chemistry
- Environmental Chemistry
- Green Engineering Principles
- Green Engineering Applications
- Supply Chain Management
- Strategic Management of Innovation
- New Venture Creation
University of Poitiers in France (UP), University of Aveiro in Portugal (UA), University of Rovira i Virgili in Spain (URV)
Erasmus Mundus Master in Sustainable Catalysis
Poitiers, France
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Sustainable chemistry
- Homogenous catalysis
- Microbial and enzymatic catalysis
- Life cycle assessment
- Biotechnologies
- Environmental Remediation
University of York
M.Sc. Green Chemistry and Sustainable Industrial Technology
York, United Kingdom
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Principles and Systems Thinking in Green and Sustainable Chemistry
- Applications of Green and Sustainable Chemistry
- Communication, Education, and Public Understanding of Green and Sustainable Chemistry
- The Business Case for Green and Sustainable Chemistry
- Research Skills and Methodologies
- Green and Sustainable Chemistry Research Project
Utrecht University
MSc in Sustainable and Circular Chemistry
Utrecht, Netherlands
Our society is facing major transitions in using energy, resources and materials. These transitions will lead us towards a more sustainable society relying on circular product chains but cannot be solved by chemists alone. With the new two-year programme Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, we aim to train the chemists of the future, who can contribute to broader sustainability issues with a strong molecular chemistry basis and a broadened view on the more systemic challenges of sustainability.
A short video about the program is here.
Vienna University of Technology, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Viena, and the University of Vienna
Master's Programme in Green Chemistry
Vienna, Austria
Green Chemistry Courses:
- Concepts of Green Chemistry
- Feedstocks and Renewables
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry and Toxicology
- Sustainable Development
- Green Chemistry Laboratory