Master's degree program in Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (accredited)
Table of contents
The master's program in Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency is accredited.
The previous master’s program in Waste Management and Contaminated Site Treatment is also accredited.
Educational Objectives and Career Opportunities
Dieses kurze Video gibt einen praktischen Einblick in den Masterstudiengang "Kreislaufwirtschaft und Ressourceneffizienz" (bis März 2026 noch „Abfallwirtschaft und Altlasten“). © TU Dresden, Fachrichtung Hydrowissenschaften, 2021
In the Master’s program in Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency, students learn about the sustainable use of resources, technologies for environmental protection, and climate protection. The program trains environmental engineers who will contribute to solutions for current environmental challenges, particularly in waste and circular economy management and the remediation of contaminated sites.
This interdisciplinary degree program offers students the opportunity to specialize in specific fields. Due to the demands of modern industrial society, the fields of waste and circular economy as well as contaminated site remediation have evolved into an important, independent branch of environmental science.
The institute’s core research areas focus on current issues in the circular economy, which are addressed through an interdisciplinary approach with the goal of sustainable resource use.
Students acquire knowledge and skills in both planning and practical areas:
- The importance of the circular economy for a sustainable future
- Management and assessment of secondary resources in particular
- Assessment of environmental interrelationships
- Conducting and evaluating waste and material flow analyses
- Basic knowledge of improving the efficiency of waste management facilities
- Cost estimation for waste treatment facilities
- Life-cycle assessment (LCA) and other business and societal methods for environmental assessment as a basis for economic decision-making
- Methodological foundations of risk assessment for contaminated sites
- Tools for investigating natural processes for contaminant retention and degradation
- Assessment of contaminated sites with regard to remediation needs
- Sizing of facilities according to the types and extent of contamination
- Practical investigation of sites suspected of contamination, i.e., on-site exploration (planning and sampling at the contaminated site)
- Processing of water and soil samples, followed by measurement and evaluation of the results
- Planning and conducting sampling
- Sample preparation techniques for environmental samples
- Current aspects of sampling, sample preparation, and analysis, and their application
- Interpretation of measurement data
Graduates find employment in the following fields: the private sector (manufacturing and waste management industries), municipalities, associations, and planning firms; in environmental and sustainability departments within industry and the public sector, addressing issues of waste disposal, recycling, and waste prevention; and in research and teaching at national and international research and higher education institutions. In business settings, graduates are increasingly tasked with responsibilities such as conceptualization and evaluation. Since the topic of the circular economy is of great importance to every stakeholder today, the transition into professional life can take place in virtually all areas of business and science.
Abfallsortierung – Wie kann heterogener Abfall analysiert und charakterisiert werden? © TU Dresden, IAK
Course Content and Modules
The required modules comprise a total of 70 credit points. The list of elective courses allows students to deepen their knowledge in accordance with their personal interests and goals. Students must earn at least 20 credit points in the required-elective courses. The master’s thesis, together with the colloquium, forms part of the master’s examination that concludes the program. It is written in the 4th semester, and the completion period is 21 weeks. A total of 30 credit points are awarded for the master’s thesis and the colloquium. The modular program comprises a total of 120 credit points.
Modulschema des Msterstudiengangs Kreislaufwirtschaft und Ressourceneffizienz
You can find the program documents for our degree programs on the website of the Office of Academic Affairs for Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies.
Here you will find the following for the master’s program in Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency:
- the examination regulations
- the academic regulations, including module descriptions and the program schedule
The required curriculum includes the following modules:
| Module Name | LP | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behandlungstechnologien für Siedlungsabfälle | 10 | X | |
| Planung von Abfallbehandlungsanlagen | 5 | X | |
| Modellierung und Bilanzierung in der Abfall- und Kreislaufwirtschaft | 5 | X | |
| Schadstoffbewertung und -sanierung in der Praxis | 5 | X | |
| Umwelttechnische Versuchs- und Labortätigkeit | 15 | X | |
| Vorsorge in der Abfall- und Kreislaufwirtschaft | 5 | X | |
| Fachbeiträge Kreislaufwirtschaft und Altlasten | 5 | X | |
| Berufspraxis Kreislaufwirtschaft und Altlasten | 12 | X | |
| Projekt Kreislaufwirtschaft und Altlasten | 8 | X |
For more detailed information, please refer to the module descriptions ( Appendix 1 of the Study Regulations).
The elective-required track includes the following modules:
| Module Name | LP | Winter Semester | Summer Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simulation Games in Waste Management and Contaminated Site Treatment | 5 | X | |
| Process Water Treatment and In-House Water Management | 5 | X | |
| Isotope Analysis in Aquatic Systems | 5 | X | |
| Water Quality | 5 | X | |
| Hydrological Field Trip | 5 | X | |
| Major Hydroscientific Field Trip | 10 | X | |
| Permitting and Planning Law for Environmental Engineers | 5 | X | |
| Wood and Plant Chemistry | 5 | X | |
| Plant and Safety Engineering | 5 | X | |
| Sustainable Product and Process Development | 5 | X | |
| Paper Cycles and Waste Paper Processing | 5 | X | |
| Sustainability Management in Practice | 5 | X | |
| Stakeholder Management | 5 | X |
For more detailed information, please refer to the module descriptions ( Appendix 1 of the Study Regulations).
Affiliated Institute
Institute of Waste Management and Circular Economy
Contact
If you have any questions about the program, please contact the academic advising office of the Department of Hydro Sciences, the Faculty Student Council, the program coordinators, or Dr. Benjamin Schwan ( Research Associate at the Institute of Waste Management and Circular Economy).
Information on the curriculum of the previous (phased-out) Master’s program in Waste Management and Contaminated Site Treatment can be found here.
Application Information
Admission to the Master’s program in Waste Management and Contaminated Site Treatment is based on an aptitude assessment. This assessment evaluates the extent to which you meet the necessary academic requirements for admission to the Master’s program. Further information on the application process can be found here.