Career Opportunities
Fields where CE graduates make an impact
From Concentration to Career
Each specialization opens distinct career paths in industry and research
Sustainable
Biotechnology
37% of CE students
Sustainable Food & Ag
Bioreactor design, fermentation processes, plant breeding technology
Biopharmaceuticals
Drug production, bioprocess engineering, quality control
Bio-based Materials
Bioplastics development, biomaterials engineering, green chemistry
Research & Development
Academic research, industrial R&D, biotech startups
Circular Chemical
Engineering
20% of CE students
Chemical Industry
Process engineering, plant design, production optimization at BASF, DSM, etc.
Energy & Sustainability
Carbon capture, hydrogen production, renewable energy systems
Circular Economy
Waste-to-value processes, recycling technology, circular supply chains
Consulting & Policy
Sustainability consulting, environmental policy, LCA analysis
Engineering Physics &
Mechanical Engineering
43% of CE students
Product Development
Design for circularity, product lifecycle management, sustainable manufacturing
Sensor Technology
IoT systems, smart manufacturing, measurement & control engineering
Automotive & Mobility
Electric vehicles, sustainable transport, automotive engineering
Advanced Manufacturing
Automation, robotics, production technology, quality engineering
The 5 Rs of Circularity
At the heart of CE is a simple yet powerful philosophy: design out waste and keep resources in use
Circular
Economy
Close the Loop
The Brightlands Ecosystem
CE is uniquely connected to three regional innovation campuses where research, education, and industry come together
Brightlands Chemelot Campus
Europe's largest circular materials & chemistry hub. Work on bio-based plastics, sustainable polymers, and chemical process optimization.
Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus
Life sciences and biotechnology innovation. Research sustainable food production, biopharmaceuticals, and medical device circularity.
Brightlands Smart Services Campus
Digital innovation for sustainable systems. Apply AI and sensor technology to optimize resource use and circular processes.
How You Learn in CE
Your learning style evolves from structured guidance to independent research across three years
Guided Discovery
PBL Tutorial Groups
Work in groups of ~15 on case studies. Learn to formulate questions and exchange knowledge.
Skills Labs
Hands-on training in physics, electronics, chemistry, and biology labs.
Applied Engineering
Design Projects
Solve real challenges from Brightlands partners. Follow the engineering design cycle.
Elective Specialization
Choose courses matching your interests. Shape your academic profile.
Independent Research
Bachelor Thesis (25 ECTS)
Conduct original research or design-based engineering. Your proof-of-capability.
Industry Collaboration
Work at Brightlands campuses with companies on real circularity challenges.
Your 3-Year Journey
From foundational STEM to specialized expertise — see how CE transforms you into a circular engineer
Foundation
Build Your Core
Master the fundamentals: Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Thermodynamics. Learn to think like an engineer and assess sustainability through Life Cycle Assessment.
Exploration
Find Your Path
Choose from electives like Data Science, Biochemistry, Energy Systems, or Sustainable Agronomy. Shape your profile with academic advisor guidance.
Specialization
Master Your Domain
Deep-dive into one of four concentrations. Work with Brightlands industry partners. Complete your Bachelor Thesis (25 ECTS).
How Each Semester Works
Maastricht's unique 7-7-3 model: learn, apply, repeat
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Real-Life Challenges You'll Tackle
From day one, you'll work on actual engineering problems — not hypotheticals
Disposable Medical Sensors
Analyse pressure sensors used in Intensive Care units from a circularity perspective. Determine which parts can be reused, remade, or recycled — and design a technical solution to increase their circularity.
Healthcare & SustainabilityPlastic Food Packaging
Analyse the entire packaging chain of a food product, identify all stakeholders, and determine sustainable alternatives. Help solve the plastic soup problem through engineering.
Circular Chemical EngineeringReplacing Fossil Feedstock
Select which biomass and technologies can replace fossil resources in chemical production. Optimise process design to minimise energy consumption across an entire production cluster.
Chemical IndustrySmart Food Production
Design greenhouse systems using sensors and AI to optimise growing conditions. Apply engineering physics to solve challenges in sustainable agriculture.
Sustainable BiotechnologyChoose Your Path
CE offers three concentrations, each leading to different Master's programmes and career opportunities
