The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Sustainable Catalysis (SuCat) trains students to provide them with a real perspective of technical, research and development, applied in different areas of catalysis. The SuCat programme is an integrated Master Programme designed by 3 Universities with a wide-range leadership in homogeneous catalysis (University Rovira I Virgili), enzymatic catalysis (University of Aveiro) and heterogeneous catalysis (University of Poitiers).

This degree is a 2-years study programme with 120 ECTS credits welcoming around 20 students each year. All courses are taught in English in all Partner institutions. All students are asked to study full time.

The educational aim of this degree is to prepare students to become international experts and develop skills towards doctoral programmes and/or professional activities in all declinations of catalysis. The programme will provide students with the expertise needed in modern European catalysis and prepare them for professions in research laboratories, industries and administrative organisations.

The two-year curriculum (4 semesters, 30 ECTS credits each) is designed to provide a solid background in catalysis, both in theoretical and experimental knowledge. It includes common basic courses on all declinations of catalysis (1^st semester) at UP, where all students start the programme and a mandatory mobility scheme of a minimum of one semester (30 ECTS credits).

All students will be welcomed in Poitiers and will participate in an integration week that will include French and English basic language courses, accomplishment of administrative tasks, welcome party.

Sustainable development requires not only the piecemeal improvements of separate parts of production, consumption, and waste management but must also make sure that, for example, environmental impacts or anthropogenic material flows, are reduced from a system-wide perspective. Because catalysis allows for more efficient, less energy-intensive, and more selec­tive chemical reactions, it is regarded by many as an enabling technology to promote overall sustainability. Therefore, it seems essential that students acquire concepts on how to think about catalysis in a global and sustainable way.

The first semester includes 6 courses of 5 ECTS each:

Students will design their mobility programme during the first semester, according to their career objectives and to the specialisation offered in each partner institution.

The second semester will be dedicated to an internship in a partner or affiliated Institution. The aim is to work in a different declination of catalysis than the one the student will choose for the 3^rd semester. This will allow the students to widen their knowledge in 2 different fields of catalysis.

Heterogeneous catalysis at UP

Homogeneous catalysis at URV

Biocatalysis at UA

* 2 courses chosen among the proposed one with a *

The master’s thesis can be prepared in a research laboratory of a partner university or an associate partner organisation (industry or research centre) or in any other company offering a research-oriented topic for the master’s thesis.