Master (MSc) in Experiential Digital Marketing Communications

Master in Chemical Engineering with Circular (Bio)Economy

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Structure

Municipal waste generation per year per inhabitant in Cyprus exceeds by far the European Union (EU) average: 609 kg compared to around 505 kg on average in 2020. Cyprus produced 543,000 tons of solid waste in 2020, compared to the 571,000 tons the previous year, of which the vast majority (~79%) was disposed of in landfills. According to Green Dot, in 2021 only 29,727 tons of waste were recycled, an increase from the 27,319 tons recycled the previous year. The Cypriot policy on waste management is currently based mainly on the waste hierarchy (prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal). However, the directives from the EU are to gradually shift to a circular economy, aiming to make Europe cleaner and more competitive. In March 2022, the European Commission announced the first package of measures to speed up the transition towards a circular economy, as part of the circular economy action plan.

Since Chemical Engineers are responsible for most manufactured products, it is paramount that Chemical Engineers have the necessary education to cope with both the national and European directives concerning the modern transition to a circular economy. To address this, the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Cyprus University of Technology is launching an MSc in Chemical Engineering, which is designed for students with a bachelor’s level of education and a strong interest in developing high-level competencies in Chemical Engineering to pursue a career either in research and development or in industry. The MSc program aims to train professionals wishing to develop a diverse knowledge base in Chemical Engineering, offering the potential for specialization in the interface between circular economy, biological processes, and sustainability. The specialization in Circular (Bio)Economy contributes to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the UN. Thus, the MSc program offers the opportunity for Cyprus to contribute towards the major global effort to achieve the SDGs for a better and more sustainable future for all.

Students will have the opportunity to acquire, during their dissertation (obligatory for all students), specific knowledge and research skills in one of the following circular economy scientific fields, which are currently addressed by the Department:

Environmental Catalysis
Chemical Process Engineering and Micro-reactors Design
Novel Technologies for Energy Production
Biochemical Engineering
Biotechnology
Environmental Engineering
Renewable Energy Sources
Water Treatment Technologies and Engineering
Modelling of Environmental and Energy Systems
Waste Treatment Technologies and Engineering
Environmental Biochemistry
Energy and Environmental Management

The master’s program will be delivered in English in a blended format: working professionals will be able to attend the lectures via a distance-learning platform, while the remaining students will attend lectures in person. However, laboratory courses must be conducted in person for all students, and will be offered over a one-month period during the summer semester (e.g., June or July).

Admission

Applicants must have a recognized university degree, awarded by an accredited institution in the country where it operates, or a degree evaluated as equivalent to a university degree by the Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (KYSATS), in topics such as Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Technology, Environmental Engineering, or any other Engineering or Natural Science degree. Undergraduate students who are about to graduate can apply for a master’s program, provided they expect to receive their university degree before the commencement of the master’s programme. The position offered to a student who has not submitted all required certificates by the end of the week of enrolment will be offered to the next student on the waiting list.

The entry procedure is as follows:

The following documents are required to be submitted electronically by the applicant:

A copy of a valid passport or Civil ID.
A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Copies of university degrees or a confirmation letter stating that the candidate is expected to graduate before the onset of the postgraduate program.
Copies of academic transcripts.
A brief Personal Statement (approximately 500 words) in which the candidate explains the reasons why he/she wishes to attend this master's program at CUT and his/her research and academic interests concerning his/her future career plans.
Any other certificates and documents, such as samples of relevant academic or professional work (publications, articles, portfolios, etc.), should be submitted.
Two (or more) reference letters are required.
Certificate of English language proficiency: it can be certified by results of international exams such as IELTS (minimum 6.0 overall, minimum 5.5 in all skills), GCE (≥C), TOEFL (≥550) or other exams to be determined by the Department. The criterion can be waived when the candidate has been taught and tested in the English language during his/her studies.

Applications should be submitted electronically through the university’s online application system. The Service of Studies and Student Affairs reviews and forwards the applications to the Department, where they are evaluated by the faculty member designated as program coordinator and the Postgraduate Studies Committee. Based on their evaluation, a recommendation is submitted to the Departmental Council, which approves the final list of admitted students. If the Council decides to offer more positions than the number originally announced, approval by the Senate is required.

To be considered for admission, the applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

Previous university education in a subject related to the master’s program.
Submission of a brief Personal Statement explaining their motivation for applying to the program.

Additionally, applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Grade of bachelor’s degree (60%). A minimum grade of 6.5 is required, with possible exceptions considered based on additional qualifications.
Statement of academic and professional interests, and relevance of candidate’s qualifications to the program (15%).
Previous attendance of advanced courses relevant to the program (15%).
Past work experience or other postgraduate degrees (10 %).

All documents that are not in English or Greek should be accompanied by an official translation.

Modules

FIRST SEMESTER
A/A	Course Type	Course Name	Course Code	ECTS
1.	Compulsory	Process Systems Engineering	CEN 501	8
2.	Compulsory	Reaction and Biochemical Engineering	CEN 502	8
3.	Compulsory	Life Cycle Assessment	CEN 601	7
4.	Elective	SPECIALIZATION COURSE OPTION	Z204008	5

ELECTIVE COURSES
A/A	Course Name	Course Code	ECTS
1.	Environmental & Health and Safety Systems and Standards	CEN 510	5
2.	Analytical Chemistry Labs	CEN 511	5
3.	Industrial placement	CEN 520	5
4.	SPECIALIZATION COURSE OPTION	Z204008	5

SECOND SEMESTER
A/A	Course Type	Course Name	Course Code	ECTS
1.	Compulsory	Circular Biomaterials	CEN 602	7
2.	Compulsory	Renewable Fuel Production Processes	CEN 603	7
3.	Compulsory	Design Project	CEN 604	14

THIRD SEMESTER
A/A	Course Type	Course Name	Course Code	ECTS
1.	Compulsory	Master Dissertation	CEN 620	30

CEN 501 Process Systems Engineering

CEN 502 Reaction and Biochemical Engineering

CEN 510 Environmental & Health and Safety Systems and Standards

The course aligns with the recommendations of the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) Technical Steering Committee, supporting engineering and applied science graduates in meeting current accreditation requirements. It ensures the integration of process safety and environmental assessment into the chemical engineering curriculum.

The course will focus on the following aspects:

The duties and legal responsibilities for which engineers are accountable.
An overview of the updated environmental and health safety laws and regulations and their enforcement agencies.
An overview of the standardization process internationally, regionally, and nationally.
An overview of how standards are applied and verified by independent third-party organizations.
Relevant standards on environmental impact assessment, life cycle assessment (LCA) & risk assessment methods and techniques.
Examples of product standards related to production process and testing.
A general study of hazards and their control.
A thorough discussion of human behavior, capabilities, and limitations.
Key instruction on managing environmental health and safety through risk management, safety analyses, and safety plans and programs.
The concept of process safety management (PSM).
The 20 elements of process safety defined by the CCPS.
The need for process safety as illustrated by examples of major process safety incidents that have occurred.
Process safety concerns with some selected unit operations.
Tasks that can be expected from an engineer new to process safety with respect to environmental and health safety in their first few years on the job.
This course delves into the development and legal aspects of international, European, and national standards, elucidating their diverse purposes and benefits. Topics span environmental sustainability, workplace safety, quality and energy management, food safety, and IT security. The course emphasizes that standards encapsulate expert knowledge to meet the needs of various stakeholders, from manufacturers and buyers to regulator.
This course explores key sustainability standards. It covers CYS EN ISO 14001:2015, emphasizing leadership, planning, operation, and improvements in environmental management. It discusses the Circular Economy ISO 59004/10/20, focusing on circular business models and measuring circularity. The course addresses Climate Change through ISO 14064-1, examining greenhouse gas inventory management. Finally, it investigates Life Cycle Assessment based on ISO 14040:2006, studying its phases and limitations.
This course focuses on ISO 45001:2018 Environmental Management Systems, covering the PDCA model, leadership roles, planning and operation procedures, performance evaluation, and improvement strategies. It also studies Risk Assessment through ISO 31000:2018/IEC 31010:2019, discussing risk management terminology, uncertainty, identification, analysis, evaluation, treatment, and various assessment techniques.

The course also addresses the latest legal considerations, new risk analysis methods, system safety and decision-making tools, and current concepts and methods in ergonomic design. It also contains revised reference figures and tables, OSHA permissible exposure limits, and updated examples and exercises taken from real cases that challenged engineering designs. The opportunity to receive accreditation will be offered as an option to students who successfully complete the course.

CEN 511 Analytical Chemistry Labs