Programs/Master/Agriculture and environment
Master

Industrial Ecology (joint degree)

Leiden UniversityLeiden, NLEnglish
★ StudyPath verdict
8.2/10
Best for sustainability-driven students seeking interdisciplinary systems thinking; joint Leiden-TU Delft programme offers strong technical and social perspectives on environmental challenges. Trade-off: broad scope demands proactive specia
Tuition · Intl
€22,500
EU: €2,694/year · click ↗
Duration
2 years
Start
Sep 26
apply by May 26
Language
English
IELTS 6.5+
Accred.
NVAO
NVAO 2025
Admission
Open
no intake cap
Enrolled/yr
156
DUO ↓75% ↗
Intl. %
50%
of students ↗
S:F ratio
25:1
institution-wide ↗
Min. English
6.5
IELTS required
Entry route
Bachelor
155 bachelor routes ↗
Satisfaction
4.3/5
NSE 2026 ↗
Employment
88%
field est. ↗
Median salary
€3,155
/mo gross · field ↗
Alumni
?
no data yet
↗ Real values are sourced; tiles marked “?” aren’t collected yet · Enrolled/yr is live from DUO · Satisfaction/outcomes are live from StudiekeuzedatabaseLast sync: 25 Jun 2026
About this program
Industrial Ecology: the science of sustainability  Our planet needs urgent solutions to challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and other environmental threats. Sustainability is key to tackling those global challenges, and this is where Industrial Ecology (IE) comes in. One could define IE as the ensemble of methods to systematically assess the interactions between human activities and the environment, offering a holistic and practical approach towards sustainability. As the science of sustainability, Industrial Ecology focuses on optimising resource use, minimising waste, and reducing environmental impact across the life cycle of products and processes.   Now more than ever, our MSc programme is crucial in finding an answer to the needs of both the planet and society. With the effects of environmental change on our societies becoming more evident to businesses and governments, demand for our graduates continues to rise in the job market.  The interdisciplinary programme, offered jointly by Leiden University and TU Delft, is a true powerhouse for sustainability solutions. As a student you will acquire essential knowledge and tools, while being part of a closely-knit international academic community with shared values and a shared purpose.
Institution’s own description (HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase)
EnglishMaster of ScienceField area: InterdisciplinarySector: Aarde en MilieuCode of Conduct (intl.)Full-timeMaster
Teaching formats
Individual assignmentLectureLiterature studyOral presentationProjectResearchResearch proposalSelf-study
About Leiden University
Leiden University, founded in 1575, is the oldest university in the Netherlands and one of Europe's most prestigious. Known for excellence in law, humanities, and international studies. 16 Nobel Prize winners are affiliated, including Einstein who was a professor there. Has a second campus in The Hague.
Living in Leiden
Student cost of living
Rent · room
€520/mo
Monthly total
€900–€1,600
Cost of living
Medium
Population
126k

Intellectual, historic, and cultured. Leiden exudes academic tradition with its beautiful old buildings and prestigious university. The city is quieter than Amsterdam but offers rich cultural experiences, including world-class museums like the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden.

View city guide →
Specializations
Tracks from HOVI
Do you have the drive and ambition to further develop your leadership qualities and your knowledge of leadership? And would you like to learn more about leadership in practice?
Source: HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase
Curriculum
Course structure by year
?No curriculum data yet
Career outcomes
Graduate surveys · field-group level
Below average job-market outlookfield: milieukunde
Median starting salary (field)€3,155/mo gross
Employed ~1.5y after graduating88%
Months to a substantial job5
Working in their own field70%
Permanent contract47%
Satisfied with their job3.8/5
Top graduate occupations (field)
Professoren en andere onderwijsgevenden in het hoger onderwijs15%
Milieudeskundigen14%
Bedrijfs- en organisatieanalisten12%
Specialisten op het gebied van beleidsadministratie9%
Field-group estimates from national graduate surveys via Studiekeuzedatabase — not measured per programme
Progression & cohort
Official register statistics
Complete this degree81%
Women among first-years50%
International students50%
Say workload is “just right”66%
Official register statistics (1cijferHO · 2025) via Studiekeuzedatabase
Student voices
National Student Survey (NSE) — first-party reviews coming
4.3/5overall satisfaction · NSE 2026 · 45 respondents
Content & set-up4.1
Teachers4.2
Atmosphere4.8
Involvement & contact4.3
Study guidance4.4
Testing & assessment3.8
Facilities4.2
Career preparation3.8
Teachers' English4.6
Would choose again4.3
Source: Nationale Studenten Enquête via Studiekeuzedatabase (Studiekeuze123/LCSK)
Application timeline
Application deadline
2026-05-15
Non-EU deadline
2026-04-01
Upcoming open days
Open dayonline
15 Oct 2026
Open dayonline
25 Nov 2026
Admissions
Minimum language scores · from StudyInNL
  • IELTS overall band: 6.5
  • TOEFL internet based: 90
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English: 180
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: 180
Internships
?No data yet
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