Master’s in Circular Economy and Battery Supply Chain
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in circular economy and battery supply chain. 12 modules covering the battery value chain, critical raw materials, due diligence under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the OECD guidance, carbon footprint, design for circularity, second life, recycling, reverse logistics, commodity markets, regulation and sourcing strategy, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the battery value chain from the mine to recycling.
Assess the supply risks of critical raw materials.
Implement due diligence systems in line with EU regulation.
Calculate and reduce the carbon footprint of batteries.
Design viable second-life and recycling strategies.
Organise battery reverse logistics safely.
Define resilient sourcing strategies.
Who it's for
- Battery supply chain managers
- Circular economy specialists
- Raw material purchasing managers
- Sustainability analysts
- Recycling process engineers
- Due diligence consultants
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter battery manufacturing
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (EU Battery Regulation)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 (CRMA, Critical Raw Materials Act)
- OECD Due Diligence Guidance for minerals (responsible mineral supply chains)
- ISO 14067 (carbon footprint of products)
- ISO 14040 (life cycle assessment principles)
- ADR Agreement (international carriage of dangerous goods by road)
- IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining (independent mining assurance)
- SimaPro
- SAP Ariba
- Circulor
- Microsoft Power BI
12 modules
1.1From mining to the cell1.2Critical raw materials for batteries1.3Refining of lithium, nickel and cobalt1.4Manufacture of precursors and cathodes1.5Production of graphite anodes1.6Cell gigafactories1.7Module and pack assembly1.8Use, second life and recycling1.9Geopolitical dependencies in the chain1.10Case study: map of the European value chain
2.1Brine lithium versus hard-rock lithium2.2Cobalt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo2.3Class 1 nickel and HPAL processes2.4Natural and synthetic graphite2.5Manganese and phosphate for LFP2.6Water consumption in salt flats2.7Social impacts on mining communities2.8Responsible mining standards2.9European list of critical raw materials2.10Practical: risk matrix for a raw material
3.1OECD Due Diligence Guidance for minerals3.2Obligations under the EU Battery Regulation3.3Supplier audits at source3.4Traceability of material batches3.5Distributed ledgers for traceability3.6IRMA certification and the Responsible Minerals Initiative3.7Risks of child and forced labour3.8Grievance mechanisms3.9Public due diligence reports3.10Workshop: due diligence plan for a manufacturer
4.1Carbon footprint calculation rules4.2Emissions from extraction and refining4.3Influence of the factory electricity mix4.4Carbon footprint performance classes4.5Mandatory carbon footprint declaration4.6Decarbonisation levers4.7Renewable energy contracts4.8Third-party verification4.9Comparison between producing regions4.10Case study: footprint of a 75 kWh pack
5.1Pack design for disassembly5.2Replacing adhesives with reversible joints5.3Standardisation of modules and cells5.4Choosing chemistries with recycling in mind5.5Mandatory labelling and QR codes5.6Digital battery passport5.7Removability and replaceability requirements5.8Modularity for repair5.9Manufacturers' circular design guidelines5.10Lab: guided disassembly of a module
6.1Technical criteria for reuse6.2Grading modules by state of health6.3Refurbishment processes6.4Stationary storage applications6.5Warranties for reused batteries6.6Extended producer responsibility6.7Economics of second-life projects6.8Safety of refurbished systems6.9Reference projects in Europe6.10Practical: economic model of a second-life BESS
7.1Collection and safe discharge7.2Manual and automated disassembly7.3Shredding and black mass production7.4Pyrometallurgical smelting processes7.5Hydrometallurgical leaching and extraction7.6Direct cathode recycling7.7Recovery of lithium and graphite7.8Required recycling efficiencies7.9European recycling plants7.10Case study: mass balance of a plant
8.1Transport of batteries under ADR8.2Handling of damaged or defective batteries8.3Safe storage at treatment facilities8.4Collection point networks8.5Logistics costs per kilogram8.6Digital reverse logistics platforms8.7Collective producer responsibility schemes8.8Coordination between workshops and recyclers8.9Fire prevention in warehouses8.10Workshop: design of a regional logistics network
9.1Price formation for lithium and nickel9.2Supply contracts and pricing formulas9.3Volatility and risk management9.4Financial hedging of metals9.5Strategic raw material stockpiles9.6Market for recycled materials9.7Supply and demand forecasts9.8Investment in mining projects9.9Industrial policy and subsidies9.10Practical: analysis of lithium price series
10.1Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries10.2European Critical Raw Materials Act10.3US Inflation Reduction Act10.4Chinese industrial policy on batteries10.5Tariffs and trade defence10.6IPCEI funding for the battery chain10.7EU taxonomy of sustainable activities10.8Material recovery targets10.9Mandatory minimum recycled content10.10Case study: regulatory impact on a manufacturer
11.1Purchasing strategies for cells and materials11.2Vertical integration by vehicle manufacturers11.3Offtake agreements with mining companies11.4Geographical diversification of suppliers11.5European gigafactories under construction11.6Supply risk assessment11.7Long-term contracts with recyclers11.8Supply chain resilience indicators11.9Contingency plans for disruptions11.10Workshop: five-year purchasing strategy
12.1Product definition and scope12.2Map of suppliers and materials12.3Supply risk analysis12.4Carbon footprint calculation12.5Second-life and recycling strategy12.6Reverse logistics design12.7Economic feasibility of the proposal12.8Implementation and monitoring plan12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulation and applied exercises. The working software is SimaPro, SAP Ariba, Circulor and Microsoft Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: risk maps of battery supply chains, mass balances of recycling processes and carbon footprint calculation for packs. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 (CRMA), OECD Due Diligence Guidance for minerals, ISO 14067, ISO 14040, ADR Agreement, IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with SimaPro, SAP Ariba, Circulor and Microsoft Power BI, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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