Sustainable Development

The transformation to sustainable and just societies needs contributions from everyone – from activists demanding change, to visionaries experimenting to create new solutions and imagine a better future, historians learning from the past, scientists creating new insights and informing debates, entrepreneurs creating new business models for circular and sharing economies, to dedicated public  servants working to steer governments towards sustainable decisions. All these perspectives and insights matter, and are topics of discussion and exploration in the Sustainable Development Master’s Programme.

Sustainable Development Master's - key features

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  Learn how to solve complex sustainability problems: The program uses an interdisciplinary approach to equip sustainability experts of the future with skills in the (bio)physical sciences and governance, allowing graduates to collaborate across fields and develop innovative solutions.

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  4 tracks for specialization: Choose from four distinct tracks covering different aspects of sustainability, from ecology and environment to ecology, governance to politics, and enrich your learning with a wide variety elective courses

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  Excellent career prospects: 90% of graduates are employed in positions related to sustainability as experts, consultant and practitioners at consultancy firms, research companies, local administrations, national governments, NGO's and international organizations.

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  Renowned Research Institute: Learn from professors who are expert researchers and thought leaders at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, one of Europe's leading research institutes in the field.

Become an expert in Sustainable Development: contribute to shaping a sustainable and equitable future

Sustainable Development is a two-year programme designed for students who want to contribute to developing solutions needed for a transformation to more sustainable and equitable societies.

Through studying theory, methods and practices the programme equips you with strong analytical skills, preparing you to work in inter- and trans-disciplinary ways to tackle sustainability issues, integrating both social and (bio)physical aspects, all for you to become an agent for positive change.

Breadth of knowledge & in-depth expertise

The Sustainable Development Master’s Programme provides a strong foundation of common knowledge while allowing you to specialize in your chosen field. It offers a broad understanding across disciplines, from (bio)physical to social sciences, while deepening your expertise in a specific area.

Following admission to the programme you will be able choose one of four tracks according to your interests, but throughout studies you will work with peers from all four tracks. After all, sustainability challenges cannot be met from a single perspective. The tracks are:

• Energy and Materials
• Environmental Change and Ecosystems
• Earth System Governance
• Politics, Ecology and Society

Admission Requirements

The Sustainable Development Master’s Programme is a selective programme which looks for motivated students with a background in sustainability issues, natural processes, mathematics and statistics, and research skills.

You’ll find different perspectives and critical reflection among students in every class.