Sustainable Development

Under the banner of Environmental Sciences, Utrecht University offers two Master’s programmes, Sustainable Development, and Water Management for Climate Adaptation. Both Master’s programmes are closely affiliated with the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, a leading global research institute in the field of sustainability.

Sustainable Development is the study of scientific solutions and societal interventions for an environmentally accountable society. This two-year Master's programme is aimed at students who want to contribute to the design of the solutions needed to achieve an environmentally and socially accountable society. The programme offers an inter and transdisciplinary perspective, students will learn how to analyze the processes associated with change and will consider the short and long term management of these processes on local and global levels. The Sustainable Development Master’s programme offers students the opportunity to develop broad knowledge in the field of sustainability and also expertise in their chosen subject area, by choosing one of four specialization tracks. As well as working in their chosen track, students will work in research teams with fellow students from the other tracks, because sustainability problems faced in modern societies cannot be solved from a single perspective.