Study plan for MAHF-SDG Master's Programme in Sustainability, høst 2026
ECTS Credits
120 ECTS
Name of qualification
Master of Philosophy in Sustainability
Full-time/Part-time
Full-time
Language of Instruction
English
Semester
Autumn
Objectives and content
The Master’s programme in Sustainability provides an interdisciplinary education for engaging with
sustainability challenges as complex, uncertain and contested issues in a world marked by rapid
transformation. Students are oCered a solid academic basis in major sustainability issues and topics
from a variety of scientific perspectives, including natural and social sciences and the humanities.
The programme is grounded in systemic and critical perspectives on sustainability. Sustainability
challenges are approached as wicked problems, characterised by incomplete knowledge, conflicting
values and interests, disagreement about problem framings and the absence of definitive solutions.
Students are trained to analyse such challenges conceptually, empirically and reflexively, rather than to
looking for piecemeal solutions.
The programme combines mandatory core courses and elective courses, leading up to the work on the
master’s thesis. In the core courses, students study a range of sustainability issues and develop shared
conceptual foundations in interdisciplinarity, ways of knowing, science-policy interface, as well as
systems thinking and modelling for sustainability. Systems thinking is used to explore interconnections,
feedbacks and dynamics in complex systems, while also reflecting on the limits of modelling, prediction
and control.
Students are admitted into one of three specialisations: marine sustainability, climate change and energy
transition, or global societal challenges. The specialisations allow students to strengthen their
disciplinary background through elective courses and thesis work, while continuously engaging with
perspectives from other fields. Throughout the programme, students are encouraged to connect shared
sustainability concepts across courses and specialisations, and to reflect on how their own disciplinary
background shapes their understanding of sustainability challenges.
In the second year of study, each student chooses either a 60 ECTS master’s thesis focusing on a topic
related to their specialisation, or a 30 ECTS internship combined with a 30 ECTS thesis closely related to
the internship.
Required Learning Outcomes
On completion of the programme, the candidate is expected to have achieved the following learning
outcomes:
Knowledge
The candidate:
- has advanced knowledge of major sustainability issues and topics, including marine
sustainability, climate change and energy transition, and global societal challenges
- has specialised, in-depth knowledge of one such issue or field of sustainability science;
- has advanced knowledge of sustainability science and how “sustainability” itself is a contested
and situated concept shaped by ways of knowing, values, power relations and normative
assumptions;
- understands sustainability challenges as wicked problems characterised by complexity,
uncertainty, indeterminacy and disagreement;
- has knowledge of diCerent ways of knowing, including scientific and experiential forms of
knowledge, and their roles and limitations in sustainability contexts;
- understands systems thinking approaches and their use in analysing complex sustainability
challenges, including their strengths and limitations;
Skills
The candidate:
- can analyse sustainability challenges using relevant theoretical perspectives related to wicked
problems, indeterminacy, interdiscipinarity and systems thinking;
- can critically assess and connect knowledge claims from diCerent disciplines and sources, also
under conditions of uncertainty and incomplete information;
- can work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams, negotiating diCerent problem framings,
assumptions and standards of quality;
- can integrate understandings and insights from scientific disciplines and fields with their own
disciplinary expertise
- can apply reflexive analysis to their own positioning, assumptions and ways of knowing when
engaging with sustainability challenges;
- can design and carry out independent research or practice-oriented projects under supervision
and in accordance with norms and standards of research ethics;
General competence
The candidate:
- can critically discuss complex sustainability issues in oral and written forms, using relevant
theoretical concepts;
- can situate their own expertise within broader interdisciplinary and societal contexts, and in
relation to multiple ways of knowings;
- can engage with sustainability challenges in a reflexive, critical and analytically grounded
manner, acknowledging uncertainty, the limits of control, and the intertwining of facts, values
and emotions.
Admission Requirements
General admission requirements
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) of at least three years' duration from a recognized institution. In addition, applicants must meet the specific academic requirements for their chosen specialization, as outlined below:
Global Societal Challenges
Applicants must have
at least 80 ECTS credits in a relevant academic field within the social sciences, humanities, law, or psychology. Applicants with a relevant interdisciplinary academic background will also be considered.
a minimum of 10 ECTS credits in research methods
Climate change and Energy transitions
Applicants must have
at least 80 ECTS credits in a relevant STEM field (e.g. natural sciences, engineering or mathematics)
at least 10 ECTS credits in introductory physics
Marine Sustainability
Applicants must have
at least 80 ECTS credits in a relevant STEM field (e.g. oceanography, marine biology, fisheries biology, marine management or similar)
at least 10 ECTS credits in introductory biology
Applicants will be ranked according to their academic results, based on the grades in their bachelor's degree. The overall composition of students' disciplinary background will be considered by the program board.
Language requirements:
Non-native English speakers must document their English language proficiency according to the university regulations: https://www4.uib.no/en/studies/admission-and-application/english-language-requirements-for-masters-programmes-taught-in-english
Applicants from the EU/EEA/Switzerland: https://www.uib.no/en/education/110785/application-procedure-eueeaswiss-applicants
Application procedure for Nordic citizens and applicants residing in Norway: https://www.uib.no/en/education/49448/application-procedure-nordic-citizens-and-applicants-residing-norway
Compulsory units
SDG309 Interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainability (20 ECTS) (2026-)(Until 2025: SDG310 Introduction: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Sustainable Development (15 ECTS) +
SDG311 Ways of Knowing (5 ECTS))
SDG312 Systems thinking and modelling for sustainability (10 ECTs)
SDG350 Master's thesis (60 ECTS)
Or
SDG349 Internship (30 ECTS) and SDG351 Internship-based Master's thesis (30 ECTS)
The students choose between a 60 ECTS research thesis (SDG350) and a 30 ECTS internship (SDG349)
combined with a 30 ECTS thesis (SDG351).
Specialisation
Either
Climate change and energy transitions
Or
Marine sustainability
Or
Global societal challenges
Recommended electives
The lists below indicate recommended elective courses for each specialisation. The lists are not
exhaustive, and additional courses may be approved as electives, provided they are relevant to the
chosen specialisation and approved by specialisation coordinators. In addition, all courses openly taught
at the University of Bergen may be eligible as electives, subject to relevance.
The course SDG314: Individual Project Development is highlighted as particularly recommended for
students in the programme.
Climate change and energy transition
• ENERGI230 Environment and Energy (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• ENERGI300 Energy Resources and Use (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• ENERGI321 Offshore Wind Energy – Part 1 (5 ECTS, Spring)
• ENERGI351 Scientific writing and communication (10 ECTS, Spring and Autumn)
• GEO283 Geographies of transformation: mitigating and adapting to rapid climate change (10
ECTS, Spring)
• GEO330 Theories of Sustainable Land Use (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• GEO337 Political Ecology: Critical Perspectives on Environmental Governance (10 ECTS, Spring)
• GEO-SD330 Natural Resources Management (10 ECTS, Spring / Autumn)
• GEOF347 Seminar on Earth System Science for Sustainable Studies (5 ECTS, Autumn)
• GOV212 Climate, Crises and Societal Security: The Management of Wicked Problems (10 ECTS,
Spring)
• JUS3510 Energy Law: Hydrocarbons, Renewables and Energy Markets (10 ECTS, Fall)
• JUS3511 International Climate Law (10 ECTS, Spring)
• KLIMA200 Climate Stories (5 ECTS, Spring / Autumn, irregular)
• SDG207 Energy Transition
• SDG213 Causes and Consequences of Climate Change (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• SDG215 UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land (10 ECTS, Spring)
• SDG314 Individual Project Development (10 ECTS, Spring)
Marine sustainability
• BIO208 Environmental Impact of Aquaculture (10 ECTS, Spring)
• BIO213 Marin økologi, miljø og ressurser (10 ECTS, Autumn, Norwegian only)
• BIO316: Selected Topics in Environmental Toxicology (5 ECTS, Spring and autumn)
• BIO356 Stock Monitoring and Responsible Harvesting (10 ECTS, Spring)
• BIO382 Aquatic Food Production (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• FIL336 Environmental Ethics (10 ECTS, Spring)
• GEO-SD330 Natural Resources Management (10 ECTS, Spring / Autumn)
• JUS3516 Law of the Sea and its Uses (10 ECTS, Spring)
• SDG213 Causes and Consequences of Climate Change (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• SDG214 UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water (10 ECTS, Spring)
• SDG215 UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land (10 ECTS, Spring)
• SDG314 Individual Project Development (10 ECTS, Spring)
Global societal challenges
• SDG314 Individual Project Development (10 ECTS, Spring) – recommended
• FIL336 Environmental Ethics (10 ECTS, Spring)
• GEO283 Geographies of transformation: mitigating and adapting to rapid climate change (10
ECTS, Spring)
• GEO330 Theories of Sustainable Land Use (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• GEO337 Political Ecology: Critical Perspectives on Environmental Governance (10 ECTS, Spring)
• GEO-SD330 Natural Resources Management (10 ECTS, Spring / Autumn)
• GLODE300 Critical Approaches to Development (20 ECTS, Autumn)
• GLODE308 Gender Analysis in Development- Core perspectives and Issues(10 ECTS, Autumn)
• GLODE309 Foundations of Health Promotion related to Development (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• GOV212 Climate, Crises and Societal Security: The Management of Wicked Problems (10 ECTS,
Spring)
• HEFR342 Resource Approaches to Health and Wellbeing (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• INTH344 Migration and Health (3 ECTS, Spring)
• JUS3513 Human Rights and Welfare Policies (10 ECTS, Autumn)
• KLIMA200 Climate Stories (5 ECTS, Spring / Autumn, irregular)
• SDG303 Global Health: Challenges and Responses (15 ECTS, Autumn)
Sequential Requirements, courses
The outline below presents the progression through the programme, organised by semester and
specialisation. The structure combines compulsory courses with elective courses that allow students to
deepen their chosen specialisation.
First semester (autumn)
All students take the following compulsory course:
• SDG309 Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Sustainability (20 ECTS)
In addition, students select 10 ECTS of electives related to their chosen specialisation.
Second semester (spring)
All students take the following compulsory course:
• SDG312 Systems Thinking and Modelling for Sustainability (10 ECTS)
In addition, students select 20 ECTS of electives related to their chosen specialisation. The course
SDG314: Individual Project Development is highlighted as particularly recommended for students in the
programme.
Third and fourth semester
Students choose between the following options:
• SDG350 Master’s thesis (60 ECTS), carried out over the third and fourth semesters
or
• Third semester:
o SDG349 Internship (30 ECTS)
• Fourth semester:
o SDG351 Internship-based Master’s thesis (30 ECTS)
Study period abroad
In connection with the internship and master's thesis, students have the opportunity to study abroad.
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching in the programme is based on student-active learning and a variety of teaching and learning
methods, with an emphasis on engagement with sustainability challenges, as described in the individual
course descriptions.
Assessment methods
The programme uses a variety of assessment methods, including written and oral assessments (both
individual and group-based), portfolio examinations, and other forms of assessment, as specified in the
individual course descriptions.
Grading is based on the A-F scale and the pass/fail scale, as indicated in the course descriptions.
Diploma and Diploma supplement
The Diploma and the Diploma Supplement will be issued when the degree is completed.
Grading scale
Two grading scales are used:
1) A-F
2) Pass/fail
See the course descriptions of the specific courses.
Access to further studies
A Master's degree in Sustainability may qualify the student for further studies at PhD level.
Employability
A Master’s degree in Sustainability provides graduates with broad competence in interdisciplinary
problem-solving and qualifies them for employment in a wide range of local, regional, national and
international organisations and agencies, as well as in different parts of public administration. Graduates
of the programme are qualified for public and private positions that require entry-level skills in
sustainability-related planning, implementation and evaluation, in relation to their chosen specialisation
in climate change and energy transition, marine sustainability, or global societal challenges.
Graduates will have demonstrated skills in interdisciplinary teamwork and will be able to build,
participate in and contribute to teams with members from different professional and disciplinary
backgrounds, including collaboration with community and stakeholder organisations. Graduates are also
qualified to work as research assistants in both the public and private sectors. Students with strong
academic performance may pursue further academic studies, including doctoral research.
Evaluation
The course will be evaluated in accordance with the Faculty of Humanities' routines for participatory evaluation and the University of Bergen's Quality Assurance System.
Programme committee
The program board has the main responsibility for academic contents, the structure and design of the program and for the quality of the study program (including on-going assessments of goals, teaching methods and assessment forms).
Administrative responsibility
The Center for the study of the sciences and humanities (Senter for vitskapstori, SVT) is administratively responsible for the program.
Contact information
studie@svt.uib.no