Sustainability (Master's)

The programme introduces students to sustainability as an interdisciplinary field of study, drawing on perspectives from three specialisations:

• Global societal challenges
• Climate change and energy transition
• Marine sustainability

Students therefore engage with sustainability challenges from different disciplinary and thematic angles.

Throughout the courses, students engage with questions of complexity and uncertainty, with system thinking and modelling, and with how scientific knowledge, values and societal interests interact in sustainability-related decision-making.

Students work with concepts such as wicked problems, indeterminacy, boundary work, as well as approaches including interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration. Students analyse concrete sustainability cases and reflect on how problem framings, ways of knowing and values shape both understanding and action.

Students come from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and choose between the three specialisations. This diversity is a core resource for learning, which requires openness and willingness to engage with different perspectives.

Teaching in the programme is interactive and student-active, combining lectures, discussions, group work on sustainability challenges and individual reflection and writing. Approximately 20 students are admitted to the programme, and the close collaboration between students and staff creates a supportive and engaging learning environment.

The programme is academically demanding, and students are expected to engage actively with course material, with each other and with the teaching team. Students and teachers challenge assumptions and perspectives, and work with difficult questions related to conflicting interests, values and trade-ons in sustainability issues.

With a Master’s in sustainability, you will be able to work in all areas where interdisciplinary frameworks and sustainability goals are important, for example 

• Public, private or non-profit organisations
• Public administration   
• International organisations that work with sustainability  
• Journalism about sustainability
• Private companies
• Think tanks 

You will also get a relevant educational qualification to continue in a research and educational career, through, for example, doctoral work. 

Students with citizenship from countries outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland must pay tuition fees. Some applicants may be exempted from this rule.

Teaching language: English

The first two semesters combine mandatory courses (SDG309 and SDG312) with elective courses that allow students to focus on their chosen specialisation. In the third and fourth semesters, students conduct their own Master's project, either as a research-based thesis or an internship-based thesis.

Semester 1

Introductory subject: 

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Sustainability (20 credits) 

Elective subject (10 credits). 

Semester 2 

Systems thinking and modelling as a framework for sustainability analysis and action (10 credits) 

Elective subjects (20 credits). 

Semester 3

Internship (30 credits) 

or 

Master's thesis (60 credits) 

Semester 4

Intern-based master's thesis (30 credits) 

or 

Continuation of master's thesis (60 credits). 

Electives must be chosen from a list of recommended electives. You can find this list in the study plan. 

As part of the degree, you can study one semester abroad. UiB has exchange agreements with a number of foreign universities with study programmes in the area of sustainability. An exchange stay gives you valuable cultural experience, linguistic training, new professional insight and experiences for life. 

See exchange agreements

You will be able to continue on a PhD education programme, in which case you should choose to write a Master’s thesis of 60 ECTS, as this may be a requirement for admission to a PhD programme.

Study plan for Master's Programme in Sustainability