Environment and Society Studies

Entry requirements

1. A completed academic Bachelor's degree
   In order to get admission to this Master's you will need a completed Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Spatial Planning, Human Geography, or another related discipline.

2. A proficiency in English

   In order to take part in this programme, you need to have fluency in both written and spoken English.This requirement has been satisfied when the student meets the conditions, listed on our website.

3. A background in research methodology
   Because of the academic nature of this programme, we require all our students to have basic training in research processes, e.g. research design and data analysis.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Learning how contemporary society deals with its physical environment and how you can help enhance sustainability in the economy, society and politics.

How can we work towards a sustainable future? There are plenty of new sustainable technologies, smart governmental instruments and new ideas on organising the market to become more sustainable, but very often we don’t use them. Why is that? What can we learn from successful examples of societal change in other countries?

The Master's programme in Environment and Society Studies focuses on the way society deals with its physical environment. We’ll look at experiences of countries all over the globe, at good and bad practises and at the role of markets and governments as well as society itself. You’ll become part of the quest for sustainability through changing business practices and individual behaviour. With the help of other disciplines like sociology, psychology, political science and administration, you’ll gain the complete picture.

Our multidisciplinary programme allows you to look beyond country borders and you’ll discover what is needed on different levels, from the United Nations to Europe, from individual countries to the local level. What is the role of the EU in promoting the 20-20-20 Agenda? And what can be done by people themselves, through, for examples, citizens’ initiatives? In short, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to guide and influence societal transformations towards sustainability.

What will you learn?

• Learn how to incorporate scientific insights into solving social and political issues around the world world.
• Take a comparative approach to studies on environment, sustainability and social and political change.
• Get a better understanding of the relationship between theory and practice, including lectures from practitioners
• Gain experience through an obligatory internship designed to help you conduct your own research

Specialisations

You can choose a specialisation that best reflects your passion for the environment, sustainability and governance. Radboud University offers the following five specialisations in this field:

Global Environment and Sustainability

In this specialisation, you'll study the way complex global sustainability issues are addressed by international governance arrangements, rules and organisations, both public and private. Among the pressing issues are those related to climate change, biodiversity, water quality, the quality of ecosystems and natural resource suppliers.

Local Environmental Change and Sustainable Cities

In this specialisation you'll focus on the local level of sustainable transformations, in particular the development of sustainable cities and regions. You'll analyse and reflect on sustainable futures, measures and instruments with regard to waste, energy, water, transport and climate-proofing cities and regions.

Sustainable Economies and Corporations

In this Master's programme we rethink economic processes to enhance the environmental responsibility of businesses and develop new business models in light of a sustainable future. How can we make the economy work within the boundaries of our planet?

Environmental Justice and Governance

Environmental justice is a classic theme of the environmental sciences and is becoming increasingly important in our contemporary societies. How can we secure and preserve a healthy environment for all citizens? How can sustainability transformations be governed in a just and fair way?

Career prospects

A majority of graduates from this programme find a job within three months of graduation. Graduates from this programme can find work in a number of different organisations and institutions:

• European instiutions
• National, regional or local public authorities
• Consultancies
• NGOs
• PhDs

If you have any questions, email us here: study-information@ru.nl

Learn more via the Radboud University contact form.

Fees and funding

There are various scholarships available for studying at Radboud University. Some of the opportunities are described below. A full list, including detailed information, can be found on our website.

• Radboud Scholarship Programme
• Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships