Environment and Society Studies

This Master's programme discusses the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, such as environmental justice, nature conservation and biodiversity, animal welfare, circular economy, agriculture and food, sustainable energy, climate change, and water. By critically analysing current policies and initiatives, we contribute to achieving the societal transformations necessary to address sustainability challenges. The programme is small scale and prepares you to become a changemaker towards a just and sustainable society. Within the Master's Environment and Society Studies, you have a choice between three Master's specialisations.

Specialisations

  • Environmental Justice and Governance

    Contribute to fair and effective solutions to today’s environmental challenges. This specialisation examines who benefits from and who bears the costs of environmental change, and how governance can support just sustainability transformations.

  • Global Environment and Sustainability

    This specialisation focuses on the global level of sustainability transformations, such as international agreements and initiatives on climate change, biodiversity and nature conservation on land and in oceans. You will learn how to critically analyse international negotiations. How do international agreements come about, how - and to what extent - are they implemented, and which roles do different stakeholders, such as companies and civil society groups, play in these processes?

  • Local Environmental Change and Sustainable Cities

    Tackle real world sustainability challenges at the local level. This specialisation equips you to integrate policies on energy, climate, water, mobility, agriculture and more, across cities and regions in the Netherlands or abroad.

  • Corporate Sustainability and Rethinking Economies

    In this Master's programme we rethink the principles of current economic systems and analyse how to enhance the environmental responsibility of businesses. We aim to develop new business models that contribute to a sustainable future. What does a sustainable and just economy look like, and how can we enable such a new system?

  • Pre-Master's Environment and Society Studies

    In some cases, when your education background does not grant you direct admission to the Master's programme in Environment and Society Studies, you can enrol in a pre-Master's programme.