Master in Sustainable Development
Trollhättan, Sweden
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
SEK 120,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU/EEA citizens are exempted from paying tuition fee
Introduction
Are you a creative thinker and problem-solver who wants to build a more sustainable world? In this programme, you get practical, theoretical and applied research experiences in work-integrated learning and sustainable development. With a dual competency in sustainability and organisational development, you’ll have the skills to contribute to innovative long-term solutions in ecological, social and economic sustainability – within or between organisations or groups. This two-year, English-taught programme is for students and professionals with diverse backgrounds. It offers an optional specialisation and internship so you can make an impact in your own chosen area of expertise.
Build a sustainable future
The United Nations describes sustainable development as the organising principle for achieving development goals while allowing natural systems to provide natural resources and ecosystem services that support society and the economy.
The global goals aim to balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: ecological sustainability, social sustainability and economic sustainability. Updating and shaping knowledge and results in regard to the 17 global goals of Agenda 2030 within organisations and companies is a step towards achieving sustainable development.
The three dimensions of sustainable development:
- Ecological sustainability, which involves the long-term use of natural resources without harming the possibilities for and survival of ecosystems
- Social sustainability, which is about striving for a just society where fundamenta l human rights are respected
- Economic sustainability, which enables all people to meet their basic needs in relation to the finite resources of the globe, i.e., an economic development that does not have a negative impact on ecological or social sustainability
Through this programme, you will learn how to be an active agent or leader in organisations or groups playing their part in evaluating and implementing sustainable development goals.
Admissions
Curriculum
Subjects
The programme is multidisciplinary and includes study in organisational development, sustainability, political science, law, environmental philosophy and more. Work-integrated learning forms the foundation of your studies, with a special focus on sustainable development.
Program delivery
Educational methods
Work-integrated learning consists of several integrated components, including:
- Guest lecturers
- Field-based studies
- Problem-based learning
- Project-based learning
Work-integrated learning runs through the entire programme. You will simultaneously study and engage in activities (such as data collection, optional internship, etc.) while facing so-called "wicked problems": complex problems that require more than one theoretical perspective to solve. Reflection and collaborative learning with a constant interplay between theoretical models/perspectives and practical applications structure your course.
Program Outcome
The programme prepares you to:
- Reflect on how knowledge is created, learned and translated into practical action within and between activities, society and the state
- Understand sustainable development, the common global goals and their complexity
- Evaluate these goals and their relevance to specific situations
- Map out how these goals can be achieved organisationally through cooperation within and between organisations or groups
You will learn:
- To develop fact-based and critical perspectives on sustainable development
- To discuss normative and moral values around sustainability
- How theoretical knowledge is translated into practical results
- Key ideas around organisational impact, knowledge development and change management
- Distinctive features of sustainability and sustainability competence
- Important competencies and strategies leading towards sustainable development
Through systematic reflection on the relationship between facts and norms, and practical and theoretical knowledge, you will gain insight into how organisations and groups can take a results-based approach to achieve sustainable development.
Career Opportunities
As a graduate of this programme, your skills and knowledge will be in high demand from different organisations and various political contexts.
In Sweden, we are known for our innovative and ethical management practices, with many opportunities for creative leaders. Within Trollhättan alone, there are many important industries. It is a hub for transforming industries, such as auto manufacturing and the aerospace industry. Many companies are searching for employees with these new competencies.
You will be able to:
- Identify, locate, evaluate and prioritise sustainability problems to find creative solutions within your area of interest
- Run sustainability projects, challenging traditional structures and functions via long-term and horizontal thinking
- Demonstrate a base knowledge of international and national laws and institutional frameworks that touch on and address sustainability issues
- Facilitate knowledge sharing within and between organisations
- Identify and coordinate specialist knowledge in relation to the adjustment to be carried out
- Help organisations become learning organisations where employees participate in continuous knowledge and skill development around sustainability
- Assist organisations develop strategies and structures to achieve sustainability goals
- Understand the structure of private and public organisations and develop the ability to communicate and coordinate with various departments, such as finance, IT, HR, management, etc. to achieve holistic sustainability goals
- Promote coworkership in technologically, professionally and socially complex environments
On graduation, you will be highly competitive for positions within private, public and non-profit sectors or for further PhD studies.
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
University West Scholarship Programme
The University West scholarship programme is open for fee-paying students admitted to specified master's programmes. The scholarship will fully or partly cover the tuition fee for the programme (so not costs for travel or living expenses).
Swedish Institute Scholarships
Students admitted to master's programmes in Sweden can apply for a scholarship to cover their tuition fee. There is a national scholarship programme administrated by the Swedish Institute towards specific countries.
Why study at University West
Work Integrated Learning
University West is Sweden’s leading university in work-integrated learning (WIL). We were tasked with the development of WIL by the Swedish government 15+ years ago and continue to lead the field today. WIL allows you to reflect and put your knowledge and skills into practice within real-world contexts.
We built your programme in close collaboration with public, private and non-profit partners. The curriculum is designed for action. It will help you understand theories, evaluate plans and work towards global goals for sustainable development within your areas of interest.
Additionally, you may choose to apply for an internship in the third semester of your programme, and your studies conclude with a master’s thesis you design in collaboration with your supervisor. It will address real issues in sustainable development currently faced by an organisation or group.
Program Admission Requirements
Show your commitment and readiness for Grad school by taking the GRE - the most broadly accepted exam for graduate programs internationally.