Science for Sustainable Development
The future needs sustainable solutions to today’s societal challenges. In this programme, you explore how to create holistic solutions to complex problems by crossing disciplinary boundaries. Climate change, natural resource exploitation, increasing energy demand and inequality are among the global issues you will study.
Science for Sustainable Development is a research-based master’s programme where you combine environmental policy, governance, strategy, and applied sustainability science. You learn to critically analyse environmental and social challenges and to design actionable, knowledge-based solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Environmental strategy, resilience and sustainability in focus
Throughout the programme, you explore the complexity of building sustainable societies in alignment with the principles of sustainable development and Agenda 2030. You engage with environmental strategies and resilience and sustainability as key perspectives for understanding how societies can adapt and transform in the face of environmental change. You address global environmental challenges and societal transformations, apply scientific knowledge across academic disciplines, and develop interdisciplinary competence.
Develop skills for a career in sustainable development
Your studies enable you to interpret, design, communicate, and implement solutions to sustainability and environmental challenges – skills that will be indispensable for your future career as a sustainable development expert.
Hands-on learning and research integration
The core courses give you a broad perspective on sustainability and societal challenges while allowing you to deepen your theoretical knowledge and practical skills in specific scientific fields. Through field trips, laboratory and GIS exercises, and spatial analysis in the Norrköping Decision Arena, you connect theory and practice in sustainability.
You also take part in role-play activities, study visits to authorities and companies in the environmentally progressive Östergötland region and have the opportunity to complete an internship at a business, organisation or research institute in Sweden or abroad. Together with teaching staff, you develop skills in multidisciplinary research and gain experience in research-based methods.
Linköping University (LiU) offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective on sustainability that bridges academic disciplines and integrates advanced research in environmental sciences. You receive individual supervision from active researchers when designing, planning and completing your master’s thesis project.
- ECTS transcript – If you are still completing your Bachelor’s degree, upload an ECTS transcript showing the subjects you have studied, your grades, and the number of credits awarded. Your Bachelor’s diploma must be uploaded later, as soon as you receive it.
- Bachelor’s diploma – If you have already graduated, upload your Bachelor’s diploma. A separate ECTS transcript is not required.
Note: Your Bachelor’s degree must be in the same or a related field as the Master’s programme you are applying for. The university will check whether you have completed enough relevant subjects and ECTS credits.
Important! View the full requirements on the university’s official website. Requirements may vary depending where you completed your bachelor education.
Note:
- A motivation letter and a recommendation letter are NOT required documents when applying to the programmes at this university.
Applicants have to prove their English language skills either by an internationally recognized language test or upon previous studies. Usually English language skills can be proved by the following documents:
- TOEFL iBT*
- IELTS Academic
- A Cambridge English qualification
- Higher education degree completed in English
- Secondary education completed in English in a country or school qualification accepted by the university
- An English subject and grade on your secondary school leaving certificate that meet the university’s requirements
- Other
Important: Accepted methods and minimum results depend on study programme and the country where you completed your education. Check the official requirements for your chosen study programme.
*Use the Kastu promo code LTU1000102 when registering for TOEFL iBT and receive a 5% discount.
Selection will be based on academic merits.
Bachelor's degree in any field.
Sustainability challenges require diverse expertise and the ability to work across disciplines – skills you develop at LiU. The programme provides a strong basis for a career in sustainable development and environmental sciences.
Graduates from Science for Sustainable Development work in research institutes, universities, environmental organisations, NGOs, consultancies, river basin commissions, power companies, intergovernmental agencies and PhD programmes around the world. Few universities offer the same breadth of interdisciplinary perspectives in environmental sciences as Linköping University, with teachers representing the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering.
