MSc Governance of Sustainability

The Governance of Sustainability programme aims to educate future ‘change makers’ to improve the quality of governance solutions to major sustainability challenges. In this programme you will obtain in-depth knowledge of both the governance perspective (social science) and the natural sciences. You will learn how to integrate these perspectives in order to develop and improve the quality of governance solutions to major sustainability challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity and the transition to a circular economy. In addition, you will learn a variety of skills required to cope with complex sustainability problems and to develop oneself into a future ‘change agent’. You will design and execute integrative research projects, combining concepts, theories and research methods of both governance and natural sciences. You will be confronted with real-life sustainability challenges to make the appropriate connections between the mechanisms and the governance thereof.

Why study Governance of Sustainability at Leiden University?

• Our teaching is aimed at creating a transdisciplinary environment in which you are constantly challenged to combine perspectives, reflect on those and take ownership of your learning process.
• You will collaborate with (international) students coming from different disciplinary backgrounds and design and execute integrative research projects, combining concepts, theories and research methods of both governance and natural sciences.
• Our programme collaborates with important institutes, ministries and other stakeholders in terms of guest lectures, excursions and integrated group projects.
• You will be confronted with real-life sustainability challenges to make the appropriate connections between the mechanisms and the governance thereof.
• Be inspired by professors from two leading institutes, who are at the forefront of the field of sustainability and public administration.

Governance of Sustainability: the right master’s programme for you?

Do you want to be an intermediary between the scientific experts, policy makers and politicians in the domain of sustainability? Do you want to tackle environmental sustainability problems by combining knowledge on natural sciences with an understanding of governance? Are you keen on contributing to the development of governance solutions needed to work towards a sustainable society and contribute to the implementation of these solutions? And do you want to study and work together with students coming from different disciplinary backgrounds? Then our Governance of Sustainability programme is designed for you.

Would you like to learn more about the programme?

Please have a look at this short introduction to Governance of Sustainability MSc by a current student:

What does the two-year programme look like?

Additional Information

• Start date: September
• Duration: 2 years
• Degree: Master of Science (MSc)
• Location: The Hague
• Language: English
• Mode of study: Fulltime
• Contact information: studyadvisor-gofs@cml.leidenuniv.nl
• Website: Governance of Sustainability (MSc)

Find us during the Next Step Master Day on 27^th of February 2024!