Global Environment and Sustainability (specialisation of 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

The Master's specialisation in Global Environment and Sustainability focuses on the relationships between global players like international institutions, multinational companies, environmental organisations and the regimes that govern over the world’s natural resources. Of course, this involves understanding what the major environmental treaties like the Treaty of Lisbon and the Kyoto-protocol are based upon as well as how these climate policies are developed. But it also includes understanding how agreements and partnerships between, for example, NGOs and corporations operate. The challenges are more complex than merely finding the right ecological solution to an environmental problem. The proramme also examine the three pillars of sustainability- people, profit, planet- and the conflicts that arise.

This programme takes a multidisciplinary approach and relates aspects of human geography. You can also take courses from the Master’s in Human Geography as electives.

What will you learn?

• Gain knowledge of the economic, political, ethical and societal dimensions shaping environmental problems and possible solutions in a globalising world
• Learn about the latest scientific insights in the field, illustrated by numerous examples of how countries all over the world tackle these problems and the various interests at play
• Get valuable experience designing, conducting and presenting your own research

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme can find a variety of positions in different institutions and organisations;

• Policy maker or analyst for governments or NGOs
• Environmental practitioner and different firms
• Researcher in academia or other institutes

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

Learn more via the Radboud University contact form.

Information for international students

Application deadlines

Non-EU/EEA students

• The deadline for non-EU/EEA students who wish to apply for a scholarship is 31 January prior to the September intake. For the requirements and selection procedure for scholarships, please check our scholarship overview.
• The deadline for those not applying for a scholarship is 1 April for non-EU/EEA nationals for the September 2026 intake. You can apply for the September 2026 intake from 1 October 2025.

EU/EEA students

• The application deadline for EU/EEA students with housing assistance for the September 2026 intake is 1 May, and the deadline without housing assistance is 1 July. You can apply from 1 October onward for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The application deadlines for Master’s starting in February are 1 November for non-EU/EEA citizens and 1 December for EU/EEA citizens.

Fees and funding

Radboud University offers 3 different scholarships that are open to prospective Master's students from non-EU/EEA countries and who want to follow an English-taught Master's programme.

Radboud Scholarship Programme

The Radboud Scholarship Programme offers talented, highly motivated, non-EU/EEA students with outstanding study results the opportunity to be awarded a partial scholarship for an English-taught Master’s programme.

NL Scholarship (for prospective students)

The NL Scholarship (formerly known as Holland Scholarship) is a partial scholarship for non-EU/EEA students who want to do their Master’s in the Netherlands.

Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships

The Fulbright Commission, sponsored by Radboud University, is offering scholarships for talented American students to study at Radboud University.