Master’s in Economics of Sustainability

The Master's in Economics of Sustainability focuses on economic analysis of sustainability issues like climate change, food production, and economic development. The education has a multidisciplinary character by its relation with environmental, agricultural, and food sciences. You will receive the official diploma of the Master’s in Management, Economics and Consumer studies, specifying a Master's in Economics of Sustainability.

The programme runs annually beginning in September each year. It comprises 120 credit points (ECTS), equivalent to two academic years. The academic year consists of 6 periods. Period 1,2,5 and 6 comprise six weeks of classes, one week of self-study and the exam week. In these periods, students often follow two courses worth 6 credits each. Period 3 and 4 entail of four weeks in which both the lectures and the exams take place. In these periods, students follow one course worth 6 credits. The expected workload is 40 hours per week.

For more detailed information on tis programme's profile and learning outcomes, visit the Study Handbook.

Programme specific courses (30 ECTS)

The programme courses deal with subjects like:

• Rethinking Economics
• Advanced Econometrics
• Economic Modeling of Sustainability Challenges
• Philosophy, Ethics, and Economics
• Behavioral Economics and Sustainability
• Political Economy, Economics of Development
• Economics of EU Policies for Sustainable Transitions
• Economics of Sustainable and Fair Use of the Environment and Natural Resources.

Academic Master Cluster (12 ECTS)

In the Academic Master Cluster, teams of 5 to 7 students from different disciplines are assigned to execute a transdisciplinary-oriented academic consultancy project for an external commissioner.

Electives (18 ECTS)

The space for electives can be used for deepening or broadening knowledge on the field of interest of each individual student. 

First year courses.

Thesis (36 ECTS)  

The thesis (individual research) consists of 24 weeks of research and reporting (36 credits). The research is conducted under supervision of a staff member of one of the chair groups related to this master programme.  

Internship (24 ECTS)  

The internship consists of 24  credits of project work in an institution outside of Wageningen University. The internship may either be undertaken in the Netherlands or abroad. The purpose of the internship is to provide students with a unique learning opportunity to apply acquired knowledge and skills in a professional setting. The experience gained from the internship also serves to help students focusing on their area of interest, as well as building confidence and maturity in their field. 

The programme includes: 

• Lectures: the lecturer presents and explains the course material.
• Tutorials: you work individually or in small groups on an assignment.
• Labs: mainly computer-based sessions where you apply economic and statistical models.
• Problem-Based Learning (PBL): you collaborate with a group and a supervisor to solve a case study.
• Self-study: dedicated time for independent study, both within and outside your timetable.

At WUR, we place great importance on personal guidance and connection. That’s why we provide more support staff—lecturers, study advisors, and student counsellors—than most other universities in the Netherlands. This ensures you receive the attention you need to progress successfully through your studies, lowering the risk of dropping out while enriching your academic journey with a personal touch. It’s a clear reflection of our genuine commitment to your success. 

The following programme is related to the master's programme Economics of Sustainability:

• Master's in Bio-based Sciences: The master's programme Bio-based Sciences focus on the transition to a circular and sustainable bioeconomy. In this interdisciplinary programme, specialisation Bio-based and Circular Economy, you can focus on circular economy, bio-based logistics, environmental/agricultural economics or urban systems engineering. Systems thinking is integrated throughout the programme. 

Check more information on how you might be able to compare this programme on Studiekeuze123.nl. 

Typically, graduates of the master's Economics of Sustainability end up in connecting ‘spider in a web’ roles, being able to work with people from different departments and backgrounds. As a graduate, you have various career opportunities in the following sectors:

• Commercial Business
• NGO’s  
• (semi-) Government department
• Researcher or teacher at a university 

Interested in the master's programme Economics of Sustainability? Find out whether your knowledge and skills match the entry level of the programme.

This page describes the previous knowledge and skills required for admission to the Economics of Sustainability programme specifically. For the additional general admission requirements of Wageningen University & Research, application deadlines and the application procedure, visit How to apply for a master's programme? 

Are you interested in the programme, but not sure whether your background matches the stated requirements? Feel free to contact us.

Please note, this is a two-year programme, but registered with DUO as a one-year programme. This may affect the duration of your DUO student loan and/or travel product. For more information, see Extra Studiefinanciering WU and DUO. 

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements

The admission requirements for the master's programme Economics of Sustainability are defined in such a way that students should be able to successfully complete the programme nominally in two years. To comply, students should have sufficient knowledge on concepts and methodologies related to General Economics, specifically Micro-Economics. Additionally, good basic skills in Mathematics and Statistics are necessary.

The criterion used for admission is

a WUR BSc degree in Economics and Governance, or equivalent.

The norm for this equivalence is

• ≥ 40 ECTS in:
  • Economics (micro-economics must be included)
• ≥ 15 ECTS in one or more of the following topics:
  • Statistics
  • Econometrics

Not all topics mentioned need to be mastered at the same level; they will be weighed by the Admission Board per individual application.

Method of assessment whether this norm is met

• Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;
• Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.

Scores attributed by the Admission Board

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition of obtaining the BSc or MSc degree / not admitted with offer of pre-master.

A pre-master's programme can be constructed based on the deficiencies of your bachelor and to the entry requirements of the master's programme. A pre-master can be 12 ECTS to 30ECTS, depending on your situation.

Contact the study advisor directly via mme.msc@wur.nl to discuss your possibilities at WUR, options in pre-master's based on your transcript of grades, and how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree. Find out more about pre-master's programmes in general.

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:

• a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;
• a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study.

*Check the general admission page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Contact us to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.

Study programmes with knowledge gaps

University of Applied Sciences (NL: hbo) students often are required to follow additional courses in a pre-master or as a minor during the previous study programme to cover the required previous knowledge. This usually consists of courses on: statistics, econometrics and/or economics.

From tuition to rent: studying requires a budget. Want to know how much? All information about the costs of this programme can be found on this page. 

Your student life in Wageningen is what you make it. Dive into the social scene, join unique clubs, enjoy festivals. And yes, study too. It’s all part of the journey. All information about student life in Wageningen can be found on this page.