Global Challenges for Sustainability
- Fulltime
Do you want to make a real difference?
You can be a force of positive, sustainable change for the future of our planet.
The Master’s in Global Challenges for Sustainability is a unique international learning opportunity that will help you be a change-maker.
You’ll work on real-life global challenges with national and international organisations and emerge with essential skills for the 21st century.
About the Master's
Our Master's programme Global Challenges for Sustainability equips you to actively tackle global challenges and develop sustainable solutions. You will work on real-world problems in collaboration with civil society organisations, NGOs, businesses, policy-makers, and many others. Learning takes place not only in the classroom but also directly in the field – allowing you to actively help shape the future.
Offered within the CHARM-EU Alliance, this unique programme is accredited by nine European universities and follows an innovative curriculum and offers you an exceptional international academic journey.
The CHARM-EU Alliance is made up of the following nine universities:
- Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
- University of Barcelona (Spain)
- Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)
- Utrecht University (The Netherlands)
- University of Montpellier (France)
- Eötvös Loránd University Budapest (Hungary)
- Åbo Akademi University (Finland)
- Julius-Maximilian-University Würzburg (Germany)
- University of Bergen (Norway)
As part of the programme, students complete four semesters at a minimum of two and up to four of these renowned partner universities. The selection of universities varies depending on the chosen focus area.
You will benefit from an interdisciplinary curriculum centered around on of the following key themes: Food, Water, Life & Health, and Energy & Sustainable Cities.
Become part of this unique Master’s programme and help shape the world of tomorrow!
Objectives and Competences
During the programme, you will:
- Research and evaluate complex societal challenges from different stakeholders and intercultural perspectives.
- Assess and integrate different disciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge and research methodologies.
- Become familiar with the latest technological tools to source, analyse, handle, use and communicate complex bodies of data ethically.
- Learn to communicate and collaborate effectively on complex issues.
- Formulate an advanced understanding of transdisciplinarity and demonstrate expertise in the facilitative, communicative, reflexive and collaborative skills to support its practice.
- Acquire advanced transversal competencies in problem solving, entrepreneurialism, innovation, digital skills, and a life-long learning disposition.
- Develop creative and critical thinking skills.
Career Opportunities
CHARM-EU graduates have skills for a wide range of careers, including but not limited to:
- Consultancy for business, government institutions and NGOs.
- Sustainability management and business transformation.
- Sustainability policy, advocacy, and communications.
- Business innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Social innovation and action.
- Academia and research.
What careers do our alumni work in?
Our alumni work as consultants, project managers, administrators, researchers, and more, in organisations such as consultancies, educational institutions, energy firms, government bodies, urban mobility initiatives, environmental organisations, non-profits, media companies, and urban development projects.
Student Journey
September 2025 – January 2026
Your starting university can be:
- Trinity College Dublin (25 available spots)
- Utrecht University (25 available spots)
- Eötvös Loránd University Budapest (25 available spots)
If the above destinations have reached full capacity, the following destination will open:
- Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg (25 available spots)
If the above destinations have reached full capacity, the following destination will open:
- Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences (25 available spots)
February 2026 – June 2026
Mobility is compulsory in this phase.
Depending on the path you chose, you will have the following destinations:
Second/third location will open if there are more than 20 students in the first/second one.
Water Track
- University of Montpellier
- University of Bergen
Food Track
- University of Barcelona
- Eötvös-Loránd-University Budapest
- Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg
Live and Health Track
- University of Barcelona
Energy and Sustainable Cities Track
- Åbo Akademi University
- Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences
- University of Bergen
September 2026 – January 2027
You will develop a real working-life experience on an internship or a project. All destinations with some conditions.
You have 3 options:
- Stay in the destination of the previous phase (Flexible Phase)
- Return to your starting university (Preparatory Phase)
- Move to another CHARM-EU partner university or another destination.
February 2027 – June 2027
All the universities with some conditions.
You have 2 options:
- Stay in the previous destination if you are in a CHARM-EU partner university (Experiential phase)
- Move to another CHARM-EU partner university
You can find more information and links to explanatory videos on the official CHARM-EU website.
How to apply
The applications for the edition of the programme starting from September 2025 are closed.
Access requirements:
- Applicants must have at least a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent recognised as a sufficient qualification for admission to a master’s degree.
- English language certification is necessary for programme admission.
C1 is the required level. Students with B2 level will be considered in conjunction with other admission criteria but must attain C1 level before programme enrolment.
The application for the 5th edition of the Master's took place until the 30th of March 2025 on the official CHARM-EU website.
Tuition Fees
Payments for the complete programme are as follows:
Total fee (complete programme):
- EU/EEA students (*) 5.000€
- Non-EU/EEA students 24.000€
(*) EU/EEA Student tuition fees apply to students with nationality or permanent residence permit in European Union and European Economic Area countries, Andorra and Switzerland. The supporting document must be valid at the time of the enrolment.
Further information and the breakdown of tuition fees as well as information on grants and funding opportunities are available here:
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