About this programme
Master in Applied Economics and Sustainability is a Master's Degree programme at Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Ås, taught in English. It runs for 2 years and carries 120 ECTS credits. The register gives Ås as the campus town. It lists the degree as Master. Norwegian University of Life Sciences is a state university in Akershus.
How it compares
Master in Applied Economics and Sustainability is one of 10 English-taught Economics programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 5 institutions. 6 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from NOK 166,700 to NOK 204,000. 9 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.
What you will study
What you study
The core of this master's is applied economics: how theory is used to tackle real problems, with sustainability as the thread running through it. You take 55 ECTS of mandatory courses covering mathematics, economics, data analysis, econometrics, introductory programming, public economics and taxation, and sustainability. The programme draws on research at the School of Economics and Business in environmental, energy, resource and climate economics, development economics, public economics and taxation, and financial and commodity market analysis. You then choose a specialisation profile in Environment, Climate, and Energy; Financial and Commodity Market Analysis; or free electives. The Financial and Commodity Market Analysis profile requires BUS220 or equivalent from your bachelor's. You can also take ECN334 Internship in Economics, working with an external partner organisation, a private firm or a public agency in Norway on agreed tasks. Teaching uses lectures, group and team case studies, excursions and field trips, and digital learning tools. You will use R and Python.
How the programme is organised
The degree is 120 ECTS over two years, full time, starting in autumn. It has four parts: the 55 ECTS mandatory set, a 35 ECTS specialisation profile or electives, and a 30 ECTS master's thesis. Electives can be taken within the School of Economics and Business or across other faculties at NMBU. The thesis comes with a supervisor matched to your topic, giving feedback from start to finish. Assessment varies by course: semester assignments, project reports, peer review, presentations and exams. Second-year students mentor first-year students, and each spring there is a student conference where master's students present their work. Exchange is possible, recommended in the second semester of the first year. You need your own laptop for learning and exams.
Who it suits
This programme suits you if you have a bachelor's in economics or a related field with courses in mathematics and statistics and intermediate micro and macroeconomics. You should be comfortable with quantitative work and curious about how economic tools address sustainability. The weighted average grade from your bachelor's must be C or better. The programme admits 25 students. It also qualifies you for doctoral study.
Admission, language and next steps
Apply by 1 December if you are outside the EU/EEA. Norwegian, Nordic, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens apply by 15 April. English language ability must meet NMBU's requirements for English-taught programmes. Check the programme page for the full 'Requirements in detail' and the application system. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at state institutions; other degree students normally pay a fee set by the institution. Accommodation is offered through SiÅs, with international students prioritised but not guaranteed, so apply as soon as you accept your offer. For questions, contact the study counsellor at studieveileder-hh@nmbu.no.
Job opportunities after graduating
- Consultancy firms
- Banks and financial institutions
- Energy companies
- Ministries and directorates
- Public agencies
- NGOs
- Doctoral studies
Before you apply
Master’s applications go straight to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme. The institution lists its deadline as: Nordic applicants: April 15 EU applicants: April 15 Non EU-applicants: December 1. The register shows 1 December 2026 as a deadline date for this programme. Deadlines are set by each institution for each programme, so confirm yours. Entry requirements and language tests are also set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, study permits and housing.
Facts on this page come from the Study in Norway register, the official English-programme list run by HK-dir, the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. Fees are in NOK as the institution lists them. "Not listed" means the register has no figure, not that the programme is free. Always confirm requirements, fees and deadlines with the institution.
Quick answers
Is Master in Applied Economics and Sustainability taught in English?
Yes. The Study in Norway register, run by HK-dir, lists it as an English-taught programme at Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Only English-taught degree programmes are included here.
How long does it take?
The register records 2 years of study and 120 ECTS credits. Sixty ECTS credits are one academic year of full-time study.
Where is it taught?
The register lists Ås as the campus town for this programme at Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
How do I apply?
Master’s applications go straight to the institution, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme, and some programmes require a minimum grade average. Norwegian University of Life Sciences publishes its requirements on the programme page.
When is the application deadline?
Each institution sets and publishes its own deadline for each programme, and the dates can differ between applicants from outside the EU/EEA, EU/EEA applicants and Nordic applicants. As Norwegian University of Life Sciences lists it: Nordic applicants: April 15 EU applicants: April 15 Non EU-applicants: December 1. The register shows 1 December 2026 as a deadline date for this programme. Confirm the date for your own situation on the programme page at Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
What does it cost?
No annual fee is listed for this programme. Degree students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland normally pay tuition at Norwegian institutions, and the fees vary by institution and programme, so ask Norwegian University of Life Sciences what applies to you. For students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland the record shows no tuition fee. Fees are in NOK as the institution lists them. Every student also pays a semester fee of about NOK 1,000 to the student welfare organisation linked to the institution.
Do I need a permit to study there?
Students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland need a study permit from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). UDI asks for proof of admission, housing and funds of NOK 15,488 a month or NOK 170,368 a year (2026/27), on top of any tuition fee. A study permit allows work of up to 20 hours a week during term and full time in the holidays. Students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland register with the police within three months of arrival instead.
Is this programme officially listed?
It comes from the Study in Norway register at studyinnorway.no, the English-programme list run by HK-dir, the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. The programme page at Norwegian University of Life Sciences is linked from this page so you can compare.
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All programmes →Norwegian University of Life Sciences · Ås