About this programme
Master in Economics and Environmental Governance 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 Economics and Environmental Governance 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 master's in Economics and Environmental Governance at NMBU is a two-year, full-time programme worth 120 ECTS. It is interdisciplinary, drawing on economics (environmental, resource, climate and ecological), political science, environmental sciences and human geography. The first semester brings you up to a necessary level of competence in economics, political science and methods (30 ECTS). Then come four core courses (40 ECTS): Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, Global Environmental Governance, Climate Economics, and Climate Change and Society. You choose a specialisation profile or elective courses (20 ECTS), either in Energy Economics or Ecological Economics, or freely from courses at NMBU. The final part is a 30 ECTS master's thesis.
How the programme is organised
Teaching uses lectures, group and teamwork case studies, excursions and field trips, and digital learning tools, with a focus on student-centred learning. A student mentorship programme pairs second-year students with first-year students, and a student conference each spring lets master's students present their work. The interdisciplinary mix of students from social sciences, political science and economics is used deliberately for peer learning. During the thesis you get a supervisor who gives ongoing feedback from start to finish, allocated according to your topic. Assessment varies: semester assignments, project reports, peer review, presentations and exams. You need your own laptop for learning situations and exams. Exchange opportunities are limited because of the programme structure; any exchange is assessed case by case with the study advisors.
Who it suits
This programme suits you if you want to understand both the drivers of environmental change and the policies to address it. It is for students with a bachelor's degree in economics, business administration, political science, geography, development studies or other social sciences, environmental science or related fields. You need at least two of the following courses: economics, mathematics or statistics (quantitative methods), for example one in economics and one in statistics. The minimum grade point average is C (or equivalent). The programme is taught in English.
Admission, language and next steps
Applicants must demonstrate English language ability according to NMBU's regulations for programmes taught in English. The application deadline is 1 December for applicants outside the EU/EEA, and 15 April for Norwegian, Nordic, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. Check the programme page for the exact requirements and how to apply. NMBU is a state university. 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 close to campus is offered through NMBU's Student Welfare Association (SiÅs). International students are prioritised for on-campus housing, though it is not guaranteed. Apply for accommodation immediately after accepting your admission offer. For questions, contact the study counsellor at studieveileder-hh@nmbu.no.
Job opportunities after graduating
- Public administration
- Management
- Policy analysis
- Communication
- NGOs
- Businesses
- PhD studies in relevant fields
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 Economics and Environmental Governance 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.
Same subject and level at other institutions
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All programmes →Norwegian University of Life Sciences · Ås