Master in International Environmental Studies

The Master of Science in International Environmental Studies at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) in Ås is a two-year, full-time programme worth 120 ECTS. It is taught in English and takes an interdisciplinary, socio-ecological approach to environmental challenges.

What you study

The programme explores the connection between people and the environment. You learn how societies use natural resources, how to protect ecosystems, and how to develop solutions for climate change, pollution and sustainable development. Courses cover environmental governance, social transformations, political ecology, de-growth and sustainable food systems.

Compulsory courses in the first year include Introduction to International Environmental Studies (5 ECTS), Green Transformations in Theory and Practics (10 ECTS) and Research Methods (15 ECTS). You then choose from a range of electives such as Climate Change and Society (10 ECTS), Global Political Economy (10 ECTS), Linking Ecological and Social Resilience (10 ECTS), Global Environmental Changes (5 ECTS), Global Food Systems and Food Security (10 ECTS), Ecological Economics and Degrowth (10 ECTS), Political Ecology (10 ECTS), Global Environmental Governance (10 ECTS), Agroecology and Development (10 ECTS), Energy and Society (5 ECTS) and Governance of Plant Genetic Resources and Seeds (5 ECTS).

In the first semester you design an individual study plan that lets you specialise in topics such as political ecology, sustainable agri-food systems, environmental governance or green economy.

How the programme is organised

The first year is mainly coursework, including an excursion that introduces new students to practitioners in the field. The second year is an individually designed combination of electives, a field course and an internship. You are encouraged to spend a semester on exchange at a university abroad or do an internship with a national or international organisation.

Field courses have been held at partner institutions in India and Tanzania. Many students do thesis research in countries other than Norway, often in the Global South. The master thesis is normally written in the final semester: a 30 ECTS thesis in the spring, or a 60 ECTS thesis across autumn and spring.

Teaching is problem-based and process-oriented. Courses combine lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work and individual writing. Guest lectures by practitioners and scholars are common. Assessment methods vary and include term papers, group work, oral presentations, podcasts, digital storytelling and written exams.

Who it suits

The programme suits students with a bachelor's degree in the social, natural, environmental or agricultural sciences, or humanities, who want to work on environmental and sustainability issues from an interdisciplinary angle. You should be comfortable with group work, independent reading and taking responsibility for your own learning. A one-page motivation letter is part of the application and is assessed alongside your academic transcripts.

Admission, language and next steps

Applicants need a relevant bachelor's degree and a minimum grade point average of C (or the equivalent). You must meet NMBU's English language proficiency requirements. 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 documents and procedures.

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 NMBU's Student Welfare Association (SiÅs), with international students prioritised, though not guaranteed. Apply for housing as soon as you accept your offer.

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.