Master of Sustainability Management

Master of Sustainability Management is one of 10 English-taught Sustainable Development programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 7 institutions. 10 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

The Master of Sustainability Management at the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) is a two-year, 120 ECTS programme taught entirely in English. It bridges management and sustainability, giving you research-based knowledge and practical skills to handle complex issues in economic, environmental, social and cultural sustainability.

What you study

The programme combines two main fields: management and sustainability. You can specialise in areas such as finance, innovation and strategy, digitalisation, and marketing and tourism, all with a focus on sustainable development locally and globally. One course you might take is Strategy and Innovation for Sustainability (7.5 ECTS). The curriculum prepares you for roles in management, regulation and certification of sustainable practices, linking sustainable practice with research across fields.

How the programme is organised

Courses run in parallel for half a semester, so each course usually lasts seven weeks, followed by a week of exams. This spreads the workload evenly and lets you concentrate on topics and tasks. Teaching methods include lectures and tutoring for structured guidance, group work and seminars for teamwork and knowledge sharing, and study tips for hands-on experience with real-world challenges. You also do independent study. Exams are usually in week 9 and week 41, plus the ordinary exam periods at the end of each semester (May and December). Assessment varies: term papers, group work, oral presentations and final individual written exams. Grades run from A to F, with E as the lowest pass. You can take parts of the programme abroad through exchange agreements with foreign universities, colleges and internships.

Who it suits

This master's suits people who want to work with sustainability in management roles, whether in the private, public or non-profit sector. It is for those who face complex challenges in economic, environmental, social and cultural sustainability and want tools that are in demand. If you are curious about how management and sustainability connect, and you want to work independently and judiciously with these issues, this could be a good fit. The programme also prepares you for research training, such as a PhD in management.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a bachelor's degree or equivalent with at least 80 ECTS relevant to sustainability management. Relevant fields include management and related areas such as accounting and finance, business administration, business law, culture management, economics, event management, human geography/regional studies, innovation and entrepreneurship, IT, marketing, planning, political science, real estate, shipping and logistics, sport management, and tourism management. You must also meet the English language requirements. The programme is taught in English. USN does not pre-approve courses or previous education; your qualifications are assessed only after you apply. Application deadlines: non-EU/EEA applicants can apply from 1 October to 15 November; EU/EEA applicants from 1 February to 15 April. Check the programme page for full details and how to apply. 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.

Master’s applications go straight to University of South-Eastern Norway, 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: Non-EU/EEA applicants may apply from 1 October to 15 November. EU/EEA applicants may apply from 1 February to 15 April. The register shows 15 November 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.