Environmental Management and Policy - Master's Programme

EMP studies are rooted in interdisciplinary learning, global perspectives and practical application. EMP addresses both environmental policy and environmental management, grounded in the firm belief that leaders in both fields require a dual perspective. Alumni that are active in diverse professions and sectors increasingly bridge public policy and corporate management fields to advance environmental and sustainability agendas.

Special EMP features

EMP challenges our students to develop professional skills, knowledge and networks across industry and society. To this end, the program builds structured and technical insights into societal systems.

Interdisciplinarity and multiculturalism characterize both student cohorts and faculty, shaping the program’s creative atmosphere. A typical EMP cohort bonds a class of around 30 students in a tight on-site community. This, in turn, enables interactive, dynamic learning and contributes to graduates with unique personal and social skill sets. An engaged global alumni network, representing a multitude of professions, actively and regularly contributes to EMP learning activities. 

Designed to build on the knowledge that students have acquired during their undergraduate education and work experiences, the EMP program explicitly encourages peer-to-peer sharing of experience and perspectives. EMP students draw on their diverse experiences and thrive through interdisciplinary and cultural exchange.

EMP is set up to leverage a variety of opportunities to collaborate and co-create with practitioners. Student groups visit and study industry sites and businesses, and engage in projects with external clients throughout the program.

Program modules/courses

EMP consists of five blocks that encompass courses addressing:

• knowledge and skills fundamental for all sustainability professionals, including environmental issues, technical systems, life cycle assessment, and environmental economics;
• aspects of corporate environmental management;
• environmental policy at urban, regional, national and international levels;
• project-based interactions with real-world stakeholders and clients;
• capstone assignments – including a thesis project that allow for focused specialisation that is built on application of the program’s learnings to specific tasks and circumstances.

Course distribution over 2 years:

Semester 1: Environmental and Technical Systems and tools for Environmental Assessment, Fundamentals of Economics and Economic Valuation of Environmental Change, Introduction to Business Management and Corporate Responsibility, Introduction to Policy and Law.

Semester 2: Industrial Environmental Management in Practice; Environmental Law and Policy in Practice; Sustainability-driven Strategies in Business, and Elective course: Environmental Management and Strategy in Practice – Business Consulting – or: Environmental Management and Policy in Practice – Internship.

Semester 3: Environmental Policy Analysis; Interdisciplinary Research Design, & Capstone Client Project.

Semester 4: Degree Project 

Career prospects

The IIIEE EMP program opens doors to a wide range of international environmental- and sustainability-oriented careers. More than 1200 IIIEE alumni have taken positions in industry, consultancies, government, EU bodies, NGOs and multilaterals such as the UN bodies, World Bank and OECD. Others have continued as entrepreneurs or undertaken PhD studies followed by both academic and other public/private-sector careers. Many alumni are visible in leadership roles – across most sustainability-oriented sectors around the globe.