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Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science: Sustainability and Inner Transformation

Course · 7.5 credits

Description

Humanity is facing increasingly complex environmental and sustainability challenges. Current coordination mechanisms, problem-solving strategies, and modes of scientific inquiry, teaching and learning appear insufficient to address these challenges and bring about transformative change towards more sustainable pathways.

As a result, the notion of inner transformation (or inner transition) has emerged as a new area of exploration. The course explores this new area and creates space and opportunities for learning and knowledge development on this topic. Inner transformation, as used here, describes changes in the sphere of human interiority related to people’s (expanded) consciousness, mindsets, values, and beliefs. Accordingly, it relates to all kinds of activities and capacities that can support such changes (e.g., mental, religious and indigenous practices/knowledge). The course critically discusses related concepts and activities.

The overall aim of the course is to critically assess the potential role of inner transformation for sustainability, and how this is reflected in sustainability science. This also involves a critical reflection about inner transformation as a social phenomenon. Inner transformation through expanded consciousness is an inherent capacity of the human organism that is rooted in the fundamental activities of consciousness. It has increasingly been the subject of academic studies based on established concepts and theories of e.g., attention, awareness, emotional intelligence and mindfulness disposition. Inner transformation is often viewed as a pre-requisite to the development of compassion, and involves a fundamental shift in the way people think about and ultimately act on both local and global economic, social and ecological crises.

The specific objectives of this course are threefold. Firstly, it allows students to develop a critical understanding of the potential interlinkages between inner transformation and sustainability (in theory and practice). Examples of topics where sustainability and inner transformation have been linked in literature include: subjective well-being, sustainable behavior and consumption, the human-nature connection, equity issues, and social activism. Secondly, inner transformation theories and practices are assessed in relation to a specific sustainability field, such as climate change adaptation and/or risk reduction. Potential topics and concepts include mindful climate action and organizational mindfulness for strategic adaptation mainstreaming. Thirdly, the course allows students to engage and critically reflect on the nature of inner transformation and its salience to sustainability science and learning.

 

Closed for applications

Application opportunities

Contact

LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)

Visiting address
"Josephson", "Wrangel", Biskopsgatan 5, 223 62 Lund

Postal address
Box 170, 221 00 Lund

+46 46 222 04 70

Requirements and selection

Entry requirements

At least 40 ECTS credits from the programme SAESS Masterprogram i Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (also called LUMES).

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100 %.

English language requirements

Most of Lund University’s programmes require English Level 6 (unless otherwise stated under 'Entry requirements'). This is the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 90. There are several ways to prove your English language proficiency – check which proof is accepted at the University Admissions in Sweden website. All students must prove they meet English language requirements by the deadline, in order to be considered for admission.

How to prove your English proficiency – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements

Check if there are any country-specific eligibility rules for you to study Bachelor's or Master's studies in Sweden:

Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se

Apply

Start Autumn Semester 2024

Day-time Lund, part time 50%

In English

Study period

1 November 2024 - 19 January 2025

Application

You can only apply for this course in the 'Swedish student' application round. Find out more: Applying for studies – when to apply

How to apply

Lund University uses a national application system run by University Admissions in Sweden. It is only possible to apply during the application periods.

When to apply for studies

Step 1: Apply online

  • Check that you meet the entry requirements of the programme or course you are interested in (refer to the section above on this webpage).
  • Start your application – go to the University Admissions in Sweden website where you create an account and select programmes/courses during the application period.
    Visit the University Admissions in Sweden website
  • Rank your programme/course choices in order of preference and submit them before the application deadline.

Step 2: Submit documents

  • Read about how to document your eligibility and how to submit your documents at the University Admissions in Sweden website. Follow any country-specific document rules for Master's studies or Bachelor's studies
    Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se
    Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se
     
  • Get all your documents ready:
    - official transcripts and high school diploma (Bachelor's applicants)
    - official transcripts and degree certificate or proof that you are in the final year of your Bachelor's (Master's applicants)
    - passport/ID (all applicants) and
    - proof of English proficiency (all applicants).
     
  • Prepare programme-specific documents if stated in the next paragraph on this webpage.
  • Upload or send all required documents to University Admissions before the document deadline.
  • Pay the application fee (if applicable – refer to the section below on this webpage) before the document deadline.

* Note that the process is different if you are applying as an exchange student or as a part of a cooperation programme (such as Erasmus+).
* If you have studied your entire Bachelor's programme in Sweden and all of your academic credits are in Ladok, you do not have to submit transcripts or your diploma when applying for a Master's programme. However, there may still be other documents you need to submit! See the link below. 

Svensk student? 
Läs instruktionerna om att söka till ett internationellt masterprogram på lu.se

Tuition fees

Non-EU/EEA citizens

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 16 875

First payment: SEK 16 875

Convert currency – xe.com

Citizens of a country outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees. You pay one instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Application fee

If you are required to pay tuition fees, you are generally also required to pay an application fee of SEK 900 when you apply at the University Admissions in Sweden website. You pay one application fee regardless of how many programmes or courses you apply to.


*Note that there are no tuition or application fees for exchange students or doctoral/PhD students, regardless of their nationality.

Scholarships & funding

Lund University Global Scholarship programme

The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

Lund University Global Scholarship

Swedish Institute Scholarships

The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students applying for studies in Sweden at Master's level.

Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website

Country-specific scholarships and funding options

Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University.

External scholarships

Information about scholarships from external organisations