Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science - Master of Science programme

LUMES is an interdisciplinary programme focusing on sustainability challenges from a local to a global level through combining both social and natural science perspectives. 

Building on students’ previous knowledge and experiences, emphasis is placed on understanding present societal development patterns and the environmental problems they create, as well as approaches for formulating strategies for future sustainable pathways. The programme takes an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to sustainability, which provide students with a broad knowledge of the interaction between cultural, economic, environmental, political, and social dimensions of sustainability. 

Unique programme qualities

The LUMES programme is set in a unique interdisciplinary and internationally excellent educational and research environment at Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (www.lucsus.lu.se). Students are exposed to different perspectives, world views and experiences, and sustainability challenges in other parts of the world. Courses are taught by teachers and researchers from both the social and natural sciences with the aim of creating graduates that are able to grasp, analyse, and formulate governance strategies and practices for societal change.

As a student, you receive training and competence in working in cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary teams, working on a strategic as well as operational levels, and an ability to communicate with, and disseminate knowledge and research to, both specialised and non-specialised audiences.

Since the programme started in 1997, LUMES has had more than 1000 students from roughly 100 countries, with a graduation rate exceeding 90 per cent.

Programme structure 

The programme consists of four semesters. The 1st semester provides a foundation for understanding local and global sustainability challenges as well as interaction between ecological and societal systems and the social science theories that help us understand our present social development pathway. The 2nd semester includes the study of political governance, geographical perspectives and economic approaches, using case studies that exemplify the basic knowledge provided in the first semester and form the basis for continued studies. This semester also includes a methodology course with a practical orientation. In the 3rd semester, the student chooses from a range of elective courses covering different aspects of sustainability challenges. The 4th semester comprises a degree project of  30 credits.

Career prospects

As a LUMES graduate you are equipped to work in a range of sectors, both within and outside academia, and in a number of professional roles. 

LUMES graduates are today working in sectors such as: business, education, food, health, fashion, logistics, fishing and aquaculture, rural and urban development and transport. Their professional roles include: consultant, coordinator, entrepreneur, manager, advisor, analyst, policy officer, specialist, campaigner, communications experts, organiser, and researcher.

Many LUMES graduates have also continued with doctoral studies and are now working and teaching at universities around the world.