CHARM-EU international Master's degree "Global challenges for sustainability" - new expanded version in 2025
Since 2021,the Charm-EUalliance of universities has been offering a transdisciplinary, international master's degree in sustainability. Currently undergoing accreditation, the new version of this joint degree will enable future students to follow a four-semester course (120 ECTS) common to all nine Charm-EU partner universities. Registrations open from February 24 to March 16, 2025.
What opportunities are there?
Resolutely trans-disciplinary, this unique training program is aimed at holders of a bachelor's degree in any discipline who wish to acquire advanced knowledge in sustainable development and meet global societal challenges. Its highly innovative teaching model enables students to become "managers of complexity", imagining and piloting projects linked to societal challenges such as water, food, health and life sciences, energy and sustainable cities.
A collaboration between 9 prestigious universities
In its new version, open for registration in February 2025, this European degree is awarded jointly by nine member universities of the Charm-EU alliance:University of Barcelona (Spain), Trinity College Dublin (Ireland),Utrecht University (Netherlands),Eötvös Loránd University Budapest(Hungary), University of Montpellier, Åbo Akademi University (Finland), University of Würzburg (Germany), Ruhr-West University of Applied Sciences (Germany), University of Bergen (Norway).
Hybrid, teaching is carried out synchronously by teams of teachers from the nine international institutions. These interdisciplinary teams pool their skills and expertise to offer the best possible experience to students on the nine campuses.
The degree takes place over two years, i.e. four semesters, and offers numerous opportunities for mobility, enabling students to study at several partner universities during the course. At least one semester's mobility in one of the alliance's universities is compulsory.
1st half-year
A preparatory phase comprising 3 compulsory modules: Social Innovation, Sustainability and Transdisciplinary Research.
2nd semester
A flexible phase made up of several modules, with the student choosing one of the following four paths:
Water :
- Extreme variations in the water cycle and their complex consequences
- Adaptation measures and strategies in water management
- Resilient cities: water in urban environments
Health and life sciences :
- Health systems and policies
- Health challenges
- Healthy living and well-being
Power supply :
- Linking food, health and the environment
- Food systems and their transformations
- Socially just and sustainable food systems
Energy and sustainable cities :
- Emerging technologies and smart cities
- Sustainable urban planning
- Resource management and resilience
- Politics, climate change and the future of sustainable cities
3rd semester
An experiential phase, which provides the opportunity for a work placement in a variety of organizations (private company, public institution, non-governmental organization, research laboratory, etc.).
4th semester
During this Capstone phase, students work in collaboration with their peers, academic staff and non-academic stakeholders (e.g. companies or associations) on a concrete sustainability challenge in Europe, or worldwide.
A unique teaching model
The "Global challenges for sustainability" diploma is student-centered, with students taking an active role in their own learning. Based on authentic, real-world problem-solving, this program gives students the opportunity to work with international peers and civil society players on complex societal issues related to sustainable development. It also introduces an innovative competency-based assessment method, with individual support from a mentor throughout the course, and regular feedback on results and ways to improve.
Who can take this course?
As the course is cross-disciplinary, all profiles are welcome. Admissions are open to students holding a bachelor's degree in any discipline. Candidates will be required to demonstrate a C1 level in English at the start of the course in September 2025. This degree is recognized in France as an institutional diploma conferring the grade of Master.
Registration fees ?
5,000 for students benefiting from European citizenship.
24,000 for students from outside Europe.
Important: European students (EU/EFTA) who have completed their final year of study in France benefit from free tuition.
Mobility grants are available, notably through the Erasmus+ program.
How to apply?
Registration is open from February 24 to March 16, 2025. Full details of the courses and how to apply online are available on the Charm-EU website.
An online information session will be held on March 11 at 5 p.m., and questions can be submitted in advance via the registration link.
