Are you a current student? For the programme of this academic year, check the course guide.

Curriculum of Environment & Sustainability

The Master’s specialisation in Environment & Sustainability has a course load of 120 EC (two years). The first year of this specialisation contains five compulsory courses in the first period. You can compose the rest of the programme with electives, internships, literature theses and optionally a field course abroad.

About this study curriculum

The course overview is an indication of the study programme of the academic year 2024-2025. Are you a current student, please consult the online course guide for your course overview.

Please note: The current name of the programme is Water and Environment and will change to Environment & Sustainability in the academic year of 2024-2025. In the course guide for current students, you will only find the name of Water and Environment.

COURSE GUIDE

Course overview

Below you can find an overview of the structure of the programme:

  • Compulsory courses (15 EC)
  • Electives (21 EC)
  • Review article (6 EC)
  • Research proposal (6 EC)
  • Two internships (2x 36 EC)
Total EC
120 EC
Compulsory courses
P1
P2
P3
P4
3 EC
3 EC
3 EC
3 EC
3 EC
0 EC
Elective courses
P1
P2
P3
P4
Natural Science electives
12 EC
Philosophy elective
3 EC
Free electives
6 EC

Your core curriculum is supplemented by electives. The elective programme consists of Natural Science electives, a Philosophy elective and Free electives. 

Natural Science electives (12 EC)
You need to choose at least one course from a list of selected electives for Biology. The remaining EC can be filled with academic courses within the field of natural sciences. You can also choose to use 6 EC as extension of your internship.

Philosophy elective (3 EC)
Choose one Philosophy course from a set list of Science Philosophy electives.

Free electives (6 EC)
6 EC of the total electives can be used to take any course taught at Radboud University, another Dutch university or abroad. 

Internships
P1
P2
P3
P4
36 EC
36 EC

During your internships, you’ll be responsible for your own experiments, under the supervision of one of our top researchers at the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES). Most students choose to perform their first internship at Radboud University and their second internship abroad, or at a Dutch governmental organisation, NGO or company. Recent examples are:

  • Research into sustainable agricultural water-use in Brazil
  • Research on to stagnant water and public health in Indonesia
  • A consultancy internship at Royal HaskoningDHV, related to the floods in New Orleans
  • Projects focused on national issues at the National Institute for Public Health RIVM, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), regional water boards and research organisation RAVON

It is also possible to apply for a grant to perform an internship at the Max Planck Gesellschaft, one of the world's most renowned research institutes. For suggestions, you can confer with our teaching staff or the student advisor.

ABOUT OUR RESEARCH

Thesis & research
P1
P2
P3
P4
6 EC
6 EC

Review Article or Research Proposal can be replaced by either:

  • Field Course Alpine Ecology (NWI-BM040B)
  • Field Research Course (NWI-BM048B)

(NB: both field courses are offered in alternating years)