Program Overview

Global Challenges for Sustainability (Charm EU) (M.Sc.)

The CHARM-EU Masters in Global Challenges for Sustainability offers a unique international learning opportunity. CHARM-EU students will have the chance to address the pressing need for sustainability in a transdisciplinary and challenge-based environment. This international programme employs innovative pedagogical approaches and mechanisms to engage staff and students of diverse backgrounds and disciplines to facilitate, foster and enhance the links between education, research and innovation. Furthermore, active engagement with CHARM-EU’s extended network of academic experts and extra-academic actors (i.e. business, community and society) increases the potential development and employability of our graduates.

Overview

The Masters degree is accredited and jointly awarded by the nine CHARM-EU partner universities: Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), University of Barcelona (Spain), Utrecht University (The Netherlands), University of Montpellier (France), Eötvös Loránd University Budapest (Hungary), Abo Akademi University (Finland), Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Julius Maximillian University Würzburg (Germany) and University of Bergen (Norway).

Is This Course For Me?

This programme is aimed at graduates from diverse relevant backgrounds who intend to work in sustainable policy and communication roles, social innovation and action either within existing companies (intrapreneurship) or via generation of new enterprises (entrepreneurship), and academic research in this area.

Career Opportunities

Graduates have pursued sustainable policy and communication roles, entrepreneurship, sustainability specialist and consultancy roles within a wide range of organisations, as well as further academic research.

Course Structure

Delivered full-time over 24 months, this 120-ECTS Masters degree comprises a 30 ECTS preparatory phase which includes modules on sustainability, social innovation and transdisciplinary research; a 30 ECTS flexible phase with transdisciplinary modules related to water, food, life & health and energy & sustainable cities; a 30 ECTS experiential phase (including the possibility of an internship) and a 30 ECTS capstone phase.

Course Content

• Phase 1 is a preparatory phase with three compulsory modules: Sustainability, Social Innovation, Transdisciplinary Research (30 ECTS).
• Phase 2 is a flexible phase made up of three modules selected from one of four thematic pathways (30 ECTS):
  • The Food pathway includes the following modules: the Food-Health-Environment Nexus; Food Systems and their Transformations; and Socially Just and Sustainable Food Systems.
  • The Water pathway includes the following modules: Extremes in the Water Cycle and their Complex Consequences; Adaptation Measures and Strategies in Water Management; Resilient Cities: Water in Urban Environments.
  • The Life and Health pathway includes the following modules: Health Systems and Policies; Health Challenges; and Healthy Lives and Wellbeing.
  • The Energy & Sustainable Cities pathway includes the following modules: Emerging Technologies & Smart Cities; Sustainable Urban Planning, Resource Management & Resilience; and Policy, Climate Change & the Future of Sustainable Cities.
• Phase 3 is the experiential phase which includes an internship option during which students work in organisations aligned with their specialisation and interests (30 ECTS).
• Phase 4 is the capstone phase. During this phase, students work collaboratively with their peers, academic staff and external stakeholders on a sustainability challenge (30 ECTS).

Awards

• NFQ Level 9

Number of Places

• 100 places (across 9 universities)

Next Intake

• September 2025

Course Director

• Dr Annemarie Bennett

Closing Date

• 31st March 2025

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold at least a Bachelors degree or equivalent (EQF level 6 or higher).

• C1 English language certification is necessary for admission to the programme. Students with B2 English certification will be considered in conjunction with other admission criteria but must attain C1 level before enrolment.

English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, please refer to the relevant section.

Related Courses

• Biodiversity and Conservation (M.Sc. / P.Grad.Dip.)
• Development Practice (M.Sc./P.Grad.Dip.)
• Environmental Sciences (M.Sc. / P.Grad.Dip.)
• Smart and Sustainable Cities (M.Sc. / P.Grad.Dip.)