Program Overview

Islands and Sustainability (EM) Master's Program

The Islands and Sustainability program is an Erasmus Mundus master's program that combines thorough training in scientific research with a specialization on Islands and Sustainability. Scholarships are available.

Program Description

Islands are special cases for Sustainable Development. Within the current global economic and social system, islands in many cases face economic, social, political, and cultural marginalization; unless they cooperate. Cooperation is needed in research and education on the ways to manage islands and raise capacity building in island communities. Understanding the problems and finding effective ways to develop the potential of small islands requires international academic cooperation that looks beyond the specifics of individual islands.

The ISLANDS program combines thorough training in scientific research with a thematic specialization on Islands and Sustainability. It also provides multi-faceted training of research skills for social science and environmental research, including Individual Research Training by senior staff and training to work in a multi- and interdisciplinary research group.

Program Structure

• The program is a full-time, 24-month master's program.
• The program starts in September.
• The program is taught in English.
• The program is offered by the Faculty of Spatial Sciences.

Admission Requirements

• Previous education: Students should have a Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to Regional Studies, such as Human Geography and Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Planning, or Urban Studies.
• Knowledge minimum: Applicants should have some background knowledge in the Spatial Sciences field (Urban or Regional Studies, Human, Economic or Cultural Geography, Spatial Planning, Environmental and Infrastructure Planning, Demography or Real Estate).
• Grade average: Excellent study results and high grades at university level (A range, typically top 10%); Comparable to Dutch grading system: average grade of at least 7, for Bachelor thesis of at least 7.5.
• Assessment interview: Generally, an interview with the applicant, in which attitude, motivation, orientation, and competence for a career in (scientific) research are evaluated, forms part of the admission procedure.
• Language test: English on VWO level or one of the following equivalents:
  • IELTS overall band 6.5, no less than 6.5 on each section
  • TOEFL internet based: Overall: 90 Reading: 21 Listening: 21 Speaking: 21 Writing: 24
  • Cambridge English: Cambridge certificate C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (formerly known as CAE/CPE)
  • European Baccalaureate, English level L1 or L2

Tuition Fees

• Nationality: EU/EEA
• Year:
• Fee: € 2695
• Programme form: full-time

Research

The researchers who participate in the program are actively working on international and national research projects and bring their experiences to their teaching. The program builds on the existing Research Master in Spatial Sciences program at the University of Groningen (RUG).

Career Prospects

The graduates from the program are well-trained for academic careers, business consultants, tourism planners and managers, environmental/sustainable management consultants, environmental tourism consultants, local economic development consultants, careers in international organizations/NGOs in the fields of environment and sustainability.

Student Profile

Islands and Sustainability is suitable for people with a background in geography, environmental sciences, regional development and planning, social sciences, policy planning, international relations, and tourism.