MA Foundations and Practices of Sustainability

The focus of the Master’s degree in Foundations and Practices of Sustainability is on so-called “strong” sustainability — the challenges of reducing and limiting energy and material flows so that economic activity is once again compatible with the biosphere and its processes. The goal is to train future actors able to lead and support societal transitions toward ecologically and socially sustainable solutions, by linking theoretical principles to innovative practices through solid analytical tools and practical know-how.

The candidate must satisfy the conditions for registration and enrolment at the University of Lausanne and hold a Bachelor’s degree awarded by a Swiss or foreign university. 
Holders of a BSc in Geosciences and Environment from the University of Lausanne are admitted without conditions.

Alumni go on to diverse roles—for instance, trainee in environmental education, environment and security specialist, or project and communications manager. Beyond these, graduates also work in:


Consultancy firms specialising in sustainability strategies
Public administrations responsible for environmental policy
Associations and movements dedicated to environmental protection
Research institutions
Environmental management in companies
Journalism and media
Starting your own business

Grasp the foundations of strong sustainability and the implications of energy/material flow reduction for policy, organisations and everyday practices.
Connect theory and practice: translate sustainability principles into actionable strategies and innovations.
Build critical, reflexive assessment skills for policies, technologies and organisational change.
Design and deliver case-based projects, from scoping and stakeholder mapping to evaluation.
Communicate persuasively to expert and non-expert audiences; synthesise evidence across disciplines.

Students who want to become change agents for ecological and social transitions, bridging humanities-based insights with practical implementation.
Learners motivated by interdisciplinary work across environmental humanities, policy, organisations and community practice.
Profiles aiming for careers in sustainability consulting, public policy, NGOs, corporate sustainability, research, media, or entrepreneurship.