Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management

Masters in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management (MESPOM) prepares students for solving complex environmental sustainability problems, especially in an international context. It offers a comprehensive multi- and inter-disciplinary curriculum that challenges students’ ability to integrate theory and practice for rigorous analysis and effective management of environmental and sustainability issues in various social settings. In addition to their academic work, students acquire research, communication and other cross-cutting skills, engage with real-life projects in business, government, non-profit and academic sector, learn to orient themselves in European and worldwide networks of environmental professionals, and develop effective career strategies. MESPOM is operated by six leading Universities from Europe, USA and Canada. Through close coordination of their contributions, MESPOM partners provide a highly cohesive programme which exposes students to diversity of geographic perspectives (including Scandinavian, Mediterranean, and British) and complementary professional competences (policy, management and science). 17 Associated Partners connect MESPOM students to academic and professional networks in 14 countries of 4 continents. The MESPOM study programme of 120 ECTS credits lasts 22 months. The fall and winter terms of the first year are hosted by Central European University (CEU, Hungary) and include an introductory module followed by advanced elective courses on contemporary environmental sustainability challenges and cross-cutting courses on environmental modelling, environmental assessment, professional environmental careers etc. The spring semester is hosted by the University of the Aegean (Lesvos, Greece) and covers land, water and ecosystems management as well as sustainable tourism. In summer, students take internships supervised by MESPOM faculty and hosted by Associated Partners. During the fall term of the second year, students study at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University (Sweden) focusing on Environment, Industry and Products or the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences of the University of Manchester (UK) focusing on Environment and Pollution Control. Students can spend the 4th (thesis) term in any of the Consortium partners, including the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (USA) and the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). Throughout their studies, MESPOM students specialise in cutting-edge professional and academic topics such as sustainable energy and climate change, biodiversity and conservation, urban sustainability, sustainable consumption and production, and environmental security and justice. After the joint thesis defence and examination at CEU, all successful MESPOM graduates receive Master degrees from CEU, Lund University, the University of the Aegean and the University of Manchester.