Master’s in Global Challenges for Sustainability
Do you want to make a real difference?
You can be a force of positive, sustainable change for the future of our planet.
The Master’s in Global Challenges for Sustainability is a unique international learning opportunity that will help you be a change-maker.
You’ll work on real-life global challenges with national and international organisations and emerge with essential skills for the 21st century.
- Duration: 2 years
- ECTS: 120 credits
- Language: English
- Applications are open
- Capacity: 100 places
- Universities: University of Barcelona (Spain), Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), Utrecht University (The Netherlands), University of Montpellier (France), Eötvös Loránd University Budapest (Hungary), Åbo Akademi University (Finland), Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (Germany) and University of Bergen (Norway).
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About the Master's
Our Master’s is one-of-a-kind. The world is facing an uncertain future and people with key skills in sustainability and innovation will be essential to addressing the global challenges ahead. In this course, you will work inside and outside the classroom to address real-world problems and collaborate with civil society, NGOs, institutions, business, industry, policymakers and more to find new solutions.
A First-of-Its-Kind Degree
Accredited simultaneously by multiple European universities under the framework of European University Alliances. With the experience of three cohorts of students, CHARM-EU now benefits from the international reputation and expertise of nine prestigious universities.
Innovative Curriculum
Explore a transdisciplinary, challenge-based programme that addresses the urgent need for a sustainable future through innovative learning methods and real-world applications. This course is tailored for a diverse range of students, welcoming candidates from all academic and professional backgrounds ensuring an intercultural environment. It is structured to help you acquire new skills while deepening your expertise through a chosen field.
Exceptional International Exposure
Over the course of 4 semesters (2 years), you have the opportunity to study at up to 4 of our partner universities, enhancing their international profile, intercultural competence, and global skills.
Real-World Professional Experience
During the experiential phase, students have the opportunity to undertake an internship, while in the capstone phase, they collaborate with external stakeholders—including international organizations, NGOs, and research centers. This practical engagement fosters career networks, enhances professional development, and significantly boosts employability in the field of sustainability. Our graduates have taken up roles in sustainability policy, consultancy, business transformation, communications and academia.
Expert Guidance
Based in research methods and inclusive teaching practices, CHARM-EU fosters collaboration, across the 9 universities, between staff and students from diverse backgrounds to strengthen the links between education, research, and innovation.
Inclusive Environment
Experience a welcoming, equitable learning space that values diversity at every level.
Join us to a transformative educational experience and tackle global challenges! 
Objectives and competences
During the programme, you will:
- Research and evaluate complex societal challenges from different stakeholders and intercultural perspectives.
- Assess and integrate different disciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge and research methodologies.
- Become familiar with the latest technological tools to source, analyse, handle, use and communicate complex bodies of data ethically.
- Learn to communicate and collaborate effectively on complex issues.
- Formulate an advanced understanding of transdisciplinarity and demonstrate expertise in the facilitative, communicative, reflexive and collaborative skills to support its practice.
- Acquire advanced transversal competencies in problem solving, entrepreneurialism, innovation, digital skills, and a life-long learning disposition.
- Develop creative and critical thinking skills.
Mobility
International mobility is an integrated part of the programme: the CHARM-EU mobility combines the best of a truly international classroom and mobility activities.
The wide range of mobility opportunities is one of the most important and exciting parts of the learning experience offered by CHARM-EU: international students can meet and interact with each other online and in person, developing their academic, personal, social and professional competences, as well as strengthening their communication and language skills in a unique intercultural environment.
You will study with students and staff from different countries and cultures and have the opportunity to spend part of the programme in different universities. Mobility is compulsory for phase 2 of the master’s programme (second semester). You will follow a unique learning path through Europe and participate in virtual, physical and blended mobilities.
CHARM-EU is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme and aligned with the European Values, European Green Deal and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students are encouraged to use green travel options.
In the “2025 Edition” section about the master’s programme edition, you will find more information regarding grants and scholarships.
Inclusivity
CHARM-EU welcomes applications from all candidates who meet our admission requirements, regardless of background, lived experience and/or access needs.
Inclusivity is one of our core values; a diverse learning environment enriches us all and exposes us to new ideas and perspectives.
Our admission process incoporates an inclusion points scheme whereby applicants who wish to self-disclose membership of an under-represented group may do so and receive inclusion points. Underrepresentation can relate but is not limited to age, gender, family status, disability, sexual orientation, race and ethnic origin, religion, migration status, membership of the Roma and Traveller communities, and socio-economic background. This declaration is optional. If you apply for inclusion points and upload your documents, a member of our team will be in touch. The details of individuals’ circumstances are not disclosed, all documentation will be managed according to GDPR regulations and for the purpose of the application process only.
Needs Assessment
We are here to support you during your programme. Students enrolled in the Master’s are encouraged to disclose access needs early so that the appropriate support can be put in place. To receive a Needs Assessment, please contact fazekas.agnes.sarolta@barczi.elte.hu.
About the CHARM-EU Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Office
The CHARM-EU DEI Office supports and safeguards inclusivity at CHARM-EU. During the Master’s Programme, the CHARM-EU DEI Office acts as an expert group to advise, support and collaborate with relevant organisational units, student services and teaching staff to promote the CHARM-EU inclusive learning experience.
Questions?
Please contact the CHARM-EU DEI with any questions, comments, or issues regarding accessibility and inclusion relating to your CHARM-EU application, admission and experience. We’re here to help!
Accreditation
The 2025 edition of the Master’s in Global Challenges for Sustainability was accredited, according to the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes, on 18th December 2024 and it is registered in the EQAR. This accreditation has been recognised in Spain, The Netherlands, Hungary, France, Germany and by the self-awarding institutions of the Alliance: TCD in Ireland, ÅAU in Finland, JMU in Germany and UiB in Norway.
The information below is valid for previous editions only.
The CHARM-EU MSc in Global Challenges for Sustainability is accredited by the European Approach to Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes (2014) together with partner Quality Agencies and Ministries approval processes.
Read more here:
- Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari de Catalunya (AQU) Ex-Ante Accreditation of Joint Programmes External Assessment Report Following the European Approach, and accompanying Certificate
- Information on accredited and evaluated joint programmes: MSc CHARM-EU, from the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR).
- Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports registry of official titles (RUCT) listing for the MSc, and an accompanying Official Title Report.
- Accreditation documentation listed on the Official Journal of the French Republic
- Décret n° 2021-377 du 1er avril 2021 relatif aux diplômes conférant grade de master et modifiant l’article D. 612-34 du code de l’éducation
- Arrêté du 1er avril 2021 relatif à l’attribution du grade de master aux titulaires du diplôme en partenariat international «Défis globaux pour le développement durable» de l’université de Montpellier
- Décret n° 2021-377 du 1er avril 2021 relatif aux diplômes conférant grade de master et modifiant l’article D. 612-34 du code de l’éducation
- According to current Hungarian legislation, there is no obligation to obtain an expert opinion when setting up or launching an international joint programme with European funding. In cases where such an obligation is necessary by law, the higher education institution – in accordance with Paragraph 67 (4b) of Act CCIV. of 2011 on National Higher Education – is not obliged to request the Hungarian accreditation body (i.e., the Hungarian Accreditation Committee, MAB) but may decide to obtain instead the expert opinion of an accreditation body that is a full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and is registered in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education. In such a case and under the legislation, the expert opinion given by the ENQA–EQAR accreditation body is equivalent to the expert opinion of the MAB and thus fully replaces it. The Master’s in Global Challenges for Sustainability is an EU-funded international joint programme, therefore there was no obligation to obtain an accreditation expert opinion. However, ELTE has submitted the positive expert opinion of AQU Catalunya as an annex to our application for registration of the MSc. Find more information in Hungarian at this link.
- Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) listing for the MSc and registration from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
Career opportunities
The master’s in Global Challenges for Sustainability prepares students for a range of professional areas through identifying multiple career pathways, aligning learning outcomes to industry, business and civil society needs, and fostering of a broad industry-ready skillset.
This programme is supported by external stakeholders and will enable students to connect with the business and society sector, to create a strong network and be prepared to work with companies and institutions worldwide.
What career opportunities are available to graduates?
CHARM-EU graduates have skills for a wide range of careers, including but not limited to:
- Consultancy for business, government institutions and NGOs.
- Sustainability management and business transformation.
- Sustainability policy, advocacy, and communications.
- Business innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Social innovation and action.
- Academia and research.
What careers do our alumni work in?
‘The CHARM-EU Master’s is an innovative programme that allowed us to bring our ideas and interests to the forefront of our studies through its flexibility and collaborative nature. It pushes students to critically evaluate their worldview and the system in which we live, and broadens our perspectives of what sustainability encompasses. It allowed me to work both independently and collaboratively in teams of multidisciplinary students, and to explore a broad range of areas in my projects which included consumer behaviours, sustainable food system transformation and waste reduction and management.’
Hazel Byrne, student
CHARM-EU alumni highlighted five core competencies they gained during their programme:
- Sustainability perspectives: Improved understanding of sustainability in a transdisciplinary context.
- Challenge-based problem-solving: Solutions-based problem-solving and real-world experience.
- Collaboration: People skills and group management
- Flexibility and adaptation: Dynamic responsiveness to multi-faceted challenges with diverse stakeholders
- International experience: Exposure to international perspectives and experiences with multi-lingual and multi-cultural groups
Do you need more information about the master’s programme? We’re here to help—reach out to us!
