Master's Programme in Sustainability Science and Solutions
Lappeenranta, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 13,500 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* early admission 15 October–15 November 2023 regular admission 1 December 2023–17 January 2024
** annual tuition for non-EU/EEA students
Introduction
In every investment decision, a growing need to contribute more effectively to sustainability challenges has to be taken into account.
Climate warming, weakening air quality, water pollution, and waste are examples of current global sustainability challenges. Sometimes traditional technologies offer the best solutions, but we also need novel solutions to complex environmental problems.
Solutions to these global challenges, such as environmental sustainability, call for systems thinking. We need to understand the context in which a product is going to operate and whether it relates to the need to reduce emissions, use less oil-based fuel or water, end-of-life disassembly, or market in a region that taxes based on a footprint.
By understanding the broader context in which the challenges lie, we are able to identify more sustainable solutions.
In this program, you will learn to identify the challenges of sustainability and view them in a multidisciplinary way, producing solutions that take all aspects of sustainability in society into consideration. You will also learn how to approach complex value chains in a purposeful, analytical and creative way in order to find answers to different aspects of sustainability.
You will take courses on life cycle management, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, waste management, emission control and reduction, climate change, and sustainable business and innovation.
Your studies will focus on industrial and corporate processes and practices, enabling you to acquire knowledge and skills to introduce sustainability solutions to the corporate and government sectors.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Early Bird discount / First academic year
When required to pay a tuition fee, you are offered
- an Early Bird Discount of EUR 6 000
for the first academic year if confirming your place and paying the rest of the tuition fee of EUR 7 500 within 21 days from the date of having received your Certificate of Admission.
Early Bird discount is available in both Regular Admission and Early Admission.
LUT Scholarship / Second academic year
When required to pay a tuition fee, you are offered
- LUT Scholarship of EUR 6 000
for the second academic year if having completed a minimum of 60 ECTS credits of studies included in the personal study plan during the first academic year.
With LUT Scholarship the tuition fee is EUR 7 500 for the second academic year.
The required ECTS credits will be automatically checked for and they must be included on your Transcript of Records by the end of the first academic year i.e. by 31 July.
Curriculum
The Master's Program in Sustainability Science and Solutions takes two years. It leads to the degree of Master of Science in Technology, M.Sc. (Tech.), which is 120 ECTS credits.
The program includes core, advanced specialization, minor and elective studies as well as a Master's thesis.
Core studies, 39 ECTS credits
Include topics in life cycle assessment, system transition, an energy-efficient environment, business and sustainability, and renewable energy technology.
Advanced specialization studies, 24 ECTS credits
Include studies in air pollution control, sustainable water use, waste treatment, and circular economy for materials processing.
Minor studies, 20 ECTS credits
Recommended studies are in renewable energy and energy efficiency, international business and management, bio-based chemical engineering, and energy technology.
Elective studies
Can be chosen from any discipline at LUT to complement your studies.
Master's thesis, 30 ECTS credits
An advanced research project during the program's fourth semester. The Master's thesis is a part of the advanced specialization studies and requires approximately six months of full-time work.
Program Outcome
After completing the program, you will know how to manage environmental issues in a way that profits business and the environment, model life cycles, and make sustainable decisions in demanding situations.
You will be able to recognize opportunities offered by new technological innovations to promote sustainable development.
You will acquire:
- Skills to recognize the most significant environmental impacts of products and processes and their importance in terms of business; you will be able to apply theories and the most recent scientific knowledge to solve problems involving environmental aspects
- Competence to understand the requirements of systemic change and analyze how competitive in terms of environmental impacts and costs a certain technology, product or service is in different operating environments; you will be able to work as an environmental expert in a range of decision-making situations and produce and convey information to support stakeholders in environmental decision-making
- Knowledge about technical possibilities of industrial, service, community, and primary production processes and systems to minimize environmental impacts; you will be able to explain the complex interdependencies of both local and global environmental problems and apply theories to come up with the most sustainable product or process design.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
After graduation, you will have good competencies to work in international and multidisciplinary environments.
As a graduate, you will be able to work in industry, consultancies, regulatory agencies, and governmental and non-governmental organizations, where growing interest in sustainability has created new employment opportunities.
Graduates from this program have found employment as environmental specialists in consulting companies, sustainability specialists in the industry, environmental managers in industrial enterprises, sustainability specialists and researchers at research institutes, climate experts for municipalities, environmental specialists in the energy industry, environmental officers for government authorities, environmental and safety specialists in the industry, municipal environmental managers, and environmental authorities.
You will also obtain a firm basis to continue your studies in doctoral programs.
Program Admission Requirements
Demonstrate your commitment and readiness to succeed in business school by taking the GMAT exam – the most widely used exam for admissions that measures your critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Download the GMAT mini quiz to get a flavour of the questions you’ll find in the exam.