Master's Programme in Sustainable Management

The Master’s Programme in Sustainable Management is designed for those who want to take an active role in shaping the transition toward a more sustainable future, whether in business, public institutions, non-profit organisations, or society at large. The programme emphasises critical and creative thinking as you, your classmates, and faculty members explore how sustainability is addressed across diverse organisational practices, from effective approaches to those that pose significant challenges.

During the programme, you can expect to:

• be part of a diverse student group, and gain insights from a wide range of perspectives in the classroom;
• engage with faculty members through discussions, feedback, and shared inquiry into critical sustainability challenges; and
• join an active alumni community through the “United for Sustainability” association.
  

The programme is hosted by the Department of Business and Society on Campus Gotland, a campus with a strong sustainability profile. It prepares you to navigate a rapidly changing world and make responsible decisions that contribute to economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable development. It also invites you to examine how public, private, and civil-society actors work with sustainability and manage trade-offs that may arise when different interests intersect. Through in‑depth studies, you will explore how organisational and managerial practices are embedded in wider societal contexts, and how actors shape sustainability transitions, including the tensions and contradictions that emerge along the way.

You will work alongside students from around the world — some who think like you, and others who bring entirely different perspectives. Students in the programme share a strong engagement with sustainability and thrive in an environment where complex issues are actively discussed, debated, and explored from multiple perspectives.

Career

The programme promotes critical thinking and helps you develop into a responsible future leader, whether you choose a role within an organisation, start your own business, or continue your academic career.

With a Master’s degree in Sustainable Management, you will be well prepared for a successful career in both the private and public sectors, in local and international contexts. Graduates often take on roles that involve analysing, coordinating, or leading sustainability initiatives, whether by helping ensure organisational accountability, guiding strategy development, or assessing the social and environmental effects of business activities.

The Alumni Network, consisting of previous students from the programme, is a supportive group that facilitates connections around the globe. Previous students work with sustainability issues in private organisations (such as Adidas, IKEA and Oatly), non‑profit organisations (such as Alberta Ecotrust Foundation and Atmosfair), consultancy companies (such as PwC and SAP), and support agencies (such as Chambers of Commerce), to name a few.

Drawing on extensive national and international networks, our department provides pathways for students who wish to continue into doctoral studies, something several former students have pursued.

Content

The programme emphasises core academic practices such as rigorous reading, writing, and analytical inquiry. You will develop the ability to critically assess sustainability issues, navigate complex dynamics, and understand the possibilities for organisations to support more sustainable futures.

First semester

In the first semester, you will take four courses designed to give you a broad understanding of sustainability-related issues. Topics include:

• ethical dimensions of decision‑making in business and policy contexts;
• different ways of understanding human–nature relationships and their role in shaping collective action;
• transnational governance and organisational processes that guide social transformations; and
• global power dynamics over natural resources and their implications for environmental justice.

Second semester

In the second semester, you will take a course on critical inquiry and research methods to prepare you for your Master’s thesis. The final period of the programme is entirely devoted to your Master’s thesis and the accompanying seminars.

The programme concludes with the Sustainability Symposium, where you present your thesis to a public audience.

Courses within the programme

See the programme outline for courses within the programme.

Learning experience

The programme offers a collaborative learning environment in which instructors often guide discussions rather than simply lecture. You will engage with a variety of teaching formats, including seminars, lectures, debates, panels, and discussion forums. Each course reflects the instructor’s research interests, expertise, and teaching style, and is shaped by the perspectives and contributions of you and your fellow students.

You will study at Uppsala University’s Campus Gotland, located in Visby on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. The campus is known for its close professional relationships between professors and students, creating an atmosphere where active participation and dialogue are central to the learning experience.

Campus Gotland has a strong focus on sustainability and offers unique opportunities for cooperation, networking, and learning across a wide range of international Master’s programmes, research centres, and dedicated sustainability scholars.

All courses in the programme are taught in English.

Members of the Faculty are dedicated to helping you develop by supporting your strengths and by providing you with an advanced level of research-based education. Uppsala University has a long tradition of high-quality research in management and sustainability.

Degree

The programme leads to the degree of Master of Social Science (60 credits) with Business and Society as the main field of study.