Psychology & Sustainability

• Degree awarded: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
• Application deadline: EU degrees: 1 June / Non-EU degrees: 1 May
• Highlights: Unique inter­disciplinary and multi-level approach to study psycho­logical processes - enabling a thorough under­standing of how individuals, communities and societies influence and are influenced by sustain­able develop­ment; real-world testing of learned theories in trans­disciplinary projects; option of a double degree with University of Groningen, option of combining Master’s and doctoral studies via the Doctoral Track
• Is aimed at: Graduates from psychology, social sciences, sustain­ability studies, or related fields who have earned at least 30 credits in psychology and are interested in psycho­logical drivers and barriers in the transition to sustain­ability
• Type of programme: consecutive, academic prerequisites
• Start date: Every winter term, October
• Study places: 25
• Extent: 120 CP according to ECTS
• Duration: 4 semesters
• Language: English
• Location: Lüneburg
• Semester contribution: ca. 390 EUR

This programme is a two-year Master’s programme at Leuphana University, leading to a Master’s degree in Sustainability Psychology. Sustainability Psychology examines human behaviour and experience in the context of ecological, economic and social system transitions.

It uses a multi-level approach to study psychological processes at micro, meso and macro levels - enabling a thorough understanding of how individuals, communities and societies influence and are influenced by sustainable development. 

Students will address questions such as:

• How do social norms influence sustainable behaviour?
• What motivates individuals to make environmentally responsible choices?
• How can psychological insights guide negotiation and collaboration on sustainable solutions?

Sustainability science is an interdisciplinary field of research. Most disciplines in this field of research approach the topic of sustainability from a natural, social, or cultural science perspective with a focus on social-ecological systems.

Psychology, as the scientific discipline of human perception and behaviour investigates psychological processes at the level of individuals who are part of these social-ecological systems. Thus, sustainability psychology is concerned with cognitive (e.g., problem-solving), motivational (e.g., self-regulation), and emotional (e.g., fear) processes, the interplay between these processes, and how these psychological processes translate into behavioural drivers or barriers towards sustainable development.

The programme follows four guiding principles to establish an interdisciplinary exchange between psychology and sustainability science: The programme adopts a multi-level perspective, uses an interdisciplinary approach, focuses on problems and solutions, and adds a bottom-up (individual-to-system) approach to the well-established top-down (system-to-individual) perspective commonly pursued in the field of sustainability science.

By establishing this integrative approach to Sustainability Psychology, Leuphana University offers a unique Master’s programme in Europe and beyond, with the option of a double degree with the University of Groningen. 

Students are invited to explore psychological drivers and barriers to sustainable development at different levels, such as intrapersonal (e.g. self-regulation), interpersonal (e.g. persuasion), intragroup (e.g. intragroup decision-making) or intergroup (e.g. intergroup negotiations). Both sustainability science and psychology are represented on the teaching staff and collaborate closely in inter- and transdisciplinary research projects.

The Master’s programme has a strong empirical research focus and thus provides students with practical knowledge on how to address the challenges of sustainable development from a psychological perspective within the broader framework of transdisciplinary research projects. To this end, students will acquire not only knowledge of sustainability psychology, but also methodological skills in planning, conducting, analysing and interpreting empirical research on one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Here you can find further information on the course content of the Master's programme Psychology & Sustainability.

The Master’s programm in Psychology & Sustain­ability at Leuphana is designed as a two-year programme with the option to spend the second year at our partner institution, the University of Groningen. 

The first semester at Leuphana University focuses on key principles of sustain­ability psychology at the individual, group, and societal levels. By intro­ducing core theories and models, the programme links topics from the field of psychology with the field of sustain­ability science.

Accordingly, inter- and transdisciplinary work with a focus on theoretical pro­positions, metho­dological tools, and practical implications will characterise the programme in the second semester. Students have the opportunity to choose an elective course from one of the related psychology programmes at the Graduate School (Selected Topics in Psychology, e.g. International Human Resource Management). Thereby, the second semester aims to broaden students’ psychological perspective on the inter- and transdisciplinary characteristics of sustainability science.

In the second year of study, students sharpen their profile through further in-depth studies in sustain­ability science and psychology, with a distinct focus on a ‘Bottom-Up’ perspective. The second year at Leuphana not only strengthens the trans­disciplinary focus through compulsory and elective courses from Sustain­ability Science (up to three modules can be chosen), but also prepares students for the practical and/or academic application of their knowledge.

In the module 'Applications from Communication Psychology: The Dissemination of Scientific Insights', students will learn and develop ways to communicate their know­ledge of sustain­ability science, psychology and the inter­section of the two in an effective and under­standable way.

A special feature of the second year at Leuphana University is the intern­ship module. Depending on the student's career plans and previous academic achieve­ments, the internship will either allow the student to gain practical experience in implementing know­ledge related to sustain­ability psychology with partners at the local, national or inter­national level, or it will allow the student to gain experience in empirical research, which could be the first step towards a future PhD position.

The fourth semester is dedicated to writing a Master’s thesis.

The following link provides access to documents which set out the general conditions for examinations, an overview of the curriculum, as well as detailed and legally binding regulations.

General Assessment Regulations and the Subject-Specific Schedules

As part of the programme, a select number of motivated students (up to 10 per year) have the opportunity to complete their second year at our partner institution, the University of Groningen. This second year offers a distinctive ‘Top Down’ perspective on environmental psychology. Following this optional track, students receive two Master’s degrees (double degree) - one in 'Psychology & Sustainability' and one in 'Environmental Psychology'.

For more information, please go to our website on the integrated study abroad at the University of Groningen.

The Master’s programme trains graduates to apply their psychological know­ledge and skills to the field of sustain­able develop­ment.

Know­ledge and skills on how to promote sustain­able develop­ment have become one of the most relevant competences in various fields of practice. In the face of major societal, eco­nomic or environ­mental trans­formation challenges, such as climate change, digitalisation, globalisation, or social mobilisation not only national govern­ments, but also businesses, political organisations, public services, or educational institutions are increasingly looking for leverage points to promote sustain­able develop­ment in their respective fields of practice

Although sustain­ability has traditionally been addressed from a top-down perspective, such as the develop­ment of measures at the level of political, eco­nomic, or technical systems, the implementation of measures towards sustain­able develop­ment must inevitably take into account the individual stake­holders and actors within these systems into consideration.

With its specific focus on the psycho­logical processes of the individual, the Master’s programme provides students with sound theoretical know­ledge, embracive methodological skills, and impactful practical tools for analysing, describing, changing and predicting sustain­ability-related cognitions, emotions, and motivations. As a result, graduates of the Master’s programme are highly trained in dealing with one of the most fundamental leverage points of sustain­able develop­ment: the individual person as an active constituent in the process of trans­formation towards sustain­ability.

Students with an academic back­ground in the field of sustain­ability science (e.g. political, natural, social sciences) will complement their disciplinary training with a new perspective on the topic of sustain­ability with a focus on the individual actors thus adding a psycho­logical bottom-up perspective to their systemic perspective.

Students with an academic back­ground in the field of psychology (e.g. work and organisational, educational, or clinical psychology) will shift their focus away from the traditional intra­personal perspective of psychology (e.g. bio­logical, neuro­psychological, cognitive processes) to a new perspective on psycho­logical processes as they occur in specific eco­logical, eco­nomic, social, or cultural environ­ments. 

Due to the inter­national orientation of the programme, students not only acquire expertise in the field of sustain­ability psychology and trans­disciplinary research, but will also develop their inter­cultural, social, and language skills.

The different foci and diverse combinations with electives enable access to various professional fields and areas of specialisation for students such as:

• Executive in CSR and sustain­ability departments in companies, institutions and authorities
• Scientific consultancy for environ­mental or sustain­ability policies
• Scientific positions in research and education in sustain­ability sciences and/or psychology
• Advertisement agencies, market research, media, press and public work
• Environ­mental communication and education, adult and youth educational services, edu­cational consultancy
• Consultancy and administration in inter­national organisations and non­governmental organisations or institutions
• Behavioural expert in environ­mental and energy organisations (such as grid operators, energy providers and water companies)
• Policy Advisor

As a student in our programme, you have the opportunity to start your doctorate early via the Doctoral Track.

Thus, you to become part of the scientific community of our doctoral research groups at an early stage, giving you the unique opportunity to combine your Master's and doctoral studies and, with your doctorate in sight, to obtain your Master's degree en-route.

You can find all information about the admission and requirements, the application and the selection procedure (that requires applicants to hand in a letter of motivation) on our "Admission and Requirements" page.

The study programme matches your interests? Then you will find further information for prospective international students on residence and social matters, such as visa, residence permit, health insurance or finding accommodation, on the following pages.

Please note that the information for incoming exchange students and international degree-seeking students differs slightly.

Information for incoming exchange students

Information for international degree-seeking students