Programme overview

The study programme in a nutshell

A curriculum designed for Real-World impact

The Economics of Sustainability specialisation combines rigorous training in economics with hands-on experience and collaboration with external partners. Structured across five blocks, the programme offers both academic depth and practical experience. Its defining feature is the Impact Case, a long-term project that runs from Block 1 to Block 4.

A teaching approach centred on the Impact Case

Unique to this specialisation, students gain first-hand experience of the work of a policy advisor by collaborating directly with ministries, local governments, and international organisations such as the OECD on a concrete sustainability challenge. Supported by faculty and external partners, they work in small groups over several months, combining academic insights with practical knowledge from experts working on these issues.

Throughout the year, students present their findings and receive feedback from faculty and practitioners. This iterative process mirrors the way policy advice is developed in practice and ensures that academic knowledge remains closely linked to real-world policy questions

Programme structure

Block 1

Students begin with Introduction to Sustainable Development (4 ECTS), where they explore the complexity of the Sustainable Development Goals and the challenges of balancing short- and long-term objectives. During this course, external case owners introduce the real-world challenges that students will work on during the year.

Students also take Applied Microeconometrics (4 ECTS) and choose one elective (4 ECTS).

Blocks 2 and 3

In Block 2, students follow Cases in Sustainable Development (4 ECTS), dedicated to the Impact Case. Supported by faculty and external partners, students review the literature, learn research methods and conduct interviews.

Students also choose two electives in Block 2 and one seminar in Block 3, allowing them to tailor the programme to their interests.

Block 4

Students participate in the Seminar Analysis of Challenges in Sustainable Development (10 ECTS). Building on the knowledge acquired in previous blocks, students analyse policy interventions and develop recommendations. The block culminates in a comprehensive report and a presentation of findings to the external case owner.

Blocks 4 and 5

Students complete their Master's thesis (16 ECTS) on a topic of their choice under close supervision by a faculty member.

A teaching approach that mirrors real sustainability challenges

Sustainability issues are complex, cross-border, and deeply interconnected. That is why this programme brings together expertise from across economic disciplines, including:

• Micro- and macroeconomics
• Health and environmental economics
• Urban and regional development
• National and international policy analysis

To reflect the complexity of real-world challenges, you will work on an impact case throughout the year. In this long-term assignment, your team is asked by an external case owner - typically a Dutch ministry, major corporation or international organization such as the OECD - to develop a policy plan for a specific sustainability issue. This collaboration ensures the real-world relevance and potential impact of your work, as the academic knowledge you gain is continuously linked to practical insights from professionals. Your final report thus provides actionable input for the case owner in their policy design.