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Master’s in Global Challenges for Sustainability – 2026

Programme features

The Master’s takes place in four phases of five months. 

Student Journey 2026 - 2028

1

Preparatory Phase

September 2026 - January 2027

Your starting university can be:

  • Trinity College Dublin (25 available spots)
  • Utrecht University (25 available spots)
  • Eötvös Loránd University Budapest (25 available spots)

If the above destinations have reached full capacity, the following destination will open:

  • Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg (25 available spots)

If the above destination has reached full capacity, the following destination will open:

  • Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences (25 available spots)
2

Flexible Phase

February 2027 - June 2027

Mobility is compulsory in this phase.

Depending on the track you chose, you will have the following destinations:

*Second/third location will open if there are more than 20 students in the first/second one.

Water track

  • University of Montpellier
  • University of Bergen

Food track

  • University of Barcelona
  • Eötvös Loránd University Budapest
  • Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg

Life & Health track

  • University of Barcelona

Energy and Sustainable cities track

  • Åbo Akademi University
  • Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences
  • University of Bergen
3

Experiential Phase

September 2027 - January 2028

You will develop a real working-life experience in an internship or a project. All destinations with some conditions.

You have 3 options:

  1. Stay in the destination of the previous phase (Flexible phase)
  2. Return to your starting university
  3. Move to another CHARM-EU partner university or another destination
4

Capstone Phase

February 2028 - June 2028

All the universities with some conditions.

You have 2 options:

  1. Stay in the previous destination if you are in a CHARM-EU partner university (Experiential phase)
  2. Move to another CHARM-EU partner university

Information about Erasmus+ Mobility Grants on the website

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.

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.

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 us with any questions, comments, or issues regarding accessibility and inclusion relating to your CHARM-EU application, admission and experience. We’re here to help!

Contact us !

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 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?

Our alumni work as consultants, project managers, administrators, researchers, education officers and more, in organisations such as consultancies, educational institutions, energy firms, government bodies, urban mobility initiatives, environmental organisations, non-profits, media companies, and urban development projects.

What do our alumni have to say?

‘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 on 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, International Sustainability Senior Professional and CHARM-EU alumna)

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: Solution-based problem-solving and real-world experience.
  • Collaboration and communication: 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

Payments for the complete programme and per academic year are as follows:

 

Total fee

(Complete programme)

Academic year

2026-2027

Academic year

2027-2028

EU/EEA student(*)

5000 €

2500 €

2500 €

Non-EU/EEA student

24000 €

12000 €

12000 €

(*) EU/EEA Student tuition fees apply to students with nationality or permanent residence permit in European Union and European Economic Area countries, Andorra and Switzerland. The supporting document must be valid at the time of enrolment.

This information could be updated after the approval of the Enrolment Rules & Regulations for the Academic year 2026-2027. 

Remarks on tuition fees 2026-2027:

1. Additional top-up for students starting Phase 1 at Utrecht University (UU): Due to national legislation, EU/EEA students starting Phase 1 at Utrecht University in academic year 2026-2027 will have to pay an additional top-up of 194 € for their first year of studies and an additional fee (to be determined) for their 2nd year of studies.

2. Applicants enrolled in a French higher education institution in the academic year preceding the enrolment of the first year of the master’s degree:

  • EU/EEA students: tuition fees waiver.
  • Non-EU/EEA students: reduction of tuition fees for the same amount corresponding to EU/EEA students. Non-EU/EEA students will have to pay the remaining amount.

3. Reservation fee as partial payment of tuition fees (600€): Admitted students must pay a deposit of the tuition fee to reserve their place in the programme. This deposit is non-refundable, but it is deducted from the 1st year tuition fees of the enrolled students.

Please note that full payment of the tuition fee is an essential requirement for the enrolment to be valid.

One of CHARM-EU’s core values is inclusiveness. We strongly believe in the power of diversity. Learning and growing in a diverse environment leads to the personal development and cultural enrichment of all students. We understand that diversity can take many forms, and we are aware of the potential sensitivity of disclosing the nature of the circumstances. Many structural barriers to inequalities persist for students when accessing and participating in higher education. Financial support is strongly correlated with postsecondary completion, and it applies even more, applies to underrepresented groups.    

CHARM-EU GRANT

The grant aims to minimise barriers that hinder the access and participation of EU students who meet all the admission requirements and cannot access other grants and scholarships. However, please bear in mind that in line with the capacity and resources of the CHARM-EU, the grant is limited to 5% of the total students enrolled in the edition of the Master’s. For that reason, we encourage you to check other grants and opportunities.  

There are two grant models: total (tuition fee waiver and phase mobility aid) or partial (tuition fee waiver or phase mobility aid).  

Once you have been admitted, you will receive information on applying for the CHARM-EU grant.  

For further information, check the CHARM-EU Grants Policy. 

A step-by-step application process for the CHARM-EU Grant. 

OTHER GRANTS

We invite you to investigate different grants at the European, regional and national level, including the opportunities available in your institution. Below you will find a list of available grants and scholarships from different countries and institutions: 

Ministry/Higher Education Authorities: 

ELTE 

ELTE EHÖK 

Roles in education, teaching and learning

As a student, you are in the lead of your learning experience. We provide you with the resources to become the professional you want, but in the end, you are in the driver’s seat to make this happen. Your role as a student is to actively engage in module activities, proactively communicate with the mentor and teaching staff, and you are responsible for completing your E-Portfolio in time.

  • Teaching:
    • Module coordinator: Organise different kinds of learning activities such as lectures, tutorials or workshops. They overlook the modules as part of the programme and establish the learning materials, as well as any guest teachers.
    • Teacher: Deliver the learning activities and content during class through hybrid teaching.
    • Teaching Assistant: Supports the teaching staff and students in the hybrid classroom with technological aspects, questions about the VLE, and student group work.
    • Experts / External stakeholders: Delivers specific expertise as (external) professional to provide new perspectives on the challenges.
  • Advice:
    • Mentor: Guides you in your learning journey throughout the whole master’s programme by having student-mentor meetings. Discusses your learning in relation to the Programme Learning Outcomes and provides a formal mentor’s advice based on the insight gained.
    • Supervisor: During the Internship and Capstone phase, they monitor the overall progress of the group work and/or your professional development.

The Master’s in Global Challenges for Sustainability (120 ECTS) 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.

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