Master in Human Ecology - Culture, Power and Sustainability

Lund University is a prestigious institution founded in 1666 and consistently ranked among the top 100 universities in the world. With approximately 45,000 students and 8,600 staff across its campuses in Lund, Helsingborg, Malmö, and Ljungbyhed, the university is committed to advancing our understanding of the world and improving the human condition through research and education. The university community is united in its dedication to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility.

The Master’s Programme Human Ecology: Culture, Power, and Sustainability (CPS) is aimed at students who wish to gain advanced competence in Human Ecology. Examples of professions include education, journalism, environmental management, work in government and international agencies and development aid. The programme also prepares students for postgraduate studies. Drawing on fields such as anthropology, geography, sociology and economic history, the programme provides interdisciplinary perspectives and analytical tools for communicating about problems of sustainability. It represents an important complement to technological and natural science approaches towards sustainability by focusing on the cultural dimensions of consumption and resource use, cultural perceptions of environment and economy, and social science perspectives on the global distribution of environmental problems. A central aim is to help students develop skills in communicating across boundaries separating the discourses of different disciplines, cultural traditions, or the interests of business, politics and social movements. The programme encourages critical scrutiny of the debate about sustainability, but also a serious commitment to improving human–environmental relations worldwide. It covers the major social and environmental challenges of our time, including climate change and climate justice, unequal exchange and use of ecological resources, and the shifting of environmental risks and problems to the poorest parts of world society.

Lund University is one of the most popular places to study in Sweden, offering one of the broadest ranges of programmes and courses in Scandinavia. With a focus on cross-disciplinary and cutting-edge research, the university provides excellent conditions for scientific breakthroughs and innovations, encouraging collaborations within academia and with society at large. The university has a strong international profile, with partner universities in some 75 countries. Lund University has an annual turnover of EUR 900 million, two-thirds of which is spent on research in its nine faculties and one-third on education. The university provides education and research in areas such as economics and management, engineering and technology, fine arts, music and theatre, humanities and theology, law, medicine, science, and social sciences. Lund University is home to two world-leading research facilities, the synchrotron radiation facility MAX IV and the European Spallation Source (ESS), which will be fully operational by the end of 2027. The university is committed to creating an international hub for research, education, and innovation in which it plays a central role.