We have less than five years to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals identified by the United Nations in 2015. From nearly 700 million people still trapped in poverty to about one million species at risk of extinction, we still have a long way to go before a greener, fairer world is possible.
Achieving sustainability is a larger-than-life mission, but what if you have the education and research to build a better, healthier, and more lasting future? At BOKU University, making that a reality is only a matter of time.
Located in the world’s greenest city, the BOKU community of over 11,000 students and faculty collaborate on interdisciplinary projects to solve real-world challenges. Whether it’s using plants to create a quicker and cheaper process of antibody production or magnifying the difficulties of safeguarding European rivers, projects here aim to heal a planet under pressure.
BOKU University is one of the best universities for life sciences in Europe. Source: BOKU University
Numerous options for specialisation
BOKU takes a holistic approach to education, guided and led by some of the world’s most cited researchers. You can choose from 27 different master’s programmes, many of which are delivered in English. For example, if you’re interested in learning how water moves through the environment and its social and ecological impact, then the Master’s in Water Management and Environmental Engineering is a top option. Perhaps, you want to be part of the global transition to zero carbon use, in which the Master’s in Climate Change and Societal Transformation is precisely what you’re looking for.
Each master’s curriculum is built upon the three-pillar principle, which mandates that at least 15% of the content be dedicated to each of the following three areas: technology and engineering sciences, natural sciences, and economic, social, and legal sciences. This approach reflects BOKU’s commitment to ecological and social responsibility, which aligns with the UN’s 17 SDGs.
“Climate change isn’t just a scientific issue – it’s a question of how we live and interact as a society,” a student says. “What I appreciated most at BOKU was how technical knowledge was always linked to real social transformation. I felt empowered to become part of the solution.”
Vienna, Austria is known to be one of the most sustainable cities in the world, boasting a high quality of living and safety. Source: BOKU University
Real-world issues, hands-on learning
Social, economic, and ecological issues are prevalent, often interconnected, and hardly black and white. In Brazil, for example, the expansion of wind and solar power brought forth a low-cost, low-carbon source of electricity, but there’s a downside. It has led to a severe case of green grabbing, which is defined as the “appropriation of land resources for environmental ends” by the Green Economy Coalition. The problem is arising particularly in the Northeast, where the lack of land ownership and access is leading to insecurity and conflict.
Through BOKU University’s links with 360 global universities and research institutions, solving complex challenges like this is an endeavour that brings the world’s best minds together. In this case, the research team worked with colleagues from University College London to investigate the reasons why renewable energy has caused green grabbing in Brazil — the project was titled “reFUEL,” a part of the European Research Council.
As a master’s student, you’ll complete a curriculum where current research and scholarship are constantly threaded into courses, keeping you up-to-date with industry. BOKU University combines that academic depth with practical know-how, allowing you to partake in fieldwork, lab research, project-based learning, and collaborations with industry figures, public authorities, and non-governmental organisations.
“Studying at BOKU means learning how to apply high-level engineering to solve problems that matter. I love how we’re working on actual infrastructure solutions,” another student says. “Not in theory, but in cooperation with cities and engineers.”
BOKU University’s technical, forward-thinking education positions its students as highly sought after by industry and beyond. Most of them secure jobs about two to three months after graduating with a Master of Science (MSc) qualification on average, with many alumni choosing to go the self-employed route. In the city of Vienna — constantly ranked within the top three most liveable cities in the world, renowned for safety — your path to becoming an agent of change in sustainable development starts here.
Ready to become the change the future needs? Check out the master’s programmes at BOKU University here.
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