45 PhD programmes in Sustainable Development in Europe

Developed for professionals working to create a more sustainable future, Doctorate in Sustainability students at School for International Training will investigate the social, ecological, technical, and political dimensions of sustainable transformations, the relationship of science and society in advancing more sustainable futures.

The Climate Change, Sustainability and Society programme from University of Bristol  is designed to cultivate a new generation of researchers equipped to tackle the urgent social challenges of sustainability in the context of global environmental change.

The Executive PhD at Maastricht School of Management allows working professionals and researchers with full-time or part-time jobs to combine their careers with obtaining a PhD.

The Practitioner Doctorate in Sustainability PhD programme at the University of Surrey is aimed at high-achieving researchers and graduates whose vision is to become a sustainability leader in industry.

From investigating people’s attitudes to the environment to exploring the opportunities for solar power mini-grids in sub-Saharan Africa, the researchers in the Environment and Sustainability programme of the University of Surrey are taking innovative approaches for a more prosperous, equitable, safe and secure future.

Study this Development Studies programme from SOAS University of London to realise your potential to tackle global injustice and transform the world with your research impact.

The Sustainable Development programme offered by De Montfort University develops advanced interdisciplinary research expertise in sustainability, resource efficiency, systems thinking, and societal change, preparing researchers to address complex environmental, economic, and social challenges through applied research and collaboration with policy and industry stakeholders.

The Geopolitics and Sustainable Development programme offered at Corvinus University of Budapest is open to students conducting research primarily in the fields of economic geography, geopolitics, development policy, urban studies, environmental economics and environmental policy.

The Sustainability Management course offered at Corvinus University of Budapest seeks scientific answers to the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, including climate change, digitalisation and social inequalities.

The PhD on Urban Development and Governance at Erasmus University Rotterdam is a 4-year flexible trajectory programme that fuses urban management with governance.

The Ph.D. Program in Sustainable Chemistry degree of Universidade de Aveiro is a multidisciplinary program in the wide field of Chemistry, focusing on sustainable research strategies for the development of new products and processes providing solutions to both, the present and medium-term requests of the Chemical Industry, and societal needs.

This Environmental Engineering programme from Kaunas University of Technology is joint doctoral studies with Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuanian Energy Institute and Kaunas University of Tehnology (as acoordinating institution). PhD students of this programme have a possibility to acquire a double PhD degree with the University of Bologna (Italy). 

The Regional Development PhD program from University of Pécs is designed to help students acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for writing good quality doctoral dissertations. 

The Environment and Society programme is offered at the Pablo de Olavide University. Each PhD student will submit a research plan to the Academic Committee of the programme during the first academic year after enrolment. This research plan must be approved by the thesis supervisor and, where appropriate, the tutor.

The Sustainability Science programme offered by Lund University develops advanced research expertise in interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability challenges and societal transformation.

The Engineering Division is home to the Urban Water Technology Centre (UWTC) that has a unique focus on the interface between scientific and technological research addressing the challenges of building resilient and sustainable communities. This PhD in Sustainability Assessment and Decision Making and Environmental Management is offered at Abertay University.

Research in Sustainable Energy Technologies at the University of Hertfordshire has been supported with grants from the EPSRC, InnovateUK and industry.

The Sustainability Science (REASOn - Resources, Food and Society) course at Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon was designed for successful professionals and for the best students who seek to turn knowledge into innovation and tangible results

The Environmental Policy and Development programme from London School of Economics and Political Science aims to provide a rigorous, research-based approach to the social scientific study of environmental change and development.

The Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Sustainability in Society programme from University of Helsinki builds on the strengths of world-leading ecological and evolutionary research, and advanced interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges.