Admissions

Are you interested in applying to the Master's Programme in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability? Find out more about the programme to see if it is right for you, how to apply and other useful information for applicants.
Basic information
  • Degree level:  Master of Social Sciences, Master of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) or Master of Science
     
  • Scope of studies and planned duration: 120 ECTS credits, 2 years
     
  • Language: The teaching language is English. All assignments, exams and dissertations can be done in English, Finnish or Swedish.
     
  • Tuition fee per year (only non-EU/EEA citizens): 13 000 EUR
Application date

Please note that our International Master's Programmes only have one intake per academic year. You can only submit your application during the application period. 

The applications for studies starting in autumn 2025 closed on 16 Jan 2025. Thanks to all our applicants!

As of 1 Jan 2025, non-EU/EEA citizens must pay an application fee when applying to programmes leading to a degree in higher education in Finland (excl. doctoral degrees and Erasmus Mundus programmes). 

The fee is a one-time national fee of 100 euros that covers all applications to studies beginning in the same academic term.

The fee is not collected from applicants who have:

  • a Finnish or EU citizenship,
  • a residence card for a family member of an EU citizen in Finland,
  • a European Union Blue Card,
  • a continuous residence permit in Finland granted on grounds other than studies,
  • a permanent Finnish residence permit, or
  • a long-term resident’s EU residence permit.

The Finnish National Agency of Education will collect the application fee in connection with filling out the application form at the Finnish national education portal Studyinfo. The fee must be paid or you must upload a document proving the exempted category. Otherwise your application will not be processed. 

Unfortunately, it is not possible to get an application fee waiver.

The application fee does not guarantee that you will be offered admission to studies.

Who can apply

The Master’s Programme in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability is for students interested in gaining expertise in environmental sciences, sustainability sciences and environmental policy. 

You are eligible to apply if you:

  1. have completed a first-cycle (bachelor's or equivalentdegree, or will do so by the given deadline.
  2. meet the degree language requirements. Find out more about proving your English language proficiency.
  3. have completed a sufficient amount of applicable studies. See the admission criteria at Studyinfo.fi for more details.

The full admission criteria can be found at the Finnish national education portal Studyinfo.fi.

Why apply

Global socio-ecological problems call for multidisciplinary solutions that transcend the usual boundaries of science and decision-making. 

The ECGS programme trains you in wide-ranging interdisciplinary thinking skills and provides you with the ability to:

  • study environmental and sustainability issues in your respective fields of expertise.
  • solve problems of socio-ecological sustainability in cooperation with various social actors.

The programme offers three different degrees – Master of Social Sciences, Master of Science or Master of Science (Agriculture and Forestry). Your degree is determined by the choice of your study track. When applying, you choose one of the two study tracks: Environmental Change or Global Sustainability.

Upon graduating, you have sufficient expertise in environmental sciences, sustainability sciences and environmental policy to act as a specialist in the public, private and third sectors. You also have the essential skills to undertake a career in sustainable business and communication. 

In addition, you can advance to doctoral-level studies and thereafter positions in environment-related research.

How to apply

This video gives a general overview of the application process for the International Master's Programmes at the University of Helsinki when applying from 2 to 16 Jan 2025.

Start preparing your application well in advance, make sure that you meet the admission criteria and language requirements, and always read the full instructions on our website.

Contact Admission Services

If you have any questions about admissions at the University of Helsinki, please contact our admission advisers for guidance. You can also check out some statistics on student admissions.

Alumni and student stories

Who knows better than our students, graduates and staff what it is like to study in the Master's Programme in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS)?

Meet ECGS students and staff to learn about their insight into the programme as well as experiences with studies and life in Helsinki.

It is crucial to train experts with competence and ability to apply what they have learnt. Merely reporting on the state of the world is not enough; we must also know how to correctly allocate our limited resources.
Practicalities of student life in Helsinki

When choosing a university, it is important to get the location right too. What has Helsinki and Finland to offer when it comes to education and a way of life? What's the cost of living? Is it easy to find housing?

Did you know that students in Finland are entitled to lots of benefits, discounts and services? For example, affordable student housing, low-cost sports services, and student-priced meals. You also get numerous discounts, for example on public transport fees across the country.

About the University of Helsinki

University of Helsinki, the oldest and largest institution of academic education in Finland, has since 1640 played a major role in the development of the Finnish cultural life and welfare state. Today, we seek solutions to problems that affect everyone.

As one of the world's top 1% research universities, we believe that the power of knowledge can change attitudes, people and society – for a better world.

More about the programme