Master in Governing Socio-Ecological Transformations

Master in Governing Socio-Ecological Transformations is one of 14 English-taught Social Sciences & Psychology programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 5 institutions. 8 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 8 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

The Master's in Governing Socio-Ecological Transformations at the University of Vienna treats the ecological crisis as a social and political project. You look at conflicts, negotiations and power relations at local, national and international levels. The programme is taught in English and runs for four semesters (120 ECTS).

What you study

The curriculum combines social science, economics and humanities approaches, and adds natural science knowledge where it matters. You work with current theories and debates such as Green Growth, Ecological Modernisation, Degrowth and Sufficiency, and you learn to assess policies, discourses and ways of producing and living critically. The modules are:

• SET-MA 1 Introduction to Socio-Ecological Transformations (4 ECTS)
• SET-MA 2 Challenges for Socio-Ecological Transformations (10 ECTS)
• SET-MA 3 Understanding International and Intersectional Challenges from (Inter-)Disciplinary Perspectives (12 ECTS)
• SET-MA 4 Approaching Natural Sciences (4 ECTS)
• SET-MA 5 Research and Writing in the Field of Socio-Ecological Research (4 ECTS)
• SET-MA 6 Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Socio-Ecological Research (12 ECTS)
• SET-MA 7 Governing Socio-Ecological Transformations: Inequalities, Multi-Level Governance and Transformation Pathways (16 ECTS)
• SET-MA 8 Interdisciplinary Research Project (12 ECTS)
• SET-MA 9 Master's Module (4 ECTS)
• SET-MA E Electives (20 ECTS)

You also engage with debates on multiple crises, the green economy, degrowth and environmental justice, especially from a North-South perspective.

How the programme is organised

The degree is a full-time Master's over four semesters. Teaching is in English. The programme uses an admission procedure with 40 places, and places are allocated by a selection committee. The admission procedure takes place once per academic year. The application deadline for the academic year 2027/28 will be announced. The language requirement is English. You can find full details on admission and the procedure in the Master Access Guide (MAG).

Who it suits

This programme suits you if you want to understand environmental conflicts as social and political conflicts, and if you are ready to work across disciplines. You should be comfortable with theory and with empirical research, and you should want to connect social science, economics and humanities perspectives with natural science knowledge. The programme is taught entirely in English, so you need strong English skills.

Admission, language and next steps

Admission is not automatic: you apply directly to the University of Vienna through the admission procedure. The programme page links to the Master Access Guide, which sets out all requirements and the application process. The application period for the academic year 2027/28 will be announced on the programme page. The teaching language is English, and English is an admission requirement. As a public university, the University of Vienna charges no tuition for EU/EEA and Swiss students within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester. The programme page also points to the StudienServiceStelle Politikwissenschaft for questions about courses and exams, and to the StudienServiceCenter Sozialwissenschaften for questions about graduation.

Im Masterstudium Governing Socio-Ecological Transformations lernen Studierende die ökologische Krise als Teil gesellschaftspolitischer Dynamiken, Machtverhältnisse, Konflikte und Aushandlungsprozesse zu verstehen. Das Ziel des Studiums ist es, breites empirisches Wissen sowie ein interdisziplinäres, analytisches und theoretisches Instrumentarium zu vermitteln. Studierende verknüpfen Ansätze und Methoden aus Sozial-, Wirtschafts- und Geisteswissenschaften und ergänzen diese gezielt um naturwissenschaftliches Wissen.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Vienna. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: An admission or aptitude procedure applies (see the programme page). Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.