Courses & curriculum
Urban Sustainability Studies is a unique bachelor’s programme for curious minds who are passionate about sustainability, ready to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges and keen on travelling. You will study at three European universities. It is hard to find a more international urban sustainability programme anywhere else!
Academic advisor
From your very first year, you will have the freedom to choose the courses and minors that you like best. You can shape your journey by selecting subjects that match the themes and topics you're passionate about. And you won’t be doing it alone; our Academic Advisors are here to support you every step of the way, helping you find the courses that fit your interests and future goals.
Your Programme
The 3-year bachelor’s programme is divided into 6 semesters. In your first year (2 semesters) at Maastricht University, you build a strong multidisciplinary foundation. You focus on natural sciences, engineering, and quantitative methods while also getting key insights from social and life sciences.
Minors
At Maastricht University, Urban Sustainability Studies offers a choice between three minors, allowing you to specialise in your favourite field of urban sustainability. Of course, you can also choose from the minors offered by the YUFE partner universities.
Urban Mining
Curious about how cities can become more sustainable and how we can reuse materials in smart ways? Welcome to “Urban Mining”, an exciting minor that dives into the world of circular economy and sustainable materials in urban environments.
In this minor, you will explore how to identify, extract, and reuse valuable materials from buildings and infrastructure, turning waste into treasure. By blending materials science, circular economy, and urban sustainability, you will help tackle some of the biggest challenges we face today: resource shortages, waste reduction, and the transition to a fully circular economy.
Postgrowth Cities
The minor “Postgrowth Cities” explores alternative ways to achieve ecological sustainability and social well-being beyond traditional economic growth. You will dive into the concept of degrowth, which challenges the idea of endless expansion and offers solutions to reduce environmental impact and inequality. The goal is to rethink economic models that respect our planet’s limits while promoting human well-being. It is time to explore a future where prosperity is about more than just growth.
Talking to the city
"Talking to the City" is your chance to explore how big data & artificial intelligence can make cities smarter and more sustainable. This upcoming topic dives into how AI can help cities solve urgent problems like water management, transportation, waste, and even health and inequality, all in real-time!
Imagine using AI to help city officials and organisations communicate directly with the city to make decisions faster and better. In this minor, you will get to test out cutting-edge ideas to transform urban living and build a more sustainable future. Ready to be part of the next wave of city innovation?