Green light for UM participation in unique YUFE bachelor programme

Together with six YUFE partner universities, UM will offer a joint degree. Students who complete this programme will receive a bachelor's degree awarded by seven universities. The other three partner universities also offer courses within the bachelor programme, but for the time being only as mobility partners. The YUFE bachelor programme will start in September 2025.

Urban Sustainability Studies: Contributing to a sustainable future
A rising number of people around the world are living in cities. Urbanisation creates opportunities, but also problems (in terms of health, the environment, social inequality and poverty). For a sustainable future, it is important that this process is managed effectively, both in cities and in rural areas. The bachelor programme in Urban Sustainability Studies offers an innovative, creative, international and interdisciplinary curriculum that explores sustainability in urban and rural areas and tackles real-life challenges head-on.

One study programme at seven universities simultaneously
The YUFE Bachelor programme is unique in the way that students put together their own programme from the courses offered by ten European universities. They study at three or four different universities during their degree. When applying, students choose the partner university where they will spend their first year. This is followed by three semesters, at least two of which must be spent at another partner university.

Each semester consists of a minor focusing on a specific theme. The minor starts with a challenge course, in which students work in a team with an external client on a real-life problem. Students then choose a set of courses related to the theme, which is put together by a minor coordinator. The final semester takes place at the partner university of the first year.

The UM offers three minors: Urban Mining (cradle to cradle), Talking to the cities (AI and GenAI) and Degrowth (sustainable alternatives to the current economic system). The programme will be taught at the Brightlands Smart Services Campus in Heerlen, starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.

More information: https://www.yufe.eu/yufe-bachelor/