Psychology & Sustainability Leuphana University Lüneburg

If you are looking to address the pressing sustainability transformation in social, economic, and environmental issues through the lens of a psychological perspective, the double-degree Master's in Psychology and Sustainability in cooperation with the University of Groningen in the Netherlands is for you.

This two-year programme covers both human perception and behaviour related to sustainable development and the interplay between humans and their natural and built environments. These distinct perspectives complement one another so that the double-degree programme provides unique insights into psychological processes that are involved in the broad transformation towards intersectional and intergenerational justice.

Transdisciplinarity is a key component of this double-degree programme. The faculties work closely together to approach the topic of sustainable development from a transdisciplinary perspective. You will have the chance to be involved as part of empirical studies, which will allow you to acquire hands-on knowledge on how to address challenges of sustainable development from a psychological perspective within the broader scope of transdisciplinary research projects.

As part of this double-degree programme, you will spend your first year at one of the most renowned universities in the field of sustainability science (Leuphana University Lüneburg), and your second year at one of the most prestigious universities in the field of environmental psychology (University of Groningen).

The Psychology & Sustainability Master's at Leuphana University is conceptualised as a double-degree programme in cooperation with the University of Groningen. You will complete an international, joint programme in English, thus being well-qualified not only for national but also for the European job market. Students obtain two Master's degrees – one degree in Psychology & Sustainability as well as another one in Environmental Psychology.

As part of this double-degree programme, you will spend your first year at Leuphana University Lüneburg, and your second year at the University of Groningen. The first semester at Leuphana focuses on key principles of sustainability psychology at the individual, the group, and the societal level. By introducing core theories and models, the programme links topics from the field of psychology to the field of sustainability science. You will attend the following modules – Introduction to Psychology and Sustainability, Psychology and the Individual: Self-Regulation and Sustainability, Psychology and the Community: Diagnosis of Time and Sustainability, Psychology and the Society: Political Negotiations and Sustainability, and the module Research Methods: Multivariate Approaches. In the second semester, you will complete the following modules – Sustainability Psychology: Research and Application, Selected Topics in Psychology, Transdisciplinary Research Project and Research Methods II: Interdisciplinary Approaches. Accordingly, inter- and transdisciplinary work with a focus on theoretical propositions, methodological tools, and practical implications will characterise the programme in the second semester. You will be provided with the opportunity to choose an elective course in one of the related psychology programmes at the graduate school. Thereby, the second semester aims at broadening your psychological perspective on the inter- and transdisciplinary characteristics of sustainability science.

Upon the third semester, you will transfer from Leuphana University to the University of Groningen. At the University of Groningen, you will expand your methodological knowledge in the Advanced Research Methods in Social and Organisational Psychology module. In addition, more disciplinary expertise is acquired in the modules of Environmental Psychology, Advanced Topics in Environmental Psychology, Designing Interventions and Working in Interdisciplinary Teams.

To gain further insights on the specific course contents at the University of Groningen, please follow the link to the Environmental Psychology programme.

The Master's thesis will be written in the fourth semester in consultation with a supervisor from each cooperating university.

University of Groningen (double degree option)

For a detailed list of requirements, see: https://www.leuphana.de/master-apply.

At Leuphana University you do not have to pay tuition fees. You only have to pay a semester contribution of approx. 450 EUR per semester (subject to change). This will entitle you to receive a semester ticket, which covers public transport in Germany. The semester contribution also covers participation in a rent-a-bike programme and free entrance to many cultural events in Lüneburg.

Approx. 900 EUR per month to cover personal expenses in Lüneburg:

• Accommodation: 350 to 500 EUR
• Food: 250 EUR
• Health insurance: 120 EUR (not applicable for EU students)
• Leisure activities, books, clothing: 80 to 250 EUR

Students have the opportunity to take up part-time employment alongside their studies. Positions may be available in the city of Lüneburg, within the university itself, for example as student or research assistants, as well as in the nearby city of Hamburg, which offers a wide range of job opportunities in various sectors.

International students with a residence permit are allowed to undertake a limited amount of paid employment (a maximum of 120 days per year, or alternatively 240 days part time — up to four hours a day).

However, please note that Graduate School's Master’s programmes are designed as a full-time courses of study.

Leuphana's own Career Service offers comprehensive services in various fields of activity involving career and vocational orientation linked to programmes of study as well as the possibility to connect with the labour market.

More information can be found on the website of Leuphana's Career Service.

Student Counselling Service of the Graduate School

Websites and relevant addresses for finding accommodation in Lüneburg are listed on the website of the International Office.

Leuphana University Lüneburg is one of Germany's landmark universities for higher education reform and innovation. With about 10,000 students and 160 full-time professors, the university has developed a highly respected academic profile. Today, Leuphana University Lüneburg is regarded as an institution for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, academic organisation, innovation in teaching, and academic transfer.

The mission of Leuphana University Lüneburg derives from the fundamental idea of academic education as enabling an individual to live in a self-determined manner and take part in shaping society. A university for civil society in the 21st century, Leuphana follows the mission of being a humanistic, sustainable, and proactive university.

Leuphana University Lüneburg consists of three organisational units focusing on the needs of different academic constituencies: Leuphana College, which offers specialised and interdisciplinary Bachelor's programmes; Leuphana Graduate School, with its consecutive Master's and doctoral programmes; and Leuphana Professional School, focusing on continuing education and knowledge transfer.

The Leuphana Graduate School encompasses both the Master's and the doctoral programmes of all faculties. Thus, students benefit from a seamless transition between Master's and doctoral programmes as well as from close interaction with students from other programmes and faculties. The model of a discipline-independent graduate school also ensures consistently high-quality standards in study, teaching, and administration.

Lüneburg is a 1,000-year-old city of about 80,000 inhabitants, located near Hamburg. Established as a salt mining community, it enjoyed great prosperity in its early years, supplying the whole Scandinavian and Baltic Sea regions with salt. Renowned for its opportunities and affluence, Lüneburg was the place to be for Germany's most wealthy inhabitants, a legacy still evident in the well-preserved city centre.

Today, Lüneburg is essentially a university town. The lavish 14th and 15th-century churches — St. John's, St. Michael's, and St. Nicolai's — the beautiful Baroque main square, and the tranquil medieval monastery attract visitors from all over the world.

The pedestrian city centre invites visitors to linger; a great number of well-assorted specialist shops in historic buildings featuring steep gables provide extensive shopping opportunities, and many cafés and pubs open their doors to visitors every day. In particular, the bars situated at the Stint and in Schröderstraße offer various options for a vibrant nightlife. Lüneburg is also a vibrant cultural hub; numerous musicians, artists, and actors are active in the clubs, studios, and theatres of the town.