COURSE CURRICULUM

The MSc in Economics and Policy of Sustainable Development provides a structured and immersive approach to understanding and addressing the Sustainable Development Goals. In the first block, students gain an introduction to sustainable development, covering complex societal issues at the core of the SDGs. Key topics include the interlinkages between the goals, the timing challenges of short- and long-term solutions, and the relevance of different policy intervention levels, including corporate, national, and international approaches. Real-world cases such as climate change, migration, inequality, and healthy ageing illustrate these concepts, and students engage with external case owners to learn from their practical experiences. Additionally, the block includes Applied Microeconometrics to strengthen econometric skills.The second and third blocks allow students to choose seminar electives, giving them the flexibility to tailor their program to their interests while continuing to explore the cases introduced earlier. Working in teams, students delve into academic literature, collaborate with case owners such as government ministries and Clingendael, and conduct interviews with relevant experts to understand the economic dimensions of each case.Block four is focused on intensive seminars where students analyse policy interventions for sustainable development in depth. The main assignment is a report that combines insights from the first blocks with practical solutions to the case problems, benefiting from team interactions that provide broader perspectives on all cases.Finally, students complete a master’s thesis, integrating knowledge and skills from mandatory courses, electives, and case studies. Each student is assigned a mentor and a study group to guide the research process, fostering collaboration and feedback. The thesis can be related to a previously studied case or an independently chosen topic, allowing students to explore their personal interests while applying rigorous economic and policy analysis. This structure ensures graduates are well-equipped to contribute to sustainable development in both research and applied policy contexts.