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Studies

Specializations master in  Sustainable Food Systems

Master's in Sustainable Food Systems consists of three specializations. Below you will find more information about these three specializations.

  • Agroecological Transformation in Farming and Food System

    Focus on farms and food systems as social–ecological systems, participatory change processes and agroecological principles.

  • Circular Urban Agriculture

    Are you driven to create solutions that make cities better places to live—for both people and nature? Circular Urban Agriculture is designed for students who want to make cities greener, smarter, and more sustainable. The specialization places you at the crossroads of environment, society, technology, and food production. This is far more than growing plants in urban spaces—it is an education designed for the green innovators and problem‑solvers of the future. 

    You have significant freedom to tailor your studies and dive deeper into the topics you care most about. The program brings together a broad range of subject areas, including:

    • Green urban development
    • Social inclusion and public health
    • Food production and plant based systems
    • Water, wastewater, and pollution
    • Ecology, economics, and sustainability
    • Entrepreneurship and the circular economy

    Many students also use the opportunity to do an internship during their studies. In an internship, you as a student work on a relevant problem in a company or at a research facility. You gain work experience, contacts in the job market, practical learning and an important experience outside the university.

    Here we have collected some interviews with students who have done an internship during their studies: Internship student interviews

    What will you learn

    In this specialization, you will: 

    • Learn to understand and tackle complex, real world challenges such as sustainability, climate change, food security, and social inclusion.
    • Work hands on and across disciplines with fellow students—closely connected to municipalities, businesses, and community partners.
    • Develop strong skills in teamwork, communication, and problem solving—competencies that are in high demand across sectors.

    Career opportunities 

    This specialization prepares you for roles in: 

    • Municipalities and government agencies
    • Environmental and urban development projects
    • Organizations and NGOs
    • Green business development and circular economy initiatives
    • Private companies working with sustainability, planning, and innovation

    In short: You gain the expertise needed to understand nature, cities, and the people who live in them - and how these systems interact. 

    Mandatory components for the specialization

    The following requirements are mandatory:

    One of the following economics/leadership courses during the 1. year

    SemesterCoursesCredits
    Spring parallelAOS236 - Sustainability Leadership10
    Spring parallelBUS311 - Environmental Management and Sustainability Reporting5

    One of the following methodology courses during 1. or 2. year

    SemesterCoursesCredits
    Spring parallel PAE306 - Agroecology: Action Oriented Research10
    Spring parallel MINA310 - Methods in Natural Sciences5
    Autumn parallelMTH300 - E-learning Course: Planning and Scientific Writing of a Master's Thesis in Natural Sciences5

  • Food systems analysis and Transformation

    (Specialization within the MSc in Sustainable Food Systems) 

    The Food Systems Analysis and Transformation specialization is designed for students who want to understand how food systems function across scales, from local value chains to national and global systems, and how they can be transformed to meet sustainability goals. 

    This specialization focuses on system-level analysis, governance, policy, resource flows and decision-making in complex food systems. You will develop advanced analytical skills to assess interactions and trade-offs between environmental, economic and social dimensions, and learn how policies, markets, institutions and technologies shape food system outcomes. 

    A key emphasis is on transformation: how change happens in practice, how competing goals and interests are negotiated, and how evidence-based analysis can support more sustainable food systems. Students work with real-world cases and apply both qualitative and quantitative methods, including system analysis, life cycle perspectives, scenario analysis, and sustainability assessment. 

    The specialization is well suited for students interested in careers in policy, public administration, research, consultancy, NGOs, international organizations, or further academic studies (PhD). It also appeals to students who enjoy working analytically with complex problems while remaining closely connected to real societal challenges. 

    What you will learn 

    In this specialization, you will: 

    • analyse food systems as interconnected socio-ecological systems
    • assess sustainability trade-offs and synergies across scales
    • apply analytical tools for food system redesign and transformation
    • understand the role of governance, policy and markets in shaping food systems
    • communicate analytical insights to diverse audiences and decision-makers

    The specialization combines a shared programme core with targeted analytical and methodological training and a high degree of flexibility through elective courses and internships. 

    Mandatory components for this specialization  

    Students following Food Systems Analysis and Transformation complete: 

    • in total 120 ECTS
    • the common programme core in systems thinking and transdisciplinary collaboration: SFS300 (5 ECTS, August block, year 1) and SFS301 (15 ECTS, Autumn parallel, year 1)
    • SDG300 – Sustainable Development Goals and Redesign of Food Systems (5 ECTS, January block, year 1)
    • at least 5 ECTS in methods, selected from an approved list
    • elective courses tailored to analytical depth and thematic focus
    • a master’s thesis (30, 45 or 60 ECTS), often linked to ongoing research or external partners

    Choose one of these methodology courses

    • PAE306 Action oriented research (10 credits/Spring + June)
    • MINA310 Methods in Natural Sciences (5 credits/spring)
    • HET300 Scientific Methods in Ethology (10 credits/autumn)*
    • MTH300 E-learning Course: Planning and Scientific Writing of a Master's Thesis

    in Natural Sciences (5 credits/autumn)

    *Recommend only if you choose courses in animal welfare

    Examples of course combinations (illustrative study plans) 

    The tables below show illustrative study profiles within the Food Systems Analysis and Transformation specialization, which can be added to the core components (mandatory). The course combinations may be adjusted to fit individual interests, semester availability and thesis plans, in dialogue with academic advisors. 

    Mandatory core components year 1 (all profiles) 

    Semester Courses ECTS 
    August block SFS300 – Introduction to action learning in farming, urban agriculture and food systems5 
    Autumn parallel SFS301 – Action learning in farming, urban agriculture and food systems 15 
    January block SDG300 – Sustainable Development Goals and Redesign of Food Systems 5 
    … Method course (from approved list) 5 
     SUM:   30 

    Profile 1: Policy, governance and global food systems 

    For students interested in policy analysis, governance and international food security. 

    Possible electives 

    Year 1: 

    Semester Courses ECTS 
    August block Mandatory course (SFS300) 5 
    Autumn parallel Mandatory course (SFS301) 15 
    EDS285 – Global Food Systems and Food Security  10 
    January block Mandatory course (SDG300) 5 
    Spring parallel BUS311 – Environmental Management and Sustainability Reporting 5 
     Elective courses 15 
    June block ECN263 – Food Markets and Policy 5 
     SUM:   60 

    Year 2: 

    Semester Courses ECTS 
    August block …  
    Autumn parallel Elective courses, internship and/or study abroad 15 
    EDS306 – Green Transformations in Theory and Practice 10 
    January block MINA321 – Interdisciplinarity and Expert Disagreement on Sustainability 5 
    Spring parallel Master Thesis 30 
     SUM:   60 

    Typical focus of the master’s thesis 
    Food policy analysis, governance of food systems, international organisations, public administration or NGO work. 


     Profile 2: Sustainability assessment and systems analysis 

    For students interested in analytical tools, modelling and sustainability assessment. 
     
    Possible electives 

    Year 1: 

    Semester Courses ECTS 
    August block Mandatory course (SFS300) 5 
    Autumn parallel Mandatory course (SFS301) 15 
     Elective courses 10 
    January block Mandatory course (SDG300) 5 
    Spring parallel FORNY220 – Life Cycle Assessment: Environmental Impacts of Energy and Waste Systems (currently In Norwegian) 10 
     BUS311 – Environmental Management and Sustainability Reporting 5 
     SDG301 – Climate Calculators for Crop and Livestock Production 5 
     Internship and/or other elective courses 5 
     SUM:   60 

    Year 2: 

    Semester Courses ECTS 
    August block …  
    Autumn parallel Elective courses, internship and/or study abroad 25 
    January block BIOEC310 – Innovation in Bio-based Industries (currently in Norwegian) 5 
    Spring parallel Master Thesis 30 
     SUM:   60 

    Typical focus of the master’s thesis 
    Sustainability metrics, system modelling, scenario analysis, life cycle assessment or decision-support tools. 

    Profile 3: Transformation, innovation and applied change

    For students interested in food system transitions, innovation and practice-oriented work.

    Possible electives 
    Year 1: 

    Semester Courses ECTS 
    August block Mandatory course (SFS300) 5 
    Autumn parallel Mandatory course (SFS301) 15 
     EDS306 – Green Transformations in Theory and Practice 10 
    January block Mandatory course (SDG300) 5 
    Spring parallel BIOEC350 – Biological production, industrial processes and markets (teaching/assessment in spring parallel and June block) 10 
     Internship and/or other elective courses 15 
     SUM:   60 

    Year 2: 

    Semester Courses ECTS 
    August block …  
    Autumn parallel Elective courses, internship and/or study abroad 25 
    January block BIOEC310 – Innovation in Bio-based Industries  (currently in Norwegian)  5 
     INN271 – Sustainable Entrepreneurship (currently in Norwegian) 5 
    Spring parallel Master Thesis 30 
     SUM:   60 

    Typical focus of the master’s thesis 
    Applied transformation processes, innovation projects, transition pathways or collaboration with external partners.