About this programme
Master in Sustainable Design, MSc in Engineering is a Master's Degree programme at Aalborg University in Aalborg, taught in English. It runs for 2 years. The register gives Copenhagen as the campus town. It lists the degree as Master (2 years). Aalborg University is a research university in North Denmark.
How it compares
Master in Sustainable Design, MSc in Engineering is one of 5 English-taught Sustainable Development programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 4 institutions. 5 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 4,000 to EUR 15,000; this programme lists EUR 7,455 a year. 4 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.
What you will study
The Master's in Sustainable Design at Aalborg University combines sustainable design with tools from innovation theory and user-centred design. You work with visualisation and experimentation to develop new, innovative and sustainable solutions that take both people and future challenges into account. The programme is taught in English in Copenhagen and takes two years.
What you study
The programme focuses on project work and real-life cases where you collaborate with fellow students and external companies, municipalities or other stakeholders. You learn to combine design methods with technical and societal understanding, and to design solutions that are relevant to real everyday life.
Courses include Design in Organisations, Production Systems and Sustainability, Design for Sustainability, Sustainable Transitions, Market Creation and Entrepreneurship, and Concept Driven Change. You work with design tools, user research, sustainability assessments and cross-disciplinary thinking. The programme builds on a broad notion of sustainability that includes environmental, social and economic aspects.
How the programme is organised
Each semester has a theme. In the first semester, Staging Design for Sustainability, you focus on staging collaborative design processes within an organisation. The second semester, Design for Sustainable Transitions, looks at re-designing systems that support societal functions in a long-term perspective. In the third semester, Sustainable Design in Practice, you choose between studying at another university, carrying out an international design project, doing a design research project, doing a project-oriented study in an external organisation, or conducting an entrepreneurship design project. The fourth semester is your Master's thesis, where you choose your own topic and collaboration partner.
Teaching is project-based. You work in groups on real cases, often with external partners. Examples from the programme include projects on auto dismantling, green roofs in Copenhagen, moving families from cars to bicycles, and redesign of blood gas equipment.
Who it suits
This programme suits you if you want to develop and innovate products, services and systems that take users, materials and resources into account. You should be comfortable with cross-disciplinary collaboration and practical design processes. The programme gives you skills in concept development, user involvement, system understanding, sustainability assessment and process management.
Admission, language and next steps
The programme is taught in English. Applications for master's programmes go directly to Aalborg University. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee set by the institution. A free introductory e-course is available for students coming from outside AAU and Denmark to prepare for the programme. To enrol, send an email to IntroSD@plan.aau.dk with the subject 'Enrol me'. For questions about the e-course, contact Head of Educational Programme Søsser Brodersen at sbro@plan.aau.dk.
Job opportunities after graduating
- Design Engineer
- Process Consultant
- Development and transition employee
- Consultant
- Consulting engineer
- Self-employed entrepreneur
- User Experience (UX) designer
- User Experience (UX) researcher
Before you apply
Master’s applications go straight to Aalborg University, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.
Facts on this page come from the Study in Denmark register, the official portal of the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science. Fees are in euros as the institution lists them. "Not recorded" means the register has no figure, not that the programme is free. Always confirm requirements, fees and deadlines with the institution.
Quick answers
Is Master in Sustainable Design, MSc in Engineering taught in English?
Yes. The Study in Denmark register lists it as an English-taught programme at Aalborg University. Only English-taught degree programmes are in the register.
How long does it take?
The register records 2 years of study. Confirm the study load in ECTS credits with Aalborg University.
Where is it taught?
The register lists Copenhagen as the campus town for this programme at Aalborg University.
How do I apply?
Master’s applications go straight to the institution, not through optagelse.dk. Aalborg University sets its own deadline.
What does it cost?
Students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland pay EUR 7,455 a year, as Aalborg University lists it. For students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland the record shows no tuition fee. Fees are in euros as the institution lists them.
Is this programme officially listed?
It comes from the Study in Denmark register, the official portal of the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science at studyindenmark.dk. The programme page at Aalborg University is linked from this page so you can compare.
Same subject and level at other institutions
See all →Royal Danish Academy - Architecture, Design and Conservation · Copenhagen