24 monthsProgramme duration
156 EURTuition Fee/year
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Law and Legal Studies
Degree
LLM
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
Overview
Legal Skills at the Service of Sustainability
Our Master’s degree in Law and Sustainable Development, taught entirely in English, is designed to train legal professionals who can integrate advanced legal expertise with a deep understanding of socio-economic and environmental challenges. The ultimate goal is to equip graduates to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG s) across public and private sectors, locally, nationally and internationally.
Over the two years of the programme, students gain a comprehensive grasp of the evolving global legal landscape, which is characterised by complexity, interdependence, and the blurring of boundaries between international, supranational, and domestic regulations. The programme offers a holistic perspective, preparing graduates to address sustainability issues through law, policy, and governance.
What You’ll Learn
By completing this Master’s degree, you will be able to:
- Understand the foundations of sustainable development and its ethical, social, and economic dimensions
- Master international and European legal frameworks governing sustainability policies and practices
- Analyse and interpret complex legal systems in a globalised and pluralistic context where public and private norms intersect
- Develop advanced legal skills to design and implement sustainability strategies for governments, corporations, and civil society organisations
- Integrate interdisciplinary perspectives to reconcile environmental protection, social equity, and economic growth
- Critically assess policy-making processes and regulatory choices in light of sustainability principles and global challenges.
Why Choose Our Master’s Degree in Law and Sustainable Development
- 100% taught in English
- A multidisciplinary approach to learning, as inherent in the notion of sustainable development
- Plenty of practical training: legal clinics, moot courts, directed studies etc.
- Two double degree options (University of Galway and Universidad del País Vasco)
Programme Structure
This is a two-year programme taught entirely in English with mandatory attendance (at least 70% of all learning activities).
During the first year, students attend seven core courses, while in the second year, they can tailor their study plan by choosing one of the three available tracks, a.k.a. curricula:
- Law, Economics, and Development
- Rights, Institutions and Social Development
- Environmental Law and Policy.
The academic plan also includes a compulsory internship, plus legal clinics and workshops.
Furthermore, students can apply to pursue a double degree, either with the University of Galway (Ireland) or the Universidad Del País Vasco (Basque Country, Spain).
For further details, visit the University’s website.
Career Opportunities
Master’s graduates in Law and Sustainable Development are fully equipped to work in almost any setting, from public institutions to multinational corporations, from consulting firms up to the third sector.
Where Your Degree Can Take You
With this degree, you will be ready to take on roles like:
• Policy Advisor in ministries, regulatory bodies and international organisations
• Legal Designer for public-private partnerships and green procurement projects
• Sustainability Manager or legal counsel with a focus on corporate social responsibility ( CSR )
• ESG auditor, conducting sustainability audits within companies and ensuring compliance with environmental, social, and governance standards
• Legal consultant for non-profit organisations in development aid, environmental protection, and human rights
• Researcher in think tanks and academic institutions focusing on sustainability law.
Whether you aim to shape global sustainability agendas, influence policy-making or drive responsible business practices, this degree is your first step to making a tangible impact on society and the environment.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Law and Legal Studies
Degree
LLM
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
Overview
Legal Skills at the Service of Sustainability
Our Master’s degree in Law and Sustainable Development, taught entirely in English, is designed to train legal professionals who can integrate advanced legal expertise with a deep understanding of socio-economic and environmental challenges. The ultimate goal is to equip graduates to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG s) across public and private sectors, locally, nationally and internationally.
Over the two years of the programme, students gain a comprehensive grasp of the evolving global legal landscape, which is characterised by complexity, interdependence, and the blurring of boundaries between international, supranational, and domestic regulations. The programme offers a holistic perspective, preparing graduates to address sustainability issues through law, policy, and governance.
What You’ll Learn
By completing this Master’s degree, you will be able to:
- Understand the foundations of sustainable development and its ethical, social, and economic dimensions
- Master international and European legal frameworks governing sustainability policies and practices
- Analyse and interpret complex legal systems in a globalised and pluralistic context where public and private norms intersect
- Develop advanced legal skills to design and implement sustainability strategies for governments, corporations, and civil society organisations
- Integrate interdisciplinary perspectives to reconcile environmental protection, social equity, and economic growth
- Critically assess policy-making processes and regulatory choices in light of sustainability principles and global challenges.
Why Choose Our Master’s Degree in Law and Sustainable Development
- 100% taught in English
- A multidisciplinary approach to learning, as inherent in the notion of sustainable development
- Plenty of practical training: legal clinics, moot courts, directed studies etc.
- Two double degree options (University of Galway and Universidad del País Vasco)
Programme Structure
This is a two-year programme taught entirely in English with mandatory attendance (at least 70% of all learning activities).
During the first year, students attend seven core courses, while in the second year, they can tailor their study plan by choosing one of the three available tracks, a.k.a. curricula:
- Law, Economics, and Development
- Rights, Institutions and Social Development
- Environmental Law and Policy.
The academic plan also includes a compulsory internship, plus legal clinics and workshops.
Furthermore, students can apply to pursue a double degree, either with the University of Galway (Ireland) or the Universidad Del País Vasco (Basque Country, Spain).
For further details, visit the University’s website.
Career Opportunities
Master’s graduates in Law and Sustainable Development are fully equipped to work in almost any setting, from public institutions to multinational corporations, from consulting firms up to the third sector.
Where Your Degree Can Take You
With this degree, you will be ready to take on roles like:
• Policy Advisor in ministries, regulatory bodies and international organisations
• Legal Designer for public-private partnerships and green procurement projects
• Sustainability Manager or legal counsel with a focus on corporate social responsibility ( CSR )
• ESG auditor, conducting sustainability audits within companies and ensuring compliance with environmental, social, and governance standards
• Legal consultant for non-profit organisations in development aid, environmental protection, and human rights
• Researcher in think tanks and academic institutions focusing on sustainability law.
Whether you aim to shape global sustainability agendas, influence policy-making or drive responsible business practices, this degree is your first step to making a tangible impact on society and the environment.
Admission Requirements
Entry Qualification:
Undergraduate diploma (or higher)
A. Students with an Italian University Degree
Applicants to this Master’s degree programme are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following classes:
- Legal Services (L-14)
- Public Administration (L-16)
- Economics and Management (L-18)
- Economics (L-33)
- Political Science and International Relations (L-36)
- Social Sciences for Cooperation, Development and Peace (L-37)
Those holding a Bachelor’s degree in other degree classes are also eligible, provided they have earned at least 18 credits ( ETCS ) in law-related subjects and 12 credits ( ECTS ) in economics-related subjects. For a full list of these subjects, please visit the University’s website
B. Students with Non-Italian University Degrees
If you hold a foreign first-cycle degree (i.e. a Bachelor’s or other degree issued by a non-Italian higher education institution), the Admission Board will check your transcript of records to assess whether your first-cycle degree makes you eligible for admission. As a general rule, the Admission Board is looking for applicants with a first-cycle degree as close as possible to those required of graduates from Italian universities, i.e. in fields related to law, economics, political science or international relations .
Please note that the Admission Board may ask applicants — no matter where they obtained their first-cycle degree — to provide additional documents or invite them to an online interview to further assess their prior knowledge of law and economics.
All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application as soon as possible. Please bear in mind that reply times may vary depending on the number of applications received.
For further information, please visit the University’s website
The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English / German / French / Spanish / Italian.
Please note that we only accept official translations (either issued by your former higher education institution or carried out by a certified or sworn translator).
Language Requirements:
English
A C1 or higher level of proficiency in English is required for admission.
How to prove your English proficiency
You can demonstrate C1 proficiency in English:
- By uploading supporting documents certifying that you have previously completed a degree taught entirely in English or
- By submitting an English proficiency certificate accepted by the University, at level C1 or higher. Please note that the University accepts only certificates obtained in the last 3 years (2 years for TOEFL ).
List of language certificates accepted by the University
Tuition fees
International
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