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Since September 2024, PSL University has been offering a Master's in Sustainability Science, the result of an unprecedented synergy between the École Normale Supérieure - PSL, Dauphine - PSL, Chimie Paris - PSL, and the École Nationale des Chartes - PSL. This pioneering program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and tackle the complex challenges of socio-ecological transitions. Through a resolutely pluralistic approach, students learn to mobilize multiple forms of knowledge (multidisciplinarity), to design and develop research projects that transcend disciplinary boundaries (interdisciplinarity), and to collaborate with non-academic actors to support transformative change (transdisciplinarity). The goal? To train a new generation of professionals and engaged citizens committed to a sustainable and just future.

The Master's in Sustainability Science is operated by the Center for Environmental and Societal Training () at ENS-PSL, in collaboration with Dauphine-PSL, Chimie Paris-PSL, and the École des Chartes-PSL. Open to students from diverse disciplines, this innovative program encourages the integration of complementary disciplinary perspectives and engagement with various stakeholders to address the complexity of socio-ecological transitions.

The Master's is organized over two years, each with complementary objectives.

• In the first year (M1), students deepen their disciplinary specialization within one of the 14 PSL University’s "partner master's programs" while being introduced to interdisciplinarity through modules offered by CERES. 
   
• In the second year (M2), they follow a common curriculum at CERES, focusing on acquiring theoretical and methodological knowledge in sustainability science, enriched by practical experience through a "transdisciplinary collective project." A key feature of the program, these projects provide a unique opportunity to engage in transformative action-research in close collaboration with students from diverse disciplines, researchers, and non-academic stakeholders. Finally, students develop individual projects during their internship in the second semester.

The program is designed for students to deepen their knowledge in their core discipline, learn to apply it to interdisciplinary research and generate new research questions about contemporary environmental crises that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.

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Who should apply?

The Master's in Sustainability Science at ENS-PSL is designed for those who wish to develop a systemic understanding of the major challenges of socio-ecological transitions while cultivating an inter- and transdisciplinary approach. This program is open to a wide range of profiles, including students in initial training and professionals seeking a career transition, coming from diverse geographical and academic backgrounds. Applicants are expected to have a strong foundation in one of the disciplines offered by the program’s partner master's programs and demonstrate proficiency in both written and spoken French.

Learning outcomes

The Master's aims to train professionals capable of addressing ecological and social transition challenges with both creativity and scientific rigor. It combines theoretical and methodological instruction with practical experiences while fostering an appreciation for the complementarity of disciplines through inter- and transdisciplinary dialogue. Through multiple project-based learning experiences, students engage with concrete socio-ecological transition issues, strengthening their critical thinking, collaborative research skills, and ability to interact with other disciplines and non-academic stakeholders.

→ By the end of the program, students will have developed the following abilities:

• Identify key sustainability challenges and understand the interactions between social and ecological dimensions of global change and transitions, considering the diversity of scales, stakeholders, and modes of action.
• Analyze sustainability issues by applying knowledge from various disciplines to diagnose challenges, assess societal needs, and evaluate transition pathways as well as the socio-environmental impacts of public or private initiatives.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary action-research projects by integrating insights and methods from different disciplines and stakeholders to formulate research questions, approaches, recommendations, and/or solutions adapted to the complexity of sustainability challenges.
• Communicate complex ideas and findings effectively, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences for knowledge transfer and informed decision-making.
• Develop a reflective approach by evaluating their own actions and roles within interactive contexts, in order to continuously improve their practice while adhering to ethical principles, professional integrity, and social and environmental responsibility.

Opportunities

The Master's in Sustainability Science opens up a wide range of professional opportunities, both in research and in the private and public sectors.

• Academic Sector: Graduates can pursue a PhD to deepen their expertise and prepare for careers in research and higher education. With strong ties to PSL University, connections to programs like TERRAE (which promotes transdisciplinary research at PSL), and a rich academic network, the master's program offers thesis opportunities related to inter- and transdisciplinary research on sustainability challenges.
   
• Private Sector: The program prepares professionals to join companies committed to ecological and social transitions, as well as NGOs, think tanks, consulting firms, and research institutes. Graduates can contribute to sustainability transitions in areas such as research and development, corporate social responsibility (CSR), advocacy, mediation, and the management of innovative and transformative projects.
   
• Public Sector: Graduates can work as public sector professionals, either as contractual agents or by joining high-ranking civil service corps. They may contribute to policymaking and implementation in government agencies (e.g., the Ministries of Ecological Transition or Agriculture, France Stratégie), public institutions (ADEME, CEREMA, BRGM, OFB, etc.), or local authorities, actively shaping ecological and social transition policies.