How can psychology help us understand and adress environmental challenges? How can we motivate and empower people to act pro-environmentally and adapt to a changing environment?
Questions like these are addressed in the Master programme Environmental psychology. The programme focuses on the interactions between humans and their environment. You will acquire theoretical knowledge and methodological skills to understand and address the human dimension of environmental problems (e.g., climate-, energy-, food-related). The program is taught by the world-leading Environmental Psychology group at the University of Groningen.
The expertise gained in this master is essential in attempts to limit global climate change and its negative impacts, and adapt successfully to the consequences of climate change. Governments and companies seek advice from environmental psychologists to understand the human dimension of sustainable development, and leading journals, such as Nature, stress the importance of the social sciences for solving environmental problems. This master will equip you for job opportunities that focus on finding effective and acceptable societal solutions to these problems.
In cooperation with Leuphana University, we also offer the Double Degree Master Sustainability and Environmental Psychology.
In this programme, you follow:
Semesters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
Environmental Psychology (5 EC) | ||||
An elective course (Choose max. two) (5 EC) A course from another master Psychology track (UG) or a self-selected relevant course from:
| ||||
Internship (10 EC) | ||||
Master's thesis (20 EC) | ||||
Methodological course (Choose one) (5 EC)
| ||||
Designing interventions (5 EC) | ||||
Personal and societal change (5 EC) | ||||
Selected topics in Environmental Psychology (5 EC) | ||||
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Sustainability (5 EC) |
We recommend you to take all the courses as indicated in the programme schedule. If you are interested in writing part of your master thesis abroad, you can discuss this with the master's thesis coordinator. In that case, you will be co-supervised by researchers from the university you visit. Our group collaborates with scholars from all over the world.
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
Your previous education and chosen master track determine the application procedure and whether you are eligible for admission to the master or a possible premaster. Check https://www.rug.nl/gmw/masters/psychology/toelatingseisen-masters-psychologie to find the admission requirements that apply to you. |
language test |
Depending on your background and language of the track of your choice, you will have to submit proof of your proficiency in either Dutch or English. For more information see https://www.rug.nl/gmw/masters/psychology/toelatingseisen-masters-psychologie |
The information can be found on the page about Application, Admission and Selection .
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
Your previous education and chosen master track determine the application procedure and whether you are eligible for admission to the master or a possible premaster. Check https://www.rug.nl/gmw/masters/psychology/toelatingseisen-masters-psychologie to find the admission requirements that apply to you. |
language test |
Depending on your background and language of the track of your choice, you will have to submit proof of your proficiency in either Dutch or English. For more information see https://www.rug.nl/gmw/masters/psychology/toelatingseisen-masters-psychologie |
The information can be found on the page about Application, Admission and Selection.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
There is an increasing demand from practitioners and policymakers to understand the human dimension of sustainable development.
Technical solutions have been proven insufficient: behavioural changes are required and sustainable policies and innovations need to be accepted and adopted by the public.This master's will prepare you for job opportunities in science and practice that focus on finding effective and societally acceptable solutions to environmental problems.
Career services
BSS
Where do you want to work after your studies? You can
contact
Career
Services
already during your
studies. They will help you orientate on your career, develop your
skills, apply for jobs and find an internship.
on environmental or sustainability topics (e.g. waste management)
(e.g. at national or municipality level)
(e.g. on behaviour change or public acceptability)
(such as grid operators, energy providers and water companies)
(for example at MilieuCentraal)
(such as the Netherlands institute for Social Research (SCP))
The Environmental Psychology group at the University of Groningen is a world leader in the field. Prof. dr. Linda Steg is among the world's most highly cited social scientists. In 2020, she was awarded the NWO Stevin price, the highest honour in Dutch science, for the work of the environmental psychology group.
You will have the opportunity to join our research projects, collaborating with other disciplines, practitioners, and experts from all over the world.
Dr. Lise Jans
(Coordinator Master Environmental Psychology)
Expertise: The role of group processes in environmental
issues, attitudes, and behaviours
Course: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on
Sustainability
Prof. dr. Linda
Steg
(KNAW member)
Expertise:
understanding environmental
behaviour including energy use and car use; acceptability and
effectiveness of environmental policy; values; intrinsic
motivation
Course:
Environmental Psychology
Prof. dr. Goda
Perlaviciute (Coordinator of the DDM program Sustainability and
Environmental Psychology)
Expertise: public evaluations and acceptability of energy
sources, systems and policies
Course: Advanced topics in Environmental Psychology
Dr. Thijs
Bouman (Master thesis and internship coordinator)
Expertise: Personal and group values; human-technology
interactions
Dr.
Gabriel Muinos
Expertise:
Teaching innovation,
methodology, and statistics
Course: Designing interventions
Selection of recent publications:
Book:
Environmental
psychology: An introduction, 2nd Edition
Steg, L.
(ed.) & de Groot, J. I. M. (ed.), 2019, 2nd ed. Hoboken,
New Jersey: Wiley.
448 p. (BPS Textbooks in Psychology)