The degree program aims to prepare tomorrow's leaders to advance sustainable urban development across Europe, thereby addressing pressing environmental challenges facing both urban and rural areas. The bachelor's program has been officially accredited by the NVAO (Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders) and applications are now being accepted.
Practically Oriented Education at Ten Universities
In the three-year degree program, students have the opportunity to engage with sustainability issues in different European contexts and receive a comprehensive, hands-on education. Participants will explore solutions to the most urgent urban and rural sustainability challenges while earning a joint bachelor's degree in the process.
The degree program is innovative due to the high number of partner universities and the considerable flexibility it offers students. It is designed on the basis of the open curriculum approach, which offers students a wide range of options. In the first year, they focus on acquiring basic knowledge and skills and can begin their studies at one of seven partner universities: Maastricht University (Netherlands), Nicolaus Copernicus University Toruń (Poland), Carlos III University of Madrid (Spain), the University of Antwerp (Belgium), the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Essex (United Kingdom), and the University of Rijeka (Croatia).
Working on Real World Sustainability Issues
In the second and third years, students can personalize their studies and can choose courses from the range offered by all ten YUFE universities (YUFE Minor) according to their interests, and thus study at different locations in Europe. Both physical and virtual mobility play a role here. In addition to the universities already mentioned, the University of Bremen (Natural Sciences for Sustainability), Sorbonne Nouvelle in France, and Cyprus also offer courses for this phase of study. The degree program concludes with a bachelor's thesis in which students demonstrate their expertise in sustainable urban development.
The joint bachelor's degree in Urban Sustainability Studies is not just about academics, but is also a collaborative, global learning experience. Students will work alongside peers, professors, and industry leaders from across Europe, tackling real-world sustainability challenges in a creative, interactive environment. This program fosters lifelong professional connections, equipping graduates with the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to lead in the evolving field of urban sustainability.
About YUFE
YUFE stands for “Young Universities for the Future of Europe” and is an alliance of ten European universities and two non-university partners. Together, they are pursuing the goal of establishing an open and inclusive European university. This offers students and university staff Europe-wide opportunities for further development in education, research, and professional life.
YUFE is an alliance selected and funded by the European Commission. The University of Bremen also receives support from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and from the Bremen State Senator for the Environment, Climate, and Science.
Further Information:
https://www.yufe.eu/yufe-bachelor/
Contact:
Svenja Renner
YUFE Student Journey Coordinator
University of Bremen
Tel.: +49 (0)421 218-60389
Email: svenja.rennerprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
