If you’re interested in sustainability, then you probably care about the choices you make every day — what you eat, how you travel, what you throw away. Maybe you find yourself wondering how cities can be greener, how companies can reduce waste, or how we can better protect our planet. You might even be thinking about turning that passion into a career.
That’s exactly what Raquel Maria Franco Lopes Gomes did. She’s always cared about the environment and wanted to make the world a bit cleaner, even as a kid growing up in Lisbon, Portugal. That passion led her to Denmark, where she’s now doing a master’s in Environmental Management and Sustainability Science at Aalborg University (AAU). “I decided to join AAU because I had heard it was a great university,” she says. “And since I was already living in Denmark since my bachelor’s, it was easy to move to Aalborg.”
At AAU, sustainability isn’t just a module on a course list — it’s a way of thinking. Ranked #4 in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, AAU is committed to tackling global challenges linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Whether it’s reducing energy use, promoting sustainable building practices, or improving waste systems, AAU trains students to create real-world solutions.
Most of this work happens within the Department of Sustainability and Planning. The department doesn’t just focus on one area — it combines social science, development, and technical planning. Students can dive into everything from land management and road engineering to urban planning and environmental impact assessments. The goal? To develop professionals who understand both the human and technical sides of sustainability. By doing so, AAU helps prepare future leaders to build greener cities, design better infrastructure, and plan for a healthier planet.
At Aalborg University, students are trained to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental challenges through hands-on, project-based learning. Source: Aalborg University
AAU offers several master’s programmes that put this into action, like Urban, Energy and Environmental Planning, Sustainable Cities, and Sustainable Design. These programmes focus on issues like future transportation, urban growth in developing countries, and sustainable product innovation. All of them combine rigorous academics with practical application, encouraging students to ask hard questions and develop meaningful answers.
The curriculum covers everything from Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and circular economy to environmental impact assessments. Most of the learning is project-based, where students are placed in real-life scenarios and asked to investigate and solve actual problems. It’s about finding decentralised solutions to centralised challenges. It’s about local ideas that can make a global impact.
In one course called Theories of the Network City, students examine how spaces and infrastructure shape urban life. “It was fun to take a look at the infrastructure we use – stations, buildings, transportation – through critical lenses,” says Kíra Lancz, Class of 2023. That kind of thinking encourages students to view cities not just as places to live, but as systems that can be redesigned for the better.
This mindset extends beyond the classroom. As part of their final project, Lancz and her group conducted field research across Europe to deepen their understanding of urban systems. “My project group, with funding from the study board, managed to visit Amsterdam and Zagreb to visit sites and meet experts in our project themes,” she says.
These on-the-ground experiences gave them valuable insights into how different cities approach infrastructure and urban planning. It also helped them connect theory with real-world challenges and solutions. Such opportunities have also helped Lancz improve key skills, especially academic writing, independent research, and project management.
The Department of Sustainability and Planning combines planning, technology, and society to build a more sustainable future. Source: Aalborg University
This blend of academic rigour and practical learning is a hallmark of the experience at AAU. Students work closely with faculty and receive support from dedicated supervisors. There’s also a strong gender balance, both among students and staff, which helps create an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives drive innovation. “I received extensive support in various forms here,” says Giovanni Codotto, Class of 2021. “During challenging projects, professors and colleagues offered guidance by helping with complex tasks, which helped improve my problem-solving skills.”
Lorena Montañom, Source: Aalborg University
Outside of academics, life in Denmark offers its own advantages. The Danish healthcare system provides free medical care, hospital treatment, and schooling. Daycare is more affordable than in many other countries, and the cost of living — especially when housing is considered — is lower than in cities like New York. Of course, prices can vary depending on where you live. Copenhagen is the most expensive of AAU’s three campus cities (the others being Esbjerg and Aalborg). On average, you should budget at least DKK 7,500 per month for living expenses. This includes rent, food, utilities, phone, internet, books, and other essentials.
In essence, studying sustainability in Denmark is all about becoming part of a movement — one that’s rethinking how we live, how we build, and how we treat the planet we call home. “Overall, it has been a great experience, I can’t think of a better place to study sustainable cities than Copenhagen, and I have made great memories this first year,” says Lorena Montaño, a MSc Sustainable Cities student.
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