Best Sustainability PhD Degree Programs for 2025

PhD in Education (with a focus on Educational Sustainability)

Nipissing University

Canada

Sustainability, Education

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Grounded in the context of a post-modern society, and recognizing the importance of multiple perspectives, this Ph.D. program in Educational Sustainability will prepare students from a variety of fields.

English

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PhD in Social Change and Sustainability

Intercultural Open University

Online

United States of America (USA)

Sustainability, Social Sciences

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Intercultural Open University Foundation (IOUF) aspires to create an academic environment grounded in interdisciplinary intellectual discovery and guided by rational discourse.

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Ph.D. in Environmental Science

Desert Research Institute

United States of America (USA)

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Environmental Science, Renewable Energy, Sustainability

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The University's Environmental Sciences Ph.D. is a research-focused, multidisciplinary degree track with more than 35 participating faculty members from 14 departments across four institutions. The program encourages students to adapt to the course of study to their academic interests. Successful students will practice applied science that addresses real-world problems.

English

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Ph.D. in Forestry

University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

United States of America (USA)

Environmental Science, Sustainability, Agriculture

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Graduate research programs leading to the M.S. or Ph.D. in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Forestry are designed to prepare students for careers in academic institutions, consulting firms, industry, and state and federal agencies. Forestry graduates interested in research or teaching may concentrate much of their course work in one or more related sciences with a thesis appropriate to forestry.

English

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Ph.D. in Marine Affairs

University of Rhode Island College of the Environment and Life Sciences

United States of America (USA)

Environmental Science, Sustainability, Public Policy

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The world’s coastal regions have become trendy places to live and visit. Our coasts and oceans are also immensely important ecologically and economically. Our coasts and oceans, however, are particularly vulnerable to overuse and climate changes.

English

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PH.D. IN Earth Systems and Built Environments

Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio"

Italy

Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The doctorate trains PhDs on broad themes of Architecture, Earth Sciences and the Planets and Civil Engineering. This interdisciplinary research platform includes topics that concern the natural and man-made environments, the risks associated with them (hydro-geological risk, risks and safety of the built environment at different scales, planning, design and conservation of buildings and urban settlements), and georesources. In this context interdisciplinary, it is possible to develop specific doctoral themes capable of generating repercussions scientific and applicative in line with an increasingly complex society. The research activity follows an initial period of basic training and develops collaborations with research institutions and universities which, where possible, will allow doctoral students to obtain an Italian and foreign qualification (in co-tutorship) and any additional certification of Doctor Europaeus or Network Doctorate International.

Italian

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PhD in Maritime Affairs

World Maritime University

Sweden

Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, International Relations, Public Policy

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The World Maritime University (WMU) was established by the UN’s International Maritime Organisation in 1983 and is IMO’s apex institution for postgraduate education and research in the maritime field.

English

3 Years

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Doctoral Program in Global Environmental Studies

Kyoto University - Graduate School Of Global Environmental Studies

Japan

Environmental Science, Sustainability, International Relations, Public Policy

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

This program accepts students who have obtained a master’s degree or the equivalent in various fields. The program encompasses the Department of Global Ecology, the Department of Technology and Ecology, and the Department of Natural Resources of the Hall of Global Environmental Research, as well as the Grove of Universal Learning. Students’ specialized study themes are selected from the vast range of themes related to global environmental studies, based on prior study and approaches in the humanities and social sciences as well as natural science, agriculture and engineering. After receiving a doctoral degree, students may work at universities or environment-related government/private-sector research organizations.

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Doctoral Program in Environmental Management

Kyoto University - Graduate School Of Global Environmental Studies

Japan

Environmental Science, Sustainability, Public Administration

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

This program aims to foster graduates capable of functioning in an international setting by equipping them with comprehensive knowledge and skills for resolving conflicts and managing global environmental issues. Internship study (domestic or overseas) and the preparation of a doctoral thesis help students develop the skills required for environment-related work after graduation. Graduates of the doctoral program are expected to find employment in government or municipal institutions, environment-related international NGOs and universities, environment-related industries, environmental positions in various industries, and government and private-sector research organizations with an environmental focus.

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PhD in Earth Sciences & Environmental Sustainability

Northern Arizona University

United States of America (USA)

Geology, Environmental Science, Sustainability

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The interdisciplinary Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability Doctoral program will prepare you to be part of a growing industry of leaders, scientists, and engineers addressing issues of climate change, water scarcity, natural resource demand, and environmental sustainability in the Southwest, United States, and the global community.

English

4 Years

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PhD in Forestry

Northern Arizona University

United States of America (USA)

Environmental Science, Sustainability, Agriculture

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

You’ll be prepared for public or private resource management or a related career in research and education. Our particular focus is on the problems and opportunities associated with the integrated management of forest ecosystems.

English

4 Years

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Doctorate in Urban Future Studies

Università degli Studi di Firenze

Italy

Environmental Science, Sustainability, Architecture, Urban Planning

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Doctorate in Urban Future Studies. The Doctorate course in "Urban Future Studies" intends to offer young graduates the opportunity to follow a third-level training course with a qualification of excellence and international scope through the acquisition of in-depth methodological, technological, and scientific skills that allow an evaluation, both qualitative and quantitative, of the use of predominantly vegetal solutions in urban and peri-urban systems.

English

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PhD Course in Social Sciences for Sustainability and Wellbeing

Università degli Studi di Firenze

Italy

Sustainability, Social Sciences

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

PhD Course in Social Sciences for Sustainability and Wellbeing. The Ph.D. program in Social Sciences for Sustainability and Wellbeing (acronym: S3W), jointly offered by the University of Florence and the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, offers a great opportunity to learn a wide range of methods from the social sciences and enter a community of scholars committed to doing their best to ensure wellbeing and a sustainable future for our society.

English

3 Years

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Ph.D. in Environmental & Conservation Science

North Dakota State University - Graduate School

United States of America (USA)

Environmental Science, Sustainability

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The interdisciplinary Environmental and Conservation Sciences program at North Dakota State University offers three tracks: Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, and Environmental Social Sciences.

English

3 Years

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PhD in Sustainable Energy and Technologies

Libera Università di Bolzano

Italy

Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Engineering

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

With this Ph.D. program, we train young researchers in the field of sustainable use of resources in the production systems of energy, of buildings, in energy final utilization, in the development of products, and in manufacturing.

Italian, English, German

3 Years

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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Sustainable Agriculture

Selinus University of Sciences and Literature

Online

United Kingdom, Italy

Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Agriculture

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The aim of this research step should cover the theoretical foundations of sustainable agriculture, the design of alternative production systems and technologies and the management of parasitic insects, pathogens and weeds. Guiding and providing solutions through the main agricultural topics, such as plant sciences, agricultural technology and engineering and farm management, using research results and examples from both the developed and undeveloped world.

English

2 Years

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PhD in Ecosystem Biology and Sustainability

Queen's University of Belfast - Medical Faculty

United Kingdom

Biology, Environmental Science, Sustainability

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The primary focus of the Ecology, Evolution, Behaviour and Environmental Economics research cluster is fundamental and applied aspects of ecology, environmental economics, conservation, aquaculture, animal behavior, molecular taxonomy and molecular genetics, particularly involving links between these aspects. The cluster has a high level of research activity involving academic staff, Postdoctoral scientists, and postgraduate research students. The cluster has a high level of research activity involving academic staff, Postdoctoral scientists, and postgraduate research students.

English

3 Years

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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environmental Management

Selinus University of Sciences and Literature

Online

United Kingdom, Italy

Environmental Science, Sustainability, Public Administration

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Nowadays, human impact is one of the main variables of environmental change both locally and globally. Managing this impact is critically important to human, social and economic well-being now and in the future.

English

2 Years

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PhD in Science, Technology and Policy for Sustainable Change

Politecnico di Milano

Italy

Sustainability

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The PhD Programme in Science, Technology, and Policy for Sustainable Change (STEP-CHANGE) prepares the future generation of scientific experts for addressing the challenge of global change and steering society toward a sustainable and inclusive transition, including accelerating the penetration of green technologies, fostering industry decarbonisation, and designing sustainable policies from cross-sectoral perspectives.

English

3 Years

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19 Best Sustainability PhD Degree Programs for 2025

PhD in Education (with a focus on Educational Sustainability)

PhD in Social Change and Sustainability

Ph.D. in Environmental Science

Ph.D. in Forestry

Ph.D. in Marine Affairs

PH.D. IN Earth Systems and Built Environments

PhD in Maritime Affairs

Doctoral Program in Global Environmental Studies

Doctoral Program in Environmental Management

PhD in Earth Sciences & Environmental Sustainability

PhD in Forestry

Doctorate in Urban Future Studies

PhD Course in Social Sciences for Sustainability and Wellbeing

Ph.D. in Environmental & Conservation Science

PhD in Sustainable Energy and Technologies

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Sustainable Agriculture

PhD in Ecosystem Biology and Sustainability

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environmental Management

PhD in Science, Technology and Policy for Sustainable Change

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy), Sustainability