The Master's Degree Programme in Environmental Policy and Law is an interdisciplinary two-year programme that combines group teaching and independent research with the objective of providing participants with professional skills in environmental law and policy. The programme consists of advanced study of law and policy in relation to the environment, climate change and natural resources.
All students will complete basic courses on environmental law and environmental policy. They will choose between two alternative majors:
- Environmental Policy and Natural Resources Governance: The scientific background for the major is environmental policy which offers the social scientific perspective to current environmental problems and their solutions. Within the major, you can specialise in global and local governance issues and in policy formulation and implementation. The target degree is a Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc).
- Environmental and Climate Change Law: Environmental law includes a number of specialized areas of legal practice, such as climate change law and natural resources law. Environmental lawyers can also specialize in international legal issues, EU law or national environmental legislation. The target degree is a Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL). In Finland, the MICL degree does not qualify the graduate for positions in the judiciary or to practice law (e.g. as a judge or a lawyer). These positions require a Finnish Master of Laws degree (oikeustieteen maisteri, OTM).
Students also have the possibility to minor in the opposite major (recommended) or complete minor studies in the subject area of their choosing if they complement the degree.
For instructions on how to apply and a direct link to the application form on Studyinfo, please scroll down. The application period is in January.
Key information
- Level of degree: Master's degree
- Programme duration: 2 years / 120 ECTS credits
- Language of instruction: English
- Application period: January
- Programme start: Beginning of September
- Tuition fee: EU/EEA nationals no tuition fee; non-EU/EEA nationals 10,000 €/academic year
- Tuition waivers available for everyone
- Study campus: Joensuu
- Modes of study: on-campus learning
Why study with us?
- Environmental policy and law are often intertwined, and our programme offers a unique opportunity to familiarise yourself with both aspects.
- The flexible degree structure allows you to design your own study path and focus on areas that match your interests.
- Teaching is based on state of the art research supported by UEF’s research communities CCEEL and RESOURCE.
- The programme has a strong international focus and prepares you for the global employment markets. It also equips you with knowledge to work as an expert in environmental policy and natural resources governance, and environmental and climate change law.
- Read our student and alumni stories!
Studies
The programme combines various teaching and learning methods bridging theory with practice. Students will also learn to conduct independent research, critical thinking and reasoned argumentation throughout their studies. Studies are offered majorly as contact teaching on-campus in Joensuu.
Our graduates pursue careers with various international institutions such as the Nordic Development Fund and European Forest Institute, national and local governments, non-profit organisations such as Greenpeace and the Centre for International Environmental Law, think tanks such as the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and the private sector, including sustainability-focused organisations and consultancies. Many graduates also pursue academic careers, securing PhD positions at UEF and other institutions.
The Environmental Policy and Law master's programme is a two-year course totalling 120 credits, with students expected to complete 60 credits each academic year, or 30 credits per semester. The autumn semester begins in early September, while the spring semester usually starts during the second week of January. Some UEF Summer School courses are held in August. Students choose their major at the end of the first year.
The master’s degree is structured in four parts. All students complete 30 credits of common compulsory studies and 55 credits of major-specific compulsory studies, including the master’s thesis and seminar. In addition, students choose 20 credits of advanced courses from a predefined list to deepen their expertise in environmental policy or law. The degree also includes 15 credits of electives, which can be e.g. language studies or courses offered by other UEF departments.
The current curriculum and information on courses is available in the Study Guide. Students receive guidance on planning and scheduling their studies at the start of their studies by participating in the Introduction to Master’s Degree Studies, Environmental Policy and Law course.
The language of the programme is English. Students are required to complete at least 80 % of the courses in English.
One year of full-time studies requires about 1600 hours of work. Lectures, exercises, seminars, independent studies and examinations have been included in this estimate of required workload of a student.
The Finnish national credit point allocation and accumulation system is equivalent to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
The grading of courses at the University of Eastern Finland follows two basic practices: 1) Pass or Fail, or 2) applying a numerical scale with grading from 0-5 for passed courses. (5 - excellent, 0 - fail)
Students of Master's Degree Programme can apply for exchange programmes (e.g. Erasmus and Nordplus). For more information of the possibilities and practicalities, please see the university's instructions for exchange studies.
The Master’s Thesis and Thesis Seminar are compulsory components of the programme. Each student selects a thesis topic related to their major and is appointed a supervising professor who will guide the student throughout the seminar and writing process.
The Master’s thesis, which should be an independent research assignment of approximately 60–100 pages, must adhere to the seminar’s specific instructions. The seminar teaches academic research skills, methods, and peer feedback, while guiding students in choosing and refining their topics. Active participation in the seminar is mandatory.
The thesis is assessed on a scale of 0 to 5, with written feedback covering research scope, argumentation, use and presentation of sources, structure, linguistic quality, conclusions, and data accuracy. Practices and instructions may vary slightly between UEF Law School and the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies.
Recent Master's Thesis Topics
Environmental and Climate Change Law:
- Future Generations’ Rights in Climate Action: The Role of the Principle of Progressive Realization and Non-Regression
- Litigating a Just Transition: Legal Disputes Over Wind Energy in Finland
- Translating International Rules on Climate Adaptation Finance into Practice: Case Study of Multilateral Adaptation Financing through the Nordic Development Fund
- Toxic Remnants of War - Exploring the Limits of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention
- Sustainable Finance in the EU – Implications for the Operation and Compliance of Financial Institutions
Environmental Policy and Natural Resources Governance:
- The Long Debate Around Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: History of a Policy Concept and its Impact on Global Environmental Governance
- Evaluation of Companies' Motives, Values, and Views Impact on Collaborative Cross-sector Climate Action: Case Study Imatra
- Social Capital in Community Forestry: Findings from a Quick Scoping Review about Oaxaca State, Mexico
- Assessment of Mongolian Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations
- How Uncertainty Shapes Access to Resources for Local Communities: Lessons from Inhabited Forest Concessions in the Miombo Woodlands in Central Mozambique
You can find previous thesis topics in the UEF e-publications. You can also search for Master's theses in UEF Primo.
Programme coordinators, Raihanatul Jannat and Heli Siponen, offer counselling on academic matters, personal study plans, graduation paperwork, and the recognition of studies. At the start of the academic year each student will also have a one-on-one counselling session with the programme coordinators to make a personal study plan.
Student feedback is welcomed and can be shared with the responsible teacher (for course feedback), programme coordinators and directors (for semester feedback), and the department vice-head or coordinators (for general teaching and guidance).
If unsure whom to contact, the programme coordinators can provide the appropriate information.
How to apply?
The application period opens on 7 January 2026 and closes on 21 January 2026 at 3 pm (EET). The applicants must apply through the national Studyinfo portal at studyinfo.fi. Each applicant can only fill in and submit one application form in the 1. joint application.
Eligibility criteria
A previous Bachelor's degree corresponding to at least 3 years of full-time academic studies from an institution for higher education is required from all Master's degree applicants. The degree must be awarded by an internationally recognized university or by a recognized university of applied sciences or polytechnic. Also, the degree must give the right to apply for university-level master's studies in the country concerned.
- A Bachelor's degree or equivalent university degree with good academic results corresponding to at least three years of full-time study in law, public policy or another appropriate field in social sciences, interdisciplinary environmental studies, or environmental science.
- The grade point average (GPA) of the degree used as the basis for the application must be at least 3,5/5 (on a 5-point scale).
- The GPA and the grading scale must either be given in the degree certificate, transcript of records, or a separate, certified calculation, otherwise the application will not be considered. If the applicant’s GPA does not follow the ECTS grading system, it will be converted accordingly for the programme during the evaluation process.
- Successful applicants can be made a conditional offer of admission subject to satisfactory completion of the required academic degree. The deadline for submitting copies of the degree certificate and transcript of records (in original language and translated as applicable) is 29 May 2026.
- The programme accepts applications from students who have not completed their degree by the application deadline. Such applicants must indicate their anticipated graduation date in their application and submit their latest official transcript of records. Applicants obtaining their degree certificate and the final transcript of records during the application period should send copies of the documents as soon as possible. Successful applicants are required to deliver officially certified copies of the final degree certificate and the transcript of records to the programme coordinator by 30 July 2026.
Language requirements
Applicants must either (1) meet the language proficiency criteria (see below), or (2) reach the minimum required language test results to be considered eligible to the University of Eastern Finland. No exceptions will be made and no waivers regarding the language proficiency requirements are given.
(1) Applicants who hold one of the following do not have to take an English language test
- 1. a) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed Finnish Matriculation Examination, English language (A-language, advanced syllabus) with a minimum grade of magna cum laude approbatur (M)
- 1. b) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed their secondary education in English language in EU/EEA -countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or in Switzerland. The applicants from EU/ETA -countries and Switzerland must prove the language of instruction. The medium of instruction must be clearly stated on the educational documents. If your documents do not explicitly mention English as the medium of instruction, you must provide an additional official statement issued by a representative of your educational institution confirming this.
- 1. c) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree in an English-taught programme in EU/EEA -countries, or in one of the following countries:
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South-Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The applicants from these countries must prove the language of instruction. The medium of instruction must be clearly stated on the educational documents. If your documents do not explicitly mention English as the medium of instruction, you must provide an additional official statement issued by a representative of your educational institution confirming this.
- 1. d) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree in an English-taught programme in Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, the United Kingdom or the United States. The applicants prove their language skills with a university degree.
The degree/programme must be taught and assessed in English (at least 50 % of the degree must be completed in English). If you verify your language skills with your education degree, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents.
Online studies or studies completed on offshore campuses outside the accepted countries/area cannot be used to indicate language skills, even if the degree-awarding institution is in one of the accepted countries.
(2) All other applicants have to take one of the following language tests
- TOEFL iBT, overall score 92, min. 22 in writing
- IELTS Academic overall score 6.5, min. 6.0 in writing
- PTE Academic, overall score 62, min 54 in writing
- C1 Advanced overall score C or 180, with min. 162 in writing
- C2 Proficiency overall score level C1 or 180, with min. 162 in writing
- National Certificate of Language Proficiency YKI-test: level 5 in all different subtests (reading comprehension, writing, speaking comprehension and speaking). It is possible to combine different examinations.
Kindly note that the University of Eastern Finland also accepts the following tests:
- IELTS Academic online and UKVI tests, IELTS One Skill Retake test results.
- PTE Academic online and UKVI tests
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests, MyBest Scores
No other degrees or statements of language proficiency will be accepted.
TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the day they are issued, i.e. the language test needs to be in effect during the application period, from 7 January 2024 onwards.
The language test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the organiser.
Description of admissions criteria
In 2026, approximately 25 students will be selected into the Master’s Degree Programme in Environmental Policy and Law. The admission process in the Master's Degree Programme in Environmental Policy and Law aims at fair selection of high-quality applicants. Student selection is based on evaluation of the motivation video and how the applicant’s skills and competences gained by the previous academic studies correspond to the Master's studies applied for.
Admitted applicants to the programme will gain the right to complete a Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL) or Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc). The students choose their major at the end of first year between Environmental and Climate Change Law (MICL) and Environmental Policy and Natural Resources Governance (MSocSc).
Delimitation of granting right to study
According to one study place per term provision, a student may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term. This rule applies to all higher education.
You cannot be granted a new right to study resulting in a Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc) or Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL) degree if you already have a valid right to study in the Master’s degree programme in Environmental Policy and Law at the University of Eastern Finland.
Student selection procedure
Eligible applicants will be ranked by cumulative scores in accordance with the selection criteria (selection criteria and maximum points per category detailed in next section). The highest scoring 25 applicants are accepted to the program and the remainder of the applicants are rejected. The programme may accept more applicants by discretion to fill the available study places in the programme. Applicants are not placed on the waiting list.
The applications will be graded using the following selection criteria:
- Educational background 8 points
- Relevance of previous degree(s)
- Academic success
- Motivation video 10 points
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered in the application process and will be automatically rejected. The maximum score is 18 points. The final student selection will be made based on the cumulative score of educational background and motivation video. Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee selection to the programme.
Selection results
Results for studies starting in September 2026 will be published on 27 May 2026 at the latest. When the selection decision has been made, the results will be posted immediately to the applicants by e-mail.
Admitted students shall inform whether they accept their study place by latest on 9 July 2026 at 3 pm (EEST) electronically via Studyinfo portal or by submitting the confirmation form to the admission office, [email protected].
Conditional acceptance
- All accepted students need to provide officially certified copies of their educational documents, if they cannot authenticate their degree and transcript of records electronically when applying. The students will be conditionally accepted until they have provided the certified copies of the educational documents (degree certificate and transcript of records). Country specific requirements are in use in the situations when the applicant cannot provide the documents electronically. The last date when the documents must be at the university is 29 May 2026. In case the applicants do not deliver the documents by the given deadline, their study right will be cancelled.
- Accepted students subject to tuition fees must pay the tuition fee for the first academic year by 31 August 2026. The students will be conditionally accepted until they have paid the tuition fee.
- Admission is conditional if the applicant applies to UEF with a degree that is not finished during the application period. It is required that the applicants deliver officially certified copies of the final degree certificate and the transcript of records to the programme coordinator by 30 July 2026.
Appeal
If you disagree with the student selection decision you may apply for rectification of the decision from the Dean of the Faculty. It is possible to make a request for rectification only after the admission results have been made and published. The deadline is 10 June 2026 at 3 pm (EEST) at the latest. The instructions for making a request for rectification can be found on Admissions results website.
Enclosures
The required enclosures need to be uploaded electronically to the application by 28 January 2026 at 3 pm (EET) at the latest. UEF does not process application documents that have arrived after the given deadline. The enclosures must be of good quality (high-quality scans) and easy to read.
Certificates
General instructions concerning the certificates are available on UEF’s website: How to apply? | University of Eastern Finland in the Types of documents section.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree certificate
- In case the required original documents are not in English, Finnish or Swedish, a complete, word-by-word literal translation into one of these three languages by an official translator is required.
- Applicants holding provisional (temporary) degree certificates may also apply for the programme. That is, the degree must be verifiably completed and the required documents of the completion of this degree must be submitted.
- An official transcript of academic records
- In case the required original documents are not in English, Finnish or Swedish, a complete, word-by-word literal translation into one of these three languages by an official translator is required.
- Note also that the grade point average must be given on the degree certificate, transcript of records or a separate, certified calculation.
- English language certificate (if needed)
- Certificate of name change (You need to submit a document proving the name change if the name on your educational documents differs from the name on your passport)
Motivation video in English
- A 4-minute video, please answer all three of the following questions in the video:
- Why do you apply for the Master's Degree Programme in Environmental Policy at UEF? (max 1 minute)
- How does the programme link with your experience (studies, work or otherwise) and future career goals and aspirations? (max 1 minute)
- Discuss the legal or policy perspective of an environmental problem of your choosing. Introduce the environmental problem briefly before discussing it. (max 2 minutes)
- This video is an introduction video of the applicant. The maximum duration is 4 minutes, within which the applicant must answer all the above questions. Please record the video in Recright. The video must have both sound and video to be considered. Please send the Studyinfo application before you submit the motivation video. The link to the Recright recording platform can be found in the Studyinfo application and the programme website. You have until the Jan. 28, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC+2 to record the video.
Details regarding motivation video submission via Recright were updated on 20 November 2025.
All enclosures are compulsory for the selection process. Without all the compulsory enclosures the applicant cannot be selected for the studies. It is the applicants responsibility to submit all the required enclosures within the deadline.
Application period 2026
Application period begins on 7 January 2026 and will last until 21 January 2026.
Application period 2025
Application period for 2025 was from 8 January 2025 until 22 January 2025 3 pm (GMT +2). Applications were accepted only during the application period and it is not possible to apply for the 2025 intake anymore.
Application process step by step: Three steps to follow
1. Search & apply online
You can find all available study programs in Finland on the Studyinfo portal, where you can search for suitable options and begin your application. The online application is accessible only during the application period, so be sure to check the dates. Once you have found a program you wish to apply to, find out what the admission requirements are
2. Gather your documents
Details about the documents required for admission are provided by the program you are applying to, as well as on the Studyinfo portal. The list of necessary documents is also included in the online application. Check the language requirements – is a language test needed? The application document checklist: 1. Original degree and graduation certificates in original language* 2. Original transcript of records in original language* 3. Proof of English language proficiency 4. Scan of passport photo page + Other programme specific documents (see above section about admission requirements)
*Official translations of degree and graduation certificates and transcript of records, if original is not in English, Finnish or Swedish
3. Submit the application
You must submit the all required documents as original electronic documents or high quality scanned attachments along with your online application. Instructions are provided on the application form in StudyInfo. Ensure that all documents are uploaded by the specified deadline, as email attachments will not be accepted. After you submitting you receive a confirmation email. This email includes a link for making changes to your application during the application period.
Verification of educational documents
The University of Eastern Finland will assess the eligibility and authenticity of educational certificates for all applicants. This process includes verifying information with previous educational institutions and language test providers.
Evaluation of applicants (the selection process)
Applicants are requested to submit completed application form and necessary documentation by the set deadline. Please note that partially-completed or incomplete applications (that are missing required enclosures) will be automatically rejected. Applications arriving after the deadline will not be considered.
The admission process in the Master's Degree Programme in Environmental Policy and Law aims at fair selection of high-quality applicants. Student selection is based on evaluation of the motivation video and how the applicant’s skills and competences gained by the previous academic studies correspond to the Master's studies applied for. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the programme.
Eligible applicants will be ranked by cumulative scores in accordance with the selection criteria (selection criteria and maximum points per category detailed in next section). The highest scoring 25 applicants are accepted to the program and the remainder of the applicants are rejected. The programme may accept more applicants by discretion to fill the available study places in the programme. Applicants are not placed on the waiting list.
The applications will be graded using the following selection criteria:
Educational background 8 points
1. Relevance of previous degree(s)
2. Academic success
- Motivation video 10 points
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered in the application process and will be automatically rejected. The maximum score is 18 points. The final student selection will be made based on the cumulative score of educational background and motivation video. Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee selection to the programme.
Selection results
Results for studies starting in September 2026 will be published on 27 May 2026 at the latest. When the selection decision has been made, the results will be posted immediately to the applicants by e-mail.
Admitted students shall inform whether they accept their study place by latest on 9 July 2026 at 3 pm (EEST) electronically via Studyinfo portal or by submitting the confirmation form to the admission office, [email protected].
Conditional acceptance
- All accepted students need to provide officially certified copies of their educational documents, if they cannot authenticate their degree and transcript of records electronically when applying. The students will be conditionally accepted until they have provided the certified copies of the educational documents (degree certificate and transcript of records). Country specific requirements are in use in the situations when the applicant cannot provide the documents electronically. The last date when the documents must be at the university is 29 May 2026. In case the applicants do not deliver the documents by the given deadline, their study right will be cancelled.
- Accepted students subject to tuition fees must pay the tuition fee for the first academic year by 31 August 2026. The students will be conditionally accepted until they have paid the tuition fee.
- Admission is conditional if the applicant applies to UEF with a degree that is not finished during the application period. It is required that the applicants deliver officially certified copies of the final degree certificate and the transcript of records to the programme coordinator by 30 July 2026.
In case the applicants do not deliver the required documents by the given deadline, their study right will be cancelled.
Delimitation of granting right to study
You cannot be granted a new right to study resulting in a Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc) or Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL) degree if you already have a valid right to study in the Master’s degree programme in Environmental Policy and Law at the University of Eastern Finland.
Appeal
If you disagree with the student selection decision you may apply for rectification of the decision from the Dean of the Faculty. It is possible to make a request for rectification only after the admission results have been made and published. The deadline is 10 June 2026 at 3 pm (EEST) at the latest. The instructions for making a request for rectification can be found on Admissions results website.
Tuition fees and waivers
The annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students is 10,000 EUR. There are no tuition fees for students who are citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland.
All tuition fees, waivers, and scholarships are outlined and determined by the Vice Rector's decision for the 2026-2027 academic year (diary number 765/02.04.01/2025), and published on UEF website Tuition fees, waivers and scholarships | University of Eastern Finland.
Applicants subject to tuition fees can apply for tuition waiver and scholarship during the university application process by completing the relevant section on the application form. The decision about the waiver is made in connection with the student admission, and the applicant is notified of the decision in the letter of notification of the admission results. The waiver is personal, and it is awarded for two academic years. The waiver exempts the student from the tuition fee partially (30%). The UEF Scholarship is awarded to the student who ranks the highest in the selection process (the highest score) and who is liable to pay a tuition fee.
Additionally, degree students are required to pay the Student Union membership fee and the Kela student healthcare fee.
Applicants who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland are also required to pay an application fee.
Application period 2026
The application period is open from 7 January 2026 to 21 January 2026. The application is completed and submitted online.
Apply via Studyinfo
Studyinfo.fi is the official national admissions portal with all the up-to-date information about study programmes leading to a degree in Finland.
Environmental Policy and Law, Master of Laws, Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL), Master in Social Sciences (MSocSc)
Apply via studyinfo.fi
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