Courses offered by the Environmental Policy group

You are very welcome to conduct a BSc/MSc thesis or internship at the Environmental Policy group (ENP). As a large group with experience supervising a wide range of environmental topics, we are confident we can help you succeed in your thesis or internship project. And while we are a social science group, we are very accustomed to working with students with a natural science background.

The mission of the group is to contribute to the social and political dimensions of sustainable environmental transformations. 

The broad research areas of ENP are:

1. Circularity

2. Biodiversity

3. Food

4. Climate

5. Energy

Within and beyond these research areas there are plenty of topics to research, which we would love to explore with you!

BSc thesis

The BSc thesis often marks the end point of your BSc programme and is a great moment to practice your research skills on topics related to environmental policy and transformation. Be sure to approach lecturers during courses to discuss thesis options during your programme.

Closer to your thesis, please keep an eye out for the procedures related to your specific programme. To discuss topics, find a supervisor, or any other questions at any time, contact any of the lectures you know or our thesis coordinators Eira Carballo Cardenas and Glen Smith (see below).

MSc thesis 

The MSc thesis is a key element of your programme and an opportunity to complete an independent research project on a topic that is close to your heart. At ENP, we offer a broad range of possible topics related to the research we do on environmental transformations, from global to local and from very practical to theoretical. Check out our staff profiles and research page for inspiration. It is also possible to come up with your own topic, of course. Our team of lecturers is happy to discuss opportunities with you at any point during your MSc journey.

This journey starts when you take your courses. Feel free to approach your (guest) lecturer to discuss possible ideas for a thesis by email or in class. You can also reach out to our thesis coordinators  Eira Carballo Cardenas and Glen Smith if you need direction or inspiration.

Closer to the actual start of your thesis, we encourage you to get in touch with us (again) to be able to match you with one of our experienced supervisors. The easiest way is to write an email to any of your lecturers/coordinators, or to the thesis coordinators, no matter how (under)developed your ideas are at that point. You are also welcome to drop by our offices on the 2nd floor of the Leeuwenborch. 

The internship provides the ideal format for getting work experience in the extensive field of work related to environmental transformations. We have supervised hundreds of internships at governments, companies, NGOs, banks, research institutes and other organisations, in virtually all parts of the world. 

Where to start? Your own network of classmates, friends and family can already get you on track to finding an internship opportunity. And while we don’t have off-the-shelf opportunities, feel free to approach a lecturer you know to ask about possible organisations and opportunities, whether they would be able to supervise you, and/or make an appointment with our internship coordinator.   

Internship positions are also sometimes offered by the WUR Jobseeker platform.

Found an internship position or have any other questions about the internship process? Please email internship coordinator Glen Smith with details (e.g. description of the organization, topic, type of activities, and preferred start-date). 

Support during your thesis or internship

We realise that doing a thesis or internship process can be difficult and daunting, especially when doing this for the first time. In addition to the support offered by the thesis coordinators and your supervisor, we also like students to feel part of our community. Our main vehicle for this is through the Thesis Caféthat we offer. Beyond this, you’re always welcome to attend MSc thesis presentations which are scheduled every fourth Thursday of the month (current thesis students are automatically invited, but the thesis coordinators can also let you know). Or just come by for a coffee on the second floor of the Leeuwenborch. 

Important links

• Staff profiles

• Thesis Café