This is the first international master’s fully dedicated to research and policy for degrowth.
The faculty consists of a diverse, international team of leading researchers in degrowth-related topics, who will share and discuss their latest research with students. Participants will receive training from these top academics in the field, learning about the fundamentals of degrowth theory while exploring current issues and debates. The program emphasises the connection between degrowth and social and environmental justice, building bridges to a world of ideas that challenge extractivism and growth-based development.
Key Info
Angelos Varvarousis
Presentation
This course is designed for individuals who have completed a bachelor's or master's degree in another field, are currently pursuing a PhD, or are professionals seeking to integrate degrowth into their research or career. It is also ideal for those who wish to explore alternatives to current ecological and economic challenges through either part-time or full-time learning (see FAQ for more information).
While we aspire to mobilise actors for change and provide the tools and knowledge to think critically and strategise more effectively, we are aware that our program does not teach someone how to be an activist or practitioner. However, learning also happens outside of the classroom with peers who often have decades of experience in commercial and non-profit sectors and often find ways to integrate degrowth principles and ideas into their personal and professional endeavours.
This master's program maintains a research-oriented focus on policy-making within the Global North while acknowledging the significant influence of Global South movements, academics, and concepts on the degrowth movement.
Who It’s For
This course is designed for individuals who have completed a bachelor's or master's degree in another field, are currently pursuing a PhD, or are professionals seeking to integrate degrowth into their research or career. It is also ideal for those who wish to explore alternatives to current ecological and economic challenges through either part-time or full-time learning (see FAQ for more information).
Program
Module Coordinator: Arpita Bisht
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Research on degrowth (Giorgos Kallis)
This course is based on the paper ‘Research on Degrowth’ by Kallis et al (2018). It will provide an overview of the history of degrowth ideas, and of the latest research, giving an overall orientation to the structure of the master’s program. -
Global capitalism, inequality and growth (Jason Hickel)
Will cover aspects of early capitalist growth and colonialism, the links between capitalism, colonialization, un(der)paid work and environmental damage, with attention to theories of unequal exchange. Will discuss trends and debates around global poverty and inequality, and ponder on post-growth futures from a decolonial/Southern perspective. -
Degrowth, environmental conflicts and global environmental justice (Arpita Bisht)
Will present the Barcelona school’s approach to the study of commodity frontiers and ecological distribution conflicts, showing its relevance for making the case for degrowth. Will discuss questions of alliance between peasant/anti-extraction movements in the Global South and the degrowth movement in the North, and will approach debates around Green New Deals from critical, environmental justice perspectives.
Module Coordinator: Brototi Roy
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The hegemony of growth (Matthias Schmelzer)
History of GDP and the concept of growth and growthmanship. International/geopolitical contexts of growthmanship. Economization and the construction of the dominant ideas about what the economy is. -
Ecological economics and degrowth (Elke Pirgmaier)
A presentation of the basic elements of Ecological Economics (and macroeconomics) and how they relate to/support degrowth arguments. Presentation of the research agenda of the two instructors on living well within planetary limits. -
Social and Biophysical models of energy transition (Tina Beigi, Morena Lemos)
Presentation and explanation of IPAT-based, Agent-based, and IPCC/IAM climate-economy models with illustrations on topics relevant from a degrowth perspective. Strengths and weaknesses/limitations of macro-models. -
Ecological economic models for degrowth (Simone D’Alessandro, Andre Cieplinski)
Presentation and explanation of the MEDEAS and EUROGREEN models, and how they work. Insights about degrowth. Strengths and weaknesses/limitations of macro-models. -
Feminist economics and degrowth (Corinna Dengler)
Overview, history, and basic concepts of feminist economics and how they relate to thinking about degrowth. Critiques of degrowth from feminist perspectives. Degrowth-feminisms alliances, care economies/economics. -
Decolonizing economics (Brototi Roy)
Presentation of the arguments of the movement seeking to decolonize economics. Thinking about the economy and growth through post-colonial authors and economists.
Module coordinator: Filka Sekulova
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Degrowth, cities, and the urban commons (Angelos Varvarousis)
Degrowth in the city, urban space and degrowth, urban planning for degrowth. New forms of urban commons and of thinking about the commons and their relationship to degrowth -
Degrowth, well-being and meaningfulness (Filka Sekulova)
Theories of objective and subjective well-being, meaningfulness in life and degrowth. Empirical and theoretical insights in the fields of meaning- and sense-making on individual and community level. -
Anthropologies of degrowth (Susan Paulson, Onofrio Romano)
What anthropological studies of contemporary or pre and post-capital civilizations and communities offer to thinking about degrowth. The anti-utilitarian school, gift economies and degrowth. Thinking about degrowth from a Mediterranean perspective on the anthropological subject.
Module coordinator: Claudio Cattaneo
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The state and degrowth (Giacomo D’Alisa)
What is the role of the state in a degrowth transition? This course reviews different theories of the state and articulates a Gramscian understanding of the state as relevant for thinking about the multi-layered politics of degrowth. -
Policies for degrowth (Nick Fitzpatrick)
Presentation of a Degrowth policy package: Work-sharing, Basic Incomes/Services, Green New Deal, Job Guarantee, Green and wealth taxes, Caps. Discussion of literature on policy design and political/public acceptability of degrowth-oriented policies. -
Post-growth business (Veronica Devenin)
Explore cases and approaches that highlight how businesses may transform and become more compatible with a post-growth scenario. -
Strategies and organization for degrowth (Katya Chertkosvskaya)
Multiple strategies for organizing in a degrowth direction. The role of different forms of public, private and cooperative organizations in a degrowth transition. -
Social movements, democracy and degrowth (Barbara Muraca, Christos Zografos)
Direct democracy and its relevance for degrowth. Recent research thinking on degrowth and democracy. Latest waves of social movements/mobilizations and their relevance for degrowth. -
Degrowth and activism (Claudio Cattaneo, Manuel Grebenjak, Sara Fromm)
Direct action, science activism, and forms of non-capitalist community organizing relevant for degrowth.
Module coordinator: Marula Tsagkari
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Pluriverse and degrowth (Marula Tsagkari, Bengi Akbulut, Marta Musić)
Introduction to the pluriverse of alternatives to development and situate degrowth within the diverse landscape of alternatives to colonial-capitalist economies of growth. -
Monetary Imperialism: An Introduction (Ndongo Samba Sylla)
An introduction to the phenomenon of Monetary Imperialism from historical and political economy perspectives with an illustration based on the case of CFA franc using countries in West and Central Africa. -
Socioecological transition frameworks from the margins/periphery (Sabrina Fernandes, Jesse Segura)
Exploration of socioecological transition frameworks from the margins/periphery and the role of degrowth in the struggle against old and new sacrifice zones, hegemonic notions of growth-based development (both from the left and the right) and its implications for ecological sovereignty. -
Just Transition for a Multipolar World (Fadhel Kaboub)
Explores the concept of a just transition in the context of a multipolar world. It examines the challenges and opportunities for achieving a fair and equitable transition, taking into account the diverse perspectives and experiences of different regions and countries. It also explores the role of international cooperation and solidarity.
Moduel Coordinator: Borja Nogue
Seminars on Society, Economy, and Degrowth
Housing for Degrowth (Francois Schneider ), Urban Degrowth (Jin Xue), Radical Alternatives from the Global South (Ashish Kothari), Energy Justice (Sofía Avila), Energy Communities (Marula Tsagkari), Blue Degrowth (Borja Nogué-Algueró), Doughnut Economics (Mladen Domazet), Food for Degrowth (Sam Bliss), Tourism and Degrowth (Macia Blázques Salom), Debt/interest (Tilman Hartley), Degrowth and Social Enterprises (Eva Frankova), Design Global, Manufacture Local (Alekos Pantazis), Cultural Ecosystem services and Degrowth (Kenija Hanacek), Degrowth in a Growth-Oriented World (Maiko Mathiessen), Degrowth and Popular Culture (Lucia Muñoz Sueiro), Degrowth and Rurality (Julia Grosinger)
Do you want to learn more about applications?
Applications for the 5th edition (2025/2026) of the master’s will open in early spring. Please follow our website and social media for the opening date.
The application and selection process serves to ensure that all students meet the program’s requirements and thus guarantee an optimal work environment during the course. Applications must be submitted online and all required documents must be provided.
Lecturers
Seminar Lecturers
Organizers
This master’s is co-organized by ICTA-UAB (Institute for Environmental Studies and Technology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona) and R&D (Research and Degrowth International) in Barcelona.
The Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA) is a multidisciplinary centre that promotes academic research and postgraduate education in the environmental sciences, which includes contributions such as the atlas of environmental justice. It aims to improve our understanding of global environmental change, and the nature and causes of environmental problems. In addition, it studies policies, strategies, and technologies to foster a transition to a sustainable economy. It leverages the ongoing European Research Council synergy project on post-growth (REAL), currently the largest degrowth-oriented initiative in Europe.
Research & Degrowth, (R&D) is a think-and-act-tank dedicated to the radical transformation of our economies and societies through research, advocacy, education, training and events around degrowth. It draws upon over fifteen years of successful organizational experience in international Summer Schools focused on Environmental Justice and Degrowth. R&D defines degrowth as a multi-level voluntary path towards reduction of production and consumption aiming at ecological sustainability, good life, liberty, and social justice. For R&D, degrowth is grounded in ecology, ecological economics, anthropology, psychology, and social sciences in general. In the degrowth process, R&D is concerned with democracy, international cooperation, and understanding as opposed to societal closure, fragmentation, and authoritarianism.
FAQs
Almost all classes will be held on weekdays from 14:00 to 16:30 Barcelona time (CET or CEST depending on the month). This is to facilitate attendance across as many different time zones as possible. Exceptional circumstances might require changes but these will be communicated ahead of time. Please note that for the online masters, some classes will take place slightly earlier or later to accommodate professors in different time zones. The classes will also be recorded and made available to be viewed later. All of the classes and extra sessions are held online. The program does not require a presence on the UAB campus at any stage.
The standard time commitment for each ECTS is a maximum of 25 hours. For every 2.5 hours of class, one can expect to spend up to 7.5 hours on preparatory reading and assignments/evaluations (although depending on the individual this can take more or less time). Please note this carefully! Although many students complete the full-time or part-time master's whilst employed, we strongly encourage not doing the full-time master's whilst having a full-time job. Even doing the masters part-time and working full-time can be challenging. This is especially true for folks with other care responsibilities at home.
Unfortunately, this is out of our hands. UAB requires a medical reason in order to do this, and the final decision is up to their discretion. We also strongly discourage people switching or dropping specific modules as this can be a complicated process and depending on when it’s done could result in your having to repay for the specific module.
This page offers a detailed answer.
Please check this page for a detailed answer.
If you decide to take the masters part-time you will take 3 6ECTS modules (18ECTS total) in the first year and two 12ECTS plus one 3ECTS modules (27 ECTS total) in the second year. Please see the question above on “expected time commitment” to make an estimation of which option is best suited to your context. Please note that once you have enrolled it is not possible to switch between the two options except during extenuating circumstances.
You can pay in up to two instalments if you are taking the masters full time, all payments have to be liquidated before the start date of the master in October.
An academic thesis or a final master's project is required to be submitted to get the degree. The deadline for the thesis and the date of your defence is 6 months after the end of the last taught module. Throughout the program, you will be able to attend tutoring sessions. These are aimed at facilitating the learning process and guiding you towards the final master's thesis/project.
The type of evaluation will be decided by the module coordinator and the teachers of each module. It can range from essays, book reports, creative outputs, group presentations, etc.
We offer two full scholarships and four ½ scholarships each year. Due to the high demand absolute priority for the scholarships is given to low-income candidates from the Global South. This type of master’s is known as the self-financed master's under the Spanish university system- which means that all the administrative costs and payment of teachers, as well as the budget for the scholarships are dependent on the student enrolment fees.
The course is ideal for those who want to learn more about degrowth, either after their bachelor’s degree, after they got a master’s degree on a different topic or even if they have started a PhD, and want to give a degrowth direction to their research and work. We welcome professionals from all walks of life who want to study degrowth and learn more about it! The course is great for people who want to learn part-time or full-time about alternatives to our current ecological and economic predicaments.
