Based within the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame in the United States, the doctoral programme combines advanced academic training, rigorous quantitative and qualitative research methods, interdisciplinary mentorship, engaged scholarship and policy-relevant research.

The programme is STEM-designated and is intended to prepare scholars whose work can contribute both to academic knowledge and to real-world policymaking and practice.

The PhD places particular emphasis on major sustainable development questions such as:

• Climate change mitigation
• Climate adaptation
• Environmental governance
• Development policy
• Poverty and inequality
• Human well-being
• Global development
• Governance
• Sustainable institutions
• Policy design
• Evidence-based decision-making

The programme is influenced by the University of Notre Dame’s tradition of Catholic social teaching and Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, with a particular commitment to improving human well-being, protecting vulnerable populations and safeguarding the natural environment.

Admitted doctoral students receive comprehensive financial support including:

• Full tuition scholarship
• A 12-month living stipend
• Health insurance subsidy
• Up to $4,000 for conference presentations and professional development

Most students complete the PhD in approximately five years, although individual timelines may vary depending on prior academic preparation, research progress and the nature of the dissertation project.

Applications for the Fall 2027 intake must be submitted by:

December 1, 2026

Applications are submitted through the University of Notre Dame Graduate School application system.

Apply:
https://gradengage.nd.edu/apply/

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About the University of Notre Dame Ph.D. in Sustainable Development

The University of Notre Dame’s Ph.D. in Sustainable Development is designed for students who want to undertake rigorous research on some of the most significant economic, environmental, political and social challenges facing the world.

Rather than treating sustainable development as a narrowly environmental field, the programme takes a broad interdisciplinary approach.

Students investigate relationships among:

• Human development
• Environmental sustainability
• Institutions
• Governance
• Economic systems
• Political behavior
• Climate change
• Public policy
• Development interventions

This approach recognizes that sustainable development challenges rarely fit neatly inside one discipline.

For example, climate adaptation may involve:

• Political institutions
• Public finance
• Community behavior
• Environmental science
• Governance
• Development economics
• Social vulnerability

Likewise, poverty reduction may require researchers to understand not only economic outcomes but also political institutions, social structures, behavioral decision-making and environmental pressures.

The programme therefore trains students to work across disciplinary boundaries while developing deep research expertise in their chosen field.

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A STEM-Designated Sustainable Development PhD

One particularly important feature of the programme is its designation as a:

STEM-designated doctoral programme

This reflects the programme’s strong emphasis on:

• Research methods
• Evidence
• Data
• Analysis
• Empirical investigation
• Policy evaluation

Although many research questions may involve politics, development, society or governance, the programme is designed around rigorous research methodologies.

Students receive training in both:

• Quantitative methods
• Qualitative methods

This allows doctoral researchers to select analytical tools appropriate to the development problems they study.

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Major Research Areas

The programme highlights several broad areas of sustainable development.

1. Climate Change Mitigation

Climate mitigation concerns efforts to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions and address the causes of global climate change.

Possible research questions may involve:

• Climate policy
• Energy transition
• Decarbonization
• Public institutions
• Environmental regulation
• Political support for climate policy
• Infrastructure
• Development and emissions

Students interested in climate mitigation can investigate how institutions, governments, communities and economic systems respond to the need for lower-carbon development.

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2. Climate Change Adaptation

Climate adaptation focuses on how societies respond to the effects of climate change that are already occurring or expected in the future.

Research might consider:

• Climate vulnerability
• Disaster resilience
• Community adaptation
• Infrastructure
• Agricultural systems
• Water security
• Migration
• Development planning

A sustainable development perspective can help connect climate impacts with wider issues involving inequality, governance and human well-being.

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3. Environmental Governance

Environmental governance examines how societies make decisions about natural resources, environmental protection and sustainability.

Research could involve:

• Environmental institutions
• Resource governance
• Government regulation
• Local communities
• International environmental agreements
• Accountability
• Conservation
• Forest governance
• Water management

Students can investigate both formal institutions and informal systems through which environmental decisions are made.

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4. Development Policy

Development policy is another major focus of the programme.

Potential topics may include:

• Poverty reduction
• Education
• Health
• Social protection
• Inequality
• Economic development
• Governance
• Institutional reform
• International development assistance
• Development interventions

The programme encourages policy-relevant research capable of informing practical decision-making.

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Commitment to Human Well-Being

The programme is guided by a broader concern with:

Improving human well-being

and particularly with communities experiencing vulnerability.

This means sustainable development is approached not only as a technical or environmental challenge but also as an ethical and social challenge.

Research may therefore examine questions such as:

• Who benefits from development?
• Who bears environmental costs?
• How do policies affect marginalized communities?
• How can economic progress be made more equitable?
• How can institutions protect vulnerable populations?

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Catholic Social Teaching and Laudato Si’

The programme is inspired in part by:

Catholic social teaching

and Pope Francis’ encyclical:

Laudato Si’

This intellectual foundation emphasizes connections among:

• Human dignity
• Social justice
• Environmental responsibility
• Poverty
• Sustainable development
• Care for the planet

Applicants do not need to be Catholic or to have a religious academic background based on the information provided.

The programme’s stated orientation concerns ethical approaches to human development and planetary sustainability.

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About the Keough School of Global Affairs

The PhD is housed within the:

Keough School of Global Affairs

at the University of Notre Dame.

The School offers an interdisciplinary environment bringing together faculty and research institutes working across issues such as:

• Development
• Governance
• Peace
• Poverty
• Environment
• Global policy
• International affairs

Doctoral students gain access to a network of scholars and practitioners working on global challenges.

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Programme Highlights

The University emphasizes three major features of the Sustainable Development PhD:

1. Mentorship
2. Interdisciplinary research
3. Engaged scholarship

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1. Close Faculty Mentorship

Students work closely with Keough School faculty who specialize in sustainable development and related fields.

Faculty mentorship can support students as they:

• Develop research questions
• Select methodologies
• Refine theoretical frameworks
• Conduct fieldwork
• Analyze data
• Prepare publications
• Develop dissertation chapters
• Build professional networks

The programme allows doctoral students to develop a research trajectory aligned with their academic and professional objectives.

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2. Interdisciplinary Research

Students have access to resources across:

Nine research centers and institutes

associated with Notre Dame’s broader global affairs research ecosystem.

This allows students to connect their dissertation work with researchers working in related areas.

For a researcher studying environmental governance, for example, relevant conversations might involve:

• Development economists
• Political scientists
• Anthropologists
• Climate researchers
• Governance scholars

The programme is therefore designed to encourage research that crosses conventional disciplinary boundaries.

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3. Engaged Scholarship

Another defining feature is:

Engaged scholarship

This refers to research designed not only for academic publication but also for practical impact.

Students are encouraged to conduct research that can inform:

• Public policy
• International organizations
• NGOs
• Governments
• Development agencies
• Communities
• Practitioners

The goal is to connect rigorous academic research with real development challenges.

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PhD Curriculum

The curriculum combines:

• Core coursework
• Electives
• Advanced research methods
• Dissertation research

The programme includes a total of:

15 credits of core coursework

plus:

21 credits of electives

and:

30 dissertation credits

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Core Coursework: 15 Credits

Students complete five required courses during the first two years.

These courses establish a common foundation across the doctoral cohort.

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Sustainable Development: Organizing the Field

This course introduces students to major frameworks, debates and empirical evidence in sustainable development.

Students may engage with questions involving:

• Definitions of development
• Sustainability
• Economic growth
• Human welfare
• Environmental limits
• Institutions
• Policy interventions

The purpose is to provide a shared intellectual foundation for students entering from different academic backgrounds.

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Decisions and Behavior in Development

This course examines individual decision-making, particularly in the:

Global South

Students investigate how human behavior influences development outcomes.

Possible themes may involve:

• Household decision-making
• Risk
• Incentives
• Social norms
• Behavioral responses
• Development interventions

The course helps students understand how policies interact with individual and community behavior.

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Sustainable Development Research Methods

This course provides methodological training for undertaking rigorous doctoral research.

Students learn both:

• Quantitative approaches
• Qualitative approaches

The emphasis is on selecting and applying methods capable of producing credible and policy-relevant evidence.

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Seminar on Research for Impact

The Seminar on Research for Impact is intended to strengthen students’ ability to communicate research beyond academic audiences.

Students develop skills for:

• Policy communication
• Research presentation
• Translating evidence
• Engaging decision-makers
• Communicating complex findings

This supports the programme’s broader goal of connecting research with policy and practice.

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Sustainable Development PhD Seminar

The PhD Seminar supports students as they prepare for:

• Qualifying examinations
• Dissertation development
• Advanced doctoral research

It provides a structured environment for preparing students to move from coursework toward independent dissertation research.

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Elective Courses: 21 Credits

Students complete:

Seven elective courses

for a total of:

21 credits

At least:

Three electives

must involve advanced research methods.

Students can choose courses from across Notre Dame departments.

This allows candidates to tailor their training to their dissertation topic.

A student focusing on development economics might require different methodological courses from a student examining environmental governance or community adaptation.

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Advanced Research Methods

The requirement that at least three electives focus on advanced methods reinforces the programme’s research-intensive structure.

Depending on a student’s project, relevant methods could potentially include:

• Econometrics
• Statistical analysis
• Survey research
• Experimental methods
• Qualitative interviewing
• Case-study research
• Comparative methods
• Mixed methods

Students develop their methodological plan in consultation with faculty.

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Dissertation Credits

Students complete:

30 dissertation credits

Beginning in:

Year 3

students increasingly focus on independent dissertation research.

This transition marks the move from structured coursework toward original scholarly research.

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Typical Five-Year PhD Timeline

Most students complete the programme in approximately:

Five years

However, the University notes that completion times can vary depending on:

• Academic preparation
• Research design
• Fieldwork
• Data availability
• Dissertation progress
• Individual circumstances

A typical progression includes three major milestones.

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Milestone 1: Oral Qualifying Examination

Students normally complete the:

Oral Qualifying Exam

at the:

End of Year 2

The examination assesses the student’s mastery of:

• Core sustainable development concepts
• Specialty areas
• Research foundations

Passing the qualifying exam allows students to progress further toward dissertation research.

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Milestone 2: Candidacy Examination

During:

Year 3

students undertake the:

Candidacy Exam

This involves presenting and defending the proposed dissertation research.

Students who successfully complete this milestone progress to:

ABD status

meaning:

All But Dissertation

At this stage, the student has completed the main coursework and examination requirements and focuses primarily on completing the dissertation.

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Milestone 3: Dissertation Defense

The final major milestone normally occurs in:

Year 5

Students defend their completed dissertation before their academic committee.

The dissertation defense provides an opportunity to:

• Present findings
• Explain methods
• Defend conclusions
• Demonstrate original scholarly contribution

Successful completion results in the award of the PhD.

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Teaching Assistant Opportunities

Doctoral students serve as:

Teaching Assistants

during the programme.

Students must complete at least:

Two semesters

of TA service.

The maximum is:

Five semesters

Teaching responsibilities can include:

• Leading class discussions
• Grading assignments
• Supporting course delivery
• Assisting faculty

Teaching experience can be particularly useful for students considering academic careers.

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Research Assistant Opportunities

Students may also work as:

Research Assistants

RAs collaborate with faculty members on active research projects.

Research assistantships can help students:

• Learn new methods
• Gain experience working with data
• Participate in publications
• Build relationships with faculty
• Strengthen professional research skills

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Financial Support

One of the strongest features of the programme is its comprehensive funding package.

Admitted students receive financial support including:

• Twelve-month stipend
• Full tuition scholarship
• Health insurance subsidy
• Conference and professional development support

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12-Month Living Stipend

Students receive a:

12-month stipend for living expenses

This means funding extends across the full calendar year rather than only during the traditional academic semesters.

The source information provided does not state the exact annual stipend amount.

Applicants should therefore consult their formal admission and funding offer for the current stipend level.

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Full Tuition Scholarship

Admitted students receive a:

Full tuition scholarship

This covers programme tuition.

The tuition scholarship is an important component of the programme’s comprehensive funding package.

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Health Insurance Subsidy

Students receive support in the form of a:

Health insurance subsidy

Applicants should consult Notre Dame’s official graduate funding information for the exact terms of health insurance coverage and any remaining student contributions.

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Up to $4,000 for Conferences and Professional Development

Doctoral students may receive:

Up to $4,000

for:

• Conference presentations
• Professional development

This support can help students participate in academic conferences and other professional opportunities during the PhD.

Potential uses may include activities related to:

• Presenting research
• Academic networking
• Training
• Professional workshops

The amount is intended to support development beyond normal coursework and dissertation requirements.

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External Funding Requirement

Students are also required to apply for:

At least one external grant or fellowship

valued at:

$10,000 or more

by:

Year 4

This requirement helps students develop experience competing for external research funding.

Grant-writing is particularly important for academic and research careers because researchers frequently need external funding for:

• Fieldwork
• Research assistants
• Data collection
• Travel
• Postdoctoral research
• Major research programmes

Even though the programme itself provides comprehensive funding, students are expected to develop the ability to pursue outside funding.

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International and Policy Connections

The Keough School emphasizes connections with a:

Global network of scholars and practitioners

and partnerships with international organizations.

This creates potential opportunities for students to engage with researchers and policy professionals working outside the University.

Such networks can be particularly valuable for students whose research involves:

• International development
• Global environmental governance
• Climate policy
• Development institutions
• Global South research

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Faculty Research Strengths

The Sustainable Development PhD draws on a broad group of Keough School faculty whose work spans development, governance, environmental sustainability and related disciplines.

Faculty identified by the programme include:

• Tracy Kijewski-Correa
• Krister Andersson
• Santosh Kumar Gautam
• Ellis Adjei Adams
• Emily Grubert
• Alejandro Estefán Dávila
• Arun Agrawal
• Patrizio Piraino
• Lakshmi Iyer
• Daniel C. Miller
• Erin Graham
• Maira Hayat
• Drew Marcantonio
• China Scherz
• Helge-Johannes Marahrens
• Brenda Samaniego de la Parra
• Isaac Mbiti

Applicants should review faculty research profiles carefully before applying.

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Choosing Potential Faculty Mentors

Prospective students should identify academics whose expertise overlaps meaningfully with their proposed research.

Applicants can consider factors such as:

• Research topic
• Geographic expertise
• Methodological approach
• Current projects
• Publications
• Policy engagement

A strong application is usually more convincing when there is a clear connection between the applicant’s research interests and available faculty expertise.

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Research Focus on the Global South

The programme gives particular attention to vulnerable populations and development challenges, including significant research focused on the:

Global South

This can make the programme particularly relevant to applicants interested in:

• Africa
• Asia
• Latin America
• Low- and middle-income countries
• Global development inequalities

However, the supplied programme description does not restrict dissertation research geographically to the Global South.

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Admissions Philosophy

The programme welcomes applicants from:

• Diverse academic backgrounds
• Diverse cultural backgrounds
• Diverse professional backgrounds

Applicants should demonstrate two broad characteristics:

1. Strong academic preparation
2. Commitment to addressing sustainable development challenges

This broad admissions philosophy reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the programme.

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Application Requirements

Applicants must submit their materials through the:

University of Notre Dame Graduate School portal

The required materials listed by the programme are:

1. Statement of Purpose
2. Academic transcripts
3. GRE scores
4. English-language test results where applicable
5. Writing sample
6. Three letters of recommendation

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1. Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose is one of the most important parts of the application.

Applicants should use it to explain:

• Their research interests
• Academic preparation
• Why sustainable development matters to them
• Why Notre Dame is the right institution
• Relevant faculty fit
• Long-term academic or professional goals

The statement should connect the applicant’s past experience with their proposed doctoral trajectory.

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2. Academic Transcripts

Applicants must provide:

Academic transcripts

These allow the admissions committee to evaluate:

• Academic performance
• Relevant coursework
• Research preparation
• Disciplinary background

Candidates should follow Notre Dame Graduate School instructions concerning official and unofficial transcripts.

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3. GRE Scores

The supplied admissions information lists:

GRE scores

among the required application materials.

Applicants should therefore prepare according to the programme’s current application instructions and verify any test-reporting procedures through the Graduate School portal.

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4. English-Language Proficiency

Applicants who are non-native English speakers may need to provide scores from:

• TOEFL
• IELTS
• Duolingo

The exact required score thresholds are not provided in the supplied programme description.

Applicants should therefore consult Notre Dame Graduate School admissions requirements for current minimum scores, exemptions and test-validity rules.

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5. Writing Sample

Applicants must provide a:

Writing sample

The writing sample helps demonstrate the applicant’s:

• Analytical ability
• Research skills
• Academic writing
• Ability to develop evidence-based arguments

Candidates should generally choose a strong piece that demonstrates their preparation for doctoral-level research.

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6. Three Letters of Recommendation

Applicants need:

Three recommendation letters

Strong referees are typically people who can evaluate:

• Academic ability
• Research potential
• Writing skills
• Intellectual independence
• Preparation for doctoral study

Potential recommenders may include:

• Thesis supervisors
• Research supervisors
• Professors
• Academic mentors

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Who Should Consider Applying?

The programme may be especially relevant to applicants interested in careers involving:

• Academia
• Development research
• Environmental policy
• Climate policy
• International organizations
• Government
• Think tanks
• NGOs
• Multilateral institutions
• Research institutes
• Policy analysis

Because students receive strong methods training, the programme is suitable for applicants aiming to become independent researchers.

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Possible Academic Backgrounds

The supplied information does not provide a restricted list of eligible undergraduate or master’s majors.

Because the programme is interdisciplinary, potentially relevant backgrounds may include disciplines such as:

• Economics
• Political science
• International relations
• Public policy
• Environmental studies
• Geography
• Sociology
• Anthropology
• Development studies
• Engineering-related sustainability fields
• Public health
• Statistics
• Environmental science
• Related social science or interdisciplinary fields

Applicants should demonstrate that their prior education provides an adequate foundation for their proposed doctoral research.

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Do You Need a Master’s Degree?

The supplied programme information does not explicitly state that a master’s degree is required.

Therefore, applicants should consult the official Notre Dame Graduate School admissions requirements to determine whether their specific academic background qualifies.

It would be inaccurate to assume from the information provided that every applicant must hold a master’s degree.

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Research for Policy Impact

A significant advantage of the programme is its focus on producing research that can influence:

• International policy
• Development practice
• Government decisions
• Organizational strategy

The programme seeks to train scholars capable of communicating findings beyond academic journals.

This orientation can be especially valuable for researchers who want careers that combine:

• Academic rigor
• Public-policy engagement
• Real-world impact

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Preparing a Competitive Application

1. Identify a Clear Research Question

Do not apply simply stating that you are interested in “sustainability.”

Instead, identify a specific issue.

For example:

• Climate adaptation and local governance
• Environmental regulation and inequality
• Development interventions and behavioral responses
• Climate policy and political institutions

A specific research direction makes it easier to demonstrate faculty fit.

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2. Demonstrate Methodological Potential

The programme has a significant research-methods component.

Applicants should highlight previous experience involving:

• Quantitative research
• Qualitative research
• Data analysis
• Field research
• Research design

where applicable.

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3. Explain Why Notre Dame

A strong Statement of Purpose should explain why the Keough School specifically fits the applicant.

Possible considerations include:

• Faculty expertise
• Research centers
• Interdisciplinary structure
• Policy orientation
• Global network

Avoid submitting a generic essay that could be used for any sustainability PhD.

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4. Connect Research With Impact

The programme emphasizes engaged and policy-relevant scholarship.

Explain who might benefit from your research.

Potential audiences could include:

• Governments
• Communities
• Development agencies
• International organizations
• Environmental organizations
• Policymakers

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5. Choose Your Writing Sample Carefully

Select writing that best demonstrates:

• Original thinking
• Analysis
• Evidence
• Research ability

rather than simply the longest paper you have written.

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6. Contact Recommenders Early

Three recommendation letters are required.

Give referees enough time to prepare detailed letters before the December deadline.

APPLY HERE

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Conclusion

The University of Notre Dame Ph.D. in Sustainable Development 2027 provides a fully funded and interdisciplinary doctoral pathway for researchers who want to address major global challenges while producing rigorous, policy-relevant scholarship.

Hosted by the Keough School of Global Affairs, the STEM-designated programme brings together advanced research methods, interdisciplinary faculty mentorship, engaged scholarship and substantive training in fields such as climate change, environmental governance and development policy.

Most students complete the programme in approximately five years. The curriculum includes 15 credits of required core coursework, 21 elective credits with significant advanced-methods training, and 30 dissertation credits.

Students progress through an oral qualifying examination at the end of Year 2, a dissertation candidacy examination in Year 3 and, on the typical five-year timeline, a final dissertation defense in Year 5.

The programme also integrates professional development through teaching and research assistantships. Students must serve as Teaching Assistants for at least two semesters and may also collaborate with faculty as Research Assistants.

Financial support is comprehensive. Admitted students receive a full tuition scholarship, a 12-month living stipend, a health insurance subsidy and up to $4,000 for conference presentations and professional development. Students are additionally expected to apply for at least one external grant or fellowship worth $10,000 or more by Year 4.

Applicants must submit a Statement of Purpose, transcripts, GRE scores, a writing sample, three letters of recommendation and relevant English-language test results where applicable.

The programme welcomes students from diverse academic, cultural and professional backgrounds who can demonstrate strong academic preparation and commitment to sustainable development.

Applications for the Fall 2027 intake close on December 1, 2026.APPLY HERE.