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Foods and Meals for a Sustainable Future 7.5 credits

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About the course

Hey trailblazers! Ever wondered how what’s on your plate today could shape tomorrow’s world? 

Foods and Meals for a Sustainable Future dives deep into how food, nutrition, and culinary science intersect with sustainability and our future.  You’ll explore how different disciplines—like food science, policy, ethics, and culinary creativity—each tell their own version of the same story.

Through a problem-based learning approach, you’ll tackle real-world scenarios, break down barriers to sustainable eating, and forge innovative, plant‑forward solutions. Working in teams, you’ll grasp  the power of systems thinking to not only analyze but redesign how we eat.

What makes this course truly electric? It’s co-created with prospective students—so you're learning in a space built by you for you. Split into three dynamic modules:

  • “Understanding Food Systems,”
  • “Transforming the Food and Meal System,”
  • “Is Plant‑Based Eating a Responsible Consumer Behavior?”

Each part challenges you to rethink and reimagine.
By the end, you’ll not only understand how unsustainable systems arose, but also design strategies and bold proposals for more equitable, resilient food futures.

Whether you're aiming to lead in food innovation, policy, entrepreneurship, or just want to save the planet one meal at a time—this course empowers  you with the practical, interdisciplinary superpowers to do it.

Apply

  • Spring 2026

    • Foods and Meals for a Sustainable Future

      Spring 2026 / Umeå / English / On site

      Show more Show less


      Starts

      24 March 2026

      Ends

      7 June 2026

      Number of credits

      7.5 credits

      Type of studies

      On site

      Study pace

      50%

      Teaching hours

      Mixed

      Study location

      Umeå

      Language

      English

      Application code

      UMU-F2810


      Eligibility 90 ECTS in one subject including at least 7,5 ECTS thesis. English for basic eligibility for higher education.
      Selection

      Academic credits

      Application

      Application deadline was 15 August 2025. Submit a late application at Universityadmissions.se.


      Application and tuition fees

      As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.

      Application fee: SEK 900

      Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 20,800

      Total fee: SEK 20,800

      Details about tuition, fees and funding

       
    • Foods and Meals for a Sustainable Future

      Spring 2026 / Ortsoberoende / English / Web-based (online)

      Show more Show less


      Starts

      24 March 2026

      Ends

      7 June 2026

      Number of credits

      7.5 credits

      Type of studies

      Web-based (online)

      Mandatory meetings

      10

      Other meetings

      10

      Study pace

      50%

      Teaching hours

      Mixed

      Study location

      Ortsoberoende

      Language

      English

      Application code

      UMU-F2811


      Eligibility 90 ECTS in one subject including at least 7,5 ECTS thesis. English for basic eligibility for higher education.
      Selection

      Academic credits

      Application

      Application deadline was 15 August 2025. Submit a late application at Universityadmissions.se.


      Application and tuition fees

      As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.

      Application fee: SEK 900

      Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 20,800

      Total fee: SEK 20,800

      Details about tuition, fees and funding

       
    • Foods and Meals for a Sustainable Future

      Spring 2026 / Umeå / English / On site

      Application opens 15 September 2025

      Show more Show less


      Starts

      24 March 2026

      Ends

      7 June 2026

      Number of credits

      7.5 credits

      Type of studies

      On site

      Study pace

      50%

      Teaching hours

      Mixed

      Study location

      Umeå

      Language

      English

      Application code

      UMU-28103


      Eligibility 90 ECTS in one subject including at least 7,5 ECTS thesis. English for basic eligibility for higher education.
      Selection

      Academic credits

      Application

      The online application opens 15 September 2025 at 09:00 CET. Application deadline is 15 October 2025.


      Application and tuition fees

      As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.

      Application fee: SEK 900

      Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 20,800

      Total fee: SEK 20,800

      Details about tuition, fees and funding

       
    • Foods and Meals for a Sustainable Future

      Spring 2026 / Ortsoberoende / English / Web-based (online)

      Application opens 15 September 2025

      Show more Show less


      Starts

      24 March 2026

      Ends

      7 June 2026

      Number of credits

      7.5 credits

      Type of studies

      Web-based (online)

      Mandatory meetings

      10

      Other meetings

      10

      Study pace

      50%

      Teaching hours

      Mixed

      Study location

      Ortsoberoende

      Language

      English

      Application code

      UMU-28105


      Outline for distance course

      The course will be provided in hybrid format; online and in person at Umeå University. Internet access, webcam, and headset/microphone are required.

      Eligibility 90 ECTS in one subject including at least 7,5 ECTS thesis. English for basic eligibility for higher education.
      Selection

      Academic credits

      Application

      The online application opens 15 September 2025 at 09:00 CET. Application deadline is 15 October 2025.


      Application and tuition fees

      As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.

      Application fee: SEK 900

      Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 20,800

      Total fee: SEK 20,800

      Details about tuition, fees and funding

       

How to apply

Apply online via universityadmissions.se  
You apply to our programmes and courses via universityadmissions.se – the official website for higher education applications in Sweden. There, you can track your application, check that your documents have been registered, and log in to find our your admission results. 
  
Late applications 
Admissions to most programmes and courses typically close after the final application deadline. However, some programmes and courses may still accept late applications if seats are available. These are marked “Open for late application” on universityadmissions.se. Please note that late applications are not guaranteed to be reviewed. 
 
More about application and admission 

Explore your future at Umeå University

Join a vibrant academic community where high-quality education meets groundbreaking research in science, technology, humanities, and the arts. At Umeå University, you will learn from passionate, expert teachers and benefit from a close connection between research, education, collaboration, and innovation.

Questions about the course?

Please be aware that the University is a public authority and that what you write here can be included in an official document. Therefore, be careful if you are writing about sensitive or personal matters in this contact form. If you have such an enquiry, please call us instead. All data will be treated in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.

Please be aware that the University is a public authority and that what you write here can be included in an official document. Therefore, be careful if you are writing about sensitive or personal matters in this contact form. If you have such an enquiry, please call us instead. All data will be treated in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.

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