Ranked best in the world in sustainability

The Agenda 2030 Graduate School is one of several initiatives that demonstrate Lund University’s strong and strategic commitment to sustainability; a commitment that has helped establish the university as a global leader in this field.
In the most recent QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, Lund University has climbed from third place last year to first place in the world out of approximately 2,000 universities.

A group of people. Photo — Ranked best in the world in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026, Lund University integrates sustainability across research and education. The Agenda 2030 Graduate School is one example of this university-wide commitment.

Three dimensions of sustainability

The QS ranking is based on environmental impact, social impact and governance. It primarily measures universities’ own research, education and operations, complemented by national indicators such as equality, health, employment rates and research investments.

Environmental impact – number one in the world (100/100)

Lund University leads globally in this category thanks to internationally recognised research in climate, energy systems, sustainable production and consumption, biodiversity, oceans and sustainable cities, along with ambitious climate goals and transparent sustainability work.

Social impact – number 2 in the world (97.9/100)

LU ranks number one in equality and number two in health and well-being, demonstrating strong values and long-term efforts toward social sustainability. The main area for improvement is employability, influenced by global employer awareness and alumni visibility.

Governance – number one in the world (100/100)

Top scores in ethical leadership, transparency, student influence and financial responsibility show that sustainability is embedded in the university’s culture and decision-making.

Interdisciplinary strength and the Agenda 2030 Graduate School

One of the university’s strengths in the field of sustainability is its interdisciplinary approach. The complex societal challenges we face – climate change, resource consumption, social sustainability – demand insights from a broad range of academic disciplines.

The Agenda 2030 Graduate School provides a concrete example of interdisciplinary collaboration in practice. PhD students from all faculties at Lund University come together around issues related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They deepen their own research projects while gaining new perspectives through cross-disciplinary exchange. This engagement also generates spillover effects for their supervisors and home departments, and in some cases, it leads to a deeper understanding of their role and contribution to the university’s broader sustainability efforts.

‘The graduate school trains a coming generation of researchers in dealing with some of the most pressing societal challenges of our time. Through courses, seminars, conferences, and other activities, doctoral students get a deeper understanding of those problems, and gain the necessary skills for dealing with them across disciplinary boundaries. That way, the graduate school participates in and influences societal change,’ says Markus Gunneflo, coordinator of the Agenda2030 Graduate School.