Sustainable Development MSc drafted

Program Overview

Our MSc provides you with the knowledge to help organisations move towards a greener future. It examines the societal transformations required to tackle the climate emergency, protect the environment, and shift towards sustainable consumption and production – as outlined by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

This course is run by our Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES) – an inter-disciplinary hub for forward-thinking environmental and sustainability-related research and postgraduate teaching.

Sustainable development graduates are equipped to tackle the strategic challenges being faced by companies, individuals and governments, and implement the changes required to protect our planet.

Program Outline

Academic year structure

Both full-time and part-time students must complete five compulsory modules and four elective modules by the end of their MSc. The dissertation forms one of the compulsory modules.

You can start this course at the beginning of either the first semester in September or the second semester in February.

The academic year begins with an induction week when students are introduced to the University and full-time students choose their elective modules. If you’re a part-time student you can enrol in modules closer to the time you wish to take a module.

During Semester 2, you’ll begin to focus on your dissertation, with a series of seminar events held to help you refine your ideas and make a start. You’re free to choose your own dissertation topic. Most choose topics related to issues or ideas encountered in the taught modules, or in a professional context, which relates to environment or sustainability. You’ll be allocated a dissertation supervisor to help guide you through the dissertation process.

Modules

Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.

The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules can be either 15, 30, 45, 75 and 120 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.

The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the

programme specifications

Year 1

Optional modules for Year 1 - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Students are to take four optional modules.

Unstructured (2-5 years)

Optional modules for Unstructured (2-5 years) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Students are to take four optional modules.

Timetable

Each module on this course is taught on an intensive modular basis. There is pre-reading to do for each module and, on occasion, a pre-module assessment, followed by the intensive taught week with several hours of classes each day, Monday to Friday for one week. Post-module coursework is to be completed over the four-week period after the intensive week.

Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester. View our

Code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment

Contact hours

Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the

modules section