| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
MSc Environmental Policy and Management
Overview
Prepare for a career that allows you to shape policy to effect environmental change. Develop the practical skills and conceptual tools needed to tackle issues ranging from biodiversity conservation, to water management, to local air pollution.
This programme is aimed at talented graduates seeking to enhance their expertise and develop skills relevant to the fields of environmental policy, management, protection and advocacy.
You will join the School of Geographical Sciences, ranked first in the UK for 'Geography and environmental studies' research (THE analysis of REF 2021) and a highly regarded centre for research and teaching in environmental processes, systems and the social sciences. Staff in the school have been directly involved in advising the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and regularly engage with policymakers, industry and non-profit organisations at local, national and international levels.
Taught by experts from the social, physical, and natural sciences, you will examine how environmental problems are understood, how policy relates to politics, and the context for governmental responses to environmental challenges.
You will have the opportunity to gain practical experience working on a project with an external partner through the Consultancy Project unit. Previous student projects have consulted on waste management, sustainable transport, making more liveable communities, 15 minute cities, and helping local councils identify land for rewilding or nature restoration.
The programme is closely affiliated with the University's Cabot Institute, which promotes multidisciplinary research around global environmental change and benefits from our location in the city of Bristol, the UK's first ever European Green Capital and a vibrant hub of environmental activism and technological innovation.
Through a demanding academic curriculum and practice-based learning opportunities, you will develop the skills and knowledge needed for employment in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
Key Information
- Programme duration: One year full-time; Two years part-time.
- Start date: September 2025
- Application deadline: Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025; Home applicants: 8 August 2025
- Delivery method: On-Campus
- Location: Clifton
- Awards available: MSc
Programme Structure
The programme consists of six taught units and a dissertation research project. Some units are taught by natural scientists, covering subjects like climate science and the analysis of remotely sensed data. Others are delivered by social scientists, focusing on areas like environmental governance, policy analysis and research methods and design. An optional 'Policy & Management Consultancy' unit provides an opportunity to develop practical skills through the completion of an extended team-based project that responds directly to the needs of one of our partner organisations.
The final third of the programme involves the completion of an independent research dissertation on an environmental topic of your choosing, enabling you to further develop your research skills and make your own contribution to academic and policy debates about ongoing environmental controversies.
Entry Requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in Anthropology, History, Literature, Philosophy, Biology/Natural Sciences, Chemistry, Ecology, Engineering (any type), Environmental Science, Mathematics, Physics, Zoology, Business Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Human Geography, Politics/Political Science, Sociology.
Applicants with a degree in a Physical Science or other non-standard subjects must also demonstrate competency in essay writing skills, with at least 60% or international equivalent achieved in one essay-based module.
Fees and Funding
- Home: full-time £14,400 per year; part-time (two years) £7,200 per year
- Overseas: full-time £31,700 per year
Career Prospects
Develop the skills and knowledge needed for employment in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
Our graduates have gone on to work in environmental consulting, national government departments, multilateral agencies, environmental management, conservation, marketing and communications, and a range of private companies in areas such as sustainable housing, transport and energy.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This MSc program in Environmental Policy and Management is designed for graduates seeking to develop or enhance their expertise in environmental policy, management, protection, and advocacy. Led by the School of Geographical Sciences, ranked first in the UK for 'Geography and environmental studies' research, the program provides a comprehensive understanding of environmental processes, systems, and the social sciences. Graduates will develop the skills and knowledge needed for employment in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Outline:
The program consists of six taught units and a dissertation research project. Some units are taught by natural scientists, covering subjects like climate science and the analysis of remotely sensed data. Others are delivered by social scientists, focusing on areas like environmental governance, policy analysis, and statistical methods.
Teaching:
The program is taught by staff in the School of Geographical Sciences, who have been directly involved in advising the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and regularly engage with policymakers, industry, and non-profit organizations at local, national, and international levels. The program also benefits from the University's Cabot Institute, which promotes multidisciplinary research around global environmental change.
Careers:
Graduates have gone on to work in environmental consulting, national government departments, multilateral agencies, environmental management, conservation, marketing and communications, and a range of private companies in areas such as sustainable housing, transport, and energy.
Other:
The program is closely affiliated with the University's Cabot Institute, which promotes multidisciplinary research around global environmental change and benefits from the location in the city of Bristol, the UK's first-ever European Green Capital and a vibrant hub of environmental activism and technological innovation.
Fees and funding
UK: full-time £13,100 per year UK: part-time (two years) £6,550 per year Overseas: full-time £28,800 per year For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
