Program Overview

MSc Sustainable Development

Overview

This interdisciplinary course explores environmental, social and economic sustainability challenges from local to global scales. Enhance your career and employment prospects by studying both the theory of sustainable development and its implementation in a range of contexts. Examine international policies, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and specific policy areas such as climate change, energy, human health, wellbeing and environmental governance. Study at the Penryn Campus in Cornwall: a living laboratory with diverse marine and terrestrial habitats, a wealth of natural resources, and creative and resilient communities. Join our vibrant postgraduate community benefiting from research-inspired teaching and access to outstanding facilities.

Entry Requirements

• Normally a 2:1 degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline
• Qualifications in the following disciplines are automatically considered to be relevant:
  • Geography
  • Human Geography
  • Environmental Studies
  • International/Global Development
  • Planning (Urban, Rural and Regional)
  • Politics
  • International Relations
  • Sociology
• If you have qualifications in another subject, please explain in your application how they will support you in your study of sustainable development

Course Content

MSc Sustainable Development provides a unique opportunity to study sustainable development from a multi-disciplinary perspective, critical for understanding and tackling complex sustainability challenges. The programme involves a practical and problem-based approach to learning, offering a grounding in the principles that underlie sustainability and their implementation in a range of professional and practical contexts.

• Compulsory modules:
  • Dissertation (90 credits)
  • Perspectives on Sustainable Development (15 credits)
  • Transdisciplinary Methods for Sustainability Science (15 credits)
  • Research Design in the Field (15 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Marine and Coastal Social-ecological systems (15 credits)
  • Themes in Climate Change (15 credits)
  • Biomimicry and Circular Economy Design Principles (15 credits)
  • Governing the Seas in a Changing World (15 credits)
  • Transforming Energy Systems (15 credits)
  • Nature, Health and Wellbeing (15 credits)
  • Environmental Science and Population Health (15 credits)
  • Independent Work-based Learning (15 credits)
  • Global Sustainability Challenges (15 credits)

Fees

• UK fees per year: £13,900 full-time; £6,950 part-time
• International fees per year: £28,600 full-time; £14,300 part-time
• Scholarships: The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships

Teaching and Research

• Research in the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science: Our research groups in the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science (CGES) span the breadth of the discipline: Cultural and Historical Geographies; Environment and Sustainability; Life Geographies; Space, Politics and Society; Cryosphere, Coastal and River Dynamics; and Landscape and Ecosystem Dynamics
• Our academics: A wide range of optional, research-led modules enables you to explore aspects of sustainable development from different disciplinary perspectives, with academics based in Geography, Politics, Biosciences, Health and the Humanities

Careers

• Employer-valued skills this course develops: The interdisciplinary and applied nature of MSc Sustainable Development equips you with a depth and breadth of knowledge, skills and experiences that make graduates highly employable across a diverse range of careers
• Careers support: The University of Exeter has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market
• Career paths: MSc graduates from the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science have gone on to varied careers, including roles in NGOs, consultancy, business and sustainability, and the public sector

Related Courses

• Global Sustainability Solutions MSc
• Applied Data Science (Environment and Sustainability) MSc
• Conservation and Biodiversity MSc

Why Exeter?

• Student life: The University of Exeter has a vibrant student community, with a range of student societies and activities available
• Our campuses: The University of Exeter has three campuses: Streatham Campus in Exeter, St Luke's Campus in Exeter, and Penryn Campus in Cornwall
• International students: The University of Exeter welcomes students from all over the world, with a range of support services available to help you settle in and succeed
• Accommodation: The University of Exeter offers a range of accommodation options, from halls of residence to self-catering apartments
• Apply for a Masters: The University of Exeter has a range of Masters programs available, with flexible start dates and study options
• Immigration and visas: The University of Exeter has a dedicated team to support international students with immigration and visa queries
• Tuition fees and funding: The University of Exeter offers a range of scholarships and funding options to support your studies

Contact Us

• Contact us: For more information about the MSc Sustainable Development program, please contact the University of Exeter's admissions team
• Email: [insert email]
• Phone: [insert phone number]
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