Program Overview

Environmental Science and Data MSc

The Environmental Science and Data MSc is a postgraduate program offered by the School of Geography and Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, at the University of Sheffield. This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop actionable environmental research and turn theory into practice.

Course Description

This course will build students' knowledge of key environmental systems and processes while developing their ability to engage critically with contemporary environmental debates. Lectures, seminars, and interactive discussions will provide students with a strong theoretical foundation. The course focuses on developing enhanced data skills, enabling students to collect and analyze complex environmental data to back up hypotheses with scientific insight.

Modules

A selection of modules is available each year, including:

• Geospatial Programming Essentials: This module aims to equip students with the practical skills and conceptual understanding needed to work with geospatial data using Python.
• Horizons in Environmental Change: This module explores the latest research into environmental change, with a focus on contemporary research challenges.
• Monitoring Our Changing Environment: This module aims to equip students with the practical skills needed to observe, measure, and analyze environmental change across a range of spatial and temporal scales.
• Designing Environmental Change Research: This module provides students with the opportunity to develop essential skills to design and plan research projects.
• Machine Learning for Environmental Change: This module provides students with a fundamental understanding of some of the most common algorithms currently utilized for analysis of geoscientific data.
• Climate Change: Science and Impacts: This module offers students an in-depth understanding of the scientific foundations of climate change and its far-reaching impacts on the environment and society.
• Environmental Applications of GIS: This module introduces the application of spatial tools and data to the study of the environment.

Optional Modules

Students will also take one optional module from the following:

• Managing Climate Change: This module aims to provide students with a strong understanding of the social and physical science of climate change with relevance to international development.
• Theory and Debates in Food Security and Food Justice: This module provides students with a background to the problems encompassed within the food security/food justice nexus by drawing on academic and policy debates.
• Advanced Spatial Analysis: This module aims to develop a high degree of competence in relation to advanced spatial analysis, understanding spatial approaches to problem-solving, and the theories and precepts which underlie software applications in GIS.
• The Urban Climate Emergency: This module explores the drivers of climate change and their implications for urban systems, critically considering how urban professionals can respond to these challenges in ways that promote just and sustainable transitions.

Core Module

• Advanced Research Project: This module offers students the opportunity to undertake a substantial, independent research project that reflects their academic interests and professional aspirations in the field of environmental change.

Duration and Attendance

The course is 1 year full-time.

Teaching

Teaching is active and immersive, designed to develop both theoretical understanding and practical skills. Through a blend of lectures, seminars, workshops, lab sessions, and fieldwork, students will get to explore key environmental systems, processes, and methodologies while engaging critically with contemporary debates.

Assessment

Assessments include essays, oral presentations, group projects, and data-led tasks to develop and showcase technical proficiency.

Career Prospects

Graduates from this course could go on to careers in the environmental sector, data analysis, Geographic Information Systems, research, and beyond.

School

The School of Geography and Planning is internationally recognized for its expertise in tackling global challenges of climate and environmental change, urbanization, sustainability, and social justice.

Entry Requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honors degree in a relevant subject, including Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Economics, and STEM subjects.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent.

Fees and Funding

• Home (2026 annual fee): £11,905
• Overseas (2026 annual fee): £29,190

Additional Costs

The costs of optional field classes modules and placements are not included in tuition fees. A limited amount of funding, accessed through a competitive process, is available to help finance field classes.