Program Overview

MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance

The MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance (MSc NSEG or NSEG) is grounded in the conviction that responding to contemporary global challenges demands intellectual rigour, innovation and flexibility. This course will enable students to develop a theoretically sophisticated and empirically grounded understanding of the dynamic relations between environments and societies.

About the Course

The course aims to:

• provide broad and critical engagements with key debates in the environmental social sciences, focusing on the relations between nature, society, and environmental governance;
• foster an understanding of the politics of environmental knowledge claims, how such claims are formulated and asserted, and their effects in practice;
• develop students conceptions of, and skills in, the methods and practices of contemporary environmental social sciences, providing critical foundations for further research;
• integrate students into world-leading research taking place in the School of Geography and the Environment, providing core teaching and supervision by research-active staff; and
• enhance students' personal and professional development.

The intended learning outcomes for the course are to:

• identify and evaluate key theoretical approaches from the social sciences (especially human geography) through which to understand environment-society relations;
• apply concepts from a range of critical social theories to appraise and analyse environmental knowledge claims, governance practices and environmental/social outcomes;
• design qualitative research projects, select and implement appropriate research methodologies, and produce research outputs in a variety of formats; and
• explain and synthesize analyses of environmental contexts in written and oral formats to persuade and inform professional and public audiences.

Course Structure

The MSc is organised according to three themes:

1. Multiple Natures
2. Environment, Politics and Justice
3. Research Skills. It is assessed through a series of written coursework assignments and presentations (live/recorded) that are staged in four portfolios due at different stages of the year of study, culminating in an independent research dissertation (12,000 words).

Teaching takes place through lectures and seminars which provide in-depth exploration of key environmental issues. Students are required to engage in significant periods of self-study to prepare for lectures/seminars and to consolidate learning. Field trips are also an important component of the teaching delivery and include an induction field course in the UK and a residential field course.

The MSc is organised into six core modules and other elective modules. Students will take two elective modules.

• Social Theory for the Anthropocene
• Environment, Governance and Politics
• Environmental Justice
• Science & Politics
• Research Design
• Research Methods and Practices

Attendance

The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements.

Resources to Support Study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services. The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK, holding more than 13 million printed items and providing access to e-journals.

Supervision

The course has an Academic Director and a Course Director who looks after the day to day running of the course. You will have a dissertation supervisor who is normally a member of the Schools academic or research staff. The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the School of Geography and the Environment.

Assessment

The programme consists of eight summative assessments which use a diverse range of methods including written assignments, oral presentations, a fieldwork report, a research proposal and final dissertation.

Graduate Destinations

Nature, Science and Environmental Governance (NSEG) alumni are pursuing careers with a wide range of organisations, including doctoral programmes in Oxford and elsewhere. Examples of organisations include government departments, non-governmental organisations, business organisations, and international agencies.

Entry Requirements

• Degree-level qualifications: A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any discipline.
• GRE General Test scores: No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
• Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience: Applicants should demonstrate an interest in the interactions of society and nature. Work and/or research experience around the areas of environmental and social sustainability are valued.
• English language proficiency: This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level.

Funding

For entry in the academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.

Costs

• Annual course fees: The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis. For the academic year, the annual course fees are Ł26,820 for Home students and Ł36,170 for Overseas students.
• Additional costs: In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course. The range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between Ł1,405 and Ł2,105 for each month spent in Oxford.

College Preference

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. The following colleges accept students on the MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance:

• Blackfriars
• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Christ Church
• Green Templeton College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Mansfield College
• Oriel College
• Regent's Park College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Antony's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

How to Apply

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.

• Referees: Three overall, of which at least two must be academic.
• Official transcript(s): Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date.
• Statement of purpose: A maximum of 1,000 words. Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in.
• Written work: One essay, a maximum of 2,000 words. The written work must be in English and can be either an essay you have written, a chapter(s) of a thesis, a published scholarly paper or even academic work written specifically to support your application.