What You Need to Know About Studying a Masters in Sustainability

If you like the idea of finding innovative solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing 21st century society, you might want to consider a Masters in Sustainability. Spanning a wide range of disciplines from engineering to food production, sustainability is a diverse field of study that will equip you with the skills to make a real difference in the world around you, as well as opening up plenty of career opportunities!

In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about studying a Masters in Sustainability, including popular subject areas and where your qualification could lead.

What is sustainability?

Whether on the label of your favourite fashion brand or on the lips of the world’s politicians at the latest climate summit, ‘sustainability’ is likely a term you’ve encountered many times before. But what does it really mean?

In short, it’s the practice of finding ways to meet the demands of modern life while minimising any negative impact on current or future generations. People often think about sustainability in terms of environmental preservation, but this is only one piece of the puzzle! Working towards a sustainable future involves considering environmental, social and economic factors (sometimes referred to as the ‘three pillars’).

Adopting sustainable practices in all three of these key areas will help preserve the planet and promote a high standard of living for years to come.

Is a Masters in Sustainability worth it?

The decision to study any Masters programme is a big one – so you’ll want to make sure your chosen course is the best possible use of your time and resources.

There are plenty of reasons you might choose to study a Masters in Sustainability, but perhaps the most significant motivator for many students is the desire to enact positive change. In the face of rapidly developing societies, creating a sustainable future is possibly one of the most critical challenges we face. Recent years have seen sustainability become a global priority – in 2012, the United Nations set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which all member states have since committed to achieving by 2030. By specialising in the field, you’ll become part of a worldwide effort to preserve our planet and improve life for future generations.

Given all this, it’s unsurprising that an understanding of sustainability is also highly valued by employers!

What can I study?

As we’ve covered, there’s a lot involved in the creation of a sustainable future, meaning Masters courses in Sustainability are plentiful and varied!

Some take an interdisciplinary approach, aiming to equip students with a holistic knowledge of how the ‘pillars’ of sustainability interact. You’ll gain a foundational understanding of the environmental, social and economic factors at play, with the opportunity to specialise later.

Alternatively, you might choose a course which focuses on a specific area of sustainability research. These might be as broad as an MSc in Environmental Sustainability, or as specialised as a degree focused on textile production, food systems, architecture or the impact of an aging population (to name just a few).

No matter your academic background, you’ll have no trouble finding a sustainability-focused Masters programme to suit your personal interests and qualifications.

What can I do with a Masters in Sustainability?

Increasing numbers of industries are investing in sustainability, meaning an expertise in the area can open a lot of doors. For example, many organisations hire consultants to advise them on increasing sustainability within the company or employ their own internal specialists.

The career paths open to you will vary a lot depending on the specific focus of your degree. Studying a course in Sustainable Architecture may lead to a career in urban design, for example, or one more focused on the ecological aspects of sustainability may qualify you to work in the field of Environmental Science.

Whatever your area of interest, you’ll find no shortage of sectors in which to apply your skills and knowledge.

Ready to start applying? We list over 1,600 Masters courses in Sustainability on our website.

You may also like...