We are living in a fast-changing global economy with more opportunities, growth and development than ever before. However, these changes and the ever-increasing demand for energy and natural resources make us realise that our resources are finite and that we need to come up with new sustainable solutions for old and new challenges.
“Engineering and International Business” students are able to deal with these current environmental and fundamental challenges because they have an interdisciplinary view on resource and energy shortages and use their holistic approach to connect current and recently-developed technologies in order to find sustainable solutions. Their technological background and the modules on renewable energy systems as well as sustainable water and residue technologies help them to get to the core of these technical and environmental issues.
Apart from technical expertise, our Master students receive a solid management education within an international context. Classic business modules, such as Marketing, Sales, Finance and Project Management are incorporated into the curriculum to make students gain a general and thorough business understanding.
Subjects like International Contract Law, Licensing, Investment Strategies and Life Cycle Assessment are part of the programme, so students are able to assess the business environment, the economic viability and the efficiency of projects and systems.
After completing the degree, graduates have the necessary skills to plan water and waste management facilities and renewable energy systems, and have the knowledge to turn different smart technologies into integrative solutions. They have the competences to assess the profitability and the environmental impact of such systems. They know how to develop business models and feasibility studies within an international context and they are capable of managing projects on an international scale.
1st semester
2nd semester
3rd semester
4th semester
Upon graduation you can work in consultancies, in innovative start-ups, in plant manufacturing or in traditional companies that switch to renewable energy solutions and technologies. Further career opportunities lie in residue management, sustainable water supply systems as well as energy and environmental technologies. Areas of work:
Supporting you to capitalise on the recognised skills shortage in this field.
In the UK we currently have 17 nuclear sites at various stages of decommissioning, ranging from first generation Magnox reactors, sites at Sellafield, Springfields and Capenhurst, as well as the fast-reactor research facility at Dounreay.
This programme effectively prepares you for a career in the nuclear industry, supporting you to develop the scientific understanding and practical skills to address the challenges in this area.
This programme covers a wide range of the skills required to work in the nuclear industry and is co-taught with world-leading academic staff from different Schools within the University. Learning is via lectures and practical sessions, supported by field trips and industry seminars.
In the autumn and spring semesters, you will study all of your taught modules. In the summer you will work on your own research project chosen from a wide range of topics in the field.
This project may be conducted at the University, but more frequently in recent years we have arranged for projects to be undertaken within industry, giving students an opportunity for direct interaction and enhancing their employment prospects.
This programme covers a wide range of the skills required to work in the nuclear industry and is co-taught with world-leading academic staff from different Schools within the University.
Learning is via lectures and practical sessions, supported by field trips and industry seminars. A variety of assessment methods are used, including laboratory exercises, written coursework, case study reports, oral presentations and standard examinations.
There is currently a significant shortage of skilled graduates in the field of nuclear decommissioning and waste management, both within the UK and globally. This degree course is a response to the skills shortage, and seeks to train high quality graduates for the Nuclear Industry. The sector will grow, and the demand for high quality graduates increase with the decommissioning of the current fleet of reactors.
Typically, two thirds of our students have jobs or PhDs lined up to walk into upon completion of the course before they have even finished the MSc. Most of the remaining one third will have something within a few months of graduating, and with a total eventual recruitment into the nuclear industry of about 90%.
The research skills acquired will also provide a strong foundation for those wishing to undertake further postgraduate study towards the award of a PhD.
University Careers Network
Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.
Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.
If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.
Supporting you to capitalise on the recognised skills shortage in this field.
In the UK we currently have 17 nuclear sites at various stages of decommissioning, ranging from first generation Magnox reactors, sites at Sellafield, Springfields and Capenhurst, as well as the fast-reactor research facility at Dounreay.
This programme effectively prepares you for a career in the nuclear industry, supporting you to develop the scientific understanding and practical skills to address the challenges in this area.
This programme covers a wide range of the skills required to work in the nuclear industry and is co-taught with world-leading academic staff from different Schools within the University. Learning is via lectures and practical sessions, supported by field trips and industry seminars.
In the autumn and spring semesters, you will study all of your taught modules. In the summer you will work on your own research project chosen from a wide range of topics in the field.
This project may be conducted at the University, but more frequently in recent years we have arranged for projects to be undertaken within industry, giving students an opportunity for direct interaction and enhancing their employment prospects.
This programme covers a wide range of the skills required to work in the nuclear industry and is co-taught with world-leading academic staff from different Schools within the University.
Learning is via lectures and practical sessions, supported by field trips and industry seminars. A variety of assessment methods are used, including laboratory exercises, written coursework, case study reports, oral presentations and standard examinations.
There is currently a significant shortage of skilled graduates in the field of nuclear decommissioning and waste management, both within the UK and globally. This degree course is a response to the skills shortage, and seeks to train high quality graduates for the Nuclear Industry. The sector will grow, and the demand for high quality graduates increase with the decommissioning of the current fleet of reactors.
Typically, two thirds of our students have jobs or PhDs lined up to walk into upon completion of the course before they have even finished the MSc. Most of the remaining one third will have something within a few months of graduating, and with a total eventual recruitment into the nuclear industry of about 90%.
The research skills acquired will also provide a strong foundation for those wishing to undertake further postgraduate study towards the award of a PhD.
University Careers Network
Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.
Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.
If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.
This Master's degree is designed for students who wish to practice across a broad range environmental engineering and apply new sustainable risk management strategies for complex environmental problems. Water, waste and environmental engineering has been traditionally referred to as public health engineering in the United Kingdom.
In this postgraduate course, the technical aspects of both natural and engineering environmental systems will be covered. There will be broad interdisciplinary subjects synthesizing knowledge from a wide spectrum of science and engineering, expanding the content of public health engineering, which in the UK has traditionally been responsible for developing the infrastructure for managing water and waste.
Students will develop engineering skills and be able to design, develop and apply concepts for water and waste as a resource based on environmental sensitivity and be competent in planning, modelling, design, construction, operations, maintenance and control of both engineered and natural water and earth resources.
Students who select this postgraduate programme will gain a skill set that will enable them to progress in the fields of:
The MSc in Water, Waste and Environmental Engineering will incorporate solid waste management, contaminated land treatment and the use of geographic information systems (GIS) with emphasis on management of the earth's resources.
The programme will explain the relationship between different earth resources including:
The aims of the programme are to:
Year 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.
Students are required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
Year 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.
Year 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.
Students are required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
Project work, assignments and laboratory exercises in addition to substantial written examination of course materials will occur in most modules. The Environmental Engineering Research Project will require submission of a substantial final report/dissertation. Assessment of this module will involve participation in a poster and seminar presentation and a final oral examination.
Postgraduate students from this programme will find such employment opportunities as engineers, scientist and technical managers in the private sector (engineering design firms, engineering consultancy, project management, risk management and waste management), in the public sector (environmental protection engineering, regulations and standards, local government) and in non-governmental sectors (NGOs, environmental advocacy) or may wish to pursue further qualifications such as a PhD within the Faculty of Engineering and Science at the University of Greenwich to become even more specialised.
Employers of environmental engineers include engineering consultancies (such as AECOM, Atkins, Mott MacDonald Group, Hyder), government agencies (such as Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and NGOs (such as Oxfam, Engineers without Boarders, Water Aid).
This MSc Energy and Environmental Management (with Advanced Practice) course is ideal if are seeking to develop your skills and confidence to address the critical global challenges of energy and diminishing natural resources. Clean energy, optimal use of resources and the economics of climate change are the key issues facing society, and form the fundamental themes of this programme.
You explore the world’s dependency on hydrocarbon-based resources, together with strategies and technologies to decarbonise national economies. This course examines global best practice, government policies, industrial symbiosis and emerging risk management techniques. You also address the environmental, economic and sociological (risk and acceptability) impacts of renewable energy provision and waste exploitation as central elements.There are three routes you can select from to gain a postgraduate Master’s award:
The one-year programme is a great option if you want to gain a traditional MSc qualification – you can find out more here. This two-year master’s degree with advanced practice enhances your qualification by adding to the one-year master’s programme an internship, research or study abroad experience.The MSc Energy and Environmental Management (with Advanced Practice) offers you the chance to enhance your qualification by completing an internship, research or study abroad experience in addition to the content of the one-year MSc. This two-year programme is an opportunity to enhance your qualification by spending one semester completing a vocational internship, research internship or by studying abroad. Although we can’t guarantee an internship, we can provide you with practical support and advice on how to find and secure your own internship position. A vocational internship is a great way to gain work experience and give your CV a competitive edge. Alternatively, a research internship develops your research and academic skills as you work as part of a research team in an academic setting – ideal if you are interested in a career in research or academia. A third option is to study abroad in an academic exchange with one of our partner universities. This option does incur additional costs such as travel and accommodation. You must also take responsibility for ensuring you have the appropriate visa to study outside the UK, where relevant.
For the MSc with advanced practice, you complete 120 credits of taught modules, a 60-credit master’s research project and 60 credits of advanced practice.
Energy, environment, risk managing projects, sustainability and integrated waste management are emphasised on the programme, but you also explore the financial aspects of energy and environmental management. Economics is integral to developing policies and is often a key influencing factor.
You develop a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the role and place of energy in the 21st century, and how the environment impinges on the types of energy used and the way they are produced. You investigate the environment as it is perceived, and contextualise its actual importance to mankind. Specific objectives for this course are to establish the financial validity of pursing alternative energy forms and managing the environment.
Examples of past MSc research projects
Course structure
Core modules
Advanced Practice options
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, projects and assignments. You are also expected to participate in self-directed study, to review lecture notes, prepare assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments. Each 20-credit module typically has around 200 hours of learning time.
You usually spend around 60 hours in lectures, tutorials and in practical exercises over the duration of the course. The remaining learning time is for you to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 180 credits. During one year of full-time study you can expect to have 1,800 hours of learning and assessment.
How you are assessed
Modules are assessed by a variety of methods including exams and in-course assessment with some using other approaches such as group work, or verbal or poster presentations.
Your Advanced Practice module is assessed by an individual written reflective report (3,000 words) together with a study or workplace log, where appropriate, and through a poster presentation.
Career opportunities
Successful graduates from this course are well-placed to find employment. As an energy and environmental manager, you might find yourself responsible for overseeing the energy and environmental performance of a private, public or voluntary sector organisation, or in one of a wide range of engineering industries.
Work placement
There may be short-term placement opportunities for some students, particularly during the project phase of the course. This University is also in the process of seeking accreditation for the Waste Management module from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.
Our MSc Waste and Resource Management will prepare you for a career in the growing environmental and resource management sector, where there is increasing global demand for skilled graduates.
The global market in environmental goods and services is currently worth about £3 trillion. Global investment attracted by ‘green technologies’ for electrical power generation recently exceeded that for coal and natural gas. This area is being actively promoted in the UK and Scottish context for economic development.
The programme develops core skills in the management of resources, coupled with an understanding of technologies that enhance the sustainable use of natural resources and minimise the environmental impact of economic activities, exploiting value from industrial process by-products and waste materials.
Subjects include:
Professional Approval and Accreditation
Our course is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM).
Once enrolled, you can apply to the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) to become a Student Member. When you have completed our course you can then apply to CIWM to become a Graduate Member and use the designatory letters Grad MCIWM.
Our Waste and Resource Management course will develop your core skills in the management of resources. This is coupled with an understanding of technologies that enhance the sustainable use of natural resources and minimise the environmental impact of economic activities, exploiting value from industrial process by-products and waste materials.
Modules that will enhance your core skills include:
You will also undertake an MSc dissertation.
Teaching & Assessment
You will attend lectures and tutorials and extend your studies through independent learning and seminars with problem solving scenarios using field exercises and case studies.
Our Waste and Resource Management degree uses a variety of assessment methods. The below list provides a guide to the types of assessment methods you can expect:
This programme is appropriate for you if are seeking to develop the skills and confidence to address the critical global challenges of energy and diminishing natural resources. Clean energy, optimal use of resources and the economics of climate change are the key issues facing society, and form the fundamental themes of this programme.
You explore the world’s dependency on hydrocarbon-based resources, together with strategies and technologies to decarbonise national economies. The course examines global best practice, government policies, industrial symbiosis and emerging risk management techniques. You also address the environmental, economic and sociological (risk and acceptability) impacts of renewable energy provision and waste exploitation as central elements.
The programme develops the problem-solvers and innovators needed to face the enormous challenges of the 21st century - those who can play key roles in driving energy and environmental policies, and in formulating forward-looking strategies on energy use and environmental sustainability at corporate, national and global scales.
What you study
For the PgDip award you must successfully complete 120 credits of taught modules. For an MSc award you must successfully complete the 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit master's research project.
Energy, environment, risk managing projects, sustainability and integrated waste management are the main foci of the programme, but you also explore the financial aspects of energy and environmental management. Economics is integral to the development of policies and is often a key influencing factor.
This programme aims to develop a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the role and place of energy in the 21st century and the way the environment impinges on the types of energy used and production methods. It also aims to investigate the environment as it is perceived, and contextualise its actual importance to mankind. Specific objectives for this course are to establish the financial validity for the pursuit of alternative energy forms and management of the environment.
You are encouraged to take up opportunities of voluntary placements with local industries to conduct real-world research projects. These placements are assessed in line with the assessment criteria and learning outcomes of the Project module.
Examples of past MSc research projects
Course structure
Core modules
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
The course provides a number of contact teaching and assessment hours (through lectures, tutorials, projects, assignments), but you are also expected to spend time on your own, called 'self-study' time, to review lecture notes, prepare course work assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments. For example, each 20-credit module typically has around 200 hours of learning time.
In most cases, around 60 hours are spent in lectures, tutorials and in practical exercises. The remaining learning time is for you to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 180 credits; hence, during one year of full-time study a student can expect to have 1,800 hours of learning and assessment.
How you are assessed
Modules are assessed by a variety of methods including examination and in-course assessment with some utilising other approaches such as group-work or verbal/poster presentations.
Work placement
There may be short-term placement opportunities for some students, particularly during the project phase of the course. This University is also in the process of seeking accreditation for the Waste Management module from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.
Career opportunities
Successful graduates from this course are well placed to find employment. As an energy and environmental manager, you might find yourself in a role responsible for overseeing the energy and environmental performance of private, public and voluntary sector organisations, as well as in a wide range of engineering industries.
Energy and environmental managers examine corporate activities to establish where improvements can be made and ensure compliance with environmental legislation across the organisation. You might be responsible for reviewing the whole operation, carrying out energy and environmental audits and assessments, identifying and resolving energy and environmental problems and acting as agents of change. Your role could include the training of the workforce to develop the ability to recognise their own contributions to improved energy and environmental performance.
Your role may also include the development, implementation and monitoring of energy and environmental strategies, policies and programmes that promote sustainable development at corporate, national or global levels.
Environmental challenges require complex solutions, bringing together scientific, social, political and economic perspectives. GCU's MSc Environmental Management will provide you with the interdisciplinary perspective and diverse skillset to help solve environmental problems in a leadership role. You can help your community manage environmental concerns responsibly, making a positive impact and supporting the common good.
The programme is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute (EI). With the endorsement of four prestigious professional organisations, the MSc Environmental Management offers a respected credential that's relevant to employers around the world.
You'll have the option to complete a general programme - giving you a broad understanding across a wide range of environmental disciplines - or choos among four pathways for specialisation.
The MSc Environmental Management comprises of eight taught modules. Three compulsory modules, four optional modules and a Masters project. You also have the option to broaden your understanding of environmental issues via the general masters’ curriculum or to select modules from one of four specific pathways; waste, energy, water and oil and gas.
Health, Safety and Environmental Management
This module introduces the health, safety and environmental demands that face industry today. Study the role of legislation in achieving sustainability and the use of environmental management to improve corporate responsibility..
Climate Change and Carbon Management
Examine global climate change issues within the context of the built environment and learn to conduct practical investigation into carbon management.
Energy Technology
Explore conventional and emerging technologies including waste heat recovery, energy storage and fuel cells.
GIS and Environmental Management
Study the principles and concepts of GIS and its role in environmental management.
Renewable Energy Technologies
Explore technologies that allow us to become more energy efficient including alternative energy sources, conversion technologies and sustainable energy use.
Water Quality and Waste Water Treatment
Examine water quality and the provision of potable water in the UK.
Additional Energy modules include:
Renewable Energy Technologies
Examine the renewable energy technologies most likely to succeed in the UK and other temperate countries, i.e. solar energy, energy from waste, wind, hydro and biomass .
Building and Energy Performance Simulation
Study the factors that determine energy efficiency of buildings, including properties of the fabric, and heating and ventilation systems.
This programme is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute (EI). With the endorsement of four prestigious professional organisations, the MSc Environmental Management offers a respected credential that's relevant to employers around the world.
As a graduate of GCU's MSc Environmental Management, you'll have excellent career prospects in both the public and private sectors. Past graduates have found work with organisations such as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), international consulting companies including Carl Bro Group, ERS Land Regeneration and Valpak, and other government agencies and consulting firms.
As sustainability moves up the agenda and environmental laws and regulations proliferate, there is a growing need to understand and assess human impact on the environment.
This course provides a comprehensive overview of methods for assessing and managing the environmental impacts of policies, plans, programmes, projects and organisations. It also looks at the legal and institutional frameworks in which they operate.
You will develop a range of communication, teamworking and problem-solving skills, and gain the understanding to apply processes such as environmental impact assessment, environmental management and auditing systems to real-world situations.
The course is accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).
Accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).
All students undertake core modules, including the dissertation. You will also choose option modules allowing you to specialise in the areas of the course you are most interested in.
Core modules
Option modules
Career opportunities in both the public and private sectors include transport planning, waste management, environmental consultancy, resource management and town and country planning.
Recent graduates have gone on to secure employment across the sector including:
The course also provides a foundation for further study and is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).
The world we live in is an increasingly urban one as cities currently account for half the world’s population. By 2030, it is expected that three out of every five people will live in an urban environment. Sustainable management of the urban environment has become one of the major challenges of the 21st century as you will learn during the two-year master's Urban Environmental Management programme at the university. This development calls for control of the environmental impacts of urbanisation like growing traffic, increasing waste emissions, deteriorating air and water quality, and growth in energy and resource consumption.
Inadequate water supply, sanitation, waste collection and waste management systems are the cause of serious urban pollution and health hazards in many Asian, African and Latin American cities. The MSc programme Urban Environmental Management is an international and interactive programme providing a balanced curriculum of theory, tools and application. It aims to train students like you to guide the future along the path of sustainable urbanisation.
On the Programme of Urban Environmental Management page you can find the general outline of the programme and more detailed information about courses, theses and internships.
Within the master's programme you can choose one of the following Thesis tracks to meet your personal interests.
Graduates from the MSc Urban Environmental Management (MUE) programme are well-equipped with the skills and knowledge to continue academic training (PhD) or continue their career outside the University.
Read more about career perspectives and opportunities after finishing the programme and Career preparation during your studies.
Related programmes:
MSc International Development Studies
MSc Landscape Architecture and Planning
This course covers the planning, design, analysis and management frameworks of infrastructure systems. In particular, you will develop expertise in the:
You will qualify with a sound understanding of the whole life-cycle of infrastructure assets, the environmental impact of infrastructure projects, and formal asset-management techniques enabling you to maximise the benefits of infrastructure assets in the future.
The lectures given by our academic staff are complemented by visiting speakers from different infrastructure companies such as Network Rail, Thames Water, Environment Agency, Transport for London, ARUP, KPMG, etc., covering different aspect of infrastructure engineering and management. During the academic year, infrastructure specialists carry out Keynote Lectures focusing on important infrastructure projects and approaches. Past Keynote Speakers include Sir John Armitt, Sir Terry Morgan, Sir Michael Pitt, Sir David Higgins, Keith Clarke, James Stewart, Andrew Wolstenholme, Michele Dix, Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson. A number of field visits are also organised to provide an overview of real-life infrastructure operation and management. Past field visits have taken place to both the National Grid and Network Rail Control Centers.
Graduates from the programme are highly employable but have the potential to progress to relevant specialist PhD or EngD research programmes in the field.
This programme is studied full-time over one academic year and part-time or distance learning for between two to five academic years. It consists of eight taught modules and a dissertation.
Example module listing
The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
Infrastructure Engineering and Management Group Modules
Structural Engineering Group Modules
Bridge Engineering Group Modules
Geotechnical Engineering Group Modules
Construction Management Group Modules
Water and Environmental Engineering Group Modules
Wind Energy Group Modules
Dissertation
Apart from the usual full-time mode, there are also part-time options. The majority of Bridge, Geotechnical and Structural Engineering modules can be studied by distance learning through the use of an interactive web-based e-learning platform (SurreyLearn).
This programme can be studied via distance learning, which allows a high level of flexibility and enables you to study alongside other commitments you may have. Get full information about our distance learning programme (PDF).
Modules related to the different groups are taught by a total of 20 full or part-time members of academic staff, as well as a number of visiting lecturers from the industry and government.
In addition to the University Library and Learning Centre’s extensive resources, our excellent testing facilities can support experimentally based MSc dissertation projects.
The programme aims to provide graduates with:
We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.
In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.
Study Computer Science, Mathematics and Nuclear Education at a world-class university
Tackle climate change using world-class online learning from the MSc in Carbon Management programme at the University of Edinburgh
