Environmental Sustainability (MSc)

In this programme, students are encouraged to think across different disciplines to blend scientific, socioeconomic and policy perspectives for a stronger understanding of sustainability and how it can be achieved. This wider perspective is attractive to organisations which promote sustainable development or seek to reduce humanity’s effect on the environment.

Ensuring the environmental sustainability of society is one of the major challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. How can the needs of the world’s growing population be met without threatening the ecological processes that support human wellbeing?

How can the economy and energy systems be restructured to combat climate change? What policies foster sustainability? How can the necessary changes in the behaviour of organisations and individuals be promoted? This MSc programme explores these and related, topical questions.

This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Environment & Society Academy.

• Global Environment & Society Academy

Programme structure

This programme consists of six taught courses, studied over two semesters. Students will also undertake a research project leading to a dissertation of up to 15,000 words.

Compulsory courses typically will be:

• Principles of Environmental Sustainability
• Case Studies in Sustainable Development
• Dissertation

Option courses: In consultation with the Programme Director, you will choose from a range of option courses. We particularly recommend:

• Atmospheric Quality and Global Change
• Climate Change and Corporate Strategy
• Energy & Society 1: Key Themes and Issues
• Foundations in Ecological Economics
• Human Dimensions of Environmental Change and Sustainability
• Environmental Valuation
• Development: Principles and Practices
• Understanding Environment and Development
• Energy Policy and Politics
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Forests and Environment
• Participation in Policy and Planning
• Political Ecology
• Sustainability of Food Production
• The Ecology of Ecosystem Services
• Waste Reduction and Recycling
• Water Resource Management

Courses are offered subject to timetabling and availability and are subject to change.

Learning outcomes

Students will be equipped to:

• assess the sustainability of policies, programmes and projects at scales ranging from the local to the global
• analyse environmental problems using knowledge from different disciplines, leading to well-founded and effective solutions
• advocate sustainable development and engage in informed debate on current environmental controversies

Career opportunities

This programme prepares students for a wide range of roles within environmental consultancy, national and local government, non-profit organisations, education or research. The choice of option courses and dissertation projects can be tailored towards your chosen career path.

Student experience

Would you like to know what it’s really like to study at the School of GeoSciences?

Visit our student experience blog where you can find articles, advice, videos and ask current students your questions.

• Student experience blog

Visit the Environmental Sustainability (MSc) page on the University of Edinburgh website for more details!