Sustainability and Consultancy MSc

Overview

The Sustainability and Consultancy MSc offers a grounding in the broad range of sustainability topics beyond just environmental issues - from project development to corporate sustainability strategy. It will also develop the professional skills you will need to practice in the field of sustainability consultancy.

Sustainability is an integrated issue across our teaching, rather than separating the environmental, economic and social elements.

This course aligns closely with the challenges of sustainability and the skills that employers say they need to tackle those challenges, with a strong emphasis on project skills.

Course highlights

• Our course was the first qualification of its kind in the UK.
• In the first semester you can choose an optional free 2 day field course to East Yorkshire where you will get to see firsthand the practical aspects of sustainability. You will also learn about issues affecting sustainable economic development and environmental management in a developed world context.
• A major component of this Masters is that you will manage a consultancy project, which is usually in the form of a placement with a professional organisation. This experience plays a key role in your personal and professional development.
• This is an approved Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) course and is widely recognised by employers as a real benefit for anyone in a role with environmental responsibility.

Accreditation

This is an approved Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) course:

This means that once you graduate you are eligible to become an IEMA Graduate Member – GradIEMA - the first stage towards full professional chartership.

You are also eligible to take-up free student membership.

IEMA supports individuals and organisations to set, recognise and achieve global sustainability standards and practice.

Course content

The course is split in to 3 semesters if you study on a 12 month full-time basis.

Semester 1

You will take lectures and seminars which lay the theoretical foundation needed for you to gain an in-depth understanding of sustainability topics.

Semester 2

You will focus on you applying this knowledge through case studies and on practical professional skills development.

Throughout the year, you can also take part in personal development workshops and activities including networking with project hosts, helping you secure a successful research project for semester 3.

Semester 3

The focus switches to individual work, where you will deliver a project usually as an industry placement of around 10 weeks, where you will carry out some discreet analysis. The University will help you to find a placement, and for many of our students this has led to a job after graduating.

You will then present the progression you have made in your project around the end of June, and submit your final dissertation in late August.

Modules

_{Compulsory modules}

• Business, Environment and Sustainability
• Sustainability Consultancy Project
• Project Management: Developing and Managing Environmental Contracts
• Managing and Delivering Sustainability through Projects and Organisations
• The Regulatory and Planning Context for Sustainable Projects
• Introduction to Sustainability
• Issues and Cases in Corporate Social Responsibility

_{Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)}

• Introduction to Ecological Economics
• Environmental Policy and Governance
• Climate Change: Physical Science Basis

Learning and teaching

You will learn through a variety of methods including lectures, practical workshops, computer lab sessions, research seminars, field trips and project work.

The research-intensive environment of the School ensures that your course material is both up-to-date and research led.

You'll also learn the scientific and rational principles lying behind the practical approaches used in the world outside academia, so that your skills keep pace with changes in technology or the regulatory environment.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a variety of ways including both written and oral assignments and exams. And through individual and group work.

Applying, fees and funding

_{English language requirements}

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

_{How to apply}

APPLY (FULL TIME) 

APPLY (PART TIME) 

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

_Fees

Please see our website for fees.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Part-time fees are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

_{Scholarships and financial support}

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Scholarships are available.

Career opportunities

The School of Earth and Environment has a strong commitment to enhancing student employability and has its own dedicated Employability Officer. We offer extra support and activities to help you stand out in your chosen field and achieve your career goals.

Graduates have gone on to a wide variety of careers in sustainability, including areas such as:

• environmental consultancy and planning
• corporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility
• sustainability strategy
• environmental and social impact assessments and project financing
• environmental management
• carbon reduction and energy management
• stakeholder management and engagement
• policy development
• project management
• sustainability assessment.

Recent graduates have secured positions within the public, private and NGO sectors

Visit the Sustainability and Consultancy MSc page on the University of Leeds website for more details!