Ecological Economics MSc

From the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis to the question of managing economies during a global pandemic - the topic of sustainability has never been more pressing.

The MSc Ecological Economics (delivered collaboratively with Scottish Rural College) prepares you to contribute to solving sustainability problems. You will learn how to integrate environmental, social, and economic systems together, focusing on the mutual dependencies between them. In short, this programme aims to equip you with a new way of seeing the world.

You will participate in sustainability problem-solving with an emphasis on application, practical experience and 'hands-on' learning.

You will experience training in a wide range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies and the associated data analysis using real-world case studies.

During your studies, you will implement a small, team-based research project. Designed collaboratively with staff members in response to a real-world sustainability problem, it will provide you with first-hand experience conducting the work of an ecological economist.

Is the MSc for me?

Ecological economics is an interdisciplinary field. We welcome students from a variety of academic backgrounds, including the natural and social sciences, as well as the arts and humanities.

In this MSc programme, you will learn how to critically analyse the root causes of real-world sustainability problems.

This programme will suit you if you're eager to embrace a hands-on learning approach. Our MSc aims to guide you on a journey to help you become a proficient ecological economist.

The curriculum is crafted to cultivate your ability to think and make decisions like an ecological economist when addressing real-world sustainability challenges. To facilitate this, we employ flipped-classroom designs, team-based learning, and problem-based learning methods. These approaches encourage you to grow in confidence as you adopt the perspective of an ecological economist.

If you're ready to engage with peers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives and are willing to actively discuss complex sustainability problems both in teams and in class – then this programme is for you!

Scotland's Rural College

This programme is delivered in collaboration with Scotland's Rural College (SRUC).

You will benefit from being a fully enrolled student at the University of Edinburgh and having access to all of the complementary staff, expertise, and resources at SRUC. Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be awarded your degree by the University of Edinburgh.

• Visit the SRUC website

What is it really like to study with us?

No one knows what it is like to study here better than the students themselves. Our students are sharing their experiences - from studying to living in Edinburgh and everything in between.

Get social with us:

• Student experience blog
• School of GeoSciences Instagram
• School of GeoSciences TikTok

When to apply

Please note: Due to high demand for this programme, we operate on a series of early application deadlines.

We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

For dates and details, please refer to 'Application Deadlines' and 'How to apply' on the right panel of this page.

You should also avoid applying to more than one degree. Applicants who can demonstrate their understanding and commitment to a specific programme are preferred.

If you plan to apply to more than one programme, you should discuss your choices with us before you submit your application. Where possible, we may make an alternative programme offer if you have been unsuccessful in your chosen programme.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent.

We may also consider a UK 2:2 honours degree, or its international equivalent, with appropriate work experience.

Applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds are welcome to apply, but all students will be expected to engage critically with economic and environmental concepts, and will also be asked to engage in both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Students whose undergraduate degrees have not addressed one or more these areas should highlight in their applications their abilities to learn and to engage with these subject areas.

Students from China

This degree is Band B.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Graduates of the MSc Ecological Economics have historically been in high demand.

Our graduates are working in a variety of sectors, including:

• environmental consultancies
• international and governmental agencies
• non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• financial institutions
• multinationals
• environmental education and research

Additionally, around a quarter of our Masters students eventually go on to doctoral research programmes.

Our graduates

Examples of the organisations in which our graduates have gained employment include:

• New Economics Foundation
• UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• Centre for European Policy Studies
• Delta Energy and the Environment
• Living Wage Foundation
• Octopus Energy
• Energise
• LTS International
• World Wildlife Federation (WWF)
• NatureScot
• University of Oxford
• Department for Environment
• Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Carbon360
• Conservation International
• Mott MacDonald
• EDF Energy
• Scottish Water
• Golder Associates Peru
• Seafish
• University of Leeds
• ZALF
• Price Waterhouse Coopers
• Uganda Carbon Bureau

Alumni network

We maintain an alumni network on LinkedIn where jobs, PhD studentships, other opportunities, and announcements are shared.

All new students are invited to join and this helps to connect students to a wider community of practice related to ecological economics and sustainability.

Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience at the University, providing:

• tailored advice
• individual guidance and personal assistance
• internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
• access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree. Studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success, whatever shape that takes.

• Careers Service