Environmental Protection and Management MSc

Your chance to play a vital role in protecting and conserving the environment starts here.

We continue to have a significant impact on our planet through actions such as:

• the use of natural resources
• deforestation
• soil erosion
• the release of pollutants and pathogens
• invasive species
• the increase in greenhouse gases

These are the result of human behaviour and are all examples of pressures that have potentially severe consequences for humanity and other life on Earth.

The MSc Environmental Protection and Management will give you an in-depth understanding of natural resource management based on a scientific understanding of the issues involved. It also offers you the opportunity to explore these same issues from the perspective of other disciplines, creating a multi-faceted understanding of issues related to natural resource management.

We will equip you with key skills and knowledge about the processes that give rise to environmental degradation, and crucially, possible strategies to affect sustainable change.

Our programme has been successfully delivered for over 25 years and continues to grow from strength to strength, with a continually growing worldwide alumni network.

Is the MSc for me?

This degree is for you if you want to develop or enhance your scientific understanding of environmental issues, but in parallel, learn about complementary and essential interdisciplinary approaches required for successful environmental management.

You may tailor the content of the degree through assessment, course choices and, most importantly, dissertation choice to develop the skills and knowledge desired for different career paths. As a result, students from a variety of backgrounds are attracted to the program. Our diversity will give you exceptional opportunities to learn from one another and become part of a strong and well-developed alumni network around the globe.

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, as well as 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.

Accreditation

The MSc Environmental Protection and Management through Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), allowing students on this programme to become members.

The IES provides access to news about jobs and events, free journal access and free or reduced entry to IES events.

Upon completing our MSc programme, you can upgrade for free to become an Associate of the Institution.

• Visit the Institution of Environmental Sciences website

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, in biological science, environmental science, physical science, geography, engineering, economics or other relevant subject.

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

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• 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

Our graduates have a strong record of finding employment in the environmental sector around the world, and the data knowledge and skillsets we instil in our students are in demand with employers. Common career paths include:

• consultancy roles
• working for NGOs
• government departments/regulators
• further studies

In this programme students are exposed to industry speakers and visits, providing insight into possible future roles and career paths. In addition, we have strong links with our alumni, and alumni are strongly integrated with the student experience. For example, our alumni meet with new incoming students in Welcome Week to provide advice, but also to help new students start to build their professional networks and make contacts.

Our alumni are also involved in other activities such as being formal guest speakers on courses, participating in careers sessions, and informal social gatherings.

Our graduates

This programme has a strong alumni network, demonstrating how graduates can develop their careers though time. Examples of the organisations our graduates have gained employment with include:

• Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
• Talisman Energy
• Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation
• Vegware
• Tearfund
• Global Green Growth Institute
• Water Witness International
• IUCN
• Veolia UK

Examples of roles our graduates have gone on to do:

• Environmental Protection Officer
• Lecturer
• Policy Officer
• Planning Consultant
• Scientific Publisher
• Catchment Management Officer
• Ecological/Environmental Consultant

Further study

You can also progress to further research and academia.

Recent PhD subjects pursued include:

• water management
• carbon sequestration by agriculture
• air pollution modelling
• human-wildlife conflicts
• use of UAVs (drones) in environmental monitoring
• Arctic Ocean circulation systems

Networks

Throughout this MSc, you will engage with a range of environmental professionals and practitioners through things such as:

• guest speakers on courses
• field visits
• careers events and discussions

Alongside your own class and our alumni network, meeting such people is not only an opportunity to learn from them, but also to develop your professional network.

SRUC works closely with colleagues in our consulting division, SAC Consulting. In recent years, several graduates of this programme have obtained consultancy roles. As a result, SAC Consulting aims to offer two positions per year to suitable graduates across the SRUC-run programmes.

• Visit SAC Consulting

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