MSc Environment and Global Development

Course Overview

Are you passionate about making development more sustainable? Do you want to understand how environmental issues affect poverty alleviation? Are you a natural resource specialist? If so, this course is for you.

Our dynamic MSc Environment and Global Development programme offers a unique interdisciplinary approach. All environmental issues derive from natural processes, but they’re influenced by social and political factors too. A key focus of our MSc is on the political ecology approach to understanding the debates and policy processes underpinning global responses to environmental and natural resource problems.

Interest in the global environment and development has never been so intense. Environmental issues and problems have long been on local and national agendas, but increasingly over the last 30 years, they’re on international agendas too. On this vibrant one-year full-time Master’s course, you’ll study natural processes, social issues and political implications, developing your own unique viewpoint.

You’ll explore the interaction between the environment and global development by analysing policy processes at local, national and international levels. You’ll look at a large cast of actors – including policy makers, politicians, business administrators, and rural and urban resource users – to see how they interact. Plus, you’ll develop a wide range of critical and constructive skills, analytical techniques and contextual knowledge to advance your understanding of these complex processes.

You’ll graduate equipped with a wide range of knowledge and transferable skills, unlocking opportunities for a variety of rewarding careers both in and beyond international development.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

Typical International Entry Requirements

Degree classification

UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent

Degree Subject

Social Science

Additional Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

• IELTS: 6.0 overall (with minimum 6.0 in Writing & Speaking and 5.5 in Listening & Reading)

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

 If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.

INTO UEA

If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here: 

International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences 

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.

Employability

Previous graduates from the School of Global Development have gone on to work for the British High Commission in Ghana, British Civil Service, CARE International, European Union, Overseas Development Institute, Oxfam, Save the Children International, UNITAR in Japan, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF and WaterAid.

Upon completing your MA, you can pursue a variety of potential careers both in and beyond global development.

Depending on your degree outcome, you'll also be well qualified to enter a PhD programme with a view to continuing to an academic career both in the UK and overseas.

Example of careers that you could enter include:

• International organisations
• Governmental and non-governmental organisations
• Local governments
• Private sector

Discover more on our Careers webpages.