Sustainability, Environment and Development MSc

Course overview

Sustainable development is a topical and fast-growing field with a lot of opportunities to make a real difference in the world. Through our Sustainability, Environment and Development MSc, you’ll investigate the challenges associated with achieving development that is environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. You will gain the knowledge, skills and practical experience to allow you to become an interdisciplinary leader who can think critically and contribute practically to enhance sustainability policy and action.

The programme is led by the Sustainability Research Institute, who have a well-established approach of applying social-ecological systems and participatory approaches to understanding sustainability challenges and co-creating solutions. We use the same framing, providing high-quality transdisciplinary training through research-led teaching on issues where the need for economic development, social equity and environmental conservation meet. The MSc brings together expertise from the School of Earth and Environment, School of Politics and International Studies, and professional partners to provide many different perspectives on these issues.

This course draws on theories from both the social and natural sciences, and from professional practice, and is therefore relevant to candidates from a range of backgrounds. Primarily, this is a social science programme grounded in a critical framing of sustainability and development through teaching in social-ecological systems thinking, an understanding of biogeophysical limits, environmental policy, and global inequalities.

We strike a unique balance between fundamentals and practice, embedding a professional skills and field course for all students. Through our programme you’ll have the chance to network through our connections with key players in environment, development and sustainability worldwide.

Once you graduate, you’ll be fully equipped with the extensive knowledge, skills, and practical experience sought after by both the public and private sectors to deliver solutions in critical areas like sustainable economic development, climate change adaptation, governance of natural resources, and conservation.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in social sciences such as (but not limited to) international development, geography, politics, sociology, environmental management, sustainability, environmental science, or in a related subject.

Applicants with any of the following will be considered on a case-by-case basis:

• A bachelor degree with a 2:2 (hons), or equivalent, where applicants can demonstrate relevant work experience or aptitude in a relevant specialist field.
• Professional qualifications and relevant experience.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.

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).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

Career opportunities

Studying our Sustainability, Environment and Development MSc will give you a holistic and in-depth understanding of some of the greatest challenges faced globally — alongside a skill set that is sought after by employers and highly transferable across a range of careers. The types of opportunities open to you as a specialist in this field will no doubt be rewarding, with the potential to take you all over the world.

We typically find that graduates assume, or continue careers, in sustainability, environmental management, or development research, practice and policy. Our alumni work in the research, public and private sectors and within local, national,gl and international institutions.

Plus, University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2024, High Fliers Research, meaning our graduates are highly sought after by some of the most reputable companies in the field.

This course is ideal if you want to continue on from undergraduate studies, are looking for a career change, or if you’re keen to enhance your existing skill set so that you can progress in your career in industry or academia.

Our graduates have secured positions including:

• Senior Research Officer, Climate Change Third World Network
• Policy Officer, Endangered Landscapes Programme
• Civil Servant, DEFRA
• Field Environment Advisor, Tullow Oil Kenya
• Global Ambassador, Raleigh International
• Environmental Advisor, London Mining PLC , Sierra Leone
• Consultant, Sustainability Consultancy — Canada
• Advisor on Agricultural Pollution, Natural England
• Global Programme Manager, Renewable World
• Sustainability Consultant - BREEAM, EDCM Consulting