MSc Sustainable Development

The global community faces a range of profound economic, social and environmental challenges that are intensifying due to climate change and globalisation. Responses to those challenges are often framed within broader debates about sustainable development. This programme focuses on the global development and environmental challenges that have been articulated in the Millennium Development Goals and in other international agreements, and it explores ways of finding solutions to those challenges through the promotion of sustainable development. The programme provides a theoretical basis for the study of sustainable development and for understanding the evolution and meanings of this fiercely-contested concept.

The purpose of the programme is to enable students to acquire the skills needed to analyse and understand current globalisation and sustainability issues and debates. The aims of the programme are:

to enhance knowledge for informed decision and policy-making on sustainable development issues
to develop critical, analytical, and integrative skills for resolving environmental and sustainable development challenges
to provide practical research experience and opportunities for reflection in order to promote sustainable development.

Programme summary

	You study	Study period	Cost (2011)
MSc	10 modules	2-5 years	£9,200
Diploma	8 modules	2-5 years	£7,215
Certificate	4 modules	1-5 years	£3,770
Short courses	Single modules are ideal if you're keen to update your professional knowledge, enhance your career or sample the programme. Short course students who subsequently register for either the MSc or Postgraduate Diploma will be credited with any modules completed successfully. In 2011, the fee per module is £960.

Career progression

Graduates of this programme will typically find work in:

government ministries and other public sector organisations concerned with policy analysis in the fields of sustainable development and environmental planning
international and non-governmental organisations concerned with the sustainable dimensions of economic change
public and private sector companies conducting analyses of the interface between environment and poverty
consultancies and development projects concerned with issues of sustainability
applied research and teaching in institutions of research and higher education.

Specialisms

MSc and Postgraduate Diploma students can choose elective modules within a particular specialism. This creates the opportunity for a clear focus in your studies, whereby you can develop understanding and skills relevant to specific professional interests. The name of the specialism will appear on the certificate awarded.

Comprehensive study materials and support

For each module the University will send you detailed study guides, textbooks and supplementary study materials which may include audio and/or videotapes and computer software. Tutorial support is via an online learning environment and tutor-marked assignments. Increasing numbers of students participate in electronic seminars and other networked activities. This allows for a range of contacts and peer-learning possibilities that will help to enrich the distance learning experience.

Your time commitment

The study time required for each module is, on average, 7-8 hours per week over a period of 30-31 weeks (plus 4-5 weeks for revision).