Sustainable Development in Practice (Online) MSc - 2024/5

Awarding body

University of Surrey

Teaching institute

University of Surrey

Framework

FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Final award and programme/pathway title

MSc Sustainable Development in Practice (Distance Learning)

Subsidiary award(s)

Award Title
PGDip Sustainable Development in Practice
PGCert Sustainable Development in Practice

Modes of study

Route code Credits and ECTS Credits
Part-time PFG61009 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits

QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)

Other internal and / or external reference points

N/A

Faculty and Department / School

Surrey Online - SOL - Sustainability, Civil and Env Eng

Programme Leader

FIORAMONTI Lorenzo (Sust & CEE)

Date of production/revision of spec

02/10/2024

Educational aims of the programme

  • Understand the fundamental principles of sustainable development, its policy implications and applicable solutions
  • Understand the essential scientific and political issues raised by sustainable development challenges and concepts
  • Master various practical approaches to sustainable development in practice
  • Develop technical knowledge to be applied to real-life situations
  • Develop a global understanding of the cultural, social and implementation particularities of sustainable development solutions
  • Acquire necessary skills to discuss and debate sustainable development solutions from a multisectoral and multicultural perspective

Programme learning outcomes

Attributes Developed Awards Ref.
Identify key features of sustainability governance KCPT PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Command theories of sustainable development at a level that can be used to work in international organisations and institutions KCPT PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Explore practices of sustainable development in a diverse range of real-life settings, both in the Global North and South KCPT PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Understand potential bottlenecks in translating theories into practices KCPT PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Develop research and reporting abilities (basic level) KCPT PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Acquire basic technical skills in sustainability applications KCPT PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Acquire the ability to connect social, environmental, economic, institutional, technical and even psychological dynamics in the development of sustainability solutions KCPT PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Develop research and reporting abilities (higher level, thanks to the Review Essay) KCPT MSc

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Programme structure

Part-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over two academic years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)

Programme Adjustments (if applicable)

N/A

Modules

Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module Selection for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

The diet represents the modules which will be undertaken throughout the whole course. However, delivery of the module e.g., which order they will be undertaken will be specific depending on which entry point you join. This can be confirmed by contacting your programme lead.

Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module Selection for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

The diet represents the modules which will be undertaken throughout the whole course. However, delivery of the module e.g., which order they will be undertaken will be specific depending on which entry point you join. This can be confirmed by contacting your programme lead.

Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity

Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics Y
Professional Training Year (PTY) N
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) N
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) N
Study exchange (Level 5) N
Dual degree N

Other information

The Institute for Sustainability¿s SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE MSc is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This programme is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Digital Capabilities: by using databases, engaging in data collection exercises, utilizing ICT skills to present their work, communicate with their peers and negotiate in the context of the simulation game.

Employability: by developing presentation skills, policy-writing techniques, reflection skills, project and research management skills, and also networking with our guests.

Global and Cultural capabilities: by the nature of the programme, students are exposed to different global and cultural contexts surrounding sustainability policy and practice. They are also positioned to critically think of the ramifications of the governance architecture for local and domestic politics and understand different viewpoints. Diversity of themes and approaches key towards that, alongside the variety of reading material coming from primary UN sources, NGO reports, national evaluation and scholarship on sustainability issues.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: in tacking the assignments students will have to come up with their own comparative study, collect and analyse evidence with support from the programme leaders, find their own primary sources and academic literature beyond the prescribed readings and circumvent obstacles in the research process.

Sustainability: by the nature of this programme, students engage in a deep dive into the world of sustainability solutions, hence sustainability as a concept and approach is enshrined in each and every topic discussed in the programme.

Quality assurance

The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality-enhancement-standards

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2024/5 academic year.