Sustainable Development MSc - 2026/7
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 7
Final award and programme/pathway title
MSc Sustainable Development
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| PGCert | Environment and Sustainability |
| PGDip | Sustainable Development |
Professional recognition
Institution of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
Accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) for the purpose of eligibility to apply for graduate membership
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | PFG61003 | 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits |
| Part-time | PFG61004 | 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
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences - Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering
Programme Leader
CHENOWETH Jonathan (Sust & CEE)
Date of production/revision of spec
15/11/2024
Educational aims of the programme
- To provide participants with a thorough conceptual framework and the skills necessary to understand the concept of Sustainable Development, and make judgements about Sustainable Development policies and their implementation.
- To equip participants to evaluate existing political, socio-economic, ethical, cultural and regulatory frameworks to inform decisions regarding Sustainable Development.
- To encourage participants to develop a sensitive appreciation of the significance of the contextual settings of sustainable development, especially as they relate to developing countries.
- To develop and enhance participants' research and data handling skills.
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Demonstrate a critical understanding of the concept of sustainable development and current debates relating to sustainable development | K | PGCert, PGDip, MSc | |
| Be able to integrate sustainable development into the day-to-day management and functioning of organisations, and on-going performance monitoring by accessing and using environmental data | KP | PGCert, PGDip, MSc | |
| Be able to evaluate technical, social, environmental, economic and political aspects of sustainable development | KCPT | PGCert, PGDip, MSc | |
| Be able to adapt economic and social assessment tools to support decision-making for sustainable development | KCPT | PGCert, PGDip, MSc | |
| Be able to research complex sustainability problems while following ethical research principles. | KCPT | MSc | |
| Develop an advanced understanding of global and cultural sensitivities relating to sustainable development | PT | PGDip, MSc | |
| Be aware of digital resources and tools which can support the implementation of sustainable development | KCPT | PGCert, PGDip, MSc |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, 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)
Part-time
This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over three to five years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are 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 - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Module Selection for Year 1 - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Students are to take four optional modules.
Unstructured (2-5 years) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Module Selection for Unstructured (2-5 years) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Students are to take four optional modules.
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) | Y | Yes |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | N | |
| Dual degree | N |
Other information
Each module on this programme is taught on an intensive modular basis. There is pre-reading to do for each module and on occasion a pre-module assessment, followed by the intensive taught week where classes run from approximately 9 - 5, Monday - Friday for one week. Post-module coursework is to be completed over the four week period after the intensive week.
This MSc degree embeds employability, global and cultural capabilities, digital capabilities, sustainability, and resourcefulness and resilience across the curriculum of the programme.
Employability: professionally focused learning that nurtures career ready graduates permeate the programme through its use of speakers from industry and government. Employability is also developed via site visits in some modules, such as the Environmental Auditing and Management Systems module, which are designed to give students practical examples of who to apple their developing knowledge and skills. Some modules, such as the Environmental Science and Society module, give students the opportunity to work in multi-disciplinary teams. Students can opt to do a professional training placement as one of their 15 credit electives. This professional training placement really develops students' readiness for the world of work, particularly for those students lacking previous professional work experience.
This programme is accredited by Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). IEMA provides a route for its members to achieve Chartered Environmentalist status. If students complete four specified modules (Sustainable Development Applications, Environmental Science and Society, Environmental Law and Environmental Auditing and Management Systems), plus the overall MSc degree, then they are eligible for Graduate Membership of IEMA upon graduation.
Global and cultural capabilities, intercultural awareness and informed views on global, social and ethical issues are required skills for any effective sustainability practitioner, with the MScs modules designed specifically to develop these capabilities. Class discussions which are built into almost every module on this programme expose students to a variety of global and cultural perspectives due to both the diversity of students taking this MSc programme and the breadth of topics and perspectives covered.
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
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 2026/7 academic year.