Sustainable Development in Practice (Online) MSc - 2026/7
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
18/12/2024
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:
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.