MSc Sustainable Development in Practice

Content

The course’s structure and content is informed by extensive research with potential employers, as well as publications and policies from organisations including government. Sustainability needs graduates with the knowledge, tools and abilities to bring about pro-sustainability change in a wide range of contexts and settings.

You will study:

• Sustainable Development: Principles and Practice (15 credits) – You’ll explore the fundamental nature, causes and consequences of sustainable and unsustainable development. Practical exercises and projects give you first-hand experience of putting key concepts, frameworks and tools for implementing sustainable development into practice.
• Creating Sustainable Behaviour Change (15 credits) – With case studies and examples, you’ll explore a range of different theoretical and practical approaches to understanding and influencing pro-sustainable behaviour.
• The Sustainable Organisation: Vision into Practice (15 credits) – This module examines the vision of a sustainable business operating in a complex ecosystem with resource constraints, and compares this with the reality of contemporary business. Case studies and project work provide insight into the knowledge and skills necessary to help organisations achieve sustainable strategies and operations.
• Communications Campaigns: Creative Approaches and Tools (15 credits) – You will analyse a range of historically significant campaigns and social movements, and their implications for pro-sustainability change. The assessment enables you to develop and evaluate a communication strategy for changing cultural understanding, attitudes and behaviour.
• Work-Based Learning in Sustainability and Environmental Management (30 credits) – You’ll gain vital practice-based experience and build your professional network, as we work with you to identify a host organisation relevant to your career aspirations. Past and present hosts include Arup,  Bristol City Council, Bristol Food Policy Council, Bristol Green Capital Company, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Common Cause, Eat Drink Bristol Fashion, Forum for the Future, Happy City, Go Bristol, Good Energy, Oxfam, Soil Association and Stride Treglown. You can also opt to work in UWE Bristol’s Sustainability Team, or gain research experience within one of our Research Centres.
• Master’s Project (60 credits) – You’ll investigate, tackle and report on a specific issue in current sustainability practice, with supervision from specialist subject tutors.

A wide range of options allows you to tailor your course to your career needs. In addition to modules from the fields of Environmental Management and the Built Environment students may also choose from optional modules which enable them to:

• explore the application of sustainability in specific fields, for example in engineering
• further develop skills in affecting sustainability change, such as advanced feature writing
• specialise in one or more aspect of sustainability, such as air quality
• explore sustainability further at national and international level, such in law.

Availability may vary due to timetable scheduling and the number of optional modules needed will depend on credit requirements.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we will inform you.

Study time

Part-time students start the project dissertation during Year two, and complete it in Year three if necessary, with the taught part of the course covering two or three years.

Careers

Careers / Further study

This course offers the blend of skills, knowledge and thinking to develop your career in a wide range of private and public sector businesses and organisations.

You might choose to lead change in multi-national corporations, international organisations, national, regional and local governments, or to plan and implement sustainable development with organisations in specialist sectors, such as business, environmental or project management, or in planning, transport, construction, waste or energy.

You could get involved in campaigning, development or aid work, or as an advisor in bodies such as the UN, EU or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Or you might want to help develop government policy, set up your own consultancy, go on to a PhD, or go into teaching.

“I find myself using the knowledge I acquired, on this course, around behaviour change theory, sustainability frameworks and communications evaluation in my day-to-day workings where the different elements cross over everything I do. The learning around visioning and innovation has changed the way I initiate and manage projects.” Matt, Senior Fund Assembly Officer, Sustrans

Part time course fee:

Offshore Module Fee (15 Credit): 1188

Entry

Entry requirements

We normally require an honours degree of 2.2 or above.

We can consider applicants who do not meet the normal entry requirement, but who do have relevant professional experience or qualifications. In your application, you should describe in detail your professional experience and qualifications.

English language support

If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.

English Language Requirement

International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component