Masters applications for 2023 entry are now closed.
Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »
| UCAS code |
1234 |
| Duration |
1 year full time
2 years part time |
| Entry year |
2025 |
| Campus |
Penryn Campus
|
| Discipline |
Geography
|
| Contact |
|
Overview
- This interdisciplinary course explores environmental, social and economic sustainability challenges from local to global scales.
- Enhance your career and employment prospects by studying both the theory of sustainable development and its implementation in a range of contexts.
- Examine international policies, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and specific policy areas such as climate change, energy, human health, wellbeing and environmental governance.
- Study at the Penryn Campus in Cornwall: a living laboratory with diverse marine and terrestrial habitats, a wealth of natural resources, and creative and resilient communities.
- Join our vibrant postgraduate community benefiting from research-inspired teaching and access to outstanding facilities.
Top 15 for Geography and Environmental Science
Top 50 in the world for Geography
1st in the UK for Climate Action
Home to the £30 million Environment and Sustainability Institute: researching solutions to environmental change
6th in the UK for world-leading research in Geography and Environmental Studies
Top 15 for Geography and Environmental Science
Top 50 in the world for Geography
1st in the UK for Climate Action
Home to the £30 million Environment and Sustainability Institute: researching solutions to environmental change
6th in the UK for world-leading research in Geography and Environmental Studies
My favourite thing about the programme is the research skills that I have acquired in project designing. I’ve also really enjoyed the field trip to Newlyn fish market. We learnt about the various fish and how they are caught, challenges that fishermen face on the coast and the limited quotas placed on them. It was such a worthwhile and educational experience.
Studying at Exeter was challenging initially as it was my first time in the UK, but I am mastering the whole system now. The students wearing ASK t-shirts in welcome week were really helpful and made me feel comfortable on campus.
I chose this university because of the quiet environment to study and the graduate job prospects upon finishing. Living on the Penryn Campus has been a series of awesome moments with other international students and very supportive staff.
I would like a career as a Sustainability Manager in the water sector. The career prospects after this programme are so varied.
Read more from Evelyn
Evelyn
MSc Sustainable Development
Entry requirements
MSc Sustainable Development
All applicants are considered individually on merit although we usually require a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
Helping you to apply
Which disciplines are considered relevant?
Qualifications in the following disciplines are automatically considered to be relevant:
Geography, Human Geography, Environmental Studies, International/Global Development, Planning (Urban, Rural and Regional), Politics, International Relations, Sociology.
If you have qualifications in another subject, please explain in your application how they will support you in your study of sustainable development.
What makes a good application?
In your personal statement, please tell us about:
- your motivation for pursuing this programme at the University of Exeter
- your educational background and how it will support your study of sustainable development
- any work or voluntary experience that is relevant to the programme
- your interests and career goals
What happens next?
If you receive an offer from us, you’ll be invited to an offer-holder visit day where you can find out more about the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science and meet some of the academics who will be teaching you.
Entry requirements for international students
Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.
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Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Since leaving Exeter I have been working as an Environmental & Sustainability Manager for fit out contractors, Overbury and Morgan Lovell. I think the most important skills I gained during my study were the soft skills; such as communication and presentation skills. I learnt the important environmental management skills on the job, but the soft skills I had to use from the start.
In my current role I have been responsible for waste management for the company; assisting our clients with environmental assessments for their projects; ensuring sustainable sourcing of materials and maintaining our ISO 14001 certified environmental management system.
I loved the size of the Penryn Campus, as well as the size of our lectures and classes, it was much more of a personalised experience. You knew all of your classmates and your lecturers knew you and your interests.
Read more from James
James
MSc Sustainable Development, 2014 graduate
Course content
MSc Sustainable Development provides a unique opportunity to study sustainable development from a multi-disciplinary perspective, critical for understanding and tackling complex sustainability challenges. The programme involves a practical and problem-based approach to learning, offering a grounding in the principles that underlie sustainability and their implementation in a range of professional and practical contexts.
You will be taught by expert staff who are active researchers in sustainability and environmental social science.
Compulsory modules examine contemporary debates about global environmental change, limited natural resources, and human wellbeing and inequalities, and equip you with the skills to design and undertake your own research. You will also choose from a range of optional modules covering debates in climate change, energy policy, health, heritage, and the environment.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
135 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of optional modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module |
Credits |
|---|
| GEOM409 |
Dissertation | 90 |
| GEOM407 |
Perspectives on Sustainable Development | 15 |
| GEOM408 |
Transdisciplinary Methods for Sustainability Science | 15 |
| GEOM419 |
Research Design in the Field | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module |
Credits |
|---|
|
[GeoP MSc SD opt 2024-5] |
| GEOM418 |
Marine and Coastal Social-ecological systems |
15 |
| GEOM363B |
Themes in Climate Change |
15 |
| BEPM002 |
Biomimicry and Circular Economy Design Principles |
15 |
| GEOM424 |
Governing the Seas in a Changing World |
15 |
| GEOM247 |
Transforming Energy Systems |
15 |
| HPDM029 |
Nature, Health and Wellbeing |
15 |
| HPDM030 |
Environmental Science and Population Health |
15 |
| GEOM403 |
Independent Work-based Learning |
15 |
| POCM012 |
Global Sustainability Challenges |
15 |
This course has given me back my ability to learn, to soak up information and know where to seek out research, articles, and debates that I find interesting or are relevant to my career. I feel that through this course I have woken up to my own potential. I am excited to get stuck into my new role as Lead Adviser with Natural England!
Naomi-Beth
MSc Sustainable Development 2020 graduate
Fees
2025/26 entry
UK fees per year:
£13,900 full-time; £6,950 part-time
International fees per year:
£28,600 full-time; £14,300 part-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
I got my place on the University of Exeter’s MSc in Sustainable Development through the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. What I really like about the programme is that it covers how the destruction of our environment affects humanity and what initiatives can be introduced to achieve a specific standard.
It’s the bridge between environmental science and how it helps humanity, which is especially important for me, living and working in a developing country.
Read more from Emmanuel
Emmanuel
MSc Sustainable Development graduate
Teaching and research
Research in the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science
Our research groups in the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science (CGES) span the breadth of the discipline: Cultural and Historical Geographies; Environment and Sustainability; Life Geographies; Space, Politics and Society; Cryosphere, Coastal and River Dynamics; and Landscape and Ecosystem Dynamics. We are engaged in interdisciplinary research in areas including Climate Change and Sustainable Futures, Environmental Sciences and Earth System Science.
The Penryn Campus is also home to the University's Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) – a £30 million centre leading cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research into solutions to problems of environmental change and enhancing people’s lives by improving their relationship with the environment.
Researchers in CGES and ESI are also part of university-wide research networks such as Exeter Marine and Exeter Energy. We enjoy strong links with national and international research projects, and we attract funding from a wide range of sources including research councils, charities, the UK government and industry.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has seven contributors from the University of Exeter: more than any other university in the world.
Our academics
A wide range of optional, research-led modules enables you to explore aspects of sustainable development from different disciplinary perspectives, with academics based in Geography, Politics, Biosciences, Health and the Humanities.
How you will learn
Our vibrant learning environment combines traditional forms of delivery (lectures, seminars, and tutorials) with practice-based learning including work placements, expert guest speakers, field trips, and linked project work.
You will be taught by expert staff who are active researchers in sustainability and can give you invaluable insights into the latest research findings, plus training in research methods for sustainability. During the degree there are opportunities to apply your academic learning in a variety of real-world environmental contexts.
How you will be assessed
We use a variety of assessment techniques, including:
- essays
- presentations
- project and group work
- reflective essays
- policy briefs
- reports
- dissertation.
If you choose the optional Independent Work-based Learning module, your performance will also be assessed by the partner organisation.
Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability
You will become part of Exeter's Graduate School of Environment & Sustainability - a vibrant and supportive postgraduate community based here on our Penryn campus in Cornwall. The Graduate School brings together experts from across the spectrum of earth and life sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences and business. You will interact with students from other MScs and have the opportunity to explore issues from a range of perspectives, benefiting from a truly interdisciplinary experience. All our programmes are designed with a focus on developing solutions to global challenges and creating a better future for our planet and its people.
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Dr Rachel Turner
Programme Director and Senior Lecturer in Environmental Social Science
Dr Tomas Chaigneau
Lecturer in Social Sciences for our Environment
Dr Stephan Harrison
Professor of Climate and Environmental Change
Professor Caitlin Desilvey
Professor of Cultural Geography
Dr Rachel Turner
Programme Director and Senior Lecturer in Environmental Social Science
“The transition to sustainable development involves finding ways to meet human needs and enhance people’s wellbeing, in the context of limited natural resources and global environmental change.
This course exposes you to a wide range of perspectives that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to tackle these interconnected problems. The applied and interdisciplinary approach will develop your ability to critically evaluate policy solutions to complex challenges.”
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Dr Tomas Chaigneau
Lecturer in Social Sciences for our Environment
“My research explores the relationship between the natural environment and peoples’ wellbeing. This involves understanding how individuals derive wellbeing from the coast but also how their actions can impact their adjacent environment.
Through an interdisciplinary approach focusing on socio-ecological systems, pro-environmental behaviour and wellbeing literature, I explore how best to ensure that conservation and natural resource management measures are contributing to wellbeing and poverty alleviation sustainably over time.”
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Dr Stephan Harrison
Professor of Climate and Environmental Change
Stephan specialises in the links between geomorphology and climate change and has developed the first three-dimensional reconstruction of the Patagonian Ice Sheet.
Between 2011 and 2017 he led the UK Climate Change Expert Committee and he is now a member of the Expert Panel on Natural Hazards, which advises the Government on the impacts of climate change on UK nuclear power sites.
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Professor Caitlin Desilvey
Professor of Cultural Geography
"I am a geographer whose research explores the cultural significance of material change and transformation, with a particular focus on heritage contexts. I’ve worked with artists, archaeologists, environmental scientists and heritage practitioners on a range of interdisciplinary projects, supported by funding from UK research councils, the Royal Geographical Society, the Norwegian Research Council and the European Social Fund. I often use visual imagery and story-telling to engage people in imagining changing environments and places, and look to patterns from the past to try to understand what the future might bring. Although much of my research is about how things (and places) fall apart, I am also interested in practices of repair and maintenance that hold things together."
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Careers
Employer-valued skills this course develops
The interdisciplinary and applied nature of MSc Sustainable Development equips you with a depth and breadth of knowledge, skills and experiences that make graduates highly employable across a diverse range of careers. The degree offers high-quality social science research training and applied expertise which could lead to careers that focus on:
NGOs and third sector
MSc Sustainable Development graduates are well placed to take up roles in non-governmental and civil society organisations that are working towards environmental and social sustainability around the world. These roles include project development, research, monitoring and evaluation of interventions, community support, and advocacy for policy change.
Consultancy
A range of consultancies specialising in areas such as environmental management, climate change and international development require graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge of sustainability challenges. These roles include practical applications of knowledge through environmental and social impact assessments, independent research and advisory roles.
Business and sustainability
There is growing demand for innovation to meet sustainability challenges in the private sector. This area includes roles responsible for sustainable development policy, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and responsible business management in a wide range of economic sectors including energy consortia, the financial sector, and industry.
Public sector
Careers in the public sector are highly varied and examine the role of sustainability in planning, resource management and social development. Opportunities include national government agencies such as Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for International Development (DFID). At a local level, jobs aligned to this expertise include local authorities and planning departments.
Careers support
The University of Exeter has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market. We have a dedicated, award-winning Careers Service offering careers training, events, advice and mentoring to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed in finding employment in your chosen field.
Career paths
MSc graduates from the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science have gone on to varied careers. You can read about some of their experiences within our graduate profiles.
Below are a few examples of initial jobs undertaken by graduates of our Geography postgraduate programmes. This information has been taken from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey 2016/17. Please note that, due to data protection, the job titles and organisations are listed independently and do not necessarily correspond.
Recent graduates are now working as:
- Adviser
- Analyst Consultant
- Ecological Planning advisory intern
- English teacher
- Environmental Impact Assessment Consultant
- GIS specialist
- Graduate Research Assistant
- Marine and Environmental Consultant
- Vulnerability Assessment Framework Coordinator
Recent graduates are now working for:
- British Gas
- Carbon Tree
- City of London Corporation
- Clipper Logistics
- EDF Energy
- Fable Videographics
- Hong Kong Outstanding Education
- Joint Marine Environ Guard Limited
- Met Office
- SLR Consulting Ltd
- Sustainable Restaurant Association
- Taylor Woodrow
Further study
Further study is a popular choice for a number of students following graduation from a University of Exeter Geography Masters programme. Below are a few examples of further study undertaken by recent graduates of our Masters programmes. This information has been taken from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey 2016/17.
- MPH Environment, Energy and Resilience
- MPH Geography
- MPhil Geography
- PhD Physical Geography
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My analysis and critical thinking skills improved significantly after my studies. These skills help me a lot in my current position as Project Manager, to constantly innovate, develop new project strategies and approaches in the context of a highly dynamic environment. Learning about the systemic approach to solving human/environmental problems has so far been most useful in my career.
Hyacinthe
MSc Sustainable Development 2018 graduate
