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Postgraduate Taught
| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time 2 years part time |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | Geography |
| Contact |
| Typical offer | Normally a 2:1 degree or equivalent |
|---|---|
Top 15 for Geography and Environmental Science
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025
1st in the UK for Climate Action
6th in the UK for world-leading research in Geography and Environmental Studies
Based on 4* research in the Research Excellence Framework 2021
Top 50 in the world for Geography
QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
Top 15 for Geography and Environmental Science
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025
1st in the UK for Climate Action
6th in the UK for world-leading research in Geography and Environmental Studies
Based on 4* research in the Research Excellence Framework 2021
Top 50 in the world for Geography
QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
All applicants are considered individually on merit although we usually require a 2:1 honours degree.
No specific subjects are required.
The programme has been designed to allow students from a wide range of backgrounds to immerse themselves in a transformative educational experience. No science, mathematics, or engineering prerequisites are required.
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.
Our impacts on the Earth system are at such a scale that we have become a geological force. If we are to not just survive but flourish, we urgently need to create robust and practical solutions to a set of interacting global challenges.
These challenges span countries, regions, and academic disciplines. For example: the challenge to establish food, water, and energy security for a global population increasing towards 9 billion by the middle of this century; the urgent need to halt the rapid decline in biodiversity; the required sudden decrease of greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid dangerous climate change. While diverse, the common thread that links these and other challenges is that these are all ultimately a challenge of systems.
A key element of the programme is the application of academic learning to real-world sustainability challenges. This is achieved with internship opportunities with a wide range of national and international organisations and companies.
MSc Global Sustainability Solutions has been designed to allow students from a wide range of backgrounds to immerse themselves in a transformative educational experience. No science, mathematics, or engineering prerequisites are required. Upon graduation, you will have the skills to become an agent of change for a sustainable future.
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.
A wide range of optional modules are possible. The list below is offered for initial consideration.
150 credits of compulsory modules including a choice of either a 60 credit academic dissertation or 60 credit internship, 30 credits of optional modules.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOM146 | Solutions Project (Academic) [See note a below] | 60 |
| GEOM147 | Solutions Project (Internship) [See note a below] | 60 |
| BIOM568 | Blue Planet | 15 |
| GEOM141 | Global Challenges | 15 |
| GEOM143 | Global Systems Thinking | 15 |
| GEOM144 | Innovation and the Science-Policy Interface | 15 |
| GEOM145 | Theory for Sustainable Transitions | 15 |
| MTHM054 | Climate Change Science and Solutions | 15 |
aYou must choose either GEOM146 or GEOM147 (you cannot choose both modules).
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSc GSS optional modules 24/25 | ||
| BEEM100 | Macroeconomics | 15 |
| BEMM375 | Sustainable Tourism Management | 15 |
| GEOM149 | Green Planet | 15 |
| GEOM433 | Sustainability in Practice (Work Placement) | 15 |
| GEOM184 | Open Source GIS | 15 |
| POLM016 | Food Systems, Alternative Food Networks, and Ethical Consumption | 15 |
| BEE3076 | Environmental Economics and Sustainability | 15 |
I love that the course has an interdisciplinary approach and together across a range of subjects we can work to create sustainability solutions. Each of our lecturers are the best in their field.
I also feel we are getting a wider range of knowledge through the programme's interdisciplinary approach as my knowledge isn’t limited to one field. For example, as well as learning elements from Geography and Biosciences we also get to choose a range of optional modules in other departments. I am doing a module from the Business School which demonstrates how this programme has a very holistic approach.
Roshny
MSc Global Sustainability Solutions
£14,300 full-time; £7,150 part-time
£29,800 full-time; £14,900 part-time
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.
Innovative teaching lies at the heart of the programme. Emphasis will be placed upon applying learning to real-world challenges and enhancing your employability. We will be delivering some of this innovative training using Prosocial as part of empowering you to become agents of change for a sustainability transition.
25 organisations, including the Met Office, will provide real-world challenges for you to address as part of the programme. You will be given the training and opportunity to practise how your learning is engaged within wider social, economic, and policy debates.
Immersive learning experiences will provide an opportunity to develop a cohort identity across staff and students, whilst learning fundamental skills and approaches to understanding and solving challenges. This includes group social activities at the start of the programme and an intensive period of shared learning in the middle of Term 1.
The MSc Global Sustainability Solutions is the flagship programme for the Global Systems Institute which brings together researchers, students, citizens, and partner organisations to solve global challenges, and help create a flourishing future world together, through transformative research and education.
The Global Systems Institute works with others to secure a flourishing future for humanity as an integral part of a life-sustaining Earth system. It is uniting a trans-disciplinary group of researchers, educators and partners to look beyond single ‘environmental’ issues to a truly systemic view of coupled global changes in the human social and economic sphere and the biosphere.
Each student is allocated a personal tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There is also a postgraduate tutor available to help with further guidance and advice.
Assessments will focus on the application of your learning and go beyond exams and essays. You will have the opportunity to choose to be assessed via the creation of project reports, policy briefings and white papers, the preparation and delivery of press conferences, online and interactive infographics, short documentary films, recorded talks and interviews, reflective blogs and journals.
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The programme addresses global sustainability challenges, equipping graduates to apply systems thinking to solve complex problems in a wide variety of environments and contexts. A key feature of the programme are the innovative teaching and formative and summative assessments. Emphasis will be placed upon applying learning to real-world challenges and enhancing the employability of graduates. Throughout your learning you will be provided with bespoke careers and employability training.
A key specialism is the training and opportunity to practise how your academic work is engaged within wider social, economic, and policy debates. Upon graduation students will have the experience and skills necessary to become agents of change for a sustainable future and are expected to work across a range of roles.
Graduates of this programme might expect to gain the following attributes:
Opportunities for a work placement or research project to be undertaken within an organisation are available as an alternative to a traditional academic dissertation. Students will identify and secure their own placement but will be facilitated with appropriate support. We have links with numerous organisations who offer placement opportunities to our students including the Met Office.
We have a dedicated, award-winning Careers Service, ensuring you have access to careers advisors, mentors and the tools you need to succeed in finding employment in your chosen field on graduation. We offer the Exeter Award and the Exeter Leaders Award which include employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market. Our graduates compete very successfully in the employment market, with many employers targeting the University when recruiting new graduates.
You will benefit from tailored employability training and exploitation of the Global Systems Institute external partner network, for collaboration on the Dissertation Academic module and placement opportunities for the Dissertation Internship module. This network will also accelerate your search for employment after graduation.
Each year students are able to access a huge range of opportunities when considering their future career options. Recent events have included:
I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people from all over the world and being able to come together to brainstorm and learn about subjects that we’re all really motivated about. I’ve also enjoyed working on real-world challenges as well as having a dissertation project that has the potential to encourage positive change.
The programme has been interdisciplinary in nature and has covered a wide range of subjects. There was also a module where we learnt about innovation and the science policy interface which I found really interesting and insightful.
Charlie
MSc Global Sustainability Solutions
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