MSc Sustainability

Our Sustainability MSc will empower you with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking tools to lead the way to a more sustainable future in business, government, and society.

With this MSc Sustainability, you’ll develop leading-edge knowledge of the key sustainability challenges we face and the scientific and policy issues that underlie them. During the course you’ll develop your understanding of the role of complex environmental, economic, and social systems and acquire the tools and methods to investigate them. This new knowledge and your skills will enable you to help create a more sustainable future. Key topics include Sustainability concepts, system resilience, tools and methods for sustainability, and sustainability leadership for individuals and organisations.

This sustainability masters degree is delivered in partnership with the Eden Project in Cornwall and the Global Sustainability Institute (GSI) at ARU. This collaboration brings together sustainability expertise in theory and practise. The GSI delivers teaching by academics at a world-leading research institute, committed to developing practical solutions to complex global issues. The Eden Learning team delivers first-hand experience from a world-renowned visitor attraction and educational centre, an innovative vision built from the ground up, with sustainability at its core. You’ll explore the latest academic studies as well as practical application of the theory from a sustainable business model, with additional insight from a host of expert guest speakers.

As part of the MSc Sustainability, you will undertake a 200-hour work placement which is a fantastic opportunity to put your developing skills into practice, promoting sustainable change in a real-world environment. We will help you arrange a suitable work placement, if you do not already have one, and support you in the workplace. The work placement takes place between February and July.

Towards the end of the course, you’ll undertake your own piece of research, a Major Project on a sustainability topic of your choice. This is a great opportunity to produce a piece of work focused on an element of sustainability that you’re particularly interested in or passionate about.

Our online sustainability course is open to graduates from all disciplines and attracts students with backgrounds in the arts, science, health, finance, and business. The course is also designed for students of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

You’ll be assessed through reports, essays, presentations, outline plans and designs, and your dissertation.

What could a Sustainability MSc do for my career?

Due to the ever-changing world that we live in, as well as the growing threat of climate change, sustainability is becoming an increasingly important issue for companies of all industries and sizes. They are having to work harder on their corporate social responsibility and adapt their business models to a changing physical world, changing consumer expectations, whilst communicating their sustainability credentials. This means that sustainability experts are in high demand, both as consultants for smaller firms, and in house advisors at larger companies.

Our MSc Sustainably gives you the option to tailor your studies to your own location in the world, and topics that you are passionate about, meaning that you’ll be better placed to secure a career, or boost your existing career close to home if you so wish. This will perfectly place you to support both national and local projects that not only benefit your local community, but in turn have a positive impact on the global stage.

The relationships you build with your peers on this online sustainability course, along with the connection you make with experts at the Eden Project and Global Sustainability Institute, will aid in your networking as your career grows.

What job roles can I consider with a masters in sustainability?

A Sustainability MSc could lead to a wide range of career advancement opportunities within various industries. The ability to tailor many of your assignments within this course means you can decide to become a specialist in one area of sustainability, or you may choose to diversify the topics you explore and gain a more general overview of sustainability projects and systems. These are just some of the job roles that a Sustainability MSc graduate may consider, possibly with further training or experience depending on the role:

• Environmental Consultant
• Sustainability Consultant
• Environmental / Sustainability Manager
• Environmental Education Officer

If you are looking for more information about these job profiles and potential salary earnings see Prospects.ac.uk. It’s important to note that salaries can vary widely depending on the job role, employer, industry sector and location.

What skills will I get from MSc Sustainability to help my career?

You’ll enhance your CV with a higher-level award that includes both deeper knowledge of the subject, and added transferable skills and interdisciplinary knowledge such as:

• Develop your initiative and personal responsibility
• Advance your leadership skills
• Work as part of a team
• Progress your communication skills, including be able to present complex Ideas
• Develop independent study techniques and research skills
• Enhance your reflective self-analysis in terms of your professional development

What can I study after a masters in sustainability?

Successful MSc students, who particularly enjoy engaging with the academic environment and who wish to pursue academic careers in lecturing and/or research, may progress to doctoral study at Anglia Ruskin University or elsewhere.

Careers Advice Service

Once you become an ARU student you will be able to access our Employability service to help you at whatever stage of your career, whether that’s landing your dream job or the next progression step.

We offer:

• careers advice, including one-to-one online and telephone appointments with our experienced advisers
• help with your CV, job searches, applications and interview preparation
• an online portal packed with useful careers resources
• our Employability Programme, which helps you hone the skills employers say they want in graduates.

• You’ll need a First degree at 2.1 or above. Prospective students with non-standard entry qualifications are advised to discuss their personal position with the course tutor before applying. The University may require submission of appropriate documentary evidence before any application is considered. The diversity of the student group is an important part of the learning process and is a reflection of the wide scope of the subject material.
• If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
• As a distance learner, you'll also need a suitable computer with internet connection, together with sufficient IT competence to make effective use of our online learning management system (LMS) with high-speed internet and email.

Fees

The full tuition fee for this masters in sustainability is £10,000.

The course fees you pay each year will be between £5,000 and £10,000 depending on how long you take to complete the course. You can choose to study our Sustainability MSc in either 1 or 2 years.

Accredited Prior Learning may reduce the tuition fees. This will be confirmed once your application has been submitted.

Funding

Your course can be fully funded by the Postgraduate Student Loans now available (subject to eligibility).

We offer payment by instalments, so you can spread the cost of studying with us.

For military students: You can use your ELCs towards this course. Anglia Ruskin University is a recognised ELCAS provider (number 1007). Please contact your Learning Centre for details of ELC, eligibility and how to apply.

For more information on how you fund your studies please see our funding page.