Sustainable Development

Entry requirements

All applicants are considered individually on merit, although we usually require a 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Our MSc Sustainable Development takes a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to exploring the economic, environmental, and social issues surrounding sustainability policy. We take a practical and problem-based approach to learning, focusing on both the study of sustainable development and its implementation in a range of professional contexts. This balance between theory and its application is designed to enhance your career and employment prospects. You will discuss and analyse the outcomes of recent policy making, e.g., the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development; specific policy areas such as biodiversity, climate change, and forests; and social enterprise. Additionally, a range of optional modules will allow you to cover wider debates in fields of climate change, energy policy, risk management, and the environment.

This Masters is based on the Penryn Campus in Cornwall—an exceptional place in which to study issues related to the environment and sustainability. The duchy is a living laboratory offering a diverse range of marine and terrestrial habitats, a wealth of natural resources, and creative and resilient communities. 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.

Information for international students

If you are an international student, please visit our international equivalency pages to enable you to see if your existing academic qualifications meet our entry requirements.

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

Overall score 6.5. No less than 6.0 in any section.

TOEFL IBT*

Overall score 90 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking.

Pearson Test of English (Academic)

58 with no less than 55 in all communicative skills.

Fees and funding

Learn more at the fees and funding page.