Data Science for Sustainability

Entry requirements

You should have an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or above.

Your qualification should be in physics, engineering, science, computing, mathematics or life sciences. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.

Register for our upcoming webinar: Study a Masters in Data Science or AI: Courses and Careers.

Join course lecturers Dr Omar Lakkis, Dr Maxine Sherman and Dr Ivor Simpson to discover our range of Data Science and AI Masters courses at Sussex.

Webinar date & time: 21st May 2026 at 12pm BST. Learn more >

Months of entry

September

Course content

Build in-demand data skills for a digital society that depends on them. Tackle real-world sustainability problems using new technologies.

Why choose this course at Sussex?

Sustainability is one of the most pressing global challenges of our time. Governments, businesses and non-profit organisations depend on data to shape sustainable development policies. These data-driven insights also improve resource use and help reduce environmental impact.

This course addresses the green skills gap identified by the UK Government. You'll learn the analytical and computational skills needed to drive meaningful change.

On this course, you’ll gain the skills to tackle real-world sustainability problems. You will:

• apply computational and mathematical methods to environmental and social challenges
• cover the principles of data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence
• explore applications such as climate modelling, resource use and social impact
• work with large datasets, statistical modelling and programming
• develop critical thinking and analytical skills to understand complex sustainability challenges
• develop confidence to present your findings to stakeholders, policymakers and industry professionals.

Sussex has a strong tradition in interdisciplinary research and teaching. You’ll hear from experts in data science, environmental science and computational modelling. You’ll explore how to apply new technologies to real sustainability challenges.

The course includes guest lectures from industry professionals. You’ll meet experts working in climate challenges, energy, environmental policy and sustainability. These insights will demonstrate how data is used in real workplaces.

You’ll also take part in a career development session. This will help you explore career paths, build networks and develop key skills.

Careers

Your course includes dedicated career sessions to support career readiness. In these sessions, you’ll gain career advice, information on job trends in sustainability and strategies for professional development.

We also have an industry advisory board. The board of professionals from the sustainability industry will:

• provide updates on current trends and developments in the sustainability sector
• assist us to enhance the relevance and quality of our course content
• help with networking opportunities, connecting students with potential employers and industry mentors.

This MSc will prepare you for roles in:

• environmental consultancy
• sustainable finance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) analysis
• environmental modelling and data analysis
• climate and environmental policy research
• data science roles in governmental and non-governmental organisations
• corporate sustainability analytics.