MSc Global Sustainable Development

A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.

The MSc in Global Sustainable Development welcomes applicants from a range of disciplinary backgrounds including, but not limited to:

• biology 
• business or management
• economics
• environmental history
• environmental science
• geography
• mathematics
• politics
• sociology

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application requirements

• A CV that includes your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date
• A personal statement explaining:  
  why you have applied for this course 
  how the course relates to your personal or professional ambitions 
  how your academic and professional background show you have the skills needed to work effectively at postgraduate level
• A sample of your own, single-authored academic written work, such as an extract from a previous project, essay, or undergraduate dissertation (maximum 1000 words)
• Two original signed academic references on headed paper
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates 

For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more

The University of St Andrews’ global reputation makes its graduates highly valued by employers. The MSc in Global Sustainable Development provides subject knowledge and applied skills for a fast-growing sector.

Our MSc is relevant to a range of career paths in government and public bodies, non-governmental organisations and charities, and the private sector. We have dedicated careers support built into the course.

In addition to broadening your subject knowledge and applying established techniques of research and enquiry, you will develop and demonstrate essential skills such as: 

• critical thinking and creativity 
• analysis and appraisal
• writing for different audiences 
• problem solving and decision making 
• personal leadership and project management 
• interpersonal communication and team-working

The University also offers two awards for all students, known as the Saints Skills Awards. You can develop a range of skills through the Skills Builder Award or learn how to articulate them effectively through the Skills Spotlight Award. These skills are highly valued by employers and the awards are a good addition to your CV. 

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Compulsory

The MSc is structured around two compulsory taught modules. 

Semester 1 

• Interrogating Sustainable Development: introduces the origins of the concept, as well as its key critiques and alternatives, using ‘development’ as a broad entry point to a famously vague term. This provides solid theoretical foundations enabling you to identify and critically analyse different approaches to sustainability.

Semester 2 

• Sustainable development: from principles to practice: examines how doing sustainable development research with non-academic partners challenges us to engage with sustainability as an academic, policy and practical concern. We consider how inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development stimulate learning and innovation to address socio-environmental inequalities and vulnerabilities.

Optional

Alongside compulsory modules, students will complete a number of optional modules (normally two per semester). Optional modules allow you to shape the degree around your own personal and professional interests. 

Optional modules change each year but we here are some possible options:

• Contemporary Environmental Management
• Population Change and Sustainable Development: Patterns,
• Processes and Politics
• Capitalism, Development and Environment
• Extractive Environments 
• Green Politics: theory and practice
• Infrastructure
• Sustainable Cities
• Valuing Environments 

Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered. Some may only allow a limited numbers of students.

Project

The final part of the MSc is the end-of-degree project. This takes the form of a period of supervised independent research where you will explore a sustainable development topic of your choice. 

Through the project you will develop your ability to undertake sustained critical analysis, improve your research skills, and produce an extended piece of written work that demonstrates a high level of understanding of your area of study. 

You can choose to present your end-of-degree project in one of the following ways:  

• a policy report and policy brief that emphasises your ability to critically assess sustainable development policy and make convincing recommendations for policy changes 
• a written dissertation that emphasises your ability to plan and execute academically rigorous research (open to students with appropriate methodological experience)

If students choose not to complete the project requirement for the MSc, there is an exit award available that allows suitability qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip). By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MSc.