Course overview
Sustainable development is a topical and fast-growing field with a lot of opportunities to make a real difference in the world. Through our Sustainability, Environment and Development MSc, you’ll investigate the challenges associated with achieving development that is environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. You will gain the knowledge, skills and practical experience to allow you to become an interdisciplinary leader who can think critically and contribute practically to enhance sustainability policy and action.
The programme is led by the Sustainability Research Institute, which has a well-established approach to applying social-ecological systems and participatory approaches to understanding sustainability challenges and co-creating solutions. We use the same framing, providing high-quality transdisciplinary training through research-led teaching on issues where the need for economic development, social equity and environmental conservation meet. The MSc brings together expertise from the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability, School of Politics and International Studies, and professional partners to provide many different perspectives on these issues.
This course draws on theories from both the social and natural sciences, as well as from professional practice, and is therefore relevant to candidates from a range of backgrounds. Primarily, this is a social science programme grounded in a critical framing of sustainability and development through teaching in social-ecological systems thinking, an understanding of biogeophysical limits, environmental policy, and global inequalities.
We strike a unique balance between fundamentals and practice, embedding professional skills and field courses for all students. Through our programme you’ll have the chance to network through our connections with key players in environment, development and sustainability worldwide.
Once you graduate, you’ll be fully equipped with the extensive knowledge, skills, and practical experience sought after by both the public and private sectors to deliver solutions in critical areas like sustainable economic development, climate change adaptation, governance of natural resources, and conservation.
Why study at Leeds
- Learn the latest most pressing social and environmental sustainability challenges and proposed solutions from the research conducted across five globally-renowned research institutes right here in our School of Earth and Environment which feeds directly into the course.
- Experience expert practical and theoretical teaching delivered by a programme team made up of researchers covering the social sciences, economics, development studies, environmental management and conservation from within the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability and the School of Politics and International Studies.
- Conduct your own significant individual research project, taking advantage of our collaborative links with sustainability, environment and development organisations across the UK and internationally.
- Build your skills in systems thinking, critical analysis, leadership, problem solving, communication and interdisciplinarity.
- Advance your knowledge in key areas like global inequalities, evolution of development theory, resilience, climate change, conservation, environmental policy and governance of natural resources.
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Course details and modules
Early in the course, you'll gain an advanced understanding of the key theoretical, conceptual and practical debates within the sustainability-environment-development field. Learning diverse perspectives and systems thinking, you'll critically evaluate mainstream ideas of sustainable development and environmental management, as well as sustainability challenges and solutions.
Throughout the programme, you'll form a deeper, more specialised understanding of challenges in sustainability, environment and development in the space of climate and environmental governance and policy. You will learn professional skills that transfer to multiple careers, such as communication, participatory methods and project management.
Throughout, you'll be taught through lectures, seminars, and workshops and will approach topics from different angles thanks to the interdisciplinary nature of academics from both the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability and the School of Politics and International Studies. You'll also be able to apply what you have learned thus far to real-world scenarios through case study work in class and the field course, where you will engage in reflexive learning, dialogue with stakeholders, and develop your ability to critically reflect on the application of academic concepts and theory to practice.
You'll then apply your learning to your own individual research project, where you’ll work with a dissertation supervisor, producing an original piece of cutting-edge research on a topic of your choice.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.
Compulsory modules
Global Development and Public Governance (30 credits)
Discuss the object of development through a series of lectures and seminars that focus on theories and practices of global development and public governance. This module explores competing views and expressions of global development with a focus on intersecting inequalities. This lays the foundations for critical analysis of poverty, access to basic services, education, health, livelihoods and the environment, focused through the lens of public governance. This develops knowledge and understanding of complex multi-sectoral and multi-level governance challenges.
Perspectives on Sustainability, Environment and Development (15 credits)
Develop a well-grounded understanding of the key theoretical, conceptual and practical debates alongside issues within the sustainability-environment-development field. This module describes diverse perspectives on how social, economic, and environmental issues have evolved and shape development processes in both the Global North and Global South. It embeds systems and critical thinking throughout, so you can critically evaluate mainstream ideas of environmental management and development, as well as sustainability challenges and solutions.
Environmental Politics, Policy and Governance (15 credits)
Apply appropriate theories and insights from theory to understand how contemporary human-environment interactions are governed, who has what roles and how to evaluate governance and policy. Investigate how the various discourses and practices of environmental governance are socio-politically produced and contested by a range of actors and institutions to produce particular and contingent environmental policy and social outcomes.
The module explores political, governance and policy mechanisms within and across international, regional, national, and local levels, and illustrates these ongoing processes through the use of practical examples and case studies from both the Global North and South.
Professional Skills for Sustainability, Environment and Development (15 credits)
Learn relevant employability skills from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and practice related to sustainability, environment, and development. Through the module, you’ll gain a critically engaged understanding of professional practice in sustainability and develop a range of professional skills for future career paths. You'll build a set of key transferable and employability skills such as communications, proposal writing, project management, policy analysis, rapid reviews and cultural sensitivity.
Sustainability, Environment and Development Field Course (30 credits)
During the programme, you’ll participate in a unique field course, providing crucial experiential learning in a field where context is key. The field course links academic, community, and stakeholder perspectives, allowing you to begin to understand how both theoretical concepts and real-world challenges intertwine when addressing sustainability and development. The field course supports critical reflexivity on the nature of development to address sustainability with a focus on justice and inequity, centred around development in a rural landscape (previously in Tanzania). You'll further your research and professional skills, dealing with issues of ethics, power, and co-produced development research and practice. Through both group and individual work on a particular focal topic, you’ll develop, apply, and/or be directly exposed to the application of participatory methodologies and critically reflect on their value in developing new understanding.
Research Skills (15 credits)
Explore what defines social science as a knowledge production system, as well as the existence of different research paradigms and strategies. You’ll build an understanding of the relationships between theory, conceptualisation, method, hypotheses or research questions, evidence and measurement in the context of social sciences, as well as issues related to objectivity, generalisability, reliability and utility of research. You’ll also become familiar with appropriate social sciences research designs (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) and build the common research skills relevant for the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data that will help support your dissertation project – and your future professional career.
Research Project (60 credits)
You'll apply the knowledge and skills you developed in both semesters 1 and 2 to a research project. Under the guidance of your supervisor, you’ll define, plan and investigate a research question in a subject area that interests you. Through this project, you’ll build invaluable skills in collating, critically analysing and carrying out research. You’ll produce a research paper and accompanying dissemination product for a relevant stakeholder, demonstrating your diverse communication skills alongside other transferable skills in time management, working independently, and organisation, which will prepare you for your future career – whether that be in academia or industry.
Learning and teaching
You'll learn through teaching methods selected to help you develop subject-specific and transferable skills. To foster a stimulating and inclusive learning experience, classes are structured to contain a range of activities – lectures, practical workshops, discussion, field trips, guest speakers, policy simulations, computer lab sessions, research seminars and project work (individual and group work).
The research-intensive environment of the School ensures that course material is both up-to-date and research-led – meaning that we train you using our current research so you can learn what questions to ask, how to read unfamiliar data and, ultimately, how to tackle the big questions in the field so that you can join the leaders of tomorrow. We also embed research-based teaching - practical exercises focused on real-world scenarios case studies and data that allow you to experience enquiry-based learning. This allows you to explore methodological approaches, software and topics before choosing a dissertation topic. You'll also learn the scientific and rational principles and processes behind the practical approaches used in the world outside academia so that you are equipped to address the challenges of today and tomorrow through multiple career paths.
You'll have support through your dissertation tutor and be assigned a personal tutor, who will maintain contact with you throughout the year and offer pastoral guidance. They will help you to settle into the University and clarify any procedures, as well as helping you prepare for employment upon graduation.
Professional links
We have successful and productive links with many partners with different perspectives on sustainability, environment and development. You'll come into contact with our network of partners throughout the course.
In addition, staff members in the Sustainability Research Institute and the School of Politics and International Studies maintain their own network of contacts, and your dissertation project provides you with an opportunity to build on these links.
We will also support and encourage you to develop your own links so that you can collaborate with institutions that might be beneficial for your future career progression.
In the past, students have worked with companies, UK-based charities, international development organisations, government departments and international universities. Recent students have worked with Brunei National Energy Research Institute, ASDA (food waste), Tullow Oil Company, and The International Rice Research Institute. Others have joined ongoing research projects in SRI.
Through the field course, you'll also have the opportunity to learn in-depth about a local context through the people living and working there, which enables you to look at the real world beyond just concepts and may be useful for your own networking.
Programme team
You'll be taught by a world-leading team of researchers covering the social sciences, economics, development studies, environmental management, climate sciences, and conservation from within the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability and the School of Politics and International Studies. Many are also members or affiliates of research centres, such as:
- Centre for Global Development
- Leeds Centre for African Studies
- Priestley Centre for Climate
- Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy
- Sustainable Cities Group
- Water@Leeds.
Our team of experts are active in national and international research and policy, such as the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the World Commission on Protected Areas and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
We use a diverse range of assessments that will develop and showcase your skills and abilities. Assessments might include academic and professional written work, presentations, rapid evidence reviews, diagramming, policy analyses, and written exams. Additionally, your final Masters research project will be in the form of a journal article with an accompanying dissemination product, the form of which is your choosing.
Applying
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in any subject.
We also encourage you to apply if you have a 2:2 (hons), relevant work experience or professional qualifications. We take a flexible and inclusive approach and consider every application on its individual merits.
International
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks).
We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional.
You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.
How to apply
Please visit our How to Apply page for full details of the application process and the supporting documents required as part of your application.
We encourage all applicants to apply as early as possible.
Application deadlines
- International applicants: Friday 30 July 2027
- UK applicants: Friday 10 September 2027
To apply, click the button below to access the University’s online application system.
International applicants can find further information on visas, immigration requirements and student support on our International students pages. We recommend applying as early as possible to allow sufficient time for visa processing before your programme starts.
If you're still unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2027
This course is taught by
School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability
Contact us
School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability Postgraduate Admissions Team
Fees
UK: £14,400 (Total)
International: £31,300 (Total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Additional cost information
Standard travel and accommodation costs associated with compulsory field trips are covered by the University. However, you must pay for some subsistence, incidental or personal expenses such as suitable clothing, footwear and any related visa costs associated with overseas travel.
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Learn more about Masters funding.
Scholarships are also available to help fund your Masters. Find out more and check your eligibility below:
Career opportunities
Studying our Sustainability, Environment and Development MSc will give you a holistic and in-depth understanding of some of the greatest challenges faced globally — alongside a skill set that is sought after by employers and highly transferable across a range of careers. The types of opportunities open to you as a specialist in this field will no doubt be rewarding, with the potential to take you all over the world.
We typically find that graduates assume or continue careers in sustainability, environmental management, or development research, practice, and policy. Our alumni work in the research, public and private sectors and within local, national and international institutions.
This course is ideal if you want to continue on from undergraduate studies, are looking for a career change, or if you’re keen to enhance your existing skill set so that you can progress in your career in industry or academia.
Our graduates have secured positions including:
- Senior Research Officer, Climate Change Third World Network
- Policy Officer, Endangered Landscapes Programme
- Civil Servant, DEFRA
- Field Environment Advisor, Tullow Oil Kenya
- Global Ambassador, Raleigh International
- Environmental Advisor, London Mining PLC, Sierra Leone
- Consultant, Sustainability Consultancy — Canada
- Advisor on Agricultural Pollution, Natural England
- Global Programme Manager, Renewable World
- Sustainability Consultant - BREEAM, EDCM Consulting.
Top 10 most targeted for 10+ years
by the UK's leading employers
Careers support
At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one.
Our Careers Service has the global expertise and sector-spanning industry partnerships that, combined, go wel beyond simply helping you get a job. They provide you with the resources you need to upskill and achieve the future you aspire towards – even in the face of lightning-paced change.
- Dedicated Employability Team – meet with our qualified careers consultants and specialist employability and placements officers, on hand to help you choose the right path and develop the skills to get there. They can support with CV and cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile building, mock interviews and navigating AI: get confident with tailored advice and techniques.
- Employability and networking events – get involved in a full range of events, including careers fairs and specialist industry talks with employers who are actively recruiting. You’ll also benefit from mentoring and a supportive careers community, helping you make connections, build your network, and shape your journey as a future professional.
- Skills training – we embed transferable skills training in all our programmes to support your transition to the workplace. Gain expertise employers value, such as communication, problem-solving and research and data analysis.
- MyCareer system – access a dedicated portal where you can book careers appointments, view helpful resources and browse vacancies and events. Access digital tools, including LinkedIn support, video interview preparation, plus global job market and visa guidance. We also offer pre‑arrival support to help you prepare for career planning in the UK and make the most of your time with us.
- Exclusive opportunities – bring your enterprise to market with our award-winning business advice service, Spark. Apply for vacancies only available to our students. And hone your skills further with Leeds University Union, home to volunteering opportunities and over 300 clubs and societies.
Explore more about your employability opportunities at the University of Leeds.
Work placements and industry experience
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As a Masters student at Leeds, you’ll have the unique opportunity to gain real-world industry experience with our Global Industry Programme.
You’ll develop key professional skills and gain invaluable insight into working in your chosen field, helping to solve a real business problem from a live company brief.
This experience will enhance your CV, helping you stand out in the competitive graduate jobs market and improving your chances of securing the career you want.
Benefits of the Global Industry Programme:
- Fully online and designed to fit around your studies.
- Opportunities to make professional networks in areas such as digital marketing, business growth, sustainability and funding strategy.
- Gain valuable insight and build consultancy experience with a UK or international organisation, working on a time limited brief.
- Work as part of a team across disciplines to tackle real business needs.
- Advance your experience and hands-on skills by putting the course teachings into practice.
- Improve your employability prospects.
- Make new friends, build confidence and consider your future plans.