Sustainability, Environment and Development MSc

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, who have a well-established approach of 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 and Environment, 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, and 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 a professional skills and field course 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.
• Advance your knowledge in key areas like global inequalities, evolution of development theory, resilience, climate change, conservation, environmental policy and governance of natural resources.
• Build your skills in systems thinking, critical analysis, leadership, problem solving, communication and interdisciplinarity.
• Conduct your own significant individual research project, taking advantage of our collaborative links with sustainability, environment and development organisations across the UK and internationally.
• 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 and Environment and the School of Politics and International Studies.

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 and Environment 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 Inequalities and Development – 30 credits

Discuss the object of development through a series of lectures and seminars that focus on global inequalities. The module intends to give the student an understanding of why and how the world’s inequalities produce advantages and disadvantages in development. The module starts by discussing the origins of development, economic, social, and the political inequalities that lay the foundations for discussions about poverty, education, health, gender and the environment. The module ends by discussing if and how social movements can claim rights and thereby challenge global inequalities.

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 illustrate 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.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Sustainability, Environment and Development MSc in the course catalogue

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 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 provide 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 and Environment 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.

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 social sciences such as (but not limited to) international development, geography, politics, sociology, environmental management, sustainability, environmental science, or in a related subject.

Applicants with any of the following will be considered on a case-by-case basis:

• A bachelor degree with a 2:2 (hons), or equivalent, where applicants can demonstrate relevant work experience or aptitude in a relevant specialist field.
• Professional qualifications and relevant experience.

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

Application deadlines

Please read our How to Apply page for full details, including application deadlines and what to include with your application.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

31 July 2025 – International applicants

12 September 2025 – UK applicants

Click below to access the University’s online application system and find out more about the application process.

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 2025

This course is taught by

School of Earth and Environment

Contact us

School of Earth and Environment Postgraduate Admissions Team

Email: apply-masters@see.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £14,000 (Total)

International: £30,500 (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.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

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,gl and international institutions.

Plus, University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2024, High Fliers Research, meaning our graduates are highly sought after by some of the most reputable companies in the field.

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

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one — that’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers. The University's Careers Service is one of the largest in the country, providing a wide range of resources to ensure you are prepared to take your next steps after graduation and get you where you want to be.

• Dedicated Employability Officer — gain quality advice, guidance and information to help you choose a career path. From CV and cover letter writing to supporting you with job applications, our School’s dedicated Employability Officer is on hand to help maximise your capabilities through a process of personal development and career planning.
• Employability and networking events — we run a full range of events, including careers fairs and industry talks in specialist areas and across broader industries, with employers who are actively recruiting for roles, giving you the opportunity to network and engage with industry sponsors. 
• Employability skills training – to support your transition to the workplace, we embed training in a range of key transferable skills valued by employers such as research and data analysis in all our programmes.
• MyCareer system — on your course and after you graduate you’ll have access to a dedicated careers portal where you can book appointments with our team, get information on careers and see job vacancies and upcoming events.
• Opportunities at Leeds — there are plenty of exciting opportunities offered by our Leeds University Union, including volunteering and over 300 clubs and societies to get involved in.

Find out more about careers support.