MSc Environmental Sustainability

Our world faces many environmental challenges, whether with ongoing climate change, biodiversity loss, uncertain food security, natural hazards, or pollution. We need a new generation to understand the urgency of the problem and guide us on a more sustainable trajectory.

With the MSc Environmental Sustainability, you will gain knowledge and first-hand experience of key environmental sustainability challenges, such as the energy transition, food production, flooding, and conservation. You will learn their broader social context, how they are defined and monitored and what solutions can be implemented at a local level. Taught by our world-leading experts, you will discover how both problems and solutions can be scaled up from the local to the global and so unlock the potential to seed transformative change. The skills you will gain match those being sought by a growing number of employers across the public and private sectors and will equip you to make a difference.

Who is the programme for?

For recent graduates or professionals who want to gain expert knowledge and understanding of sustainability, who want to show leadership in protecting and restoring our environment, and who want to progress their career and their passion for improving livelihoods.

Looking ahead to employability

This programme will provide training in techniques such as sustainability assessment, carbon accounting, institutional analysis, systems thinking and policy evaluation. Throughout this degree, you will also:

• Develop your research, writing and communication skills
• Gain skills in communicating to varied audiences
• Develop important interpersonal skills such as negotiation and diplomacy

What to expect

You will develop your own specialist subject knowledge and skills in relation to the meaning, interpretation and application of sustainability concepts in different local, national and international contexts.

Through a series of core and optional modules, you will explore alternative theories and perspectives of environmental sustainability. By engaging in constructive debates, assessing policies and evaluating the success of new initiatives in relation to climate, energy, water, land for example, you will develop a deep and critical understanding of the field.

Thanks to Lancaster’s surroundings, including the Lake District, there is a rich variety of environmental case studies on our doorstep. This means you will gain first-hand experience of ongoing environmental sustainability controversies, challenges and initiatives. Examples include lake pollution at Windermere, habitat restoration and rewilding initiatives, the energy transition from coal mines to renewables and innovative waste management schemes.

Three things we’d like you to know

• Our internationally renowned experts share both a global vision and rich knowledge of our own local environmental landscape, being situated on the doorstep of the English Lake District – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that continues to inspire new ideas about the relationship between humanity and its environment
• What we teach is interdisciplinary. We blend academia, research, public policy and industry to bring you the most up to date perspectives and deliver a Master’s that opens career options
• As a student you are part of Lancaster Environment Centre. It’s a welcoming community of researchers, scientists and industry professionals working to address the many environmental challenges facing the world

Flexible study options

Study alongside work and other commitments by taking this course on a part-time basis. Running over two years, you take a selection of the modules each year.

We will liaise with you over your choice of optional modules and your schedule, so that you can successfully balance your work and other commitments alongside the Master’s programme.