Taught 100 per cent online, study the University of Sussex’s world-renowned MSc Sustainable Development online at a time and place that suits you.
In September 2015, the United Nations adopted 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Aiming to end poverty and hunger while achieving gender equality, peace, responsible production and consumption, urgent climate action, as well as caring for life on land and below water, the Goals are challenging and ambitious.
Meeting the SDGs requires extensive transformations in the way markets, civil society and states work in much of the world. These sustainability transformations will need to be impassioned and practical, bridging different socio-economic sectors, knowledge disciplines and policy silos. They will need knowledgeable social entrepreneurs, engaged scholars and committed political activists, equipped to work across silos and sectors, with suitable interdisciplinary skills.
It is such entrepreneurs, scholars and activists that this distinct Masters aims to empower. Delivered by three of the most proficient research units in this area, the Science Policy Research Unit, School of Global Studies and Institute of Development Studies, this interdisciplinary Masters will help develop conceptual and constructive skills based on interrogating knowledges across multiple disciplines. It will enable you to contribute effectively to the realisation of the SDGs through widespread sustainability transformations.
The University of Sussex has been ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies for the past four years (QS World University Rankings by Subject).
This course is part-time and can be completed in a minimum of two years and maximum of four. Students have the opportunity to step on and off the course, pausing their studies if their work or life commitments require*.
*Maximum study break times apply to this course
Course start dates
There are six start dates every academic year, providing maximum flexibility for our students;
July | September | November | January | March | May
Course content and structure
Studying the Sustainable Development MSc (online), you’ll learn to analyse the politics of sustainable development policies and practices, using different conceptual perspectives and methodological approaches, cutting across a wide range of social science disciplines. You’ll focus on real-world issues such as transforming energy production and consumption, climate-related disasters, agricultural intensification, waste and pollution. You’ll learn how social power and inequalities are implicated in processes of technological development and environmental change. And you’ll explore the conditions under which sustainability transformations are achieved, to tackle social inequalities and environmental degradation.
Teaching is interdisciplinary, incorporating perspectives from economics, political science, science technology and society studies, international relations, anthropology, economics, innovation studies and human geography. Engaging with Sussex lecturers and with fellow students from around the world, you will critically and constructively analyse the work of government, business and civil society actors in sustainable development.
With employability firmly in mind, you’ll take part in both independent and group work, studying sustainable development policies and strategies for international agencies, NGOs, public and private organisations.
Modules
In order to graduate on this course, students must successfully complete all 11 core modules plus one optional module.
Core and optional modules
Sustainable Development: Politics and Policies (core)
Science, Technology and Innovation (core)
Policy Analysis (core)
Understanding the Policy-Making Process (core)
Key Perspectives in International Development (core)
Democratising Science and Technology (core)
Globalisation and the Environment: Capitalism, Ecology and Power (core)
Perspectives, Methods and Skills (core)
Innovation for Sustainability (core)
Market-based Solutions for Sustainable Development: Pitfalls and Possibilities (core)
Decolonising knowledge for Sustainable Development (core)
Critical Issues in Sustainability: Environment, Agriculture, Health
Sustainability in Business Operations and Supply Chains
I have found the teaching very interactive and the academic and non-academic (support) teams very responsive. The organization is such that you never work alone and interactions with fellow students have been high, contributing to a lot of cultural and academic learning and networking opportunities.
- Ibrahim Mustapha, Sustainable Development MSc (online)
Assessments will take place throughout each module and must be completed within the module teaching period for students to progress through the course/to the next module.
A lower second-class (2.2) undergraduate honours degree* or above from any UK university or international equivalent.
Applicants whose first language is not English (and whose first degree was not taught in English) need to supply evidence of IELTS (Academic) Standard level (6.5 overall, including at least 6.0 in each component).
Course fee: £11,750
Cost per module: £980*
Course fees will remain fixed for 24 months from the student’s first enrolment. Thereafter, the course fee will rise at a rate of 2.5% per calendar year (subject to rounding for administration purposes).
Please visit the University of Sussex fees and funding page for more information on funding for master’s students.
We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, we may need to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
Twitter
Watch @JTRoane speak about his book 'Dark Agoras' -spaces of dissident urban visions in Philadelphia in Brighton this week, run in collaboration with the IDS-hosted @future_natures centre
Full recording below 📹👇 https://t.co/V7AO0eHafk