Climate, Sustainability and Social Transformation MSc

Transform your understanding of the global climate crisis. Explore its systemic roots and develop your skills to catalyse social and environmental change.

This interdisciplinary course is designed to further your understanding of the root causes and effects of worldwide climate and sustainability challenges, and how to devise constructive strategies to counteract them.

You’ll explore how solutions that foster social transformation and advance environmental sustainability can be shaped. This will put you in a strong position to pursue a range of careers in expanding fields like climate policy and environmental sustainability.

Our planet's climate crisis is deeply rooted in social, political, and economic factors. This combination requires transformative and holistic approaches to engage with power, inequality, and social change in an effective way.

During this course, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills needed to respond to these rapidly changing environments. You’ll examine how global systems of capitalism, colonialism, and extractivism have shaped the climate crisis, and delve into the governance mechanisms, policy frameworks, and meaningful climate actions being used in efforts to work towards sustainable and just futures.

By engaging with perspectives from across the social sciences and humanities, you’ll deepen your understanding of the complex questions we face as a global society and learn how to devise effective approaches to counteract them.

Whether you are a graduate aiming to make a difference in the world, or a professional wishing to deepen your knowledge and critical thinking, this course is for you.

## Choose a consultancy project or dissertation

The course culminates with either a dissertation or consultancy project. Both options allow you to apply your learning to an in-depth piece of work and demonstrate your progress through the course.

If you choose the dissertation, you’ll conduct appropriate research focused on a relevant theoretical or empirical topic that aligns with your interests and aspirations.

The consultancy project is your chance to work on a project with an external organisation which addresses a real-world challenge they are facing.

Working alone or as part of a group, you’ll conduct appropriate research, analyse data (if necessary) and share your solution as a written report and presentation.

You will benefit from our well-established business connections across fields like environmental and sustainability policy and climate advocacy, as well as related sectors, both in the UK and overseas.

Consultancy project numbers are limited each year. You’ll apply for a suitable project with one of our external partners and will receive support from us during this process. If a suitable project can’t be secured, you will complete a dissertation instead.

## Graduate prospects

During this course, you’ll develop a well-rounded skill set. You’ll enhance your abilities in areas like research, analysis and communication, while also building career-focused skills suitable for many different professional roles.

This will provide you with an excellent grounding for careers in the expanding field of climate change and environmental sustainability, such as:

* Environmental policy: governmental and non-governmental organisations focused on shaping climate policy

* Sustainability consulting: advisory positions in corporate or public sectors, guiding sustainable practices

* Climate advocacy and communication: campaigning, public awareness, and education roles within NGOs, media, or community organisations

* Research and academia: further research or academic careers, including doctoral studies in humanities and social science, environmental studies, and policy research