MSc Sustainable Development

What you will study

All module information is for 2023 entry and is subject to change.

First-year

Core

• Critical Perspectives on Sustainable Development
• Policy Analysis for Governance and Development
• Sustainable Cities
• Dissertation
• Professional Experience (Rotary Peace Fellows Applied Field Experience)
• Voluntary Placement/Internship

Option

• African Politics and Security Dynamics
• Economic Growth and Development
• Security and Development in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Areas
• Theories and Practices in Conflict Resolution
• Issues in Development Theory
• Social-Ecological Systems and Crises
• Natural Resource Governance
• Gender, Conflict and Development
• Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
• Africa Study Visit
• Assessing Development Practices Needs and Outcomes
• Environment, Trafficking, and Crime: Transnational Issues and International Governance
• Finance for Development

Learning and assessment

In addition to lectures, seminars, and classroom and virtual learning tools (Blackboard) based learning, there will be small group activities, both assessed and unassessed (formative), which allow you to develop and reinforce collaborative learning skills.

The program is intended to:

• Develop your knowledge and comprehensive understanding of concepts, theories, and frameworks of sustainable development and their application in policy and practice.
• Develop your skills to analyze, synthesize, and critique current and emerging research and practice and critically appraise evidence using insights at the forefront of the discipline and practice.
• Advance your knowledge and understanding of skills and techniques to develop innovative ideas and originality in the application of knowledge about sustainable development policy and practice for your own research and advanced scholarship.
• Develop your skills to formulate and independently investigate a complex issue related to sustainable development by developing appropriate research questions critically evaluating evidence to answer such questions and communicating your findings at an advanced level.
• Develop your autonomous learning skills for lifelong learning to become even better at being an independent learner and critical and creative thinker.
• Further, develop your skills in communicating complex ideas and issues to different groups of stakeholders.
• Equip you with the knowledge and skills to become a reflective and critical practitioner and work as an effective team member in culturally diverse groups and teams.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programs. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work, and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans by exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programs, there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Career prospects

This program is likely to help boost the career opportunities for those seeking to work in and develop future leaders of local, national, and international organizations and in the corporate sector about corporate social responsibility. The program develops a wide range of skills and a deeper understanding of sustainable development issues which can help create an edge for the graduates to apply their knowledge and policy analysis skills in a variety of settings.

Full-time

• 14 months January start
• 12 months September start

Part-time

• 27 months January start
• 24 months September start