Data Driven Sustainability (Online Learning) PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Veterinary Medicine Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study Online learning Part-time intermittent study PgProfDev | 2 years | Start date: multiple dates PgCert (ICL) | 2 years | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies College College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Programme website Data-Driven Sustainability website Accreditation Not available Apply now 15 October: Postgraduate Online Learning Essentials Find out what it’s like to study online at Edinburgh, with insights into learning, community and the support available to online postgraduate students. Register now Open Days on Demand Dive into an extensive selection of programme-specific session recordings hosted by our Academic and Professional Services staff. Watch the recordings Overview About the degree programme Data is absolutely everywhere - it is all around us and continually growing. Huge data sources are increasing exponentially, but there are too few people with the specific skills and understanding to process the abundance of information available to inform the best ways forward in tackling pressing global challenges.This qualification trains students in the use of data-driven approaches to inform practice, decision-making and policy relating to planetary health and sustainable futures.Planetary health is defined as the health of human civilisation and the state of the natural systems on which it depends.Science is often used to support decisions that have profound economic, social and environmental impacts. Good decision-making is fundamental to achieving policy aims, and science should be used as an instrument to evaluate proposed ways of reaching those aims; this is policy-led decision-making.This qualification puts science under a planetary health and sustainable futures lens. An emphasis on translating policy aims into manageable scientific questions is a particularly distinctive, and possibly unique, feature among the University's courses on science and policy. Study options This programme allows progression from individual courses to the Certificate phase. It is also possible to enrol on individual courses as standalone study.The programme is designed to be taken part-time at 20 hours per week, with the flexibility to complete in longer time frames if required.PhaseDurationCreditsCertificate1-2 years60Individual courses*up to 2 yearsup to a maximum of 50*Individual courses are also referred to as Postgraduate Professional Development (PGProfDev). Programme benefits Build a personal portfolio of skills and knowledgeMentoring and online discussion from teachers and researchers who are specialists in their fieldAccess to high-quality interactive online resources/e-journals and online textbooksDevelop and enhance transferable technological skills in digital learning environmentsThe University of Edinburgh has been delivering online degrees since 2005, with more than 11,000 graduates from over 180 countriesWe are experts in online learning and have a strong track record of providing the best experience possible, working closely with academic teams to design a fully online degree that works well for both the educators and our students. Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Part-time intermittent study PgProfDev Data Driven Sustainability (2 years) tuition fees PgCert (ICL) Data Driven Sustainability (2 years) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Payment for individual courses It is possible to pay for the programme on a course-by-course basis. Deposit You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme. Funding opportunities Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent in a life science or social science. We may also consider your application if you have less than a 2:1, or if you have a degree in another discipline, if you can demonstrate three or more years of relevant professional experience. Relevant experience should be detailed in the Personal Statement section of your application. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details What you will study The Certificate is designed to be tailored to your particular areas of interest. Certificate phase60 creditscompleted in 1-2 yearsTime expectation20 credit courses are delivered in two blocks of five weeks with one week of independent study and reflection time in between.10 credit courses are delivered over one block of five weeks.Each 10 credits of study represents 100 hours of study and a time commitment of 20 hours per week. Compulsory courses Core coursesCourseCreditsMaking science relevant to policy and decision making20Understanding planetary health and data10 Option courses Elective coursesStudents can select from a broad range of elective courses to create a tailor-made learning portfolio.Below is a selection of popular elective choices.CourseCreditsAn introduction to One Health20Ecosystem health10Food policy10Foundations in nutritional epidemiology10International animal welfare science20One Health risk communication and preparedness20Sustainable food production20Individual coursesPostgraduate Professional Development (PGProfDev) is the study of individual courses from within a degree programme.It is aimed at working professionals who want to upskill in a specific area but do not want to commit to a postgraduate qualification. You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses from within this degree over two years. Credits can also be put towards further study; however, any time spent taking courses will be deducted from the amount of time you have left to complete the higher award. Individual courses available within this programme Find courses for this programme Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed. The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme. Part-time intermittent study PgProfDev Data Driven Sustainability (2 years) (2025-2026) PgCert (ICL) Data Driven Sustainability (2 years) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Disclaimer Optional, or elective, courses listed are a selection of popular choices of students on this programme.Course availability is dependent on the number of students, and availability of places on non-programme owned courses. We cannot guarantee that all courses will be available to all students each year. Teaching and assessment Teaching Courses are taught and completed entirely online. The varied teaching includes:online lecturestutorialsspecialist external lecturesgroup discussionscase studiesproblem-based learning scenariosliterature-based researchquizzes Learning outcomes The aim of the Certificate programme is to train you in the use of data-driven methodologies to inform practice, decision-making, and policy relating to planetary health and sustainable futures.On completion of the qualification, in the context of data-driven sustainability, you will be able to:Demonstrate a critical understanding of a range of theories, concepts, and principlesApply knowledge, skills and understanding using a range of skills, techniques, or practicesApply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues/developments/researchCommunicate using appropriate methods and/or applications to specific audiences, which may have different levels of knowledge/expertiseTake responsibility for the identification, selection and use of appropriate resources and develop the ability to work autonomously or work with others in relation to professional, research and equivalent activities. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Online learning How online learning works The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online postgraduate programmes since 2005 and is the largest provider of online programmes in the prestigious Russell Group of universities.Online learning is aimed at people who want to study for a postgraduate qualification alongside ongoing personal and professional commitments. Most of our students continue in their employment while they study.The varied teaching may include:online lecturestutorialsspecialist external lecturesscientific group discussionscase studiesproblem-based learning scenariosliterature-based researchcomputer-assisted learningquizzesOnline students not only have access to Edinburgh's excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.Find out more about the benefits and practicalities of studying for an online degree:Postgraduate online learning Watch our video to see how online learning works. Time commitment This programme is designed to be fully flexible to fit around your schedule. You can study in your own time and access all your learning resources, such as reading lists, discussion forms and slides from anywhere in the world. If there are live online sessions, you can watch a recording later in the virtual learning environment at a time convenient to you. Typically, you will need to dedicate around 20 hours per week to your programme, although managing this is up to you. This may also vary from course to course, and the time commitment may increase when assignments are due. Equipment and software needs To study this online programme, you will need access to: a computer or laptop the internet the latest version of a web browser As an online student, you will have access to a range of software you can download to help you complete your coursework, including Microsoft Office 365. IT support is available if you have technical difficulties. IT and computing help Support for online students Support for online students is given as much emphasis as for our on-campus learners. The learning technology is fully interactive and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.A dedicated e-Learning team ensures the programme runs smoothly and the programme is supported by an experienced team of academic and administrative staff. Each student is also provided with a Student Adviser. As an online student, you will have access to a range of support services throughout your time at university if you need them.These support services include:academic support servicesebooks and ejournals within the librarythe disability and learning support serviceEnglish language supportskills development courses on LinkedIn Learningemail-based sessions delivered by the Counselling Servicesupport for students who are parents Careers and further study Career opportunities You will gain skills and knowledge that will equip you to pursue careers in a variety of sectors, including:governmentnon-governmental organisations (NGOs)third sector policyfinancial investmenthealth and nutritionThe courses offered within the Certificate are primarily aimed at upskilling or reskilling those already working in a related industry. As such, many students will already have established careers.This qualification may contribute to your employability and career progression by providing you with up-to-date research-based education and data skills that are attractive to employers across sectors focused on data, AgriTech and policy. Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying How to apply You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin. When to apply Programme start date Application deadline 14 September 2026 21 August 2026 We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including references and transcripts.If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, please upload that evidence as soon as you have it. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. You must submit one reference with your application. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -PgProfDev Data Driven Sustainability (2 years)PgCert (ICL) Data Driven Sustainability (2 years) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Contact Academic contact Dr Steph Smith Postgraduate Director Contact details Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
