Sustainable Development MA (Hons) Level: Undergraduate Subject: Sustainability Year of entry: 2026 Key facts UCAS Code HL23 Award MA (Hons) Duration of study 4 years Delivery Full-time Study location Central Area Start date September 2026 School School of Social and Political Science College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Study abroad Available Placement No Open days and events Overview About the degree programme Sustainable development refers to the challenges involved in reducing global inequalities while also reducing threats to the planet's systems from industrialised production and consumption.But what sustainable development do we have today? What is its history, how has it developed this way, and what are its possible futures?The social sciences aim to offer insight on the underlying causes of the challenges of our time, including:socialpoliticaleconomictechnologicalculturalUnderstanding the origin of these problems can help us adapt and transform, leading to a more sustainable future. This is especially important as we seek to expand environmental care in relation to:climate stabilitybiodiversitythe renewal of natural resourcesThe goals of the programmeThis multidisciplinary degree programme addresses sustainable development (as an interrelated global and local issue) to examine:how societies organise social, economic and political activitythe social and environmental consequences of current ways of livinghow societies relate to the natural worldthe relationship between current and future generationspatterns of developmentopportunities for social, political, economic and technological changeThroughout our programme we address many different issues and concepts, including but not limited to:social and environmental justicesustainable consumptioneconomic structuresfood systemsenergy technologies and policiesgovernance and democracy How long it takes to complete this degree programme This programme is studied over 4 years.A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2.This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme.How long it takes to complete our degree programmes Programme rankings We are ranked 27th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2025.The University of Edinburgh is ranked 7th in the world and 2nd in the UK in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2025. Programme benefits You can engage with sustainability issues from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, focusing on natural science, social science or a combination of the two. This allows you to choose the programme most relevant for you.The University is ranked 15th in the world and 3rd in the UK for our success in creating a more sustainable world through our research, teaching, partnerships and operations.The University has an outstanding record of world-leading research and our teaching takes a wide range of approaches to sustainability, from across the natural and social sciences. Entry requirements Find your entry requirementsUse the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.Select the qualification you are studying or studied. Where you are studying or where you studied United KingdomAfghanistanAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBhutanBoliviaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanYemenZambiaZimbabweMy country is not listed Qualification - Select a qualification -SQA Highers: standard requirementsSQA Highers: widening access requirementsA levels: standard requirementsA levels: widening access requirementsIB: standard requirementsIB: widening access requirementsOther UK qualificationsMature applicants (including adult returners)International qualifications by country United Kingdom, Fees and funding Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Sustainable Development View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Sustainable Development. Additional costs You may have some small additional costs in Year 3 for compulsory field trips.These costs will vary depending on the location of the trips. If applicable, these would be small transport costs for day trips in south-east Scotland. Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.This estimate covers the costs of:accommodationfoodutility billstravel within Edinburghhealth and wellbeing costsSee a breakdown of living costs Scholarships and funding Funding information You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section. Funding Programme details What you will study You will take core courses in sustainable development alongside core courses in another chosen disciplinary pathway subject. You will also have access to a wide range of option courses to complement and broaden your learning.Our programme is primarily based on social science, although there are options if you wish to pursue natural scientific perspectives on sustainable development. These are not compulsory.Alongside sustainable development, you will choose one or two main subject areas.Currently, these are:geographypolitics and international relationsscience, technology and innovation studiessocial anthropologysociologyThe courses provide you with substantive disciplinary training, theoretically and methodologically. This will empower you to critically engage with sustainable development and its future. Year 1 You will study two compulsory courses:the first will introduce you to the concept and principles of sustainable developmentthe second will consider the way that science and technology shape the relationship between humans and the environmentYou will also choose a main subject area and take two courses from this subject:geographypolitics and international relationsscience, technology and innovation studiessociologysocial anthropologyOn top of this, you will select two further course options from a wide range from across the University. Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 2 In Semester 1 you will study issues of international development planning, policy, and aid.In Semester 2 you will explore key topics and theories of sustainable development from a multi-disciplinary perspective in the social sciences.You will also continue to study courses from your main subject area, and two other courses from a wide choice. Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 3 In Year 3 you are offered a choice of key sustainable development courses where you can focus on exploring a range of critical sustainability issues.You will choose honours-level options as well as receiving research training in your main subject area. You will also study courses from other related disciplines. Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 4 You will complete a dissertation on a real-world sustainable development issue within your main subject area, with guidance from a supervisor.You will also choose honours-level option courses relevant to sustainable development, your main subject area, and from other related disciplines. Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Study abroad You will have the opportunity to study abroad in Year 3 of this degree at one of our partner universities.If international travel restrictions allow, you may be able to choose where you study from our selection of international partners.A study abroad experience will allow you to immerse yourself in a different culture, enrich your learning and enhance your future job opportunities.Your study abroad options Teaching and assessment Teaching You will be taught through a combination of:lecturestutorialsseminarsfieldwork Assessment The programme is assessed through:examscourseworktutorial participationproject work 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.Support for your studies Our academic staff Our people are the most important thing about our subject area. It takes a team of academics, professional services colleagues and PhD students working together to deliver our teaching, carry out our research and keep the department running. Together, they form a supportive community covering a range of professional expertise.You can search for academic staff by name or role on our school website.Search academic staff by name or role Where you will study Study location Teaching on this programme is mostly based at facilities in the central George Square campus. However, there will be opportunities to take courses in other parts of the University, including the King's Buildings campus. Academic facilities You will also have access to the University's library and computer facilities. Career paths and further study Career paths Graduates of this programme will be in demand in areas such as:environmental research and managementenvironmental education and teachingdevelopment and environment campaigning and non-governmental organisation (NGO) workteaching careersnational, international and local governmentenvironmental politicsenvironmental auditingcorporate social responsibilityrisk managementsustainable citizenship 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 decisionsVisit the Careers Service website Further study After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:a masters degreea postgraduate diploma or certificatea PhDa second undergraduate degreeFind out about options for further study Applying How to apply You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.Guidance on applying through UCAS What you need to apply As part of your application, you will need:your academic qualificationsa personal statementevidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)a reference How we select If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.How we select applicants When to apply 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.Search degrees that are open on the UCAS websiteKey application dates and deadlines After you apply After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:How to submit your qualificationsAttend an offer holder eventReceiving our decisionAccepting your offerAfter you’ve accepted your offerIf you have a disability and need more support at university Applying as an international student As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS. Find out more about applying through UCAS Visas and immigration If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme. Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. Applying for a visa Agents An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact. Find contact details for an education agent Life at Edinburgh What our students say Student testimonialsHear about what it is like to study with us, and about life in Edinburgh from those who know it best: our students and graduates.Testimonials from our students and graduatesCheck out our student blogOur team of School of Political Sciences (SPS) student writers share their experiences and thoughts on the things that matter to them on our student blog, for example:writing your first assignmentwhat to do in Edinburgh on the weekendwhat to expect in Welcome Weekliving away from homehybrid learningliving sustainablyOur SPS student blog Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.University accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSports clubsAdditionally, most of the departments in the School of Social and Political Science (SPS) have associated student societies, which are designed to offer you the best chance to develop your interests, network and meet like-minded people.Edinburgh Political UnionFacebook - Edinburgh Political UnionX - Edinburgh Political UnionEmail the Edinburgh Political Union at edinburghpolitics@gmail.comSustainable Development AssociationFacebook - Sustainable Development AssociationX - Sustainable Development AssociationEUSA website - Sustainable Development AssociationEmail the Sustainable Development Association at eduni.sda@gmail.comSociology SocietyFacebook - Sociology SocietyInstagram - Sociology SocietyEmail the Sociology Society at edisociologysociety@gmail.comSocial Anthropology SocietyFacebook - Social Anthropology SocietyEmail the Social Anthropology Society at soc.anth.soc@gmail.comSocial Policy SocietyFacebook - Social Policy SocietyX - Social Policy SocietyEmail the Social Policy Society at ediunisocpolsoc@gmail.comQ-Step SocietyFacebook – Q-Step SocietyEmail the Q-Step Society at edqsoc@gmail.com The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities to daily life, including: sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include:a student counselling servicea health centre (doctor's surgery)support if you're living in University accommodationdedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentHealth and wellbeing support services Contact and events
