MLA College

MSc Sustainability in Practice

MLA College delivers innovative distance e-learning courses for the global marine industry. Their range of education and training products include short courses, undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in subjects including hydrography, meteorology, oceanography and sustainable maritime operations.

Their award-winning Total Learning Package allows students to study University of Plymouth approved programmes whilst remaining in their own jobs and learning at their own pace.

MLA College is a young, ambitious organisation with a commitment to the highest-quality education and professional development. It is a privately-owned company limited by shares. The shareholders are BAU Global and IMarEST.

Putting students first, MLA College has a particular focus on distance and blended learning and strives to continue to develop its expertise in the use of technology to enhance student learning.
Key features

Aimed at senior to mid-management this programme is designed for leaders, managers and individuals in charge of teams or workplace sustainability.

Eager to learn, develop and drive organisational change in the world of sustainability, you will have the opportunity to undertake a 12-month research project that will explore your workplace or community challenges as well as create authentic and sustainable solutions that can be implemented.

The process will start with a planning phase. We will ask you to plot a course of creating sustainable changes to your workplace or community, and then roll your sleeves up and get on with it. This is why it is called Participatory Action Research – it is about you getting involved and taking part in the making of change, not just ‘directing traffic’. Along the way, we will talk about designing evaluations, creating objectives, dealing with conflict, considering others.

You will, first-hand, create authentic and sustainable solutions to problems your working environment needs investigating to the successful achievement of at least one SDG. You might not get there fully by the end, but you will reflect upon the process and identify opportunities for future projects. However, you will have made a start, maybe a small one. But by doing so, you will have left the world of talking about sustainability behind and taken active ownership of some part of a sustainable future.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Action Research Project (MLA728)

    You will have the opportunity to undertake a 12-month research project that will explore your workplace or community challenges as well as create authentic and sustainable solutions that can be implemented.

    You will, first-hand, create authentic and sustainable solutions to problems your working environment needs investigating to the successful achievement of at least one SDG.

    Core modules

    • Action Research Project (MLA728)

      The module actively involves students in experiences that benefit their wider community or organisation. It focuses on students working within the sustainable development field, undertaking work that is mapped against at least one UN SDG. Arguing for the benefits their work brings, reflecting upon their experiences and critical incidents, students gain real world insight into the challenging nature of work in this area.

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.
Entry requirements

Applicants must meet one of the below criteria:

  • A Postgraduate Diploma, or equivalent, in a related subject area.
Or
  • Relevant work or life experience in a relevant subject area.
And
Where an applicant presents with appropriate experience, this may be taken into account in lieu of certificated qualifications, regardless of age. However, it should be noted that due to the nature of the programme, students should already be in leadership type roles that allow them to attempt change within their study context, be that work or community. Thus a level of seniority and responsibility is required to successfully complete this work.

Fees, costs and funding

The UK is no longer part of the European Union. EU applicants should refer to our Brexit information to understand the implications.

For the latest information regarding programme fees please visit: https://www.mla-uk.com/course-prices-payments/fees-header/tuition-fees

How to apply

To apply for the course please fill in the online application form on the Marine Learning Alliance website.

Admissions tutors for the MLA College will check all applications thoroughly, and may also arrange an interview (usually by telephone or Skype), in order to assess your suitability for study. Offers are based on the information provided in the application documents and interview (where appropriate).

If you have any further questions or would like to discuss any aspect of studying with MLA College, please contact the Marine Learning Alliance.

Our partnership with MLA College
The University of Plymouth has developed partnerships with institutions around the world with the sole purpose of making higher education more accessible to those people who need something just a little different.

Our Academic Partnerships enable students to enrol for a degree at a partnership institution closer to home, or engage in distance learning – even when they’re in the middle of the ocean. They are there for those people looking to return to education, or enhance their professional development. Full- or part-time; foundation degree to masters-level – we cater for a huge variety of needs and aspirations.

Many of our partners offer specialist degrees, unique facilities, and smaller class sizes at a competitive price. And as a student of two institutions, you get the best of both worlds; a supportive learning environment as part of a close-knit community, and a university-level qualification awarded by the University of Plymouth. You’ll enjoy not only the facilities and services your partnership institution provides, but also all of the additional support and resources you need from us, and you’ll automatically become a member of our Students’ Union, too.

We are continuing to grow the number of partner institutions and expand our academic community to new locations around the UK and overseas. Why not visit the Academic Partnerships page on our website for a full list of partners and for more details on studying with us?

One of our partners delivers this particular course – so please visit their website for full course details, entry requirements, tuition fees and information on what student life is like there. 

Open days

Partner college open days

This course is run at one of our partner colleges. Open days are held at the college and more details of these can be found on the college website. You'll find contact details below, on this page.

University of Plymouth open days

You are also very welcome to attend a University of Plymouth open day, to get a flavour of the courses you can progress to from a partner college. There will however be limited information on this specific course and college.

MLA College

The MLA College has developed blended distance e-learning programmes that are perfectly suited to marine professionals seeking advancement of skills and qualifications without having to attend university full time.

We have developed a flexible syllabus that meets the growing market need for part time study that fits around your working patterns.

Find out more about the MLA College