Careers with this subject
Key features
- Gain broad-based, vocationally focused training led by expert academic staff with industry experience, in an enthusiastic and interactive learning environment that includes a residential field course.
- Tailor your studies for the career you want – from environmental agencies and consultancies to local or central government and research – and take your place shaping the pioneering policy and projects of the future.
- Focus on the aspects of sustainable environmental management that you feel most strongly about, with an individual research project and accompanying dissertation.
- Work side by side with experts from across the Faculty of Science and Engineering and Plymouth Business School – which were rated as ‘internationally excellent’ in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014.
- Benefit from our local, national and international sector connections as part of a respected and active research community that includes groups such as the
Marine Institute – the first and largest of its kind in the UK. - Add value to your qualification by studying on a programme accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)* – the benchmark for high-quality programmes recognised internationally by learners and employers.
- Balance your work commitments and further education with the opportunity to study part time for a masters-level qualification.
- By enrolling on our MSc you will become a student member of IEMA and on graduation you will be entitled to become a professional member using the suffix GRADIEMA.
- A diverse and respectful place in which to work and study is fundamental to everything we do. Find out more about
equality, diversity and inclusion in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science .
Course details
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Programme overview
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Exploring topics that span the natural and social sciences, you’ll gain vital insight into the whole spectrum of environmental management issues – from law and ethics to impact assessments, freshwater environments and climate change to contaminated land, river basin plans to marine regulations. We've designed the programme flexibly to equip you with an in-depth understanding of the essential theories, as well as practical fieldwork and industry experience.During the first two semesters of this one-year programme, you’ll study a range of core and optional taught modules – from international environmental policy making to options like climate change: science and policy or economics and the environment. These modules are designed specifically for this degree and you also undertake a placement, complemented by fieldbased experiential learning to provide an interdisciplinary foundation to environmental management. In the final semester you’ll complete an independent dissertation project. Throughout your studies, we’ll support you in gaining the research and professional skills to help you get the most from the programme – and launch a successful career.
Core modules
GEES515
Professional Practice in the Environmental SectorThis module examines the place of sustainability and environmental management in modern business practice, and prepares students for professional work experience in semester 2. It also provides students with a critical understanding of the principles, ethics and methods of environmental law and regulation, and examines the role of economics in characterising and addressing human interaction with the environment
GEES516
Science, Society and Environmental GovernanceThis module provides students, firstly, with a critical understanding of key debates in the principles, ethics and methods of both scientific and societal understandings of environmental issues. Secondly, the module makes a critical examination of the systems of governance and policy-making that have been established to regulate resource management, environmental degradation and nature conservation.
GEES517
Environmental AssessmentThis module examines current legislation and guidance on, and methods of, environmental assessment, focussing on strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and environmental impact assessment (EIA). Through critical investigation of case studies, students will learn how to use methodologies to evaluate impacts on environmental receptors and communicate outcomes, including impact statements, to professional standards.
GEES520
MSc DissertationThe student will complete an independent research project that they have designed in semester 1 as part of their research skills development. The record of the research will communicate the project aims, research problem, methodology, data analysis, interpretation, discussion/synthesis and conclusions in the format specified and to a professional standard.
GEES500
Professional Placement ExperienceThis module provides an opportunity to experience professional practice via work experience with a company / host organisation. It will allow you to apply and develop your subject skills and knowledge, learn more about professional careers within the sector aligned to your degree, develop contacts with potential employers, and refine your career aspirations.
GEES536
Environmental Knowledge: From Field to StakeholderThis module reviews qualitative and quantitative research methods relevant to professional and academic investigations in the field of policy-making, planning, management and consultancy in the built and natural environments. It encompasses the complete lifecycle of research (design, planning, data collection, knowledge dissemination and application), including stakeholder engagement across these stages.
Optional modules
ENVS5002
Investigation and Assessment of Contaminated EnvironmentsStudents are introduced to the scientific principles underpinning pollutant behaviour in the environment including the use of modelling and the process of site investigation and risk assessments. Students undertake a risk assessment of a contaminated site using literature and field investigation. Case study examples are used to highlight environmental consultancy approaches to site investigation and evaluation.
GEES506
Climate Change: Science and PolicyThis module explores the science and policy of climatic change, including lessons from the past and the relevance of past climates to the global warming debate. We question climate change detection and attribution, feedbacks and uncertainty in climate change. We explore political actions through international political agreements and national policies and adaptation strategies and management of change in the UK
Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.
The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:
Entry requirements
Fees, costs and funding
New student | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 |
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Home | £10,400 | £10,700 |
International | £19,800 | £20,400 |
Part time (Home) | £580 | £590 |
Tuition fee discount for University of Plymouth graduates
- 10% or 20% discount on tuition fees for home students
- For 2024/2025 entry, a 20% discount on tuition fees for international students (International alumni who have applied to the University through an agent are not eligible to receive the discount)
Postgraduate scholarships for international students
How to apply
When to apply
Before you apply
- evidence of qualifications (degree certificates or transcripts), with translations if not in English, to show that you meet, or expect to meet the entry requirements
- evidence of English language proficiency, if English is not your first language
- a personal statement of approximately 250-400 words about the reasons for your interest in the course and outlining the nature of previous and current related experience. You can write this into the online application form, or include it as a separate document
- your curriculum vitae or résumé, including details of relevant professional/voluntary experience, professional registration/s and visa status for overseas workers
- proof of sponsorship, if applicable.
Disability Inclusion Services
International students
Submitting an application
What happens after I apply?
Telephone: +44 1752 585858
Email: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Admissions policy
Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022*
Scholarship
My journey towards becoming an environmental biochemist
"I have always wanted to go into the environmental and earth sciences. Combining this programme with my undergraduate degree in biochemistry gives me a wide range of knowledge. After I graduate, I plan to get a job using my degree."
Discover facilities in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Employment and work placement
MSc Sustainable Environmental Management has proved very attractive to employers because of the vocational relevance of the teaching programme in tackling the environmental issues of the 21st century.You will gain knowledge, training and skills, e.g. Environment Impact Assessment, which are in high demand in the environmental sector.
Our work placements have proved very successful with up to 20% of graduates from our programme annually securing employment through their placement providers.
Staff profiles
Professor Ian Bailey
Dr Jessie Woodbridge
Research community
As part of the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, we contribute to a strong collective of research groups – so you’ll benefit from insights into work at the forefront of the sustainability sector.
Academic staff
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Professor Ian Bailey
Professor of Environmental Politics
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Dr Tim Daley
Associate Professor of Physical Geography
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Dr Paul Lunt
Associate Professor in Environmental Science
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Dr Kim Ward
Lecturer in Human Geography
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Dr Souran Chatterjee
Lecturer in Energy Transitions -Environmental Management & Sustainability
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Dr Jessie Woodbridge
Lecturer