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Environmental Sciences at UEA
Find out more about studying Environmental Sciences at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMSc Sustainability and Society with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
4th
UEA is ranked 4th overall for research quality in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisCourse Overview
Why MSc Sustainability and Society with a Placement Year at UEA?
Develop the knowledge, skills and experience you need to lead the creation of sustainability solutions that work for everyone. Learn how to tackle sustainability’s social challenges with our MSc Sustainability and Society, combining theory, practice, and real-world impact.
Why Choose UEA
- Global experts: Learn from internationally-renowned experts in a school ranked first in the UK for research quality in Geography and Environmental Science
- Real-world impact: Action-oriented teaching allows you to work with external organisations to apply cutting-edge ideas to real-world situations
- Tailor your degree: Carve your own path by applying core training in sustainability and society to the sustainability challenges you’re passionate about
What is MSc Sustainability and Society with a Placement Year?
Achieving sustainability is primarily a social challenge that will demand complex changes in human decision-making, values and behaviours. This MSc is designed for students who want to understand the social issues at the heart of today’s sustainability challenges.
You’ll acquire advanced knowledge and skills in social sustainability, such as behaviour change, public engagement, citizen science, policymaking and more. Our action-oriented approach will enable you to collaborate with external partners and apply your learning to real-world challenges.
You’ll study on UEA’s beautiful campus,(opens in a new window) part of a university at the forefront of sustainability initiatives for over 50 years. You’ll learn from internationally renowned experts working at the cutting edge of global efforts to improve social engagement with sustainability.
Placement Year
Add an integrated placement year to your MA and gain valuable UK industry experience as part of your master’s degree. This opportunity allows you to apply your academic knowledge in a professional environment, develop workplace skills and strengthen your career prospects after graduation.
As part of your studies, you’ll complete an employability programme designed to prepare you for the UK workplace. Through workshops, practical activities and personalised support, you’ll develop the skills and confidence needed to secure and succeed in a placement opportunity.
During your placement year, you’ll have the opportunity to complete an industry placement or undertake three employer-led industry projects with different UK organisations. You’ll gain hands-on experience, build your professional network and develop a deeper understanding of your chosen sector.
You’ll take the lead in finding your placement, supported by employability workshops, one-to-one coaching and guidance from our specialist placement partner.
If you’re unable to secure an industry placement, you’ll complete three employer-led projects with organisations across a range of UK sectors, giving you the opportunity to work on real-world challenges and gain valuable practical experience.
Discover our postgraduate placement year opportunities(opens in a new window) and take the next step towards your future career.
Careers
Career Pathways
With an MSc Sustainability and Society degree, you could launch a career in:
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Sustainability policy: Analyse sustainability policies, generate evidence, work with communities, and influence decision-makers to advocate for more just and sustainable policy approaches
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Public and community engagement: Building positive relationships, communicating proposals, and engaging communities in decision-making to create sustainability solutions that work with and for society
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Behaviour and organisational change: Understanding psychology, social systems and organisational cultures to develop strategies that reduce environmental impacts and achieve long-term sustainability outcomes
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Sustainability and environmental management: Developing and delivering sustainability strategies, improving social and environmental performance, helping organisations reduce their impacts and deliver on sustainability goals
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Environmental consultancy: Advising diverse organisations on developing environmental strategy, managing environmental risk, assessing environmental impacts and delivering sustainable solutions across sectors
Career Support
Career support and the development of advanced employability skills is embedded in the design of the Sustainability and Society MSc. Core modules include built-in collaboration with external organisations to develop sustainability solutions and reflect on their implementation. This allows you to put theory into practice and understand the real-world challenges of achieving sustainability. You’ll develop practical skills and professional networks preparing you to become future leaders in sustainability.
Also, UEA Career Central will support you by offering advice and mentorship. They also offer careers fairs, internships, skills sessions and talks as well as a range of external employability events.
After the Course
Green jobs are one of the fastest growing employment areas, and emphasis is increasingly placed on how to engage society in sustainability transformations. Upon graduation, you’ll be well-positioned to pursue career options related to sustainability and society across a wide range of sectors including business, consulting, government and NGOs. This MSc Sustainability and Society course also provides a strong foundation for those wishing to pursue PhD-level study.
Study and Modules
Structure
Our MSc Sustainability and Society with a Placement Year is a two-year master’s programme designed for ambitious students and professionals looking to develop advanced knowledge and practical experience in sustainability.
Combining specialist taught modules, an independent research dissertation and a dedicated placement year, the programme enables you to explore the complex relationship between society, the environment and sustainable development while gaining valuable professional experience.
Core modules will introduce you to the key ideas and skills necessary to understand the relationships between sustainability and society. These modules will include practical experiences where you’ll work alongside partner organisations to apply the skills you’ve learnt to real-world problems and initiatives. You’ll then be able to broaden this core learning through a range of optional modules allowing you to specialise and pursue specific sustainability topics that align with your interests and career goals in diverse areas such as energy, water, transport, AI and emerging technology, nature conservation, international development, food and agriculture, and much more.
Throughout the year, you’ll also develop the research, methodological, and analytical skills necessary to complete a research dissertation. You’ll be closely supported by an expert Faculty member to develop your own research project proposal and conduct research on any topic you choose that is related to sustainability and society.
The taught and research-based components of the programme will enable you to develop a wide range of skills that are in high demand among prospective employers across multiple different sectors.
As part of your studies, you’ll complete an employability module designed to prepare you for your placement year and support your transition into the workplace. Through workshops, practical career development activities and personalised guidance, you’ll develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the UK job market.
You’ll build essential employability skills, including CV writing, interview preparation and professional networking. Successful completion of this pass/fail module is required to progress to your placement year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll complete a placement module that gives you the opportunity to gain professional experience relevant to your discipline. During the first semester, you’ll focus on securing a placement with support from dedicated employability specialists and a programme of in-person workshops to help you plan your career, identify opportunities and reflect on your professional development.
If you’re unable to secure a placement, you’ll complete three employer-led industry projects with different organisations, allowing you to gain practical experience and work on real-world challenges.
The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis through a portfolio documenting your placement search and a reflective report on your placement or industry project experience.
By the end of the year, you’ll have developed valuable workplace skills, gained insight into your chosen sector, expanded your professional network and enhanced your confidence as you prepare for the next stage of your career.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
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Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
You’ll be taught by world-leading experts that are conducting the very research you’ll be learning about.
Lectures will introduce you to the key concepts and ideas you’ll need to understand interactions between society and sustainability.
Seminars and practical sessions will help you to learn-by-doing and apply the concepts you’re learning to real-world sustainability challenges.
You’ll develop key skills in research, innovation, critical thinking, communication, project management, teamwork and leadership, boosting your employment prospects on graduation.
You’ll also benefit from dedicated support from our Learning Enhancement Team and Student Support services, helping you access guidance and resources throughout your studies.
Assessment
Each module has its own assessment tasks, specifically designed to evaluate your achievement of the learning outcomes. You’ll experience a range of assessment methods such as essays, policy briefs, reflective practice, presentations, class tests, and exams. The tasks are often highly engaging and practical, giving you the chance to practice skills that will be immediately applicable to subsequent careers. The MSc culminates with a dissertation where you’ll develop a project focused on your personal research interests and career goals.
You’ll receive regular feedback on your work through formative assessments designed to give you guidance and allow you to speak with tutors before completing the summative assessment that counts towards your degree.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject related to geography, social science or physical science. Strong applicants from other backgrounds with experience relevant to Sustainability and Society are also encouraged to apply.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Any subject related to geography, social science or physical science. Strong applicants from other backgrounds with experience relevant to Sustainability and Society are also encouraged to apply.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each component.
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.(opens in a new window)
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £12,350
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International Students: £25,700
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.