MSc Environment and Global Development
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Are you passionate about making development more sustainable? Do you want to understand how environmental issues affect poverty alleviation? Are you a natural resource specialist? If so, this course is for you.
Our dynamic MSc Environment and Global Development programme offers a unique interdisciplinary approach. All environmental issues derive from natural processes, but they’re influenced by social and political factors too. A key focus of our MSc is on the political ecology approach to understanding the debates and policy processes underpinning global responses to environmental and natural resource problems.
Interest in the global environment and development has never been so intense. Environmental issues and problems have long been on local and national agendas, but increasingly over the last 30 years, they’re on international agendas too. On this vibrant one-year full-time Master’s course, you’ll study natural processes, social issues and political implications, developing your own unique viewpoint.
You’ll explore the interaction between the environment and global development by analysing policy processes at local, national and international levels. You’ll look at a large cast of actors – including policy makers, politicians, business administrators, and rural and urban resource users – to see how they interact. Plus, you’ll develop a wide range of critical and constructive skills, analytical techniques and contextual knowledge to advance your understanding of these complex processes.
You’ll graduate equipped with a wide range of knowledge and transferable skills, unlocking opportunities for a variety of rewarding careers both in and beyond international development.
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What is Global Development?
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Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll be provided with a solid understanding of political ecology theory which will enable you to thoroughly analyse environmental and development problems.
After a brief introduction to key theoretical concepts in political ecology, you’ll review key contributions to major policy fields in environment and development. You’ll do this in a series of reading seminars, covering agriculture and biotechnology, climate change, conservation, fisheries, forestry, water management and other fields. You’ll also take part in a workshop on the role of policy in political ecology.
You’ll explore how sustainable development can be achieved in a way that both protects the environment whilst pursuing development that benefits the poorest. Often those who benefit least from development projects are most vulnerable to the costs of development, such as pollution of rivers and loss of land, yet they have little say in development decisions. You’ll be introduced to important tools and frameworks used by researchers, government agencies, businesses and non-governmental organisations for managing environmental and natural resources for sustainable development.
You’ll learn to critique and apply a range of the most widely used tools. Examples that have been covered previously include:
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Livelihoods Analysis
- Climate Vulnerability Assessment
- Geographical Information Systems
- Participatory Decision-making
- Scenarios Methods.
You’ll be taught through workshops and practical sessions, lectures and, travel restrictions allowing, study visits within Norfolk. There's an emphasis on putting concepts and tools into practice and understanding how environmental assessments guide management actions. Both individual and team projects will be important. You’ll gain confidence and skills in applying and critiquing the leading tools and frameworks used by sustainable development professionals.
Understanding global environmental change provides you with an interdisciplinary introduction to environmental change, and its relationships with development. You’ll gain a critical understanding of social constructions of cause-and-effect relationships in environment and development issues, including an understanding of scientific assessments.
A range of optional seminars and workshops are also offered during your Master’s programme for the teaching and strengthening of your skills. Sessions to support learning – particularly essay and dissertation writing – occur throughout the year. Development practice training is also provided.
You’ll have the option to either research a dissertation or take part in a Development Work Placement.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Credits: 20)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.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
Teaching methods include mainly lectures and seminars. Your lectures will include a range of interactive tasks and activities. The creative use of technology is also widespread, for example through visual representation of empirical evidence in international development (e.g. through statistical programs). Other examples include the use of online reading materials and lecture screencasts.
Through seminar group work and presentations, you’ll also be able to develop transferable skills such as articulating an argument both orally and in writing and presenting academic information in a lucid and cogent manner.
Independent study
You’ll read suggested academic articles and books, submitting assignments as specified for each module. Your independent study will give you the chance to prepare for in-class sessions and assignments and concentrate on the areas that interest you the most.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed using a variety of methods, including presentations, essays, exams and an optional dissertation. Further assessment methods will also differ depending on the optional modules you choose.
You’ll also receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which will help you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.
You’ll be encouraged to prepare essay plans or outlines in advance of essay deadlines, and to discuss these with the relevant lecturer during their office hours or via email. In addition, you’ll typically receive oral and/or written feedback on an initial coursework assignment well in advance of your deadline for the main coursework assignment.
Finally, the dissertation enables you to develop specific research skills such as conducting research using primary and secondary data, researching specific topics and questions, thinking critically, and linking theoretical concepts to practical issues.
Employability
After the Course
Previous graduates from the School of Global Development have gone on to work for the British High Commission in Ghana, British Civil Service, CARE International, European Union, Overseas Development Institute, Oxfam, Save the Children International, UNITAR in Japan, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF and WaterAid.
Upon completing your MA, you can pursue a variety of potential careers both in and beyond global development.
Depending on your degree outcome, you'll also be well qualified to enter a PhD programme with a view to continuing to an academic career both in the UK and overseas.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- International organisations
- Governmental and non-governmental organisations
- Local governments
- Private sector
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
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
Social Science
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
- 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
Social Science
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
- 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):
-
IELTS: 6.0 overall (with minimum 6.0 in Writing & Speaking and 5.5 in Listening & Reading)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
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UK Students: £10,850
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International Students: £22,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional 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.
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
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.