Global Sustainable Development (Taught)

How will we tackle ongoing global challenges? Join our MSc programme – Global Sustainable Development.

Transformative change is widely advocated by global organisations, such as the United Nations, as a roadmap towards a more sustainable future.

Despite progress in many aspects of global development over recent decades, 690 million people experienced hunger in 2020. Degradation of our natural resources – land, water, forests, and biodiversity – continues at alarming rates. These challenges are exacerbated by climate change and violent conflicts in many parts of the world. Tackling these challenges and ensuring a sustainable future will require Transformative Change (TC) – change that is disruptive, systemic, occurs at relatively large scales, and involves a reconfiguration of technology, economy, institutions, and society.

Our Global Sustainable Development MSc will provide you with an in-depth understanding of Development Studies theory and practice, including different conceptions of human, societal and environmental changes. Drawing on real-world-lessons from various domains (economic, environmental, social, and institutional), sectors (agri-food, energy, education, and financial services) and contexts (developing and developed countries), you will develop the capacity to critically discuss, analyse, and evaluate TC. You will develop hands-on skills in sustainable development design and planning, project management, research, and impact evaluation methods, and familiarity with systems modelling and relevant software. The MSc will enhance your communication, networking and community-engagement skills.

What you should know about this course

• This MSc course is run by the Natural Resources Institute – a specialist organisation with a focus on development-related research, teaching, consultancy, and community engagement

• Receive personalised teaching from a team of world-leading researchers and development practitioners with experience of working with the World Bank, UN, CGIAR, NGOs, etc

• NRI’s extensive global networks & ongoing research projects in 30+ countries will provide you with opportunities for practitioner-based learning

• You will receive one-to-one care and mentoring and be part of a vibrant and diverse postgraduate student community

• Course content is focused not only on what the world’s sustainable development challenges and potential solutions are, but also on ‘how to make changes happen’.