Sustainability Transitions, MSc
Introduction
This programme is designed to train the future generation of innovators and thinkers who have the passion and ambition to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and become true sustainability leaders which the world needs.
- This course has both January and September start dates.
Study Information
Study Options
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MSc
- Duration
- 12 months or 24 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- January or September
- Location of Study
- Aberdeen
While societies and economies are embarking on complex transitions to more sustainable practices in order to mitigate climate change and address contemporary environmental challenges, there is a shortage of leaders with appropriate skills and knowledge to take this agenda forward and help make the world a more sustainable place.
Sustainable development – the balancing of environmental, economic and social goals – is the greatest challenge facing the planet today. The transitions to more sustainable forms of production and consumption which organisations, firms, and institutions, as well as entire communities, societies and economies need to undergo to mitigate climate change are, however, far from simple.
Apart from the shift from carbon-intensive systems to less environmentally destructive arrangements based on renewable sources of energy and greener practices, such transitions require corresponding changes in governance structures, institutional frameworks, legal regulations, public perception and consumption patterns.
Moreover, each industry and each community, region, and country faces challenges of a different kind, with the need to reconcile numerous conflicting objectives often remaining the most serious one. Never before has the world needed qualified professionals to lead transitions to sustainability more than now!
To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of what sustainability transitions entail, the programme covers a wide array of topics, addresses challenges faced by different sectors and utilises case studies drawn from different parts of the world – both more and less developed states.
Students are taught not only by academics, but also by experts in a range of fields, including energy transitions, coastal management, land management, tourism, and transport.
The programme includes multiple field trips and visits to organisations that champion sustainable practices, which helps students to engage with government, industry and business.
Available Programmes of Study
The information listed below is the structure followed for September starts. Those that commence the degree in January will study the same courses but in a slightly different order. When a student commences in January, they will undertake the semester 2 courses at the same time as the September cohort of students. The January start students will then study the Semester 1 courses, followed by the summer project.
- MSc
-
Sustainability Transitions
Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month LocationMSc 12 months or 24 months On Campus Learning Full Time or Part Time January Aberdeen MoreMSc 12 months or 24 months On Campus Learning Full Time or Part Time September Aberdeen More
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Fee Information
Additional Fee Information
- Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.
Scholarships
Self-funded international students enrolling on Postgraduate Taught (PGT) programmes for January 2025 will receive one of our Aberdeen Global Scholarships, ranging from £3,000 to £8,000, depending on your domicile country. Learn more about these Aberdeen Global Scholarships here.
From September 2025 all eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.
To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.
How You'll Study
Learning Methods
- Field Trips
- Field Work
- Group Projects
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Research
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
By coursework, by written examination, or by a combination of these, as prescribed for each course. Please see individual course entries in the Postgraduate Catalogue of Courses, or departmental documentation, for further details.
Why Study Sustainability Transitions?
- This MSc is designed to train future sustainability leaders who will have the skills, knowledge and passion to make the world a more sustainable place. Anyone with background knowledge of sustainable development and with a strong motivation to help the planet become more sustainable is welcome to apply.
- The nature and composition of teaching on the programme ensures that the skills students learn can be applied globally, across government, industry and business.
- The programme has been designed in close consultation with a range of relevant organisations, agencies and institutions promoting sustainability transitions.
- The programme combines theoretical knowledge on environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainable development and sustainability transitions with important practical employment-ready skills such as grant preparation, policy development, and project leadership.
- The programme attracts graduates from a wide range of social and physical science disciplines, including existing managers in the industry, which provides an important platform for knowledge exchange and significantly enhances the learning experience which the programme offers.
- Students are taught by academics from different schools and disciplines, as well as experts in a range of fields, which provides students with access to different pools of academic and professional expertise. Some of our closest external partners include Marine Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, SEPA, UK Government Defra, Zero Waste Scotland, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Council, the Cairngorms National Park and a number of local environmental partnerships.
- As part of the programme, students undertake a ‘sustainability project’ - an independent and original piece of research that demonstrates advanced specialist knowledge of a chosen aspect of sustainability. The project is carried out in collaboration with one of our partner organisations.
- With Scotland being an unquestionable leader in the field of sustainability, and Aberdeen being ‘the energy capital of Europe’, there is no better place to learn about sustainability transitions than the North-East of Scotland. The advantage of being based here also derives from the proximity to some of the most important and geographically varied landscapes in the whole UK.
Entry Requirements
Motivation and understanding of this degree is an important factor in securing admission. Your personal statement/statement of purpose should focus on covering the following points:
- Clear understanding of the degree and its underlying principles;
- Previous relevant experience in relation to sustainability;
- Information on how the degree will help with future career development.
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
2:2 (Honours) degree (or equivalent) in Agriculture, Business, Ecology, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Environmental Economics, Environmental Engineering, Forestry, Geography, Geology, Law, Marine Science, Planning, Politics, Sociology, Soil Science, Zoology.
Candidates with degrees in other subject areas will be considered if they can demonstrate interest, aptitude and experience in a field relevant to the application of environmental studies and management.
Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.
English Language Requirements
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Document Requirements
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- CV
- an up-to-date CV/Resumé
- Degree Certificate
- a degree certificate showing your qualifications
- Degree Transcript
- a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
- Personal Statement
- a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
Eligible self-funded Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Explore our Global Scholarships, including eligibility details, on our dedicated pages.
January 2025 September 2025Careers
Graduates of this programme will possess analytical, interdisciplinary and problem-solving skills that are in high demand from all employers, from the largest global corporations, supranational NGOs and national, regional and local governments, to small community-based organisations and sustainable businesses.
Consultants from businesses, government development agencies and NGOs who were engaged in drawing up the programme said:
“I am very impressed by the breadth of topics and skills, and the fact that they are so clearly interlinked.”
“...the new MSc looks really interesting and very pertinent in all sorts of ways.”
“I like the way in which the MSc complements technical environmental knowledge by providing participants with the skills they need to engage with the wider world and ... to function as a manager”
What our Alumni Say
Ezequeil Seillant
Hannah Lawson
Analia Araujo Macedo
Rachel Roberts
Parul Baghel
Adam Kench
Deborah Oduro
Theresa Schwarz
Our Experts
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr Piotr Niewiadomski , The University of Aberdeen
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Features
Numerous Field trips
Recent trips have included visiting community forestry and local economic development initiatives, decision making in local government and coastal management sites.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX