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Master of Arts (with Honours) - MA (Hons)
Sustainable Development
University of Edinburgh
Entry requirements
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Sustainable Development course at University of Edinburgh.
Select a qualification to see required grades
A level
A,A,A
AAA. Required subjects: A levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
Tuition fees
| Location | Fees |
|---|---|
| England | £9,535 per year |
| Scotland | £1,820 per year |
| Wales | £9,535 per year |
| Northern Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| Channel Islands | £9,535 per year |
| Republic of Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| EU | £28,000 per year |
| International | £28,000 per year |
Course summary
What this course is about
UCAS code: HL23
Here's what University of Edinburgh says about its Sustainable Development course.
Sustainable development refers to the challenges involved in reducing global inequalities while also reducing threats to the planet's systems from industrialised production and consumption.
But what sustainable development do we have today? What is its history, how has it developed this way, and what are its possible futures?
The social sciences aim to offer insight on the underlying causes of the challenges of our time, including:
-
social
-
political
-
economic
-
technological
-
cultural
Understanding the origin of these problems can help us adapt and transform, leading to a more sustainable future. This is especially important as we seek to expand environmental care in relation to:
-
climate stability
-
biodiversity
-
the renewal of natural resources
This multidisciplinary programme addresses sustainable development (as an interrelated global and local issue) to examine:
-
how societies organise social, economic and political activity
-
the social and environmental consequences of current ways of living
-
how societies relate to the natural world
-
the relationship between current and future generations
-
patterns of development
-
opportunities for social, political, economic and technological change
Throughout our programme we address many different issues and concepts, including but not limited to:
-
social and environmental justice
-
sustainable consumption
-
economic structures
-
food systems
-
energy technologies and policies
-
governance and democracy
How the programme works
Students will take core courses in sustainable development alongside core courses in another chosen disciplinary pathway subject. You will also have access to a wide range of optional courses to complement and broaden your learning.
Our programme is primarily based on social science, although there are options for students wishing to pursue natural scientific perspectives on sustainable development. These are not compulsory.
Course details
Qualification
Master of Arts (with Honours) - MA (Hons)
Department
School of Social and Political Science
Location
Central area campus | Edinburgh
Duration
4 Years
Study mode
Full-time
Subjects
• Physical geography
• Social anthropology
• Sociology
Start date
September 8, 2025
Application deadline
January 29, 2025
University of Edinburgh reviews
Showing 108 reviews
1st year student
I love our student union, I think it is a great space and a good bar, however the student union club could do with a bit of work, making it more accessible and having a range of music. The drinks are a good price, and food deals are welcomed!
1 year ago
1st year student
Campus is sociable and vibrant during the day and in the evening. There is lots to do throughout the week, but I do feel that this dies down quickly. I think overall it is very good, but that there could be better communication in showing students what is out there. rn
1 year ago
1st year student
I haven't been made aware of financial support offered, but I know there is it out there, so potentially it could be advertised more. I would say that the university is adding to rising prices of 1st year student accommodation- not helping living in a city where renting student flats is already very...
1 year ago
1st year student
I have had good communication with my student advisor, and have no complaints. However, I feel I have not needed to communicate lots with academic support, so maybe I am not the best representative. The same goes for welfare services.
1 year ago
1st year student
These are great! The main library could be slightly larger or have more seating areas, just as it is often difficult to find a seat. But I love all the other libraries available, and the fact that our main one is 24/7.
1 year ago
1st year student
I personally enjoy my course, but feel as if first year has been very broad. I understand all things need to be covered, but potentially there could be an evaluation of things everyone has learnt across Higher Scottish exams, A-level and international qualifications, to limit going over unnecessary ...
1 year ago
National Student Survey (NSS) scores
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
The Sustainable Development course at University of Edinburgh features content from more than one subject area. Using the options below, you can see ratings from students who took courses in each of these subject areas at this uni
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
84%
med
Teaching on my course
84%
med
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
76%
low
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
93%
med
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
80%
med
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
88%
high
Learning opportunities
69%
low
Learning opportunities
69%
low
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
80%
low
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
69%
low
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
63%
low
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
85%
med
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
45%
low
Assessment and feedback
59%
low
Assessment and feedback
59%
low
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
77%
low
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
67%
low
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
53%
low
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
48%
low
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
48%
low
Academic support
78%
low
Academic support
78%
low
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
82%
med
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
74%
low
Organisation and management
75%
med
Organisation and management
75%
med
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
77%
med
How well organised is your course?
73%
med
Learning resources
82%
low
Learning resources
82%
low
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
76%
low
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
91%
med
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
83%
low
Student voice
60%
low
Student voice
60%
low
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
38%
low
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
80%
med
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
61%
low
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
62%
low
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course.
72%
low
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
64%
low
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
81%
low
Teaching on my course
81%
low
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
66%
low
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
89%
low
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
80%
low
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
91%
low
Learning opportunities
72%
low
Learning opportunities
72%
low
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
88%
med
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
73%
low
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
71%
low
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
79%
low
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
48%
low
Assessment and feedback
51%
low
Assessment and feedback
51%
low
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
77%
low
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
60%
low
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
43%
low
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
28%
low
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
48%
low
Academic support
76%
low
Academic support
76%
low
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
84%
low
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
68%
low
Organisation and management
64%
low
Organisation and management
64%
low
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
70%
med
How well organised is your course?
59%
low
Learning resources
88%
med
Learning resources
88%
med
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
88%
med
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
91%
med
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
88%
med
Student voice
63%
low
Student voice
63%
low
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
37%
low
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
82%
med
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
69%
low
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
64%
med
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course.
79%
med
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
60%
low
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
88%
med
Teaching on my course
88%
med
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
86%
med
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
95%
med
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
81%
med
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
88%
med
Learning opportunities
80%
low
Learning opportunities
80%
low
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
97%
high
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
72%
low
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
76%
low
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
90%
med
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
67%
low
Assessment and feedback
66%
low
Assessment and feedback
66%
low
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
74%
low
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
76%
low
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
72%
med
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
40%
low
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
71%
med
Academic support
86%
low
Academic support
86%
low
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
86%
low
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
86%
low
Organisation and management
64%
low
Organisation and management
64%
low
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
65%
low
How well organised is your course?
65%
low
Learning resources
89%
med
Learning resources
89%
med
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
85%
low
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
95%
med
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
86%
med
Student voice
58%
low
Student voice
58%
low
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
29%
low
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
80%
med
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
67%
low
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
49%
low
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course.
67%
low
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
72%
med
Student information
The Sustainable Development course at University of Edinburgh features content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below to find out about the students taking courses in each of those subject areas at this uni.
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| Geography | A | |||||
| Biology | A | |||||
| Mathematics | A | |||||
| Chemistry | B | |||||
| History | A | |||||
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| Geography | A* | |||||
| Biology | A | |||||
| English Literature | A* | |||||
| History | A | |||||
| French | A | |||||
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| Psychology | A | |||||
| Sociology | A* | |||||
| Geography | A | |||||
| History | A | |||||
| Mathematics | A | |||||
Graduate prospects
What graduates do next
We have no information about graduates who took Sustainable Development at University of Edinburgh.
Earnings after graduation
The Sustainable Development course includes content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below for University of Edinburgh graduate earnings across each of those subject areas.
Earnings
£23.4k
First year after graduation
£29.6k
Third year after graduation
£33.9k
Fifth year after graduation
Earnings
£21.5k
First year after graduation
£24.8k
Third year after graduation
£31k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Sustainable Development.
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree
Discussions
Discussions
Students are talking about University of Edinburgh on The Student Room.
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