This multi-disciplinary programme is designed for those wanting to pursue a career in environmental project management. It will give you the tools to apply economic analysis to a range of environmental management problems with a focus on developing countries. You will gain a scientific perspective on how environmental and resource constraints impact upon development.

Why this programme?

  • Environment & Sustainable Development will provide you with a good understanding of:
    • the key issues confronting economies in attempting to reconcile economic growth with environmental and ecological constraints
    • the relationship between environment and the economic system with an emphasis on environmental valuation, cost-benefit analysis, market and policy failure, trade and the environment, the economics of pollution control and climate change
    • the role of international environmental agreements
  • This programme provides the empirical tools, data, and STATA software training that will enable students to investigate economic development and to prepare an independent empirical analysis.
  • You will have access to all conferences and seminars hosted by the Glasgow Centre for International Development. This means you will be exposed to interdisciplinary research and approaches to development in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine, environmental management, sustainability, or education.
  • The Adam Smith Business School celebrates the legacy of Adam Smith by developing enlightened, enterprising and engaged graduates and internationally-recognised research with real social impact.
  • Take advantage of our individualised skills development programme, which will ensure you balance academic theory with crucial employability skills to help you maximise your potential and achieve your career goals.

Programme structure

You will take:

  • 3 core courses (3 courses listed below plus a dissertation), and
  • 3 optional courses 

A pre-sessional refresher course in economics is also available for those who wish to revise their economics. This non-credit bearing course takes place during induction week.

Core courses

  • Environmental Economics
  • Sustainability and Green Finance
  • Theory and Principles of Sustainability
  • Dissertation Gcds

Optional courses 

  • Aid and Development
  • Behavioral Economics:theory and Applications
  • Development Policy
  • The Economics of Inequality and Deprivation
  • Financial Institutions and Markets in Developing Countries
  • Growth and Development
  • Policies for Sustainability and Development
  • Understanding Development: a Multidisciplinary Approach
  • The Economics of Migration*
  • Health Economics in Developing Countries*

*potential new course for 2022 - subject to change/approval.

Career prospects

The programme is designed to equip you for a career as professional planning staff in private or public sector organisations concerned with the design and implementation of environmental policies, environmental issues in international agencies or research.

Recent graduates have been employed as development practitioners and environmental policy analysts for organisations such as BP, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and public sector bodies.

We have a dedicated careers and employability team who provide 1-2-1 support and advice, group workshops, employer events on campus and networking opportunities throughout the year to help you with your career prospects.

Fees & Funding

Tuition fees for 2023-24:

MSc

  • UK - Full-time fee: £10,560
  • International & EU - Full-time fee: £23,520

Entry requirements

2:1 Honours degree or equivalent in an accepted subject, with at least 10% of credit bearing modules in Economics.

Accepted subjects include:

  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Engineering
  • Earth Sciences
  • Geography
  • A related discipline within Social Sciences and Humanities.

Degrees in other subjects may also be accepted if you have 10% of credits in Economics or equivalent relevant work experience.

Only applications that meet or exceed our stated entry requirements will go forward for consideration. Any application that does not will be automatically rejected. Applicants will be made offers based on their relative performance compared to other applicants, taking into account both current GPA, or degree classification, and the relevance of an applicant’s academic background.

Please note, applications that meet our minimum entry requirements may still be rejected, based on its score in comparison to other applications received during the same round. Please review our stated entry requirements to ensure you meet or exceed them before submitting your application.

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of pre-Masters courses.