Environmental Management and Sustainability MSc

You will contribute to York St John University’s ambition to be a sector leader in environmental sustainability, taking a whole-university approach. This provides opportunities to hear from, and work with, professionals addressing environmental management and sustainability both within and beyond the University.

On the course you will engage with the latest research to understand the processes underpinning essential ecosystem services, with an emphasis on soil and water. You will learn to develop confidence in your analysis of quantitative data, including geospatial analysis.

Our experienced staff will support you to develop a proposal for a substantial independent research project, advancing your academic research skills and critical understanding of the place of science in tackling issues of sustainability.

The course culminates in the completion of your research project, with supervision. Alongside a written report, a poster presentation conference marks the end of the course, giving you the chance to explain your research to others working in the field.

Throughout the course you will be supported to reflect on, and take ownership of, your own professional development. In addition to providing you with an advanced level qualification, the Environmental Management and Sustainability MSc will develop your essential transferable skills, such as:

• Data collection and analysis
• Research design
• Decision-making
• Critical thinking
• Independent and collaborative learning
• Communication skills

How you will study

You can study this postgraduate course full time or part time. This allows you to fit your studies around other commitments.

If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete. You will study 5 compulsory modules.

If you choose to study part time the course will take 2 years to complete and the modules will be split across both years.

You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.

Modules

Teaching and learning

Teaching and assessment methods on this course are designed for active learning, in which you practice skills and knowledge application for yourself.

We use a combination of lectures, workshops, laboratory and practical field work, computer-based analysis, discussions and student-led activities.

Support to take ownership of your personal and professional development sits alongside the formal content of the course.

Your learning will be informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. Our academic teams are constantly investigating, interrogating and contributing to their respective fields. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.

Assessment

A variety of coursework assessments ensure you are developing skills relevant to employment in environmental management and sustainability. This includes presentations, portfolio work, reports, and the independent dissertation.

Qualifications

You must also be able to demonstrate how your undergraduate degree or work experience will enable you to contribute to, and benefit from, this course.

If we have further questions about your application, you may be invited to a short interview.

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.5 (with no skill below 6.0) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

UK 2025 - 2026 entry

The tuition fee for 2025 entry to the Environmental Management and Sustainability MSc is:

• £8600 for full time study
• £4300 per year for part time study

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

International 2025 - 2026 entry

• £11,800 for 1 year of full time study
• £5,900 per year for part time study

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

Where could Environmental Management and Sustainability MSc take you?

In the context of global environmental change, the demand for specialist understanding of issues of climate change, sustainability and environmental protection is rapidly increasing. Sectors requiring green skills include:

• Environmental management
• Energy
• Corporate services
• Public administration
• Manufacturing
• Construction

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £8,000 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2019)

Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.