Why study Environmental Protection and Management at Edinburgh?
- Our programme has been successfully delivered for over 25 years and continues to grow from strength to strength.
- You will be taught by world-leading experts in key fields and benefit from our excellent relationships with industry and relevant employers.
- This degree is for you if you want to develop or enhance your scientific understanding of environmental issues, but in parallel, learn about complementary and essential disciplinary approaches required for successful environmental management.
- Courses are delivered by staff who are active researchers and/or practitioners in each field. Their expertise is supplemented by selected guest speakers, generally from industry or other research organisations.
- The MSc Environmental Protection and Management through Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), allowing students on this programme to become members.
Online Information Session
Watch the recording of our online Information Session (19th Feb), hosted by Programme Director Professor Alistair Hamilton.
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Pre-arrival reading list
Your courses
This MSc programme comprises:
- compulsory and option courses
- dissertation
Current core courses are:
- Professional and research skills in practice
- Land use/environmental interactions
- Interdisciplinary approaches to the environment
- Environmental survey and monitoring
Optional courses can be selected from across the School of Geosciences. Some popular choices include:
- Coastal environments and communities
- Soil protection and management
- Carbon capture and transport
- Sustainable entrepreneurship
Courses are delivered by our staff, most of whom are also active researchers.
Their expertise is supplemented by guest speakers from industry, consultancy, government and other research organisations.
You can find out more about compulsory and optional courses on the Degree Programme Tables (DPTs). Please note that the information on the current DPTs is for academic year 2024-25 and is subject to change in future years. The DPTs for academic year 2025-26 will be published in April 2025.
Read more about selecting optional courses on the applicant website.
Your dissertation
Students do an amazingly wide range of dissertations to match their diverse interests. Your dissertation can incorporate both desk-based and practical skills and methodologies used within the wide-ranging field of environmental protection.
There are lots of opportunities to complete a dissertation in partnership with an external organisation. In previous years, students have worked with NatureScot, Marine Scotland, Scottish Arctic Network and Ricardo consultancy to name a few.
Previous examples of dissertations include:
- A critical analysis of intercropping
- Environmental messaging in TV programmes
- Predicting the spread of introduced beaver
- Gender issues in waste policy
- Biochar and nutrient cycling
Future of your subject
Over the past few years, many countries of the world, including Scotland, have declared climate and biodiversity emergencies, the “twin crises”. Being able to research, understand and solve environmental problems has never been more critical, and the breadth of this programme provides student with the opportunity to build skills and knowledge to play a positive role in providing solutions to these ongoing crises in the future.
Where will you be taught?
For this MSc, the majority of teaching will take place at the King's Buildings campus. You will also have access to the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) Masters Hub.
Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)
This MSc is delivered in collaboration with Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). You will benefit from being a fully enrolled student at the University of Edinburgh, as well as access to all of the complementary staff, expertise, and resources at SRUC.
Upon successful completion of your MSc, you will be awarded your degree by the University of Edinburgh.
Study the MSc
Field trips/excursions
A study tour is part of the compulsory part of the programme, normally held in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco.
Whilst there, students work in small groups and take part in a series of data gathering exercises across a range of topics (tourist surveys, carbon auditing, water quality, biodiversity, air pollution, soils and landuse, and erosion) that integrate to provide an overview of the valley that we stay in.
The carbon footprint of this trip is an obvious concern, and students have the option of staying and returning later (even overland) to make this their pre-dissertation holiday.
You can view more images of the most recent trip to Morocco below.
With our support, some students also organise a multi-day trip within Scotland.
Our compulsory field trips or field courses are free, including travel and accommodation.
Scholarships
School of GeoSciences scholarships
Scholarships and student funding
You can find funding opportunities, tuition fees and costs of living for prospective UK and international postgraduate students on the University website.
You are also encouraged to undertake your own research into the range of potential scholarships and other funding outside the University for which you may be eligible.
Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) alumni discount
The SRUC alumni discount aims to encourage SRUC graduates to take up opportunities to study taught masters (MSc). SRUC may provide a financial contribution towards tuition fees for eligible applicants for SRUC programmes delivered in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh.
Careers
Our graduates have a strong record of finding employment in the environmental sector around the world.
Graduates with the knowledge to apply the principles of effective management of limited resources with the protection of our fragile environment are in high demand.
Some examples of organisations that our graduates have worked for include:
- Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
- Talisman Energy
- Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation
- Vegware
- Tearfund
- Global Green Growth Institute
- Water Witness International
- IUCN
- Veolia UK
Alumni
We have a thriving global network of alumni living and working around the world. As well as individual MSc programme networks, the School of GeoSciences has a large alumni network, which you can join after graduation. You'll have the opportunity to engage with and learn from like minded individuals who can offer advice about shaping your career path.
You can read our alumni profiles to find out more about our graduates experiences throughout their studies and beyond on our website.
If you prefer to watch a video, you can watch our alumni interviews on YouTube.
Your programme directors
Find out more about your programme directors
Professor Alistair Hamilton
The programme director for MSc Environmental Protection and Management is Alistair Hamilton. Alistair's background is in applied ecology, and over the last 20 years he has worked for universities in the UK and Australia, as well as research bodies and environmental NGOs. He still maintains interest and work in ecology and conservation, however having worked on social-science projects and on wider environmental issues over the years, he finds that addressing environmental issues often requires an interdisciplinary approach. The challenges are considerable, but working co-operatively across disciplines can provide us with key insights to help manage our environment. His research interests include:
- Management of upland habitats using grazing and fire
- Management of invasive species
- Use of UAV (drones) and different sensors in environmental survey and monitoring
- GIS, modelling, and spatial analysis
- Issues in achieving environmental justice
- Data and analytical skills
On this MSc, as well as being programme director, personal tutor, and a dissertation supervisor, you’ll find Alistair teaching core skills (writing, speaking, etc), data analysis, field skills, and modelling. When he's not doing all of that, he likes to escape into the hills for some walking or mountain biking. Or, just sitting reading a book!
Dr. Hannah Grist
The deputy programme director for this MSc is Dr Hannah Grist. Hannah also comes from an ecology background, but her interests are around seabirds and rocky shores - particularly seaweeds.
She still has interests in coastal and marine environments but combines it with research for and with communities, focusing on socio-environmental systems.
Her research projects and interests at the moment include:
- Community-driven climate change adaptation
- Water resource management in coastal communities
- Citizen science and scientific literacy
- Participation and policy development
As the Deputy Programme Director, Hannah is here alongside Alistair to support all of our students through teaching and extra-curricular activities.
You’ll find her leading courses and workshops on dissertation and communication skills, interdisciplinary approaches, coastal environments and participation.
During the summer you’ll also find Hannah out in the hills hiking, kayaking and camping alongside her dog Sammy- who you’ll get to recognise over the course of the year with us!
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