Information for applicants and offer holders to the MSc Environmental Sustainability. On this page, you will find information on how to set up a meeting request with Dr. Aidan Keane, upcoming event information, and further information about your chosen degree. MSc Environmental Sustainability In this programme, you can explore critical social and global issues and ways to address these to benefit individuals, communities, societies and nature. Our programme gives you an international perspective, focusing on regions in both the ‘Global South’ and ‘Global North’. Meet your Programme Director Dr. Aidan KeaneThe Programme Director for this MSc is Aidan Keane. Aidan's interests lie in understanding how human behaviour and decision-making affect the outcomes of conservation interventions in complex social-ecological systems. Book a one-to-one meeting with your Programme Director Connect directly with your Programme Director, Dr. Aidan Keane, to ask further questions, get tailored advice, and explore what your degree could look like. Get in touch via email to request a meeting. Upcoming events Sign up to the events below for further information about your chosen degree. EventDateTimeBooking LinkMSc Environmental Sustainability Information SessionWednesday 25 February, 202612:00 - 13:00 GMTBook SessionPostgraduate Student Q&AThursday 07 May, 202617:00 - 18:00 BSTBook Session Previous recorded events Introduction to MSc Environmental SustainabilityThis event was recorded in November 2025, during Postgraduate Virtual Open Week. Pre-arrival reading list Before you arrive with us, take a look at the suggested pre-arrival reading for your programme. This includes online resources and book recommendations provided by your Programme Director. View pre-arrival reading list Why choose the University of Edinburgh? Strong networksEdinburgh is a hub for organisations seeking to influence national and international environmental sustainability debates, giving you access to exciting case studies and opportunities for networking. DiversityWe have a wide diversity of students on this programme each year, including those with backgrounds in engineering, international relations, ecology, geography, marine science, computer science, and social and political sciences. InterdisciplinaryYou will be encouraged to think across different disciplines and consider scientific, socio-economic, and policy perspectives to better understand sustainability and how it can be achieved in different geographical contexts. Globally relevantOur programme gives you an international perspective, focusing on regions in both the ‘Global South’ and ‘Global North’. However, you will also look at issues from a local perspective, helping you understand the full scale and impact of issues. Study an MSc in Environmental Sustainability Our student Asti on studying the MSc More information about your degree Compulsory and optional courses Please note, Degree Programme Tables will be updated in April, 2026. Please use the current edition as an example, only. Degree breakdown The future of your subject International and national sustainability requirements are becoming more important. Despite what people might think, things are improving in many areas. Perhaps not quickly enough but progress is being made. Increasing numbers of companies are striving for ‘carbon neutral’ status and integrating it into future business models.There is an increased appreciation by employers of the needs for qualitative approaches and methods to be integrated with technical skills such as statistical computing and Geographic Information Systems in technology. These multi-disciplinary skills are the way the discipline is going into the future and we are at the forefront of teaching these. Hear from our students Our postgraduate students share their experiences of life during university and after on our blog and through alumni profiles. GeoSciences blog Alumni profiles The MSc Environmental Sustainability programme effectively distilled several key overlapping fields in the world of sustainability, including: the government and policy side, the necessary inclusion of the concrete environmental sciences underpinning our vastly complex global systems, the role of public-private sector collaboration in the transition towards a greener and more just future, and the private sector business opportunities that the general public can leverage for more sustainable outcomes. The programme was enriching and rigorous – buoyed by a plentiful selection of courses spanning numerous fields – culminating in the ideal ‘climate’ for a master’s level programme. Nicholas Oribe MSc Environmental Sustainability, graduated 2024 Featured scholarships School of GeoSciences scholarshipsSee potential funding for GeoSciences studentsScholarships and student fundingYou can find funding opportunities, tuition fees and costs of living for prospective UK and international postgraduate students on the University website.Postgraduate scholarships and student fundingYou 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. Back to Applicant Hub This article was published on 2026-01-14
