MSc Sustainable Development University of Sussex Business School

Key information

• Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
• Start date: September 2023
• Apply by: 1 August 2023 (international), 1 September 2023 (UK)

Help build a future that is sustainable and inclusive. This interdisciplinary course focuses on the policies and politics of transformations to sustainability.

You’ll learn how to translate socio-ecological theories and technological innovation into effective policies and practices for sustainable development. These skills are in demand in international development agencies, NGOs, government ministries and firms in the Global South and North.

You’ll benefit from the expertise in SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit, the largest academic body in the world studying science, technology and innovation.

Accreditation

The University of Sussex Business School is accredited by EQUIS, the most comprehensive institutional accreditation system for business and management schools. Accreditation ensures rigorous quality control, benchmarking against international standards and is acknowledged worldwide.

Our graduates are well prepared for PhD-level study and careers in:

• Business and consultancy organisations
• Government ministries
• NGOs
• International organisations such as the UN
• Think-tanks
• Social enterprises and other not-for-profits

Full-time and part-time study

Choose to study this course full-time or part-time, to fit around your work and personal life. Modules for the full-time course are listed below.

Online study

Choose to study this course online and benefit from the flexibility to gain a Master's qualification at a time and pace that suits you. You can start modules every two months and pause whenever you need to. Offering a distinctly Sussex style, you’ll be part of a global network of students, through peer-to-peer learning and discussion groups.

We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2023/24. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to COVID-19, or due to staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. It may not be possible to take some module combinations due to timetabling constraints. We’ll make sure to let our applicants know of material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students in the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

• Innovation and Economic Development
• Policy Making and Policy Analysis
• Sustainable Development: Politics and Policies

Spring teaching

• Perspectives, Methods and Skills for Science, Technology and Innovation Studies

Summer teaching

• Dissertation (Sustainable Development)

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

Autumn teaching

• Democratizing Science and Technology
• Science, Technology and Innovations: Markets, Firms and Policies

Spring teaching

• Decolonising Development
• Energy and Development
• Energy Policy and Sustainability
• Governing Energy Transitions
• Governing Innovations for Sustainable Development
• Industrial and Innovation Policy
• Innovation for Sustainability
• Introduction to Quantitative Research
• Network Analysis and Infographics
• Quantitative Methods for Science, Technology and Innovation Studies
• Transformative Innovation Policy for Inclusion

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Challenge

Develop novel science, technology and innovation policy ideas. Compete for a prize for the idea with the most transformative potential. Our Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Challenge help you develop skills in:

• Presenting
• Communication
• Critical thinking.

You can work on your own or in a small team. At the end of the year, you'll pitch your idea to a panel of industry experts and a live audience.

The Challenge is optional. It's designed to enrich your academic studies and give you the opportunity to apply knowledge gained from the course. It'll also allow you to explore essay and dissertation topics.

We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, we may need to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to COVID-19.

• 1st in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022)
• 1st in the UK among science and technology policy think tanks for SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit (Global Go To Think Tank Index Report 2020)
• 13th in the UK for Business and Economics (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022)