Sustainability and Environmental Management MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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This professionally accredited1 course aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and experience that are integral to pursuing a career within the sustainability and environmental profession.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2-3 years part-time (UK only)

Course code

EECT009

Start date

September 2025
January 2026
May 2026

At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by January 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.


Course overview

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that the green economy might generate 24 million jobs globally by 2030.

  • We live in a dynamic world where the impact of human activity on the environment and society is now recognised as needing urgent attention.
    In 2015 the UN launched its 17 Sustainable Development Goals which have quickly become adopted as the framework by which nations and organisations are measuring their progress.
  • This course is designed to reflect the needs of the profession as well as the research interests and industrial background of current lecturing staff. We are constantly evolving this course in order to apply both theoretical concepts and industrial practice in order to meet the needs of this important discipline for the benefit of both the natural environment and society.
  • The course focuses on the environmental, technological, political, and social issues associated with environmental management and sustainability challenges and issues that affect organisations of every size, in every sector, at both a local and global scale.
  • The course blends a mixture of both theory and applied ‘real-world’ industrial practice relating to sustainability and environmental issues. Successful completion of the course will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to drive sustainable development and address the challenges and opportunities posed by environmental issues.
  • You will have the option to apply for a ‘work placement’ opportunity2, designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

The world is changing at a rapid pace due to continued pressures from human activities. Every week, news stories present new or updated challenges from across the world, whether the use and disposal of coffee cups, the growing spread of plastic wastes in our oceans or the threat to endangered species. We need to create and maintain a world which is fit for future generations. No longer is it enough for environmentalists to ‘save the planet’. Sustainability professionals must be able to work within the human and natural frameworks which underpin everything we do to create change.

  • The course is currently made up of eight taught modules which all students must take. Although the world is complex and full of uncertainty, there are a common set of skills and attributes needed by the modern environmental practitioner. This course covers the environmental, social, and economic aspects of the sustainability agenda.
  • Key to sustainability is the ability to work with and through stakeholders, who have interests in or are affected by our activities. The combination of scientific understanding and evaluation with social science techniques is becoming vital to the delivery of successful programmes such as those aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to use and evaluate a huge variety of information to meet challenges of this century. While climate change remains a clear and present threat, we must also consider our resilience and ability to adapt. And while energy and CO2 continue to drive many decisions, we must remember the vital importance of water, both quality and quantity; the waste we create and discard; the pollution from our economic endeavours; and the role of natural systems to support our species.
  • The course aims to align and recognise the importance of both people and the planet in the delivery of sustainable development goals, both in the UK/EU and across the globe.

Accredited and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 by:

IEMA The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment

The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment

This course is accredited by IEMA for 2024-25 entry. IEMA is the professional body for everyone working in environment and sustainability. This course entitles students to FREE student membership for the duration of the course and on successful completion, you qualify for GradIEMA. Graduate membership is a launchpad for future leaders within environment and sustainability and offers a range of benefits to support you throughout your career. You can then “Fast track” to Practitioner Membership (PIEMA) following successful completion of the work-based assessment of competence. If the accreditation of this course changes, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.


CMI Chartered Management Institute

Chartered Management Institute 

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute for the 2024-25 intake. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost.

Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is regularly reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems. If any changes occur with respect to our accreditation related to these modules, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.



What you'll study

The course has been created to provide a consistent and standardised series of mandatory content which all students must complete. The breadth of sustainability can be bewildering, and we have listened to professionals across this wide field and focused on a series of fundamental areas. In these areas we will explore a wide range of current issues. We are continually reviewing the way in which we deliver the course to ensure that we stay up to date with the latest developments in the fields of both industry and scientific research, so that our graduates are able to address the challenges of tomorrow, today.

As a future sustainability practitioner, you may be required to use a broad range of tools and techniques. The course will allow you the opportunity to explore and use tools such as management systems (e.g. ISO14001:2015) life-cycle assessment, Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and stakeholder identification and mapping.

Crucial to the successful practitioner is the ability to apply a wide range of legislation and other compliance obligations. While the aim of this course is not to turn you into an environmental lawyer, you will have the opportunity to learn how to access and evaluate the relevance of legislation from a strategic, management and project perspective.

This course includes the Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation Professional Development module developed in partnership with the Chartered Management Institute.

Modules

With work placement pathway

The ‘With work placement’ opportunity2 enables you to apply in semester 1 for an optional work placement of up to 12 months, extending the duration of your master’s to 24 months. The placement provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability upon graduation. The work placement would take place in semester’s 3, 4 and 5.

Please note that the optional placement modules incur an additional tuition fee of £4,000. Placement opportunities may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Work placements are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the work placement option.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
Part-time students should be aware that not all modules run every semester; your study plan for the course will be arranged between yourself and the Course Director and is subject to module availability.


How you'll learn

You will be taught face-to-face with the support of online teaching resources. We aim to enhance your learning of the subject modules with a parallel and complementary series of group tutorials which are designed to develop academic, professional and research knowledge and skills. These tutorials also allow discussion on key and current issues in relation to the research informed content with the modules.

This course can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please request information about studying this course part-time.


Teaching contact hours

Actual teaching contact hours will vary depending on the requirements of a particular semester. The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials. Full-time students will typically study four modules per semester. In a typical week you’ll have 12-15 hours of contact time and will be required to undertake additional directed and self-directed study of around 25-30 hours.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

Assessment for all modules is coursework and the Research Project is through coursework. You will also receive formative feedback to help you improve your performance.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

You may have the opportunity to spend time on UK-based field trips2 to provide you with the opportunity to develop a wider appreciation of sustainability and environmental management in practice. A four-day residential field trip will include opportunities to experiment with different research tools and techniques, in advance of the research project module in the final semester. These research projects aim to reflect your interests and the research and consultancy practices of the teaching team.

You may also have the chance to visit local businesses and study their activities, impacts and interactions with communities and stakeholders, comparing these to other organisations around the world. These are included in the fees and are arranged by module leaders to meet needs.

Please note that all UK and international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.


Entry requirements

To enter this course, you should have obtained a first- or second-class honours degree in a relevant discipline.

In addition, you will need have familiarity and competence with industry-standard word processing, data management and presentational software packages (such as Microsoft Office).

Each application will be considered on its merits and the final decision will be made by the course director. 

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you. 

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To enter this course, you should have obtained a first- or second-class honours degree in a relevant discipline.

In addition, you will need have familiarity and competence with industry-standard word processing, data management and presentational software packages (such as Microsoft Office).

Each application will be considered on its merits and the final decision will be made by the course director.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country-specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • This course requires IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £4,000 (work placement option additional fee) per year
Request fee information
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £4,000 (work placement option additional fee) per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,600 | £4,000 (work placement option additional fee) per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,600 | £4,000 (work placement option additional fee) per year
Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities4:

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The Library

You will benefit from our support designed to help you succeed and our industry-relevant teaching and resources. These include our modern library and computing facilities, dedicated careers advice and Your Students’ Union.

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Jaguar Centre

The Jaguar Centre has been specifically designed to provide facilities and services to support our postgraduate students including social spaces, computer suites and separate areas for small group study.

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The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student campus life. It's also home to the Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Spirituality and Faith Centre, the Tank Studio, Student Success Coaches and the Enterprise Hub.


Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to offer:

  • A critical awareness of current issues, legislation, risks & opportunities and practice in sustainability and environmental management.
  • The ability to apply sustainability principles to relevant stakeholders, organisations, products, and services.
  • Analysis of the implications of global trends and governance for the environment, for society and for organisations.
  • Analyse the role of innovation in developing sustainable products and services and providing sustainable solutions.
  • An in-depth understanding of the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement, communication, co-operation, and governance in aspects of policy, strategy development, implementation, and management.
  • The ability to manage data and information considering uncertainty and complexity to make appropriate and justifiable decisions.
  • The ability to conduct research, in an ethical manner, and analyse data using appropriate methods and communicate the output effectively.
  • Personal skills and competencies expected of a sustainability professional, in line with recognised standards.

All modules are designed to be relevant to the needs of the sustainability and environmental profession, based on IEMA’s graduate attributes. The formative and summative assignments that you will be set are industry-focused or have a real-world practical application.

You will be guided in development planning and reflective practice as current or future leaders, with a focus on influencing and managing change in your team, organisation, and the sector more widely.

Your career path could involve being actively engaged in delivering sustainable development within all types of organisations. At the heart of most modules are the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are becoming the benchmark for organisations seeking to contribute.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and aims to give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates have gone on to work as environmental officers in industry, local authorities, government agencies, universities, and consultancies. Others have undertaken further study, such as a PhD.


How to apply

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