MSc Environmental Technology

Explore the tools, alternative technologies and policies of sustainable environmental management

Key information

Duration: 1 year full-time
Start date: October 2022
Campus: South Kensington
ECTS: 90 credits

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MSc Environmental Technology

Overview

This MSc in Environmental Technology focuses on the application of scientific knowledge, policy and engineering to solve environmental problems and address sustainability.

Our Centre for Environmental Policy was established over four decades ago, and provides the highest standard of knowledge and skills development for environmental and sustainability specialists.

You will acquire a diverse range of discipline-specific problem-solving frameworks for tackling contemporary environmental issues, while combining the natural and social sciences with engineering and medicine in a truly interdisciplinary manner.

A major emphasis of the course is on the way environments function and on the compatible tools, alternative technologies and policies for sustainable environmental management.

There are specialist options available in the second term, designed to cater for a variety of individual interests and career requirements.

You complete a research project which normally stems from one of the specialist options. The project term extends from April to September, with the whole of this period devoted to the project.

Your project may be laboratory or desk-based and can involve fieldwork. Projects are usually carried out in conjunction with outside organisations, and can take place in the UK or abroad.

Careers

It is the route to a successful career in environment and sustainability, as demonstrated by the achievements of around 3,000 alumni who have graduated since 1978. Many of these are internationally recognised leaders in their field, reflecting their training on a world-renowned course.

The course enables you to build on your undergraduate degree by specialising in an area of particular interest. You are able to transfer undergraduate knowledge to a different setting, differentiate yourself within the job market and learn specific techniques and tools for research and management.

Structure

This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.

Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.

Page last reviewed on 25 October 2021.

Core and compulsory modules

In the Autumn term, you will complete a compulsory set of foundational sustainability modules. Three modules provide a fundamental grounding in the natural and human worlds, and the interactions between them. You will also start the “Becoming an Independent Learner” (BIL) module, which extends through the Spring and Summer term.

You undertake an extended independent research project during the Summer term. This will allow you to study and gain greater depth in an area of personal interest

The Human World

The Human World is a compulsory module that introduces aspects of economics and markets, consumption, and circular economy, environmental policy and governance, environmental law, demography, poverty, health and wellbeing.

The Natural World

The Natural World is a compulsory module focused on science and technology. It will normally include subjects taken from ecosystems and ecological theory, climate change, air pollution, biogeochemical cycles, biodiversity and natural resources.

The Human/Environment Interface

The Human/Nature Interface is a core interdisciplinary module that uses problem-based case studies that will allow you to understand the interactions between the natural and human worlds. This may include urbanisation and sustainable cities; climate change impacts; forest management; fisheries management; agriculture; Sustainable Development Goals; policy instruments for sustainability.

Becoming an Independent Learner

The “Becoming an Independent Learner” module provides core elements to support you in your transition to professionals and life-long independent learners. It runs across all three terms, covers essential professional and transferable skills and normally includes information searching, career planning, presentation skills, and relaxation and resilience skills.

Independent Research Project

The third part of the course provides the opportunity to undertake rigorous independent research; to apply knowledge and understanding of environmental disciplines in the widest sense to practical problems; and to develop and demonstrate interdisciplinary, transferable skills with specific emphasis on project management and presentation (oral and written) skills.

The Project Term extends from April to September. It is devoted to a research project, normally stemming from the specialist option. This may be desk and/or laboratory-based and/or involve fieldwork. It is often set up and carried out in conjunction with an outside organisation thereby providing practical experience which greatly enhances employment prospects, and may be carried out in the UK or abroad.

The project aims to provide graduates with practical experience of value to their future careers and with the ability to address individual environmental problems with confidence.

Optional module

During the Spring term you will join a smaller cohort of students and study one of the specialist modules below, which you will have chosen when applying for the course. This allows you to build on the knowledge acquired from the Autumn term modules and apply it with a career-oriented focus.