Environmental Sustainability

Why study Environmental Sustainability at Dundee?

Environmental sustainability is a diverse and dynamic subject examining the interaction between people and their surroundings.

Global warming, biodiversity and renewable energy are just a few of the recurring themes we hear on the news, and public agencies are now looking for graduates with the ability to deliver sustainable outcomes. Businesses, both large and small, are seeking graduates with substantial environmental expertise.

This exciting degree programme means you no longer need to wait until you have graduated to turn your academic interests into practical environmental skills. You can instead draw on two highly-rated disciplines to give you both the management and administrative skills to inform environmental policy and the scientific and technical knowledge to deliver a more sustainable environment.

If you want to tackle pollution, to ensure that new developments enhance rather than detract from their surroundings, to offer communities the chance to have a real say in how people use their natural resources, in short to have a real impact on the future of our earth, then this is the degree for you.

What's so good about Environmental Sustainability at Dundee?

Dundee is uniquely located for the study of environmental sustainability. It has easy access to estuarine, maritime and a range of terrestrial environments. Its urban and industrial heritage, the fertile agricultural hinterland and the backdrop of hills and mountains afford a vibrant and varied 'laboratory' in which to study.

Professional Accreditation

Our MA in Environmental Sustainability is accredited by the professional body the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) which means that all students who attain a lower second class degree or better are eligible for Associate Membership of IEMA.

Study abroad

This course provides you with an opportunity to study abroad. You could spend your second year at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada, or study in Europe on an ERASMUS exchange.

Student Society

There is an active student society called SPAD (Student Planners At Dundee) which organises social events and visiting speakers.

Teaching & Assessment

This course is taught by experienced town planners and geographers, based in the School of the Environment. We use a variety of teaching methods.

Careers

Graduates from the programme are employed in a wide variety of jobs:

• preparing national policy and legislative guidance on environmental protection
• assisting local authorities with sustainable development strategies, waste strategy implementation and other environmental policies
• working as environmental consultants in specialist areas such as atmospheric or water pollution;
• working in large corporations as environmental sustainability personnel or corporate social responsibility managers
• acting as countryside rangers

Whilst many of our graduates have helped shape environmental policy and regulation at local and national levels, one recent graduate has worked at European Union level, drafting pollution control regulations in Brussels while on secondment from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Postgraduate study

Further study is available by taking one of our postgraduate Masters programmes in Environmental Studies (natural) or Environmental Studies (built).

Entry Requirements

The following are the minimum requirements, please note qualifications have to be obtained at the first sitting of examinations.

Courses starting September 2013

Level 1 entry

Qualification	Grade
SQA Higher	AABB
GCE A-Level	BBB
ILC Higher	AABB
IB Diploma	30 points (including 5, 5, 5 at Higher Level)
Essential Subjects	None, but see requirements for other Joint Honours subjects
EU & International	Visit our EU and International webpages for entry requirements tailored to your home country

Advanced Entry (to Level 2)

Qualification	Grade
SQA Advanced Higher	AB (Advanced Higher) + BB (Higher) in different subjects
GCE A-Level	AAB
IB Diploma	34 points (including 6, 6, 5 at Higher Level)
Essential Subjects	None, but see requirements for other Joint Honours subjects

Other Qualifications

Qualification	Grade
SQA	A relevant HNC with grade B in the Graded Unit (Level 1 entry) A relevant HND with grade BB in the Graded Units (Level 2 entry)
Scottish Baccalaureate	Pass with CC at Advanced Higher (Level 1 entry) Distinction with AB at Advanced Higher (Level 2 entry)
SWAP Access Programmes	Relevant subjects with ABB grades to include English Literature/Language at SCQF Level 6 and Communication 4 plus Literature 1 (Level 1 entry)
EDEXCEL	A relevant BTEC Extended Diploma with DDM (Level 1 entry) A relevant BTEC Extended Diploma with DDD (Level 2 entry)
Advanced Diploma	Grade B with ASL-A Level at B (Level 1 entry) Grade A with ASL-A Level at B (Level 2 entry)
Welsh Baccalaureate	Pass with A Levels at BB (Level 1 entry) Pass with A Levels at AA (Level 2 entry)
Entry to English Literature courses requires Higher at B, A-Level at C or equivalent in English/English Literature.
Applicants with alternative overseas qualifications should visit the relevant country page on our International website.

Joint Honours Degrees

For details of typical entry requirements for joint honours degrees, please visit the relevant webpage for the other subject.

Fees and Funding

There have been many changes to the arrangements for funding students entering higher education in recent years, yet a degree from the University of Dundee, with its high rate of employment success, remains a cost-effective option.

The fees you pay will, in most cases, depend on your current country of residence.

Fee category	Fees for students starting September 2012	Scholarships & Bursaries applicable
Scottish students	£1,820 per year of study. You can apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish government.	School Academic Scholarships Other Scholarships
Students from the rest of the UK	£9,000 per year, for a maximum of 3 years, even if you are studying a four year degree. You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of the tuition fees, from the Student Loan Company.	University of Dundee Bursaries School Academic Scholarships Other Scholarships
EU students	£1,820 per year of study. You can apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish government.	Other Scholarships
Overseas students (non-EU)	£9,700 per year.	School Academic Scholarships Other Scholarships

The fee shown is annual, and may be subject to an increase each year.

Living Costs

• Dundee is ranked as one of the most affordable places for students to live in the UK, and the cost of living is around 15% cheaper than the UK average.
• Increasing numbers of students are successfully undertaking part-time work to supplement their income. You can get advice from our Careers Service, both about job opportunities and how to find a suitable study/work/life balance. EU and international students are also allowed to work up to 20 hours per week.
• As a student in Scotland, you have free access to the National Health Service. Visits to doctors and hospitals, as well as prescriptions, sight tests and dental checkups, are available free of charge.

Your Application

All applications must be made through UCAS

UCAS Codes

Institution Code: D65

Degree	UCAS Codes	KIS data
MA Environmental Sustainability	F751	View KIS data for this course
MA Environmental Sustainability and Geography	FL7R	View KIS data for this course
MA Environmental Sustainability and International Business	NF17	View KIS data for this course

UCAS Application Process

International Applicants

We have information specifically for international applicants on our International website:

• Your Home Country - including information about qualifications from individual countries
• Fees and Funding
• English Language Requirements
• International Student Support

What skills, qualities and experience do I need?

The Dundee MA degrees follow the distinctive pattern of many Scottish universities by offering a broad-based education that requires you to study a number of different subjects in Levels 1 and 2 (Level 2 only for the Advanced Entry Honours degrees). You do not have to finalise your choice of degree course until you are better able to appreciate both the nature of the subjects you are studying and the relationships between them. However, you must make an initial choice of course on the application form and we would expect you to provide some evidence of your enthusiasm for your chosen course and details of any relevant experience.

We use a range of learning methods at Dundee: you will be expected to respond to the information and advice provided by academic staff, especially in lectures; to prepare for and participate in tutorial discussion or to work in practical classes; to work individually or in groups on set assignments such as essays and projects; and to 'read round' the subject. Consequently, we are looking for evidence that you are capable of working systematically, of responding to the guidance of your teachers, and that you have both the ability and enthusiasm to successfully complete a degree programme.

A degree in Environmental Sustainability helps you develop a wide range of complementary skills designed to support you in a career as an environmental professional. We place emphasis on basic skills of numeracy and literacy, but teach our courses in a way which makes them accessible to students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. Indeed, that diversity adds to the value of our students' learning experiences.

No prior environmental experience is required. Good students have an enthusiasm to learn about the environment and how our understanding of it affects its management. Many have gained their own insights into environmental issues through travelling abroad or through conservation projects. Basic IT skills and some breadth of basic grounding in the sciences are an advantage.

Tips for your application

What is important to us, in your application, is the evidence provided by the grades you have attained, or are predicted to attain, in your examinations, along with whatever you and your referee can point to indicating both your special interest in any of our subject areas, and your general liveliness of mind.

Your personal statement is an opportunity to say why you should be offered a place to study in Dundee. We are looking for applicants with an ability to express opinions clearly with reasoned support and evidence, who are open to critical guidance, and who have a commitment to high standards of achievement in all they do. These qualities can be demonstrated through academic attainment, paid or voluntary work, and extra-curricular activities of all kinds.

Referees should concisely indicate your analytical abilities, communication skills, capacity for academic work, and commitment to your studies. We will be interested to hear about examples of initiative, leadership, and any evidence of organisational skills. Indicators of a positive outlook and engagement with social and cultural activities will be welcome, as will an assessment of your potential to develop in the university environment.

We will consider applications to one or more MA courses at Dundee: each application will be considered on its merits. We are looking for applicants who either have achieved, or will achieve, the published requirements in terms of Highers, Advanced Highers, A-Levels or acceptable alternative qualifications.

Advanced Entry Honours Degree

It is possible to study for most of our honours degrees in 3 years if you have the required grades and subjects as listed in the Entry Requirements section. There are definite advantages to considering this route as the time needed to study is reduced by one year which enables you to start working and earning earlier.

Any questions?

If you have any further questions about the application process, please contact: