School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
MRes Sustainable Environmental Management
| Duration | 1 year |
| Course type | Full-time, Part-time route available |
| Study location | Â鶹´«Ã½ |
This programme provides an outstanding foundation for a career in environmental management by providing diverse perspectives and practical training on the scientific, economic, ethical and political challenges of sustainability and environmental protection. Classroom and field-based teaching enables you to investigate your specific interests and to gain first-hand experience and skills in developing practical solutions to sustainability issues.
Meet the lecturers
Key features
- Gain broad-based, vocationally focused training led by expert academic staff with industry experience, in an enthusiastic and interactive learning environment that includes a residential field course.
- Tailor your studies for the career you want – from environmental agencies and consultancies to local or central government and research – and take your place shaping the pioneering policy and projects of the future.
- Focus on the aspects of sustainable environmental management that you feel most strongly about, with an individual research project and accompanying dissertation.
- Work side by side with experts from across the Faculty of Science and Engineering and Â鶹´«Ã½ Business School – which were rated as ‘internationally excellent’ in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014.
- Benefit from our local, national and international sector connections as part of a respected and active research community that includes groups such as the
Marine Institute – the first and largest of its kind in the UK. - Add value to your qualification by studying on a programme accredited by the (IEMA)* – the benchmark for high-quality programmes recognised internationally by learners and employers.
- Balance your work commitments and further education with the opportunity to study part-time for a masters-level qualification.
- A diverse and respectful place in which to work and study is fundamental to everything we do. Find out more about
equality, diversity and inclusion in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science .
Course details
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Programme overview
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Exploring topics that span the natural and social sciences, you’ll gain vital insight into the whole spectrum of environmental management issues – from law and ethics to impact assessments, freshwater environments and climate change to contaminated land, river basin plans to marine regulations. We've designed the programme flexibly to equip you with an in-depth understanding of the essential theories, as well as practical fieldwork and industry experience. During the first two semesters of this one-year programme, you’ll study a range of core and optional taught modules – from international environmental policy making to options like climate change: science and policy or economics and the environment. These modules are designed specifically for this degree and you also undertake a placement, complemented by fieldbased experiential learning to provide an interdisciplinary foundation to environmental management. In the final semester you’ll complete an independent dissertation project.
Throughout your studies, we’ll support you in gaining the research and professional skills to help you get the most from the programme – and launch a successful career.Core modules
GEES521
MRes Dissertation 120 creditsThe student will complete an independent research project that they have designed. The record of the research will include project aims, research problem to be addressed, methodology, data analysis, interpretation, discussion/synthesis and conclusions, in the format specified and to a professional standard. The student will defend the work in a viva voce with the External Examiner.
100% Coursework
GEES536
Environmental Knowledge: From Field to Stakeholder 20 creditsThis module reviews qualitative and quantitative research methods relevant to professional and academic investigations in the field of policy-making, planning, management and consultancy in the built and natural environments. It encompasses the complete lifecycle of research (design, planning, data collection, knowledge dissemination and application), including stakeholder engagement across these stages.
100% Coursework
Optional modules
GEES515
Professional Practice in the Environmental Sector 20 creditsThis module examines the place of sustainability and environmental management in modern business practice, and prepares students for professional work experience in semester 2. It also provides students with a critical understanding of the principles, ethics and methods of environmental law and regulation, and examines the role of economics in characterising and addressing human interaction with the environment
100% Coursework
GEES538
Ecological Survey Evaluation and Mitigation 20 creditsDive into the fascinating world of UK and European nature conservation. This module explores policies, species and habitat protection, ecological survey techniques, and habitat mapping. You'll learn industry-standard survey methodologies, study restoration options, and master approaches to compensation and mitigation. Equip yourself with vital skills for a future as an ecological consultant working in nature conservation.
60% Coursework
40% Practicals
MATH517
Big Data Visualisation and Analytics 20 creditsSophisticated techniques are needed to visualize and analyse increasing quantities of Big Data. This module introduces the modern data science techniques and professional software to handle large complex datasets, as well as experience of writing professionally documented code and data analysis reports. Data analysis pipelines, including data cleansing, are used to produce data visualizations and statistical analysis.
100% Coursework
GEES532
Geohazards and the Built Environment 20 creditsThis module will introduce geohazards and their impacts, exploring how to assess, monitor and mitigate them. Students undertake an assessment of a natural geohazard and produce a professional report on that assessment with a proposal for remediation. They will also learn about anthropogenic hazards and develop skills in public communication of these issues, via a practice based assessment.
50% Coursework
50% Practicals
Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.
The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:
Entry requirements
Fees, costs and funding
| 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Home | £10,400 | £10,700 |
| International | £19,800 | £20,400 |
| Part time (Home) | £580 | £590 |