Course summary

Creating a fairer, more sustainable future is both the most pressing challenge and the most exciting opportunity of our time. Real change requires collaboration – between disciplines, sectors, and nations. Strengthen your impact with deep sustainability knowledge and contribute to shaping innovative, lasting solutions. About this course The online MSc Sustainable Development in Practice equips you to think systemically and holistically when developing sustainable strategies. You’ll examine practical approaches to addressing the sustainability issues confronting governments, businesses, and communities today. Offered by Surrey’s Institute for Sustainability – a university-wide centre committed to advancing cross-disciplinary research and action – this programme reflects the principles of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. You’ll be empowered to design and apply sustainability initiatives aligned with the UN’s global objectives. What you will study Gain a broad, global perspective on one of humanity’s defining challenges: reshaping our social, economic, and institutional systems to ensure sustainable wellbeing for all. If you're motivated to tackle today’s pressing sustainability issues with actionable solutions, this course offers the tools to help you do just that. You’ll take an innovation-focused, systems-thinking approach, emphasising how policy can be effectively applied across public, private and civil sectors. Online learning experience Today’s fast-moving world demands education that fits around your life. This fully online course is built with flexibility in mind, offering an intuitive learning platform, dedicated support, and high-quality teaching designed to meet the needs of working professionals. -Take part in live, face-to-face classes on Zoom every two weeks, where you’ll engage in meaningful conversations with peers and faculty. -Work through interactive assignments using a platform tailored for modern online education. -Make use of comprehensive career support, including one-to-one coaching, mock interviews, self-evaluation tools, and salary benchmarking. -Get personalised guidance from a dedicated student success advisor who’ll be with you throughout your learning journey. -Learn from expert teaching staff Your learning at Surrey is shaped by academic excellence and real-world relevance. You’ll benefit from research-led teaching and applied insights that support both personal growth and career development. Our approachable faculty members are active contributors to their fields and bring that expertise directly into the virtual classroom. With lecturers and module leads from a variety of disciplines and cultural contexts, you’ll gain a global and interdisciplinary perspective on how sustainability is understood and applied around the world. Career opportunities When you finish the course, you’ll be ready to step into roles as a sustainability expert, change-maker, and strategic thinker across government, industry, or the non-profit space. With its focus on practical implementation, ESG frameworks, and alignment with UN processes, this MSc opens doors to diverse global career paths. You’ll be prepared to shape policies, guide behavioural change, design nature-based interventions, meet environmental compliance standards, and—above all—deliver creative, forward-thinking solutions that promote long-term wellbeing for people and planet.