Course summary
Overview of Programme MSc Global Sustainability Engineering provides you with the opportunity to develop your engineering knowledge to identify existing unsustainable processes and practices and implement strategies to improve sustainability. The programme has been created in response to the current gap in industry and create graduates who have both a background in science or engineering and who can provide technical consultation and deliver specialist solutions to improve sustainability. You’ll learn from academics and a curriculum focused on and drawing inspiration from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You’ll develop the knowledge and skills to become advocates for change within the sustainability engineering field, by understanding how both incremental and disruptive approaches can be harnessed for effective sustainable development. The programme adopts an interdisciplinary approach, to provide you with a holistic view of problems and solutions which can be developed. During the programme, you’ll develop a working knowledge of the relevant science and technology core to sustainability engineering, including environmental science and engineering, energy, recycling, sustainable processing, impact assessment, and environmental economics. You’ll gain an awareness of the context and framework within which the environmental degradation and sustainability problem and solutions exist. You’ll explore the implications of global trends on the environment, society, economy, and organisations to develop sustainable products and services with the aim to improve sustainability performance. Our Expertise 96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. Our MSc Global Sustainability Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) research institute and our Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS). Your learning environment The MSc Global Sustainability Engineering programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practicals, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme. During your studies, you’ll benefit from our specialist equipment, software and laboratories used by professional chemical and sustainability engineers, including a condensation rig, mock continuous stirred tank reactor, fermentation broths, flowmeter calibration, absorption columns, reactant distribution reactors, heat exchangers, distillation columns, absorption column, and fermenters. Customise your learning You’ll have the opportunity to focus on the areas of global sustainability engineering that interest you the most. You can customise your degree to match your specific interests or desired career pathway by studying six mandatory courses and choosing two further options from a range of sustainability and engineering specialist courses, including process intensification, renewable energy technologies, circular economy, carbon solutions, green and sustainable logistics, and demand management and energy storage. In semester three, you’ll undertake an extensive and specialised investigation into your chosen area of sustainability engineering through your dissertation. You’ll be required to demonstrate your mastery of the subject area by applying the latest sustainability engineering technology developments to an extensive investigation into an advanced or specialist topic relating to the subject area.
Modules
Mandatory courses: process engineering; climate change, sustainability and adaptation; foundations of energy; sustainable processing; environmental impact assessment. Optional courses: process intensification; renewable energy technologies; circular economy; carbon solutions; technology futures and business strategy; demand management and energy storage; green and sustainable logistics.
Assessment method
Exams, coursework and dissertation.
How to apply
International applicants
If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component lower than 6.0. If you do not have IELTS 6.5, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies: - 20 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with no skill lower than 4.5) - 14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with minimum of 5.0 in writing and no skill lower than 4.5) - 10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.0) - 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.5)
Entry requirements
Graduates with a good first degree from a relevant subject area will be considered. Suitable backgrounds include: engineering or environmental, earth, chemical, physical, or mathematical sciences.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £10600 | Whole course |
Northern Ireland | £10600 | Whole course |
Scotland | £10600 | Whole course |
Wales | £10600 | Whole course |
EU | £24496 | Whole course |
International | £24496 | Whole course |
Channel Islands | £24496 | Whole course |
Republic of Ireland | £24496 | Whole course |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Sponsorship information
We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support. View our full range of postgraduate scholarships on our website.
Provider information
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS