Postgraduate students confidently staring into the camera at night time

GUARANTEED INTERNSHIPS WITH EVERY MASTER'S DEGREE

Course overview

Sustainability lies at the heart of solving many of the world’s most pressing challenges. This course positions you to become a key contributor to tackling global issues such as resource depletion, environmental degradation, population growth, and ecosystem damage.

This accredited* course will empower you to create innovative, holistic solutions that meet human needs while protecting the planet’s natural systems. You will develop critical skills in systems thinking, communication, teamwork, leadership, research, project management, and innovation — all essential to driving sustainable change across sectors.

More time. More experience. More impact.

This course offers the opportunity to extend to 22 months through our Professional Practice route*. You’ll need to meet the criteria and secure a suitable placement.

Why Sustainability at Aston University?

Industry experts

The course has been designed in collaboration with industry specialists to ensure that you graduate with the practical skills and applied knowledge required to meet the growing demands of the sustainability sector.

Professionally accredited

Accredited by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), the professional body for everyone working in environment and sustainability

Ranked 24th in the world

Aston University is ranked 24th in the world for reducing inequalities

Top 5% in the world

Top 5% of global evaluated institutions (QS World University Rankings 2026)

Professional experience

Opportunity to extend your studies and gain real-world experience through our professional practice route.

From student to senior lecturer...

Hear about Dr Katie Chong's journey from student to senior lecturer, and her research work in industrial decarbonisation.

We're serious about employability

As a postgraduate student, you will have access to dedicated careers guidance with specialist support from our experienced team of careers consultants.

Gain a competitive edge

As well as opening doors, an Aston University postgraduate degree builds on your experience, develops your skills and gives you a competitive edge in a crowded job market.

Course description

MSc Sustainability

You will engage with a dynamic curriculum that integrates the latest developments in sustainable practices, green technologies, and environmental policy with applied project and management skills. This hands-on approach ensures you not only understand sustainability theory but also learn to apply it in real-world contexts to create tangible impact.

What we will provide
You’ll benefit from first-class teaching in the UK’s second-largest city, delivered by academics and researchers actively engaged in pioneering sustainability research. You will gain access to an extensive professional network through guest lectures, live projects, and global design challenges.

Students have access to world-class facilities, including professional software and research environments, and receive free ISEP membership for additional development resources and networking opportunities.

What you will provide
We’re looking for passionate individuals who want to become agents of change — people eager to make a meaningful impact on the planet’s future. You should bring creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, using your insight to generate innovative and practical sustainable solutions to today’s challenges.

What skills we teach
Through a balance of theoretical understanding and applied learning, you will develop both qualitative and quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and implement sustainability strategies. The course also strengthens essential professional capabilities such as problem-solving, collaboration, leadership, and communication — preparing you to address complex global and local sustainability challenges.

Professional practice year
If you meet satisfactory academic performance and have secured a suitable professional experience, you will have the option to be transferred onto our MSc Sustainability including Professional Practice programme.

Taking the professional practice route allows you to extend the duration of your masters to 22 months and gain valuable working experience to support your career aspirations. The placement commences after the completion of your MSc dissertation and can be paid work, study abroad exchanges or unpaid research projects or even a mix of these options. You will return to Aston the following December for an intensive period on campus to draw all your learning together and finalise the assessments.

Career prospects
The global shift towards sustainable development has created growing demand for professionals skilled in sustainability leadership and implementation. Graduates from this course pursue diverse roles across sectors such as renewable energy, corporate sustainability, environmental consultancy, circular economy, and sustainable policy.

Our graduates have gone on to careers including Sustainability Manager, Environmental Officer, and Sustainability Consultant, with organisations such as Severn Trent, SGN, and the British Geological Survey.

Professional accreditation
*This programme is accredited by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP).

How you will learn

Teaching and learning will take place through a variety of methods that integrate real-world problem-based learning in a multi-disciplinary setting. As well as traditional lectures and seminars, you will delve into practical sessions through site visits, simulation workshops and teacher- learner centres.

The course modules will be delivered in a flexible manner through a mixture of classroom and online virtual learning environment settings. There will be a focus on multidisciplinary group work, collaborating with students across disciplines, where the academic will act as a facilitator to enhance your learning through interactive sessions.

This degree has strong ties with industry, throughout the course there will be guest seminars, lectures and workshops hosted by our partner organisations including EWB UK, Energy Systems Catapult, Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI), and the Carbon Trust. Guest expert talks/seminars are also delivered by other external organisations such as the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE Norway), Energy Systems Catapult, Planet Mark and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

Here at Aston University, we are passionate about supporting our students. You will have a personal tutor throughout your studies to provide support and guidance. The Learning Development Centre is there to provide maths support, and bespoke academic writing development, advice, and strategies for managing your studies.

What you will learn

This programme is designed with the primary focus of embedding sustainability and sustainable development deep within the mind-set of all disciplines and industrial sectors. The main subject areas tackled, and skills developed throughout the postgraduate programme are:

Sustainable Development and Global Policy
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Resource and Energy Management
Circular and Regenerative Economies
Pathways to Net Zero and Climate Action
Life Cycle Thinking and Assessment (LCA)
UK and Global Regulatory Frameworks
Environmental Impact and Strategic Assessments (EIA & SEA)
Project Management and Systems Thinking

You will also have opportunities to participate in applied sustainability research with EBRI (Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute) and collaborate with the Aston Estates team, using the campus as a living laboratory to implement real sustainability projects.

“Spending time with the students during our Wavemakers – Industry Week has been utterly brilliant! It was amazing to see how much their ideas developed over such a short space of time and how they had assimilated so much knowledge and understanding of our industry and our challenges. The project pitches were fantastic, and I look forward to helping harness their talents in the near future.”

Richard Walwyn

CTO/CDO and Head of Asset Intelligence and Innovation

Severn Trent Plc

Course objectives

Develops globally minded and socially aware sustainability practitioners who are future agents of change, equipped with a mindset of service and a commitment to building a sustainable world.
Embed sustainability and Sustainable Development deep within the mind-set of students in order to develop the skills to design and construct new technologies that embrace the challenges of sustainable development and the climate emergency
Enables students to innovate and bring forward more holistic solutions that meet human needs while protecting our natural resources.
Equips students with the necessary qualitative and quantitative analytical tools and skills that will enable them to tackle the complex local and global sustainable development issues and challenges.
Develops the transferrable and professional skill set of students with critical thinking, effective communication and teamwork, leadership and management, and innovative problem solving that are necessary to meet evolving sustainable development challenges.

Modules

Modules and learning outcomes

Taught stage modules

In the taught stage you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Engineering Project Management	15
Life Cycle Analysis and Circular Economy	15
Interdisciplinary Design Project	15
Aston Global Advantage	15
Environmental Regulations and Impact Assessment	15
Pathways to Net Zero	15
Total	90

You will choose one of the following streams:*

Renewable Energy and Environmental Systems Stream	Credits
Renewable Energy Systems	15
Environmental Engineering	15

Supply Chain Management Stream	Credits
Strategic Supply Chain Management	15
Logistics and Transportation Systems	15

Built Environment Stream	Credits
Monitoring and Management of Civil Infrastructure	15
Water/Wastewater Engineering	15

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Dissertation stage modules

In the dissertation stage you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Dissertation	60

Programme outcomes

On successful completion of both the taught and dissertation stage, you will be able to:

Articulate a critical awareness of current issues, mega-trends and scientific principles relevant to sustainable engineering practice and engineering for sustainable development.
Collect and evaluate research data, investigate new and emerging technologies and their associated policies and regulations and propose appropriate innovation, use or adaptation of engineering analysis methods and tools to complex sustainable
development problems that require multi-disciplinary approaches, such as those with uncertain or incomplete data or specifications.
Select and apply business and management methods to effectively manage time and resources in business environments within the context of engineering projects.
Generate innovative designs for products, systems, components or processes that can mitigate existing deficiencies, meet evolving end-user needs and enhance quality of life using an in-depth knowledge and understanding of engineering design methods in the context of complex, global sustainable development problems.
Critically reflect upon the regulatory frameworks and ethical standards that govern sustainable engineering practice, and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques to assess and evaluate risks to health & safety, environmental preservation and commercial operations.
Demonstrate advanced level knowledge and critical evaluation of current practice, and limitations, of a wide range of engineering materials and components, by applying engineering analysis and design techniques that encompass life-cycle thinking and a range of commercial and industrial constraints.
Work collaboratively, exercise initiative, take personal responsibility and undertake leadership within a multi-disciplinary engineering team.
Demonstrate creativity and originality in solving complex problems by independently appraising, selecting and applying advanced appropriate techniques, and the ability to effectively communicate their solutions to a wide range of audiences.

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

Facilities

Aston University boasts state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories equipped with the latest technology. Whether you're conducting experiments, simulations, or collaborative projects, you'll have access to the resources necessary to push the boundaries of sustainability learning and research.

Students will have access to state-of-the-art research and laboratory facilities, including:

EBRI’s analytical and processing laboratories
Specialist facilities supporting materials, energy, and environmental analysis.
You will also have access to course specific software which can be used on campus and accessed for free when on the VPN.

Entry requirements

One of the following:

2:2 (lower second-class honours) degree or equivalent in any subject
Equivalent overseas degree recognised by Aston University (see international students tab below for more information)

You will also need to provide:

A professional reference
- If you are a current student or recent graduate (within the last 2-3 years), we will ask for an academic reference
- If you are currently employed and not a recent graduate, we will ask for a professional reference
An official academic transcript of your university grades to date
A completed application form.

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our postgraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study but also a great place to live.

Qualifications in your country

For details of equivalent qualifications in your country, use our area pages below:

English language requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification.

English language requirements

How to apply

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Find out more about applying

Pathway programmes

If you don’t meet our entry requirements, we have a range of pathway programmes offered by our partner, ONCAMPUS Aston, which you can complete to progress onto one of our degrees.

We recognise the value of extensive professional experience. If you do not have the academic qualifications but have extensive and relevant professional experience and a proven ability to succeed, we would welcome your application.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications.

Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

Speak to our Admissions Team

If you have any questions about the application process please get in touch with our postgraduate admissions team:

Email: pgadmissions@aston.ac.uk

Call: 0121 204 3200 (Please note this line is open Monday-Friday between 09.30am-4.30pm)

Read our guide to applying

Fees and scholarships

Course fees

UK students
(2026/27)

Annual tuition fees:

£11,500

International students
(2026/27)

Annual tuition fees:

£24,800

More information on fees

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as UK students.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs.

Explore scholarships for UK students

Explore scholarships for international students

Assessment

Assessment is through a diverse range of methods, including group projects, presentations, poster sessions, coursework, portfolios, and examinations. Each module employs assessment approaches that best reflect how knowledge and skills would be applied in real-world sustainability practice.

Career prospects

With the world increasingly prioritising sustainable solutions, the demand for professionals in sustainability is on the rise. Aston University's strong industry connections, combined with the practical skills acquired during the program, will open doors to a multitude of exciting career opportunities.

The MSc program is designed in collaboration with industry experts, ensuring that you graduate with the skills and knowledge that are directly applicable to the demands of the sustainability sector.

Recent graduates from this course have gone into roles such as Environmental Officer, Environmental & Sustainability Engineer and Sustainability Manager, for leading companies like Seven Trent, EDF Energy, NFU Energy, Hayward Tyler, Johnson Controls, Equans, Liberty Specialty Steel, Varicon Aqua, Omexcom and the British Geological Society.

Be part of our community

Once you have joined us at Aston University, you’ll always be part of our community, even beyond graduation.

Alumni services

Frequently asked questions

Why study Sustainability at Aston University?

You’ll gain the knowledge you need to develop a successful career and make an impact in implementing and developing sustainability practices in industry.

This unique course has a multidisciplinary team of expert academics from a variety of disciplines, who will share their expertise to ensure you acquire a broad knowledge from a range of subject areas.

This course will also enable you to have a positive impact on the industry and the environment through your understanding of sustainable practices.

Does the accreditation matter?

Yes. Gaining an accredited master's will give you the experience and skills you need to develop a successful career, potentially at the highest levels in the industry.

Is Birmingham a good place to study?

Our campus is based in the centre of Birmingham, the youngest major city in Europe and a great place to live, work and study.

Great music and entertainment with a vibrant nightlife. Bars, clubs, pubs, live music, festivals, concerts. Whatever your tastes, there's something here for everyone.
Fantastic food. Birmingham's diverse community means you can try anything from the famous Balti triangle, the Chinese Quarter, high street chains, halal and vegan food, and Michelin-star dining.
World-class shopping. The Bullring and Grand Central is a shopper's paradise. From the world's biggest Primark to luxury brands at the Mailbox.
Arts and culture. Museums, galleries, theatres, concerts and Birmingham's art collection is as wide as it is impressive - not to be missed.
Green, open spaces. One of the greenest cities in Europe, Birmingham has hundreds of publicly accessible parks and green spaces across the city.
Sporting action. Birmingham has some of the most exciting venues for watching or participating in sport in the UK.

Discover Birmingham

What is the Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme?

Aston’s Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme means you get more than a degree; you will graduate with an industry internship and the experience and skills employers around the world are looking for.

We guarantee an internship to all full-time students studying a taught master’s programme at either our Birmingham or London campus, including MA and MSc programmes, for students joining Aston in the 25/26 or 26/27 academic year.

It is open to both international and UK students, and there is no charge to register or participate in the scheme.

Our multi award-winning Careers and Placements Team will work with you to secure your industry internship which you will complete part-time, taking no more than 20 hours per week. The precise hours and timing will depend on each employer’s requirement, but will fit around your study timetable.

The duration of the internship will usually be around two months, but could range from around one month up to six months.

Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme