MSc Sustainability, Energy and Development

at Durham University

This MSc offers an integrated, inter-disciplinary education in emerging issues in sustainability, energy and development.

MSc Sustainability, Energy and Development offers a route to understanding the linked processes and practices that feed into climate change and inequality locally and globally, and how they can best be critically addressed. It takes a holistic approach to understanding interlinked crises, and offers methods and approaches for changing the status quo, rather than rely on global blueprints for sustainable development. In particular, this course takes seriously understanding the role of local and indigenous knowledge and community-focused action, alongside the role of local and national states, corporations, agencies and international organisations in meeting contemporary challenges.

The course is taught by an active, interdisciplinary team involved in world-class research on energy, sustainability and development issues. We offer comparative knowledge about achieving environmental and social sustainability through participatory approaches and active collaborations, including: projects for empowering climate resilience in the Global South, projects on inclusion and equality within European countries; projects on the role of local authorities as ‘change agents’ with active research in NE England; projects to address the social and political aspects of new technology development locally and globally, and achieve more inclusive innovation pathways.

Our geographical areas of expertise include Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, South Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Scandinavia, the European High North (Arctic) and Melanesia. Staff also help students connect with Durham’s excellent research communities such as the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, and the Durham Energy Institute.

The MSc is based around core modules focusing on the challenges of pro-poor transitions to sustainability, aided by culturally informed perspectives on new themes in development such as resilience, and energy justice. Options allow you to pursue subject interests with specialist guidance. The dissertation enables you to conduct independent research under the supervision of an expert, and become a master of your chosen topic.