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Online course details

Study options

Part-time: 3 years

UK fee

£8,775 (2023/24)

International fee

£8,775 (2023/24)

Course level

Postgraduate

Qualification

MSc

Start dates

September, January, May

Location

Online

Online course description

In the past few decades, the importance of environmental management has continually risen on the agenda of both private and public organisations due to the increasing environmental crises that the world is facing. In addition, the scope of what is covered by environmental management is becoming broader with elements of sustainability being embedded within industry standards.

As the scope of what is covered by environmental management broadens, by extension the skills environmental practitioners and managers are expected to have now includes social and financial skill sets such as corporate governance, making environmental business cases, communication and reporting, sustainable value chain and sustainable business management among others.

Following this shift in the sector, the need to acquire sustainability skills and training for environmental management practitioners has never been so important.

Accredited by IEMA, giving you free student membership

IEMA university partner

This programme is accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), a high-quality benchmark recognised by employers around the world.

The IEMA Accreditation gives you free IEMA student membership while studying this programme, giving you access to a wide range of resources and support to complement your studies such as free articles, webinars, events, newsfeed and downloads as well as copies of The Transform Magazine, the world’s most read environment and sustainability publication.

Upon completion of this course, you will be eligible to join the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) as a graduate member (GradIEMA) and fast track to Practitioner Member status (PIEMA) depending on your experience.

Accredited by CIWEM, giving you free student membership

CIWEM Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management logo

This programme is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)

Whilst enrolled on this master’s degree you can enjoy free student membership to the CIWEM that allows you to:

The CIWEM will support the development of the skills and qualities that employers are looking for, providing you with opportunities to showcase your talents.

Upon completion of this course, you will be eligible to register for graduate membership of CIWEM.

Popular with those already in the industry

This degree is a popular choice for those already employed in the industry due to the ability to study some of our modules on their own to enhance your CPD. Our standalone 20 credit modules have been designed to enhance career development and progression into the broader areas of sustainability and leadership. The 20 credit modules that can be taken as standalone modules are as follows:

Exemptions for IEMA Practitioners

As 3 core modules are aligned to IEMA’s practitioner level membership, IEMA practitioner members can join the programme at the Postgraduate Diploma stage.

Don't just take our word for it...

Graduate Delma Bright talks about her time as a student with University of Derby Online Learning.

Career progression with online learning

View Career progression with online learning video transcript

Find out more about the online course

Our Academic Lead for the MSc Sustainability and Environmental Management, Dr Uche Okere, talks about the online MSc Sustainability and Environmental Management course in this video.

Dr Uche Oke introduces the MSc Sustainability and Environmental Management

View Dr Uche Oke introduces the MSc Sustainability and Environmental Management video transcript

What you will study

We will advise you of your study plan – the running order and availability of the modules – when you are invited to enrol.

If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, this may not be offered. In addition, where demand is high, some modules may be subject to a cap.

Postgraduate Certificate stage

You must complete three core modules.

Postgraduate Diploma stage

You must complete the three core modules at Postgraduate Certificate stage as well as three optional modules.

Masters stage

To gain the full MSc, you must complete the Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma plus the Independent Scholarly Activity which is a triple module, worth 60 credits.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

wind turbines in countryside

Online MSc Sustainability and Environmental Management Q&A: April 2024

Thursday, 11 April 2024 16.00 - 16.30

If you're interested in joining the online MSc Sustainability and Environmental Management course and wish to find out more, join the live Q&A to hear from Dr Uche Okere, Programme Leader, and get your questions answered.

Book your webinarBook your webinar

How you will learn

Pace of study

We recommend about 20 hours of study per week to complete one 20-credit module over a 10-week trimester.

There will be 1/2 virtual classrooms over the 10 week trimester and if you are unable to attend you will be able to download the session to view in your own time.

Assessment method

This course is assessed through 100% coursework with a range of methods, such as essays, research reports, presentations, group work and practical reports.

Student support and guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

Who will teach you

Uche Okere

Dr Uchechukwu Okere
Programme leader

Academic Lead for Environmental Management, Dr Uchechukwu Okere, has previously worked with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) to deliver professional training courses to environmental professionals in various sectors including oil and gas, maritime and finance in the both the UK and abroad.

View full staff profileView full staff profileExplore all staff on this courseExplore all staff on this course

Get a taste of the course content

Our Sustainability and Environmental Management MSc course taster will give you an idea of how online learning works. It includes a selection of content from a course module so you can see what some of our learning material looks like.

You will need to complete a short form to access the course taster.

Try our course tasterTry our course taster

Entry requirements

You will normally need an undergraduate degree (minimum 2:2). A science or related degree is preferred but a range of degrees will be considered.

If you don’t have this qualification but do have extensive and relevant work experience at an appropriate level we welcome your application.

You must provide a CV detailing your academic and work experience and a reference from your workplace or the institution where you undertook your previous study. This information should be included as part of your online application.

English language qualifications

You will normally need one of the following English Language qualifications:

If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need at least one of the following:

Find out more about English language requirements

Fees and funding

2023/24 for new entrants

Starting between September 2023 and August 2024.

 
 Per 20 creditsModulesCost
UK/EU/International £975 7 (six 20 credit modules and one 60 credit module) £8,775
IEMA practitioner members £975 4 (three 20 credit modules and one 60 credit module)  £5,850

2024/25 for new entrants

Starting between September 2024 and August 2025.

 
 Per 20 creditsModulesCost
UK/EU/International £1,000 7 (six 20 credit modules and one 60 credit module) £9,000
IEMA practitioner members £1,000 4 (three 20 credit modules and one 60 credit module)  £6,000

About your fees

This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.

If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this will be in addition to the programme cost stated above.

Exemptions for IEMA Practitioner Members

If you are an IEMA practitioner member, you are entitled to exemptions worth 60 credits on the three modules covered in the Postgraduate Certificate stage of this course, a saving on the cost of the full MSc.

This means that you will join the course at the Postgraduate Diploma stage and complete a total of three optional modules plus the Independent Scholarly Activity to achieve the MSc Sustainability and Environmental Management.

You will need to provide evidence of your IEMA practitioner membership with your application so we can confirm your exemptions.

This will take a minimum of 2 years to complete.

Flexible payment plans available

Choose from two payment plan options:

*Please note: the discount for paying your fees up front will only be available to students enrolling for eligible online studies between August 2023 and July 2024 and will not be available for the September 2024 intake onwards.

Masters funding options

Depending on where you are from in the UK or EU, and on your pace of study, you may be eligible for a postgraduate student loan. Accessible through Student Finance, this is a non-income based loan to help with living costs and tuition fees whilst studying your masters programme.

If you are considering applying for a student loan, please also see our additional guidance on Loans for Online Students.

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out more about the Alumni discount

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


Apply directly to the University.

Apply now

For support with completing your application, view our guide to the application process.

Documents to support your application

In order for your application to be assessed, you will need to provide the following documents when you apply:

*Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. Each translation must contain:

A list of approved translators can be found on the UK Government website.

Please note: failure to submit any documentation when requested, may result in your application being withdrawn.

Application deadlines

All of our online courses have set start dates throughout the year. We require time to review your application and get back to you with a response before your course starts. Take a look at information regarding applying for an online course to see full details of deadlines and term dates.

Careers

Upon completion of this programme, you will be equipped with the skills needed to improve the culture of sustainability within your organisation. Additionally, through enhancing your communication, employability and digital skills, you will be well placed to perform better in your current role, seek a promotion or secure a new job.

If you wish to further your studies, you may choose to progress onto a PhD or other research degree in environmental management or sustainability within the university or elsewhere.

For professional development, you could also undertake further professional development through short courses or our standalone 20 credit modules at level 7, which can be taken as Certificates of Credit for your professional development. Choose from:

Utilise our Careers and Employment Service​

Whilst you are a student at the University of Derby, and for 3 years after you graduate, our Careers and Employment Service can assist you with job search advice, CV creation, workshops and events, as well as one-to-one appointments with employment advisers to help with career planning and interview preparation.

Contact us

Contact the University of Derby Online Learning:

Contact usContact usFrequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions

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