Sustainability and Consultancy MSc

Program Overview

The Sustainability and Consultancy MSc program at the University of Leeds is a 12-month full-time course that prepares students for a career in sustainability consultancy. The program emphasizes project management and aligns with the challenges of sustainability, providing students with a strong foundation and the opportunity to specialize in areas of interest. Through a consultancy project with an industry partner, students gain practical experience and contribute to business transformation in pursuit of a more sustainable future. The program is accredited by IEMA and offers personal development opportunities and industry connections.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Sustainability and Consultancy MSc is a 12-month full-time program designed to prepare students for a career in the field of sustainability consultancy. The program emphasizes project skills and aligns closely with the challenges of sustainability and the skills needed to tackle them. It provides a strong foundation in the principles of sustainability and offers the opportunity to choose sustainability topics that align with individual interests. The program culminates in a focused professional consultancy project with an industry partner.

Objectives:

• To equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful sustainability consultants.
• To provide students with a strong understanding of the principles of sustainability and the challenges facing businesses and organizations.
• To develop students' project management skills and their ability to manage projects in a sustainability context.
• To provide students with the opportunity to gain practical experience through a consultancy project with an industry partner.

Outline:

The program is structured as follows:

• Semester 1:
• Lectures and seminars covering the theoretical foundation of sustainability topics, including project management.
• Modules focusing on a broad range of consultancy theoretical topics, such as corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, alternative economic models, and climate change.
• Semester 2:
• Modules focusing on embedding sustainability within projects and organizations, from both a project and organizational level.
• Optional modules allowing students to choose a specific area of interest, such as regulation and planning or issues and cases in corporate responsibility.
• Project Work:
• The School helps students find partner companies, but they are free to develop their own projects with companies of choice.
• The project work culminates in a presentation of findings and a final dissertation.

Course Schedule:

• Year 1 Compulsory Modules:
• Business, Environment and Sustainability (30 credits)
• Sustainability Consultancy Project (90 credits)
• Developing and managing environmental projects (15 credits)
• Managing and Delivering Sustainability through Projects and Organisations (30 credits)
• Year 1 Optional Modules:
• The Regulatory and Planning Context for Sustainable Projects (15 credits)
• Issues and Cases in Corporate Social Responsibility (15 credits)

Module Descriptions:

• Business, Environment and Sustainability: This module provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between business, the environment, and sustainability.
It explores key concepts, theories, and frameworks related to sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, and environmental management.
• Sustainability Consultancy Project: This module provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to a real-world sustainability consultancy project.
Students work in teams to develop and implement a project for an industry partner, addressing a specific sustainability challenge.
• Developing and managing environmental projects: This module focuses on the practical aspects of developing and managing environmental projects.
It covers topics such as project planning, risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, and environmental impact assessment.
• Managing and Delivering Sustainability through Projects and Organisations: This module explores the challenges and opportunities of integrating sustainability into projects and organizations.
It covers topics such as sustainability strategy development, performance measurement, and reporting. It covers topics such as environmental legislation, planning policies, and permitting processes.
• Issues and Cases in Corporate Social Responsibility: This module explores the evolving landscape of corporate social responsibility.
It examines key issues and challenges, such as ethical sourcing, human rights, and climate change, and analyzes case studies of companies that have successfully integrated CSR into their operations.

Assessment:

Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Written assignments
• Oral presentations
• Exams
• Individual and group work
• Final project work, including a presentation of findings and a dissertation

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods:
• Lectures
• Practical workshops
• Computer lab sessions
• Research seminars
• Field trips
• Project work
• Faculty:
• The program is taught by a team of experienced academics and industry professionals, including:
• Paul Abbott, Programme Leader, an experienced sustainability consultant.
• Academics from the Sustainability Research Institute, one of the largest academic groups of sustainability experts in the world.
• Industry professionals with years of experience in the field.
• Unique Approaches:
• The program emphasizes a research-intensive approach, ensuring that course material is up-to-date and research-led.
• Strong links with industry ensure that course content is relevant to the needs of the sustainability industry.
• Students are assigned a personal tutor who provides pastoral guidance and support throughout the year.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Environmental Consultant
• Sustainability Consultant
• Energy and Sustainability Specialist
• Development Manager
• Environment and Sustainability Analyst
• Supply Chain Consultant
• Sustainability Director
• Geologist
• Policy Advisor
• Sustainable Fashion Footprint Coordinator
• Opportunities:
• Graduates are highly sought after by employers in the sustainability field, including:
• AECOM
• ARUP
• WSP Global
• Bulb Energy
• Jacobs
• JBA Consulting
• Anthesis
• Proud to be Green
• Hewlett Packard
• CBI Conference Centre
• Arcadia Group
• Next
• Outcomes:
• Graduates are well-prepared for a variety of careers in sustainability, with the skills and knowledge to be effective straight away.
• The program provides students with the opportunity to develop industry experience and build networks through their consultancy project.

Other:

• The program is accredited by The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
• The program offers personal development workshops and activities, including networking with project hosts.
• The School has strong links with industry partners, including consultancy providers such as AECOM, ARUP, Buro Happold, JBA Consulting, Jacobs, ERM, Mott MacDonald, and WSP.
• The program is designed to help students contribute to transforming business to prepare for a more sustainable future.
• The University of Leeds is ranked 82nd in the world and in the top 50 for Environmental Sciences.

International fees: £31,000 (Total)