Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Arts
- Duration
- 1 year
- Entry requirements
-
We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
- How to apply
- Apply online
Course options
Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MA | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Course overview
- Join the world number one for societal and environmental impact (THE Impact Rankings 2023) and a top ten UK university for Education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).
- Study on an innovative course to help address local and global environmental and sustainability challenges in and through education.
- Benefit from a blended teaching approach, giving you the flexibility to study this master's either onsite or online to fit your circumstances.
- Benefit from a creative blended pedagogy to encourage sustainability and flexibility. In this unique MA, on-campus and distance students attend classes together and at the same time using video conferencing tools.
Open days
The University holds regular open days , where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses.
You will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development, our resources, and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MA (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £13,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,000 -
MA (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £6,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,000 -
MA (full-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £13,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,000 -
MA (part-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £6,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,000
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
The MA in Education for a Sustainable Environment is committed to reducing its carbon emissions as a part of a broader commitment to socio-environmental sustainability in the School of Environmental, Education and Development. Reflecting that commitment, we are pleased to offer a Carbon Reduction Scholarship, in the form of a 10% discount on tuition fees, for those students who choose to study remotely on this programme. Find out more about the Carbon Reduction Scholarship .
We also offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students, including:
- Manchester Humanities International Excellence Scholarship : a partial discount on tuition fees for selected Master’s programmes, available to international applicants from a number of countries.
- Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme : £3,000 reduction on tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who have achieved a First Class Bachelor's degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught Master's course.
For further information on available scholarships and bursaries as well as their full eligibility criteria, please visit our funding page. or Master's fees and funding pages .
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Environment, Education and Development
- Contact name
- School of Environment, Education and Development
- Telephone
- +44(0)161 275 2814
- mie.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
- School/Faculty
-
See: The School .
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
English language
For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .
This programme accepts successful completion of the 6 and 10 week Pre-sessional English language course. We accept the following qualifications which must be valid on the start date of the Master's course:
Pre-sessional 6 week course requirement:
IELTS - 6.0 Overall with 6.0 in Writing, no more than one sub-skill at 5.5 and no sub-skill below 5.5
TOEFL iBT - 80 Overall with 20 in Writing, 20 in Speaking and no other sub-skill below 18
Pearson PTE Academic or Academic UKVI - 65 Overall with 65 in Writing, no more than one sub-skill at 59 and no other sub-skill below 59
Pre-sessional 10 week course requirement:
IELTS - 5.5 Overall with no sub-skill below 5.5
TOEFL iBT - 72 Overall with 20 in Speaking and no other sub-skill below 18
Pearson PTE Academic or Academic UKVI - 59 Overall with no sub-skill below 59
English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the Master's course course.
Other international entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our country-specific information page for guidance on the academic qualifications which may be accepted from your country.
Professional entry qualification
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:
- copies of English Language Certification, such as IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report;
- copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other than English, please provide official translations;
- your CV;
- a personal statement.
All applications must include a personal statement. This statement plays an important part in the admissions decision. In the personal statement, you should introduce yourself, state why you are interested in Sustainability Education, and explain how doing this MA degree can benefit you professionally and/or how it can benefit your own home community and/or your country. The personal statement should be approximately 500 words in length.
Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.
Course details
Course description
The MA Education for a Sustainable Environment provides you with knowledge, insights and competencies to become effective and creative practitioners, policy makers, researchers and communicators in the field of sustainability education.
Situated in the School of Environment, Education and Development, the course offers an environment for interdisciplinary exploration of the interconnected ecological, economic, political, historical and social dimensions of local and global sustainability challenges. It will enhance your critical awareness and knowledge of the relationship between education and a sustainable environment to support learning and research in communities, ethically and responsibly.
This MA has been designed for educational practitioners and policy makers, addressing the need to integrate sustainability education as a learning outcome in formal, informal and professional education settings. You will become part of a research-oriented international community, working with expert tutors, practitioners, and 'movement makers' equipping you with the skills to realise this integration in practice.
Special features
This MA programme employs a creative blended pedagogy to encourage sustainability and flexibility. In this unique MA, on-campus and distance students attend classes together and at the same time using video conferencing tools. For on-campus students this is not only a Manchester-based programme, with physical classes to attend, but also an opportunity to interact directly and in real-time with students located in other parts of the world. Distance students attend the same scheduled classes, using online tools, and this provides opportunities to interact with Manchester-based students and teaching staff directly and in real-time. All while benefitting from our long-standing heritage - Education has been a discipline of study at Manchester since 1890.
Teaching and learning
Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements
The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority.
The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.
The role of SEED
- changes to the rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
- a risk assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University identifying unmanageable risk;
- changes that enhance the educational value and student experience of the activity;
- changes to the situation of a placement provider (for example, which cause them to be unable to accept students);
- the unavailability of appropriate insurance cover;
- the unavailability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs;
- where fieldwork and placements are a compulsory element of the Programme, they will be replaced with something academically similar;
- where a trip or placement is not a compulsory element of the Programme, it may not be replaced.
We will consult with affected students at the earliest possible opportunity and explore the options available to them.
The duty of students
Preparation, attendance and conduct
Attendance at preparatory classes is a compulsory pre-requisite of the fieldwork and placements to ensure safety and learning outcomes are met.
Students who do not attend the compulsory preparatory classes may be prevented from participating in the fieldwork or placement. It is the duty of students to discuss any attendance issues with the field course or placement convenor.
Students are representatives of the university during their fieldwork or placement. Behaviour deemed by the convenor to be unacceptable may result in students being sent home.
Where a student is unable to attend or complete the fieldwork or placement (e.g. due to mitigating circumstances), is prevented from attending due to absence from compulsory preparatory classes, or returned home due to poor conduct:
- a suitable alternative assessment will be offered (as appropriate) to ensure that the programme ILOs are met, and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
- the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.
Immigration, passport and visa requirements
It is the responsibility of the individual student to ensure they have:
- a valid passport to enter the destination country (including sufficient months prior to expiry);
- a valid visa (where required) and comply with its requirements.
The School cannot guarantee that visas required for fieldwork or a placement will be granted by the relevant authority. Please note that countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice.
Where a student is unable to attend fieldwork or a placement because they do not have the required visa or passport:
- a suitable alternative assessment will be offered to ensure that the programme ILOs are met and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
- the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.
Coursework and assessment
Assessments will be real-world oriented, will emphasise real-world impact and communication of results. Assessment of the core course units will encourage group-based work, including the dissertation stage. Students will have the opportunity to choose from options for each assessment as they build a portfolio that can help them in their future work.
The form of assessment varies by course unit and may include written assignments (reports and/or critical reviews), portfolios, presentations and practice-oriented activity. The MA values formative feedback from tutors, peer-peer feedback, and feedback from professionals in the field.
The dissertation element of the MA is worth 60 credits and may be completed as a traditional 60 credit dissertation, and this may have an empirical, conceptual, evaluation, or professional focus. Alternatively, participants may satisfy the dissertation requirement through the completion of two linked parts, each one addressing one of the four listed foci. Indicative dissertations, or dissertation parts, include:
- a research project and report (building on the earlier completed 'Planning and Piloting Research in Sustainability' course unit) (Empirical);
- theorising an aspect of sustainability education in a particular context, or more broadly (Conceptual);
- an evaluation of the current state of sustainability education practice, policy and/or research in a particular setting (Evaluation);
- a context-specific and/or client-based sustainability education project (Professional).
Course unit details
MA Education for a Sustainable Environment students are required to take the following four core units:
- An Introduction to Sustainability Education
- Policy and Community in Sustainability Education
- Approaches to Sustainability Education
- Planning and Piloting Research in Sustainability Education
Students will further take three elective units in other areas of Education, and one elective unit from other disciplines within the School of Environment, Education and Development (Geography and Planning) or the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (UCIL).
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Introduction to Sustainability Education | EDUC70661 | 15 | Mandatory |
Community and Policy in Sustainability Education | EDUC71321 | 15 | Mandatory |
Approaches to Sustainability Education | EDUC71342 | 15 | Mandatory |
Planning and Piloting Research Sustainability Education | EDUC71352 | 15 | Mandatory |
Dissertation: Education for a Sustainable Environment | EDUC79100 | 60 | Mandatory |
Blended Learning in a Digital Age | EDUC70032 | 15 | Optional |
Language Education as Intercultural Practice | EDUC70041 | 15 | Optional |
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in International Education | EDUC70322 | 15 | Optional |
Educational Leadership and Diversity | EDUC70372 | 15 | Optional |
Early Years Education | EDUC70491 | 15 | Optional |
Displaying 10 of 24 course units | |||
Display all course units |
Facilities
The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) which has its own Student Hub. Here you'll find all your teaching staff and support staff as well as a place to relax with fellow students.
MIE is based in the University's Ellen Wilkinson building, which is centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students' Union.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) graduates go on to shape education policy and practice. This MA is designed to develop careers in the area of Sustainability Education, including taking on new or more senior professional roles related to sustainability education in educational, government, private and/or voluntary/non-government sectors.
Graduates from the programme should be prepared and able to take on leadership, practitioner, research and professional roles in:
- formal and informal educational settings;
- professional learning and training settings;
- media and communications training roles;
- local, national and international governmental and NGO organisations;
- academic and other research settings.
Careers support
The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .
Careers support for international students
The Careers Service provide specialist resources, advice and events for international students to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.
- Working in the UK after study
- Working during study
- Professional and alumni networks for international students
Global networks
The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK.
International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country, and provide an opportunity to build professional and social networks.