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Professional Diploma in the Foundations of Sustainable Development

ProfDip (NFQ Level 9)
Sustainable Development Goals

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The stability of the Earth as a system is currently at risk as five of the nine planetary boundaries - describing the environmental limits within which humanity as a species may continue to thrive - have now been exceeded. The practice of sustainability is crucial to our management of life under water, life on land, the environment, and for societal health and wellbeing now and in the future.

Utilising the digital resources of the SDG Academy and the sustainability expertise of UCD academic staff, the Professional Diploma in Foundations of Sustainable Development is taught through the lens of the SDGS and has the unique ability to address the large range of issues covered by the 2030 agenda.

Ultimately, it will equip students to solve some of the most pressing issues of our times. Students who complete the programme will emerge with a holistic understanding of the core tenets of sustainable development across the four pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals —economic, social, and environmental, and governance.

Key facts:

  • The programme is flexible and delivered online and it provides students who complete the programme with a pathway for entry onto UCD’s online MSc Sustainable Development programme.
  • This programme can be completed over 1 trimester (Sept start only) or over 2 Trimesters (Sept & Jan start) giving the student lots of flexibility.
  • Lectures for module 'Global Classroom' is available as live and also recorded. The second module 'Fundamentals of Sustainability' is on demand, this gives the student a lot of flexibility to learn.
  • The programme utilises the best available online sustainability education resources from global experts and is delivered in partnership with the UNSDSN SDG Academy (https://sdgacademy.org/)
  • Assessments are through continuous assessment. 
  • Once they complete the Diploma, students can continue into UCD’s online Master’s of Science (MSc.) in Sustainable Development—offsetting 20 academic credits.

Module Information:

Under the "What modules can I take?" section below you will see general module information, for a more detailed description including module selection rules click here.

About This Course

Knowledge and understanding

  • Understanding core concepts of sustainable development
  • Understand the role of sustainable development in the economy, society, environment and governance
  • Gain knowledge of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) and relevance to public policy

Applying knowledge and understanding

  • Apply knowledge of the inter-connectedness of the SDGs to policy diagnosis and associated solutions for practical implementation
  • Apply knowledge and understand the relationship between sustainability/SDGs and global challenges
  • Gain knowledge of appropriate tools and techniques to inform evidence based sustainable development driven policy decision

Making judgements

  • Evaluate the range of sustainable development solutions available for public policy implementation
  • Determining the appropriateness of different theoretic and/or analytic approaches to a variety of problems
  • Selecting appropriate concept/theories and empirical techniques to investigate sustainable development issues

Communication and working skills

  • Develop presentation, research and writing skills throughout their time on the programme
  • Enhance communication skills via the interaction with academics, peers and non-specialists
  • Develop a series of transferrable skills that will be important for future employability in the broad area of sustainable development practice

Learning Skills

  • Assess, review, extend theories and practices of sustainable development and the SDGs

Career Opportunities for graduates:

  • As a sustainability expert in corporate entities
  • Almost all NGOs now require expertise in sustainability
  • Environmental corporate governance (e.g. ESG)
  • Education for sustainable development careers
  • Sustainability consultant

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Option modules
 POL42080 Global Classroom Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Option modules
 PLAN40550 Fundamentals of Sustainability Autumn and Spring (separate)  10

UCD ranks 1st in Ireland and in the top 50 worldwide in the QS Sustainability rankings 2023, which focus on what institutions are doing to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges

Module Coordinator, Prof Patrick Paul Walsh, VP of Education at SDSN and Director of its SDG Academy

"The global labour force needs to re- and upskill at speed to put the world on a pathway to sustainable development, and professionals need to understand the intersection of science, policy, and practice. That's why University College Dublin and the SDG Academy have created this innovative online Master’s pathway for all learners across government, corporates and civil society to earn a Professional Diploma in Foundations of Sustainable Development. You can enter the pathway with or without professional experience in the field of sustainable development, and emerge ready to take part in the transition to a sustainable future."

Professional Diploma in the Foundations of Sustainable Development (T392) Part Time
EU/NONEU    fee per credit - € 131.2

Professional Diploma in the Foundations of Sustainable Development (T394) Part Time
EU/NONEU    fee per credit - € 131.2

***Fees are subject to change

A primary degree  with at least Second Class Honours Grade II (2H2) (NFQ Level 8 or international equivalence) in a relevant subject such as planning, political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law.
If English is not your native language, proof of English will also be required  -please see the University minimum English language requirements.

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes



  • A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade II  or equivalent in a relevant subject such as planning, political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law.

  • English language requirements: standard university requirements.


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Professional Diploma in the Foundations of Sustainable Development:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt T392
Professional Diploma in the Foundations of Sustainable Development
Professional Diploma		 Part-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September		 Graduate Taught Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt T394
Professional Diploma in the Foundations of Sustainable Development
Professional Diploma		 Part-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 January		 Graduate Taught Opens 01 Oct 2024
* you can change options at the top of the page
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