Design Thinking for Sustainability

Students who successfully completed the MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability will be able to: 

1. Apply the Design Thinking process to create innovative, human-centric, sustainable solutions to complex, real-world problems. The five-stage process includes skills in (a) insight gathering, (b) analysis, (c) ideation, (d) prototyping, (e) iterative design and testing.  

2. Develop a sustainability mindset through sustainability literacy including a working knowledge of sustainability systems, issues and tools, framed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

3. Apply and cultivate teamwork and leadership skills to support effective collaboration across diverse stakeholders and within multi-disciplinary teams practising design thinking.

4. Communicate persuasively, both individually and in teams, proposed solutions, ideas and concepts, using supporting evidence, insights and an awareness of assumptions, to influence different stakeholders, decision-makers and a wider general audience. 

5. Adopt and apply an entrepreneurial mindset - a way of thinking that creates value by recognising and acting on opportunities, making decisions with limited information, and remaining adaptable and resilient - in the design and implementation of sustainability solutions. 

6. Practise reflective techniques to enhance decision-making, draw insights to inform future approaches and enable self-directed learning into the future in the fast changing field of sustainability, among others.

7. Apply the Design Thinking methodology to design learners’ own careers and vocations, using practical career skills to identify and navigate relevant and possible career and life pathways. 

8. Identify sustainability challenges, opportunities, and needs, and design innovative implementation plans.

9. Lead a complex and ambitious sustainability project, managing multiple stakeholders and competing needs to deliver an actionable solution.

Decision makers in government, enterprise and civil society now recognise that learners must have not just the knowledge to act on sustainability, but also the skills to act quickly. The MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability is a unique programme that bridges knowledge and skills, ensuring students begin to affect change within the programme and are ready to quickly transition to new roles and opportunities upon graduation.

The MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability offers students an opportunity to apply, test and master their learnings individually with a high degree of autonomy in a high stakes, real world context. Students must design innovative implementation plans and individually lead a complex and ambitious sustainability project, managing multiple stakeholders and competing needs to deliver an actionable solution.

As a result of the highly applied nature of this MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability, students may leverage the project for future career opportunities.

Ireland’s ‘Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development – ESD to 2030: “Learners must acquire the knowledge, skills, values and dispositions needed to promote sustainable development.

“The Irish economy will need to fill more than 20,000 jobs by 2030 just to support green economy sectors.” IDA Ireland

“Key to guaranteeing a more sustainable and secure future is ensuring we have the right green skills to power the transition to net zero” Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment and Communications Eamon Ryan, TD

2025 Fees

€11,000 (EU students)

€23,000 (non-EU students)

Payment Schedule:

1. €500 Deposit to secure your place
2. First instalment September 2025 
3. Second instalment January 2026
4. Third instalment May 2026

• A minimum honours degree (Level 8) qualification. Please provide a copy of your academic transcript. If you have previously studied at UCD, please provide your UCD student number on a Word document / pdf. If you do not have a Level 8 you may be eligible to apply under Recognition of Prior Learning. Please contact innovation.academy@ucd.ie first for further guidance.

• Letter of motivation & CV

• An English language qualification if English is not your first language.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

The MSc programme is for learners seeking the following attributes:

Learning Agility 

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  An in-depth understanding of the Design Thinking process, a human centred problem solving methodology, and the ability to apply it appropriately across a wide range of contexts and sectors, and the aptitude to continuously adapt and develop your  approach and to learn in a collegial, professional manner. 

  
  


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  Sustainability literacy comprising a range of sustainability systems, issues and tools, all framed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and underpinned by the skills for continuous and self-directed learning into the future.

  
  

Professional Adaptability 

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  Well-developed intellectual curiosity, analytical and interpersonal skills to lead multi-disciplinary approaches for the successful development of creative and innovative solutions to real-world sustainability challenges across a broad range of stakeholders, sectors and disciplines.  

  
  

Globally Engaged; Ethical Leadership

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  An ethical perspective to leading change – sensitive to the beliefs and values of others, able to contextualise and communicate with diverse groups in a way that engages and influences behaviour. 

  
  


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  An awareness of your  own role and responsibilities as an active global citizen especially in the context of sustainability 

  
  


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  An inclusive values-based approach to your life and work, appreciating the importance and benefits of diversity and equity.