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Graduate Diploma in Environmental Sustainability Implementation

GradDip (NFQ Level 9)
Sustainable Development Goals

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

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Sustainability is on the agenda for many sectors. All sectors are responding to sustainability goals, with many organisations setting targets to be achieved by 2030 for compliance, consumer or market retention purposes. Consultation with a range of industry stakeholders has identified that there is a deficit of expertise in the market to address the implementation of sustainability agendas, however the scale and speed of the change required is urgent.  

Drivers of this demand are the National Sectoral Emissions Ceilings, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (2021) Act, Future Jobs initiative 'Transition to low carbon economy', Ireland's National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reporting).

This full-time Level 9 Graduate Diploma equips students with the core skills to quantify the sustainability of a product, process or system, identify areas for improvement and devise and manage measures for implementation to improve sustainability.

  • The Graduate Diploma in Environmental Sustainability Implementation comprises 60 credits of Modules (10 modules).  These modules are offered across the Spring and Autumn Trimesters.
  • All synchronous lectures, tutorials and practicals are delivered during normal working hours in Ireland and recorded to allow asynchronous engagement.
  • It is possible for students to complete the programme entirely online. However, for those who want to attend campus, students enrolled in the programme are free to attend timetabled face-to-face lectures and practicals on campus if they wish.

The programme is designed to be suitable for people working in any sector in Ireland.

As most modules can be done either in real-time or via recordings – this gives workers flexibility in managing their learnings around their work hours.

Pathway: This 60 ECTS Graduate Diploma is a Pathway programmes that can build to a Masters degree award. Students who complete the Graduate Diploma have the option of completing a 30 ECTS project which builds to a Masters degree award. The fee for the additional 30 ECTS project is 3000 euro. If you are interested in progressing to the Masters please email shelly.smith@ucd.ie for more information.

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

  • Advanced knowledge and systematic understanding of the sciences, engineering sciences and technologies underpinning the concept of environmental sustainability,
  • The ability to identify, formulate, and critically analyse processes and technologies for implementation of sustainability,
  • The ability to apply knowledge to quantify the environmental sustainability of products, process and systems using analysis and interpretation of relevant data,
  • An understanding of the need for high ethical standards in the practice of engineering, including the responsibilities of the engineering profession towards people and the environment,
  • The ability to work effectively as an individual, in teams and in multidisciplinary settings, and to act as a change agent within organisations to integrate and lead sustainability implementation initiatives,
  • The ability to communicate effectively on complex sustainability challenges and opportunities within organisations and with society at large.

There is very significant industry demand for engineers and scientists with knowledge on methods to quantify sustainability for internal benchmarking, process improvement, and reporting purposes. In January 2023 there were  mopre than 2000 sustainability-related jobs advertised in Ireland (based on data from LinkedIn).

Upon completion of this Graduate Diploma, graduates will have the skills needed to lead the sustainability agenda for a company either individually or as part of a team.

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 Core Modules
BSEN30360 Life Cycle Assessment Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
BSEN40480 Sustainable Energy & Environment Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
BSEN40820 Carbon Footprinting Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
BSEN40210 Green Technologies Project Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
BSEN40720 Carbon & Sustainability Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
BSEN40620 Biomass innovation, green technology and business O/L Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
BSEN40810 GHG Accounting Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
BSEN40890 Renew Energy Syst Analysis O/L Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
ENVB40380 Managing the Interface between Science and Policy (On-line) Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MEEN40310 Project Management Spring  5

Sustainability is on the agenda for many sectors. All sectors are responding to sustainability goals, with many organisations setting targets to be achieved by 2030 for compliance, consumer or market retention purposes. 

This full-time Level 9 Graduate Diploma equips students with the core skills to quantify the sustainability of a product, process or system, identify areas for improvement and devise and manage measures for implementation to improve sustainability.

Graduate Profile: Kathleen Moore, Senior Brand & Sustainability Manager, Innopharma Education

"Having completed a level 8 in sustainability for enterprise the year prior, I decided to do this level 9 in environmental sustainability implementation to equip myself with the technical skills needed in the space of sustainability, specifically Carbon Footprinting, Life Cycle Analysis and GHG Accounting. Through these modules on the course I gained practical experience in assessing and reporting according to the relevant International Standards (ISO) for each framework. I found these modules in particular invaluable for getting to grips with the detail and data needed to measure sustainability progress.

I found the course robust in nature, and very challenging. And for me, with multiple life commitments including work and children, the online mode was the best format for accessing this type of education and managing the workload. I found the lecturers very knowledgeable and overall am so proud of my achievement, and have really deepened my knowledge beyond my initial expectations"

Graduate Diploma in Environmental Sustainability Implementation (T390) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 8950
nonEU    fee per year - € 13780

***Fees are subject to change

Funding: A limited number of funded places are now open through www.springboardcourses.ie 

The target market are candidates who are recent graduates, jobseekers or are in full time employment, with a Level 8 Honours degree with minimum 2:1 award (NFQ level 8) or international equivalence in disciplines which include strong mathematical, technological and analytical skills. Examples of acceptable disciplines are engineering, physical science, geography and planning, architecture and environmental related degrees.

Those without a Level 8 honours degree in a relevant subject but with >5 years relevant professional experience in a relevant field will be considered.
Minimum English language requirements will apply. The English language requirements for degree courses at UCD are listed here 

You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Full Time option suitable for:

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


The target market are candidates who are recent graduates, jobseekers or are in full time employment, with a Level 8 Honours degree with minimum 2:1 award (NFQ level 8) or international equivalence in disciplines which include strong mathematical, technological and analytical skills. Examples of acceptable disciplines are engineering, physical science, geography and planning, architecture and environmental related degrees. Those without a Level 8 honours degree in a relevant subject but with >5 years relevant professional experience in a relevant field will be considered.


General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Graduate Diploma in Environmental Sustainability Implementation:

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T390
Graduate Diploma in Environmental Sustainability Implementation
Graduate Diploma

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught
* you can change options at the top of the page