Programme Overview:
- Duration:
- 1 Years / 2 Years
- Attendance:
- Full Time / Part Time
- Mode of Delivery:
- Online
- Next Intake:
- 2024/2025 September
- Contact Name:
- Spire Graduate
- Contact Number:
- Please click 'Ask a Question'
- Fees:
- Fee Information
You can register for an information session on this masters programme here
In September 2015, the United Nations adopted Agenda 2030, an ambitious agenda to promote people, planet, and prosperity. Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted as part of Agenda 2030, setting forth an ambitious framework of action for countries around the world.
UCD has worked with the SDG Academy since its foundation. Prof Patrick Paul Walsh has served on her Academic Oversight Committee since 2012. UCD and the SDG Academy have identified a clear need and demand to offer a formal online Masters in Sustainable Development. The SDG Academy is the online education platform of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative for the United Nations. UCD is ranked 14 in the Times Higher World Impact Ranking 2020 for SDG Partnerships (SDG 17) with clear focus on sustainability in the new strategic plan, rising to the future.
The recent Covid-19 crisis has also brought to UCD’s attention, the clear need to offer a formal online Masters in Sustainable Development that brings together the best of online resources in the SDG Academy, UN SDSN academic “stars” and experts, with her partner UCD, a leading University in the area of Sustainable Development.
This MSc programme will be the first online, affordable, global programme of its kind, drawing on the expertise, credibility and network of its host institution to offer cutting edge, global, multi-disciplinary learning for the SDGs.
The course has the unique ability to address the large range of issues covered by the SDG agenda that will equip students to solve some of the most pressing issues of our times. Both organizations, with mandates to support the UN system through consultative status , are well-suited to establish and administer such a programme and provide students with a unique experience in access to global taught leaders, opportunities for excellent placements and careers in Sustainable Development.
Transforming our World, the UN 2030Agenda for Sustainable Development has defined stakeholders to implement the agenda in the following : Paragraph 52. "We the Peoples" are the celebrated opening words of the UN Charter. It is "We the Peoples" who are embarking today on the road to 2030. Our journey will involve Governments as well as Parliaments, the UN system and other international institutions, local authorities, indigenous peoples, civil society, business and the private sector, the scientific and academic community – and all people. Millions have already engaged with, and will own, this Agenda. It is an Agenda of the people, by the people, and for the people – and this, we believe, will ensure its success.
Graduates can expect careers pathways in the academy, governments, state agencies, non-governmental organisations and in the private sector.
Curricular information is subject to change
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes
The applicants should have earned an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law/international law , medicine, planning, engineering ng with at least Upper Second Class Honours, or its equivalent (an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher in the American system). Relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.
The following schools teach modules on the degree-
UCD College of Science
Emmanuel Reynaud, School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science
UCD College of Social Sciences and Law
Patrick Paul Walsh, UCD School of Politics and International Relations
Conor Galvin, UCD School of Education
Ciara Whelan, UCD School of Economics
Frank Walsh, UCD School of Economics
Graham Finlay, UCD School of Politics and International Relations
Andrew Jackson, UCD Sutherland School of Law
UCD College of Engineering and Architecture
Enda Murphy, UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy
UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences
Paddy Mallon, School of Medicine
Cliona O’Sullivan, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science
Aifric O'Sullivan, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science
This programme aims to fulfill the following:
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 SDG
Apply knowledge of sustainable development to policy diagnosis and associated solutions for practical implementation
Apply appropriate data analysis and scrutiny techniques for valid data-driven investigations for SDG implementation
Apply appropriate tools and techniques to inform evidence based sustainable development driven policy decision.
Making judgements
Compare methods, tools and models for developing effective sustainable development solutions
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
The MSc Sustainable Development is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take two 10-credit core modules and 30 credit SDG Research Project along with four 10-credit option modules.
Core and Option Modules for MSc Sustainable Development
These are the current modules for 2023/24 but are subject to change. Each of the following modules carries 10 credits unless otherwise specified.
Core Modules
Option Modules
Autumn
Spring
NB: ENVB30130 and DEV40010 MUST be taken together & MEEN40900 and ENVB40380 MUST be taken together
Summer Trimester Core Module
MSc Sustainable Development (W486) Part Time
EU/NONEU fee per year - € 5630
***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.
There will be placement and Internship opportunities across the UN SDSN
A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2H1) in a relevant subject such as environmental science, architecture, planning and environmental policy, education, business, public health, physiotherapy, law, medicine , political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law. 2H1 is equivalent to 60 per cent, B minus or 3.08 GPA - in American system: B or 3.00 GPA.
English language requirements: applicants whose first language is not English should have met TOEFL, IELTs, or computer-based TOEFL requirements (600, 6.5, or 250 respectively), or the Cambridge English Test (Certificate in Advanced English at a minimum of Grade B, or Certificate of Proficiency in English at Grade C). Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempted from this requirement.
Your application will be considered on its individual merits and relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.
Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information: https://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/int%20pmp/
These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes
The following entry routes are available:
* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised