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Postgraduate Sustainability Programmes

Become a world changer
Sunflower with solar panels

A world leader in sustainability

We've been recognised as one of the top universities in the world for taking action to address some of the most pressing environment, social and governance challenges facing society today. Our researchers are at the forefront of developing new approaches to shape a better future for people and our planet.

More about sustainability at Durham
World Top 25 in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2026
24th in the QS World Sustainability Rankings 2026
15th for Sustainability (QS World University Rankings 2024: Europe)
43rd in the People and Planet University League Table 2025/26

NEW FOR 2026 - Postgraduate Taught Programmes in Sustainable Futures and Risk

How do you turn concern about climate change into real-world action? How can you become a risk or sustainability professional that employers actually need? Find out more about our Postgraduate Taught Programmes in Sustainable Futures and Risk.

MSc Cities and Sustainable Futures

Engage with the challenges facing cities around the world, from climate change to crises of urban migration, conflict, and livelihoods.
Tokyo City at Night

MSc Climate Change, Environmental Processes and Sustainable Futures

Explore how we can create sustainable futures in the context of climate-induced changes to environmental processes.
Dried up desert, cracks in land

MSc Climate Change, Society and Sustainable Futures

Understand the challenges that climate change poses to society, and explore, evaluate and propose solutions that aim to create sustainable futures.
Out of control forest fire
Visit Postgraduate Study in Geography for more.

Postgraduate programmes

We offer a range of exciting and innovative programmes covering many subject areas and disciplines to help you become a global leader of change. Take a look at our options below, and take you first step to extraordinary. 

NEW FOR 2026 - MSc Environmental Sustainability

Gain the skills and knowledge to address urgent environmental challenges, and unlock rewarding career opportunities in building a greener future.
Solar panel and wind turbine

NEW FOR 2026 - MSc Environmental Engineering

Tackle real-world environmental challenges with our MSc Environmental Engineering. Build practical skills, develop critical knowledge and explore sustainable solutions.
two students discuss engineering wearing white hard hats

MSc Accounting, Analytics and Sustainability

An executive programme, designed for anyone interested in developing their data analytics and sustainability knowledge, skills and capabilities in the area of accounting.
An economics graph

MSc Plant Biotechnology and Enterprise

Plant a seed of change and learn the scientific and commercial skills to harness the power of plants, and really make a difference to the world we live in.
Man looking through microscope

MSc Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Your opportunity to equip yourself with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue a career in economics, coupled with strong environmental expertise
Businessman analysing virtual economic charts and graphs

MSc Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Providing the skills required to meet the growing challenge to achieve energy and environmental sustainability through the application of new technology
Solar panels in foreground with wind turbine behind

Master of Data Science: Earth and Environment

Providing skills and interdisciplinary knowledge to address the challenges of utilising the streams of data produced in industry, science and government
The main entrance to the Palatine Centre

Scientific Computing and Data Analysis: Earth and Environmental Sciences

This programme provides the advanced knowledge of how to use sophisticated datasets and tools to tackle cutting-edge and societally-relevant problems
view of earth from space with data overlaid

MSc Sustainability, Energy and Development

Delivering an understanding of the linked processes and practices that feed into climate change and inequality, and how the can be critically addressed
Two students sitting opposite each other on laptops

MSc Global and Planetary Health

Offering a unique opportunity to work at the interface between human health, environmental sustainability and social justice
Student creating samples in the laboratory

MSc Energy Engineering Management

Enabling students to become leaders in their field, supporting the move to Net Zero and making a real impact on the climate crisis.
An image of solar panels and wind turbines with a distant industrial landscape

MA Environmental Humanities

This exciting new interdisciplinary programme explores how humanities can contribute to developing a response to the environmental crisis.
Students on a field trip in a beautiful natural environment

LLM in International Environmental Law

Offering the skills and knowledge needed to tackle major global challenges such as environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Climate change, COP26 and Environmentalism in Law

MA in Climate, Risk and Society

Explore the social dimensions of climate risk and resilience from multiple perspectives.
The blue Extinction Rebellion boat

MSc in Climate, Risk and Society

Focus on a natural science approach to risk that enables you to engage with the natural and social dimensions of climate change.
Group photo of geography postgraduate students

MSc in Environmental Hazards and Risk

Develop specific skills within the natural and social dimensions of environmental hazards including flooding, landslides and earthquakes.
Three people doing field research

Financial support

We're committed to supporting students irrespective of financial circumstances and we offer a range of support to help the brightest and best students access a world-class education.

  • Postgraduate scholarships

    Learn more about our range of scholarships and bursaries for postgraduate study.
    A group of graduates in their gowns, smiling and waving at the camera outside of Durham Cathedral

  • Durham Master's Bursaries

    Are you a UK student from a low or middle-income household who has received a postgraduate offer of study for 2026/27 at Durham University?
    2022 Ustinov

  • Cost of Living Hub

    Find out more about the financial support, guidance and resources available to support you during your studies.
    Students sitting in Kingsgate Bar

Postgraduate scholarships

Learn more about our range of scholarships and bursaries for postgraduate study.
A group of graduates in their gowns, smiling and waving at the camera outside of Durham Cathedral

Durham Master's Bursaries

Are you a UK student from a low or middle-income household who has received a postgraduate offer of study for 2026/27 at Durham University?
2022 Ustinov

Cost of Living Hub

Find out more about the financial support, guidance and resources available to support you during your studies.
Students sitting in Kingsgate Bar
Ask a question about scholarships

 

 

University student
The faculty were an inspiration and the taught materials and delivery methods were easy to grasp, but at the same time made us challenge ourselves.
Raisa Bashar
Alumna - MSc Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

 

 

Student enterprise tackling climate change

Two companies started by past students here at Durham have been accepted onto the Tech Nation Net Zero 2.0 programme, which is supporting the UK’s most promising climate tech companies drive down environmentally harmful emissions.
Read more
Representatives of Sphera and Tred

 

 

University student
While growing up, I realised that climate change is one of the most significant challenges of this century and that we humans are responsible for most of it. I knew that if I wanted to be an active part of the solution, I had to dedicate my studies and work towards this cause.
Ana Maria Villarreal-Vives
Student - MSc New and Renewable Energy

 

 

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Working with industry

At Durham, we work with a range of industry leading partners to make a positive impact around the globe, and more locally too.

With a £45,000 grant from EPSRC IAA (Impact Acceleration Account) we employed a post-doctoral academic to work with with our partner Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, developing prototype software which applies risk analysis techniques to the problems that the offshore wind industry face.

Learn more about Durham Energy Institute

 

 

University student
“Planetary health is a fast emerging area of research and practice, with rapidly growing opportunities in this specialist field in both academic and community contexts. There is also a rapidly increasing demand and opportunities for planetary health specialisation within a broad range of other fields in the commercial and not-for-profit sector. This programme builds upon the existing research and teaching strengths of Durham University”.
Prof. Corinne Reid
Senior Global Advisor - Australia

JusTN0W

Just Transitions to a Net Zero World

The JusTN0W initiative aims to develop a world-leading interdisciplinary work programme, to research sustainable and just solutions for accelerated decarbonisation of economies, and to achieve lasting societal well-being for the present and future generations. JusTN0W ties in experts from Durham Law School, the Department of Computer Science, the Department of Economics, and the Department of Biosciences. Our highly skilled and diverse JusTN0W team welcomes you to explore and join JusTN0W.
Find out more about JusTNOW
Globe for JusTN0W

Research Impact