BSc Sustainable Development
About this course
BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Development, a sustainable development degree focused on environmental issues, social challenges, and global policy solutions. Core topics include Research Methods and Fieldwork. The course includes a development work placement option and a final-year dissertation. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules such as BIG QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET, SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS, PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT, and GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, alongside optional choices like INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT and EARTH SYSTEMS. The second year examines applied environmental issues through compulsory modules including SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DEV FIELD COURSE, and CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, with optional modules such as CLIMATE CHANGE: SCIENCE AND POLICY and GENDER AND GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT. The final year centers on advanced sustainability frameworks through the compulsory module JUST TRANSFORMATIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY, while optional study paths include modules such as ENERGY AND PEOPLE, MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT, and PRINCIPLES IN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, as well as a development work placement and a dissertation.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: AAB
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What students say
Based on about 21 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 86%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 77%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 81%
- Learning resources: 83%
- Student voice: 85%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 55%
- Working and studying: 20%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 30%
- Customer service occupations: 5%
- Sales occupations: 5%
- Conservation and environment professionals: 5%
- Teaching Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 70%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 50 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- East Midlands: 10%
- East of England: 35%
- London: 20%
- South East: 20%
- South West: 10%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- BIG QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET
- SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
- PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
- GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
- INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT
- PEOPLE AND CULTURES
- THE POLITICS OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
- GEOGRAPHIES OF AN UNEQUAL WORLD
- EARTH SYSTEMS
- SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
- DEV FIELD COURSE
- CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
- ECONOMICS FOR DEVELOPMENT 2: MICROECONOMICS
- QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE IN DEVELOPMENT
- CLIMATE CHANGE: SCIENCE AND POLICY
- GENDER AND GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
- MEDIA, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE
- BECOMING A SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCHER
- CULTURE AND POWER
- GEOGRAPHIES OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
- POWER, WEALTH AND NATIONS: GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
- ETHNOGRAPHIC METHODS
- LATIN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT
- ECONOMICS FOR DEVELOPMENT 3: MACROECONOMICS
- ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY MAKING
- SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT
- ENVIRONMENTAL THINKING FOR SECOND YEARS
- JUST TRANSFORMATIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY
- DISSERTATION
- DEVELOPMENT WORK PLACEMENT
- WARS AND HUMANITARIAN CRISES
- ENERGY AND PEOPLE
- MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT
- EAST AFRICA FIELD COURSE
- PRINCIPLES IN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
- THE CARBON CYCLE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
- GLOBALISATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- PROJECT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT
- URBAN FUTURES
- CULTURE, SOCIETY AND DEVELOPMENT
- ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
- GENDER AND GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
- LATIN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT
- SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Sustainable Development at University of East Anglia earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £24,500 after 3 years, £29,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £23,500 and £40,000. The £29,500 median after five years is £1,000 less than the UK median for Development studies.
What do graduates of BSc Sustainable Development at University of East Anglia do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Sustainable Development at University of East Anglia?
86% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Sustainable Development at University of East Anglia?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 110 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BSc Sustainable Development at University of East Anglia?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.