BSc Sustainable Development with a Placement Year
About this course
BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Development with a Placement Year, a degree focused on environmental issues, global challenges, and sustainable futures. Core topics include Research Methods and Fieldwork. The course includes a compulsory third-year work placement in the UK or overseas. 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. The second year builds on this with compulsory study in SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DEV FIELD COURSE, and CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. The final year centres on advanced core learning such as JUST TRANSFORMATIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY. Optional modules span areas such as economics, environmental policy, migration, and urban futures, with students also able to undertake a dissertation or a development work placement.
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%
- Conservation and environment professionals: 5%
- Sales occupations: 5%
- Elementary occupations: 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
- GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT PLACEMENT YEAR
- 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
- GLOBALISATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- PROJECT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT
- URBAN FUTURES
- CULTURE, SOCIETY AND DEVELOPMENT
- ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
- GENDER AND GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
- LATIN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Sustainable Development with a Placement Year 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 with a Placement Year 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 with a Placement Year 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 with a Placement Year at University of East Anglia?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 110 UCAS points.
Does BSc Sustainable Development with a Placement Year at University of East Anglia include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BSc Sustainable Development with a Placement Year at University of East Anglia?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.