Environmental Strategy

Entry standards

The normal entry level is a minimum of a Lower Second class honours or equivalent in social, life or physical sciences, and engineering disciplines or sufficient work experience. 

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

Environmental Strategy - structure and modules

Module Titles

Modules include: 

• Life Cycle Approaches 
• Environmental Science and Society 
• Environmental Law 
• Transitions to a Low Carbon Economy 
• Sustainable Development 
• Environmental Auditing and Management Systems 
• Integrated Assessment 
• Environmental Economics 
• Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility  
• Environment and Development 
• Internship (Industrial Placement) 

MSc Environmental Strategy 

This programme provides both a theoretical and practical grounding for evaluating technical, social, economic and organisational elements of environmental problems. 

These include life cycle assessment and other analytical methods to understand how to use resources and manage materials and waste. 

You will learn how to anticipate and respond to future policy developments and market pressures, understand stakeholders’ roles and develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. 

MSc Sustainable Development 

This programme provides the essential tools for analysis of the relationship between environmental issues and human society in order to make informed decisions. As part of this approach, you will evaluate political, socio-economic, ethical, cultural and regulatory frameworks. 

You will acquire a sensitive appreciation of issues surrounding sustainable development, especially in relation to developing countries. 

MSc Corporate Environmental Management 

This programme gives you a solid grounding in issues key to the sustainable development debate. The views of stakeholders such as business groups, environmentalists, government agencies and development institutions will be considered. 

You will acquire the necessary skills to evaluate existing frameworks, inquire into environmental issues in organisations and industries, and develop a sensitive business practice. 

Module Overview 

The programme of study is structured in a flexible format, with modules offered as a series of intensive one-week lectures, seminars and practical exercises, supported by independent learning material. 

Modules include: 

Life Cycle Approaches 

This module provides an introduction to life cycle thinking, and the principles and practice of applying life cycle approaches (LCA). You will work with a variety of LCA computer software and then undertake exercises to give hands-on experience. 

Environmental Science and Society 

This module introduces basic environmental science concepts including: thermodynamics of ecosystems and human systems, ecology and biodiversity, pollution science, the science of climate change, and environmental policy and human behaviour. During the module students learn how to undertake environmental risk assessments.  

Environmental Law 

This module introduces the structure of key environmental laws in the UK and EU. Regulations covering waste, water and atmospheric pollution will be an important element. 

Transitions to a Low Carbon Economy 

This module provides a broad understanding of the role of energy, and of the range of economic, human and environmental impacts associated with energy systems. Specialist knowledge of the energy field is placed within a more general environmental/sustainability framework, allowing students to analyse strategic energy issues and carbon management. 

Sustainable Development 

This module explores the importance of integrating physical sciences and engineering with the biological and social sciences. This could develop to form the basis for a fundamental redesign of both technological and social processes to address an array of global and local concerns. 

Environmental Auditing and Management Systems 

This module enables students both to understand and develop appropriate environmental policies and to appreciate and work with environmental management systems (EMS). 

Integrated Assessment 

This module explores the interface between scientific evaluations of environmental impacts and their use in policy decision processes. Case studies will be important to demonstrate examples. 

Environmental Economics 

This module provides an understanding of the basic environmental economic principles and concepts in relation to sustainable development. 

Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility 

This module evaluates and discusses how environmental concerns have affected organisations in the private sector. It will also examine how organisations have affected the content, shape and direction of the environmental debate. 

Environment and Development 

This module provides an insight into interactions within societies in the developing world. It focuses on the issue of who uses the ‘environment’, who has control over the use of resources, and who is excluded from it. 

Internship (Industrial Placement) 

You will work on specific projects to gain valuable practical experience in industry, government agencies, NGOs or research centres. 

There are twelve other modules dealing with materials, manufacturing and energy that students can choose from, both at the University of Surrey’s Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences and at City University. For further information on these options, please contact the Faculty.

Programme Structure 

The programmes are based on one-week modules in a similar format to the University’s Engineering Doctorate. Each programme consists of eight modules and a project/dissertation. 

Four modules are compulsory and the remaining four optional modules can be chosen from a wide range available at CES and other relevant MSc programmes. Each module carries 15 credits. 

The compulsory modules have been designed by CES in consultation with industry and will continue to be fine-tuned in close consultation with our graduates and collaborators in the field. 

Students on the full-time programmes start in September and follow a sequence of modules that has been designed to ensure steady and structured progress through the achievement of the Postgraduate Certificate to the Diploma and Masters degree. Part-time students may begin the programme at any time of the year. 

You are allowed to choose up to two modules elsewhere at the University of Surrey or from the Energy and Environmental Technology and Economics programme at City University, as agreed with your personal tutor. Students may take modules at other universities with the approval of the Board of Studies.

Environmental Strategy - entry standards

Entry standards

The normal entry level is a minimum of a Lower Second class honours or equivalent in social, life or physical sciences, and engineering disciplines or sufficient work experience. 

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

Planned intake

12

Start date

Full-time: September

Part-time: join at any time of the year

Programme Director

• Dr Jonathan Chenoweth

Environmental Strategy - fees and funding

Fees

Corporate Environmental Management (full time):

UK/EU - £5,740 
Overseas - £14,830

Corporate Environmental Management (part time - per module and for the dissertation):

UK/EU - £638
Overseas - £1,648

Environmental Strategy (full time):

UK/EU - £5,740 
Overseas - £14,830

Environmental Strategy (part time - per module and for the dissertation): 

UK/EU - £638
Overseas - £1,648

Sustainable Development (full time):

UK/EU - £5,740 
Overseas - £14,830

Sustainable Development (part time - per module and for the dissertation):

UK/EU - £638
Overseas - £1,648

www.surrey.ac.uk/pgfees/2012

Environmental Strategy - professional context

Professional recognition

Approved by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)

Accreditation

Professional Recognition 

The programmes are accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) which is a broadly based environmental management organisation with more than 4500 members. 

Successful completion of the MSc programme offers a direct route to associate membership of IEMA.

Environmental Strategy - teaching

Teaching

Teaching is a collaborative effort between University lecturers and research fellows, with some industrial contributions where appropriate. 

Each module is taught over an intensive five-day period, preceded by preparatory reading and followed by coursework. A typical five-day teaching week is an intensive period of lectures, interactive group work and seminars, with occasional site visits. A preparatory learning package for each module is generally made available on the University’s online learning system, ULearn. 

Seminars, themes, discussions and field trips are also organised to give students opportunities to consolidate their learning.

Each module is a self-contained unit, assessed separately. Traditional essays, report writing and case-study presentations will be required for assessment. 

Your dissertation of between 15,000 and 20,000 words will involve an in-depth piece of research on an appropriate subject. This may be the findings of a small-scale pilot study, an analysis of data or a development of theoretical aspects of a topic.

You must achieve a satisfactory standard in both the taught modules and the dissertation to be awarded a Masters degree.

Each full-time student will be allocated a personal tutor. Together, you will draw up a personal study plan. It is recommended that you meet regularly to discuss your progress.

Staff perspective

Dr Jonathan Chenoweth

The intensive module structure used in the Centre allows students to explore real environmental issues in depth as they are taught by a mixture of Centre staff together with guest lecturers from industry and government who can bring in practical perspectives.

Student interaction in class allows students to learn from each other’s experiences while building their own expertise and also making the learning experience more interesting.

I have been involved in the MSc programmes in the Centre for Environmental Strategy for eight years and during that time I am continually impressed by the high calibre students who come on our programmes. It is encouraging to see these highly motivated students, upon graduation, go on to challenging and interesting roles relating to sustainable development in industry and government that are really helping to reduce negative human impacts on the environment.

Environmental Strategy - learning

Environmental Strategy - graduate profile

Graduate Profile: Thomas Jelley

MSc Sustainable Development

After working in the City of London as a lawyer for four years, I decided to do the MSc in Sustainable Development as a way of smoothing the path from the legal profession to a career in corporate responsibility and sustainability. 

The Surrey course was recommended to me by a friend who made a similar move, and I was certainly not disappointed. The course was varied, interesting and challenging, and I found the academic staff to be excellent. Throughout the year we were given a lot of flexibility as to subjects and I felt the course was well balanced between practical and more theoretical subjects.

Since graduating, I have been able to secure a job in which I use knowledge and skills gained during the MSc on a daily basis. Without the qualification and the practical experience which I was able to gain while studying, there is no way I would have been able to get exactly the sort of job I wanted. 

I have stayed in touch with the Department and really enjoyed the opportunity to give this year’s MSc students a seminar on a paper that I wrote towards one of my modules. The year at Surrey was a fantastic experience that has stood me in very good stead.

Environmental Strategy - more

Guest Lecturers 

Several high-profile guest lecturers have assisted with the delivery of some of the modules. CES modules make maximum use of guest lecturers, drawing on the practical skills and experience of key experts from government and industry to complement the theoretical components of the modules offered. 

For example, former Environment Minister Michael Meacher MP has regularly given guest lectures as part of the Environmental Science and Society module, highlighting the challenges faced by government when dealing with environmental issues.

Environmental Strategy - apply

• MSc Corporate Environmental Management - Full-time - starting Sep 2012
• MSc Corporate Environmental Management - Part-time - starting Sep 2012
• MSc Environmental Strategy - Full-time - starting Sep 2012
• MSc Environmental Strategy - Part-time - starting Sep 2012
• MSc Sustainable Development - Full-time - starting Sep 2012
• MSc Sustainable Development - Part-time - starting Sep 2012