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<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head>   <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KW2XNGZ');</script>  <title >Sustainable development - Subjects - University of St Andrews</title >  <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "BreadcrumbList","itemListElement": [{"@type": "ListItem","position": 1,"name": "Subjects","item": "https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/"}, {"@type": "ListItem","position": 2,"name": "Sustainable development","item": "https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/sustainable-development/"}]}</script> <meta name="referrer" content="no-referrer" /> <meta name="channel-id" content="2"> <meta name="section-id" content="13355"> <meta 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</div> </div> </div>  <main id="content-begin"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="d.en.72424" class="page-intro__wrapper"> <div class="page-intro page-intro--has-media"> <div class="page-intro__text"> <h1 class="page-intro__heading page-intro__heading--large">Sustainable development</h1> <p class="lead">Rise to the challenge and create solutions for the environmental and developmental issues we face today – from providing clean water and adequate sanitation to energy generation and supply.</p> <p>At St Andrews, you will learn about developmental challenges from many perspectives and use the knowledge you gain to tackle these issues and realise the opportunities they create.</p> </div><div class="page-intro__media"><figure class="page-intro__media-wrapper"><img class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="/assets/university/schools/school-of-geography-and-sustainable-development/images/highlands-field-class750x500.jpg" alt="Highlands field trip"></figure></div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="d.en.72426" class="section__anchor--sticky"> <div class=" padding-top padding-bottom"> <div class="container"> <section id='d.en.72429' class="heading-section row"> <div class="col-md-4"> <h2 class="heading-section__heading">Undergraduate</h2> </div> <div class="col-md-8"> <span id="d.en.82446"></span> <button class="accordion-group__toggle">Open all</button> <ul class="accordion-group accordion-group__toggle-container"> <li id="d.en.113732" class="accordion-item"> <div class="accordion-item__toggle"> <h3 class="accordion-item__toggle-title"> <button class="accordion-item__toggle-button" aria-controls="">Explore courses</button> </h3> </div> <div class="accordion-item__content" id="" aria-hidden="true"><div class="list-group"><a class="list-group-item" href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/sustainable-development/sustainable-development-bsc"> <span class="item-label">Sustainable Development</span> <span class="badge">BSc (Hons)</span></a><a class="list-group-item" href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/sustainable-development/sustainable-development-ma"> <span class="item-label">Sustainable Development</span> <span class="badge">MA (Hons)</span></a></div> <h4>Difference between the BSc and MA degree</h4> <p>Sustainable Development is available as both a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master of Arts (MA) degree. The content of the subject is the same irrespective of Faculty.</p> <p>Students who have a background in the sciences or who wish to study Sustainable Development alongside Science subjects at St Andrews should apply for the BSc. For those interested in studying Sustainable Development alongside Arts subjects, the MA may be of interest instead.</p> <p>The entry requirements are the same for all single Honours Sustainable Development degrees, and the chance of receiving an offer is the same for each of these degrees.</p> <h4>Joint degree options</h4> <p>You can take the <a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/sustainable-development/sustainable-development-bsc">Sustainable Development BSc</a> and <a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/sustainable-development/sustainable-development-ma">Sustainable Development MA</a> programmes with another subject as part of a joint degree. Find out more about taking a <a href="/study/undergraduate/degree-routes/honours/joint/">joint Honours degree</a>.</p> <h4>Supported pathways</h4> <p>These courses provide supported entry into degree-level study for applicants who do not meet the minimum entry grades, but meet contextual criteria.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/gateway-to-arts">Gateway to Arts</a> (pathway to MA Hons)  </li> <li><a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/gateway-to-science">Gateway to Science</a> (pathway to BSc Hons)   </li> <li><a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/fe-he-arts">FE-HE Pathway to Arts</a> (pathway to MA Hons)  </li> <li><a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/fe-he-science">FE-HE Pathway to Science</a> (pathway to BSc Hons)</li> </ul> <h4>International Foundation programmes</h4> <p><a href="/subjects/ifp/">International Foundation programmes</a> enable international students from a wide range of countries to develop the necessary skills to meet the demands of an undergraduate degree programme across subjects and disciplines at the University of St Andrews.</p></div> </li> </ul> </div> </section>  <section id='d.en.72435' class="heading-section row"> <div class="col-md-4"> <h2 class="heading-section__heading">Postgraduate taught</h2> </div> <div class="col-md-8"> <span id="d.en.103003"></span> <button class="accordion-group__toggle">Open all</button> <ul class="accordion-group accordion-group__toggle-container"> <li id="d.en.129470" class="accordion-item"> <div class="accordion-item__toggle"> <h3 class="accordion-item__toggle-title"> <button class="accordion-item__toggle-button" aria-controls="">Explore courses</button> </h3> </div> <div class="accordion-item__content" id="" aria-hidden="true"><div class="list-group"><a class="list-group-item" href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/sustainable-development/global-sustainable-development-msc/"> <span class="item-label">Global Sustainable Development</span> <span class="badge">MSc</span></a></div></div> </li> </ul> </div> </section>  <section id='d.en.72432' class="heading-section row"> <div class="col-md-4"> <h2 class="heading-section__heading">Postgraduate research</h2> </div> <div class="col-md-8"> <div id="d.en.72434" class="content-section"> <p>The School of Geography and Sustainable Development offers PhD, MPhil, MSc (Res) and MSt (Res) <a href="/geography-sustainable-development/prospective/pgr/">research programmes</a>.  <br> <br>Research project opportunities are available in the following areas: </p> <ul> <li>geoinformatics </li> <li>human geography </li> <li>physical and environmental geography </li> <li>sustainable development. </li> </ul> <p>To apply, you should first identify and contact a potential supervisor you would like to work with in your intended research area. Find out how to <a href="/geography-sustainable-development/people/">contact a research supervisor</a>.  </p> </div></div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="d.en.72438" class="section__anchor--sticky"> <div class=" sta-grey-light padding-top padding-bottom"> <div class="container"> <figure id="d.en.72427" class="blockquote blockquote--pull"> <blockquote> <p>“As Sustainable Development is considered both an arts and a science subject, I have been able to choose from a wide variety of modules. I have taken ones in biology and anthropology, which have helped me see sustainability ideas and issues in a new light. St Andrews’ location and environment provides a unique microcosm for practical sustainability projects to take place.”</p> </blockquote> <figcaption class="blockquote__author"> <div class="blockquote__author-thumbnail"> <img class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="/assets/university/subjects/images/sustainable-development/benjamin-sustainable-development.jpg" alt="Benjamin"> </div> <div><strong>Benjamin</strong> <br>- Taipei City, Taiwan</div> </figcaption> </figure></div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="d.en.78730" class="section__anchor--sticky"> <div class=" padding-top padding-bottom"> <div class="container"> <section id='d.en.72440' class="heading-section row"> <div class="col-md-4"> <h2 class="heading-section__heading">Awards</h2> </div> <div class="col-md-8"> <div id="d.en.72442" class="content-section"> <blockquote> <h3><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2022/sep/24/best-uk-universities-for-geography-league-table">First in Scotland and fourth in the UK for geography</a></h3> <p>Guardian University Guide 2023</p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <h3><a href="https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/geography-and-environmental-science">First in Scotland and fifth in the UK for geography and environmental science</a></h3> <p>The Complete University Guide 2023</p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <h3><a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/research/showcase/excellence/ref-2021/results/">94% of research activity rated 3* or 4*</a></h3> <p>Most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021)</p> </blockquote> </div></div> </section> </div></div></div><div id="d.en.72443" class="section__anchor--sticky"><div class="featured-media__wrapper"><div class="featured-media container"><div class="featured-media__media"><figure class="featured-media__media-wrapper"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 youtube-embed"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/05TUMach8sE" allowfullscreen="" title=" (Video)" class="embed-responsive-item"></iframe> </div> </figure></div></div></div></div><div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-xs-12"></div></div></div><div id="d.en.72428" class="section__anchor--sticky"><div class="featured-media__wrapper"><div class="featured-media featured-media--left"><div class="featured-media__text"><h2 class="featured-media__heading"><a href="/geography-sustainable-development/">School of Geography and Sustainable Development</a></h2><p>The School of Geography and Sustainable Development integrates the study of the Earth's system with its landscapes, peoples, places and environments. 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