Sustainable Development BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

The world is facing the prospect of a climate emergency, with decision-makers grappling with how to understand and respond to the pressures on our environment and society. Sustainable Development, from the local to the global, is essential if society is to tackle the challenges faced. The necessary changes will impact on every facet of society, culture and the economy; this is a critical moment to study sustainability. 

On this BA (Hons) Sustainable Development degree you will learn the facts about climate change, explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and consider potential and emerging solutions such as the Green New Deals, the concept of ‘degrowth’ and the transition to wellbeing economies, leaving you ideally placed to influence, or indeed become, one of the decision-makers. 

This degree also focuses on how communities can shape this more sustainable form of development, particularly rural communities. Most of our teaching team are located in the Western Isles, where 75% of people live on community-owned land, which sets the context for you to study community-based development, land reform, community empowerment and community energy projects, which can all contribute to a more sustainable future. 

To develop a critical understanding of the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental, economic), you will study modules drawn from a range of social science disciplines, such as: geography; economics; politics; sociology; and environmental studies, as well as developing practical skills in research and working with communities. The course takes a critical approach to examining the historical context to development whilst looking firmly to the future, drawing examples of change in action from around the globe. 

You will benefit from collaborative discussions and activities with colleagues from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences, facilitated by tutors with many years of experience in delivering online education. 

Please see our FAQ sheet for further information on this course.

Special features

• Join a course which can be studied from home anywhere in the world, full or part-time to suit your circumstances 
• Delivered by tutors with years of experience of teaching at a distance, offering a high level of support
• Online learning materials available 24/7 via laptops, tablets or mobiles, including reading, videos and podcasts
• Assessment on core modules is principally via course work - very few exams
• Optional modules allow you to follow your own interests in other humanities and social science subjects
• Optional study field trip to Iceland as well as opportunities for a student society residential trip in the Scottish Highlands
• Flexible study options include the opportunity to start your studies in January, study individual modules or groups of modules, or leave after 6/12 modules with a CertHE/DipHE

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grades BBC or above OR
• 2 A levels at grades BC or above
• At least two of these must be from the list of relevant subjects
• Applicants with other qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis
• You must have regular and reliable access to the internet and a computer for any online degree at UHI in order to take advantage of our full range of online learning services, which include support from your tutors and fellow UHI students as well as access to UHI’s Virtual Learning Environment and vast online learning library. Click here for more information on the minimum requirements.

Advanced entry to year 2:

• HNC Social Sciences (12 SCQF credits) with 3 additional SCQF credits at level 7 which is equivalent to 120 degree credit points, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit, will be considered for direct entry to year two

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:
Semester 1

• Introduction to land reform and community land ownership
• Understanding sustainable development 

Semester 2

• Climate, land and people 
• Exploring economics in a changing world

You will also choose two further option modules from across the Humanities subject area. 

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules: 
Semester 1

• Approaches to economic development
• Empowering communities

Semester 2

• Community energy
• Exploring the urban and rural: people, places and policies

You will also choose two further option modules from across the Humanities subject area, which includes our optional international field trip module, 'Sustainable development approaches in an international context'.

Year 3 - BA

You will study the following modules*: 

Semester 1

• Advanced social research methods
• Climate change
• Globalisation and sustainable development

Semester 2

• Community based economic development
• Sustainable tourism and the environment

You will also choose one further option module from across the Humanities subject area. 

*You may elect to choose one different module per academic year.

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will study the following modules*: 
Semester 1

• Geo-political development issues
• Social enterprise and the social economy

Semester 2

• Agroecology: regenerative food systems
• The consumerist society

You must also complete a sustainable development dissertation. 

*You may elect to choose one different module per academic year

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of the UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status the following fees apply:

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK studying online from their home country, or living in the UK but assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK and EEA and Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

This course includes several field trips, including residentials and an optional international field trip module to Iceland. You will be required to pay a contribution towards the cost of the residentials and international trips.  The module option for Iceland trip may also require a visa; it will be your responsibility to research and secure your visa to travel to Iceland if necessary.