Sustainability and Rural Regeneration MSc

What is special about this course?

Are you passionate about achieving sustainability in rural regions? Do you want to learn the theory, policy, and practice of sustainable regeneration to more fully understand how you can make a real difference? Whether you’re already working in this field or want to explore your growing interest in the future of rural areas, this unique online course is ideal for your needs.

In the words of one of our recent graduates, Sean Meehan: “I struggled to name what it was that I wanted to study…I was aiming to explore areas that I had found to overlap in the real world but are often studied in isolation: tourism, conservation, sustainable agriculture, resilient communities, culture…then I stumbled across the module list of the MSc Sustainability and Rural Regeneration, and it hit all the points I was looking for. The course is well structured, with a cohesive central message; it allows lots of freedom to pursue your own interests.”

Work with industry experts as you learn about social, economic, and environmental theories and issues in the rural context, as well as developing key research and policy analysis skills in the interdisciplinary field of sustainability.

Explore vital sustainability skills such as how to work well with communities, understand geographic information system (GIS) mapping, and undertake environmental impact assessments, as well as topics such as extreme weather, economics of community wealth building, greenhouse gas auditing, and carbon footprinting.

Forge your own path in the drive to net zero in remote and rural regions and let us prepare you for a successful career in this essential field.

Special features

• Gain key theoretical knowledge in understanding current rural development and sustainability issues and how this may be applied to work effectively with communities and associated organisations
• Develop key research and policy skills to enable you to progress your career to become an expert in rural sustainability issues
• Study individual modules for personal or professional development, or work towards the PgCert, PgDip or full masters degree
• Study online, full time or part time when and where it suits you, within the UK and internationally

Entry requirements

• Honours degree or ordinary degree in a relevant subject
• Postgraduate diploma or professional qualification in a relevant subject
• Other qualifications will be considered if accompanied by a minimum of three years' relevant professional experience
• A bridging module is available to people with substantial professional experience, but no undergraduate degree

Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scottish domiciled students)

Loans for tuition fees are available from SAAS for eligible Scotland domiciled students, and loans for living costs for eligible Scottish students.

(see fees/funding tab for more information)

Access routes

• BSc (Hons) Environmental Science
• BSc (Hons) Archaeology and Environmental Studies
• BA (Hons) Business and Management
• BA (Hons) Social Sciences
• BSc (Hons) Sustainable Development
• BSc (Hons) Geography

PgCert

Core modules are:

• Communities and nature (S1)
• Developing communities (S2)
• Local economic development (S2)

PgDip

Option modules, from which you must choose three, include:

• Biodiversity management
• Developing potential through placement
• Environmental and Social issues in mountain areas
• Policy analysis
• Research methods and techniques (strongly recommended if you intend to continue to MSc)
• Sustainable tourism
• Sustainable land use and renewable energy in rural Scotland
• Sustainable development
• Water resources in a changing climate
• An elective may also be taken from any of the university's masters programmes, e.g. other research skills, or modules such as Qualitative inquiry or Quantitative research and data management

MSc

To achieve the award of MSc Sustainability and Rural Regeneration you must complete a research dissertation.

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 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:

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. These students will get an automatic fee scholarship.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

International students

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

This course is not available to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

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

Funding

Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) funded places:

• Fully funded places may be available from the SAIC for eligible applicants
• This scholarship funding is specifically targeted at enabling small-scale research in areas of interest to the SAIC via our Masters research dissertation process
• All tuition fees are provided on the condition that the student’s final year dissertation is of interest to the aquaculture sector
• Full-time and part-time students may benefit from this funding as study periods of up to 24 months can be funded
• To be eligible to benefit from this fund, you must meet Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Scottish domicile requirements
• The SAIC also hosts a series of workshops throughout the academic year, where participants have the option to get the perspective of sector professionals, make valuable connections to enhance future career opportunities, and forge useful ties with peers at other universities
• For more information, please visit the SAIC website.

Additional funding options:

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying full-time can access loans up to £11,500 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). This comprises a tuition fee loan up to £7,000 and a non-income assessed living cost loan of £4,500. 

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS.  You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £7,000, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study. 

Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.

Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.