Global Sustainable Futures MA

Overview

On our Global Sustainable Futures MA you'll develop the essential skills needed to respond to the global sustainability challenges impacting people and places.

On this programme you'll take a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the well-being, stability and sustainability of humanity and the planet as a whole.

Explore the causes of real-world problems and critically evaluate the competing solutions needed to enable a sustainable future.

Study a diverse range of topics from war and conflict, to development and sustainability, cities and creative methods.

Engage with our subject experts and utilise their extensive international knowledge to address these challenges effectively.

Gain the critical and transferrable skills sought after by employers, allowing for a diverse range of impressive graduate career options.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

On our Global Sustainable Futures MA you'll critically explore new spatial possibilities for social justice, sustainable development and empowerment of marginalised groups around the world.

You'll develop new in-depth knowledge by addressing vital questions:

• What is meant by ‘sustainability’, and how does it apply to different spatial contexts?
• What are ‘global issues’ and what can we do to address them locally?
• Where are global issues located, and which are most pressing in what places?
• Can individuals make a difference, or can global challenges only be addressed by global governance and cooperation?
• What other kinds of worlds are possible?
• How can we ensure that sustainable futures will benefit all, in a just society?

The diverse expertise of our academic staff allows you to tailor your degree to your interests through a range of optional modules. You’ll explore themes such as:

• Environment and Climate
• People and Society
• Sustainable Cities
• Economy and Policy
• Politics and Security

Through engaged and innovative teaching – including fieldwork options and community projects - you'll learn in real-world settings, through engagement with civic groups, and from experts who are passionate about their research-led teaching.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Global Sustainable Futures MA modules

You will take all of the following modules:

Compulsory modules	Credits
GEO8000: Global Sustainable Futures: Concepts, Skills, and Solutions for the 21st Century	20
HSS8001: Thinking About Research	10
HSS8003: Dissertation Preparation	10
GEO8089: Research Dissertation	60

All students will take 80 credits from the following modules: 

Optional modules	Credits
GEO8010: Creative Methods in Social Science	20
GEO8032: Children and Young People: Contemporary Global Challenges	20
GEO8011: Environmental Humanities	20
GEO8028: Political Geographies of the Middle East	20
GEO8030: Geographical Inequalities and Policy	20
POL8026: Security: Politics, Space and Society	20
SOC8070: Global Sex, Global Race	20

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

Teaching methods will depend on the optional modules you choose. You’ll be taught using a range of methods, including:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group work
• Fieldwork
• Workshops

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Oral presentation
• Portfolio
• Research proposal
• Written exercise

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Our staff

You'll join a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community at Newcastle University. Our staff are specialists in their fields, which range from the local to the global, and provide a pool of expertise in Economic Geography, Political Geography and Social Geography. 

Our interdisciplinary research themes include: 

• Development, migration, displacement, and humanitarianism 
• Precarity, inequality, housing and social justice
• Conflict, militarism, and war/peace
• Cities, economies and sustainable development
• Identity, nationalism, and everyday geopolitics
• Gender, race, and multiculturalism

Your development

Over the course of your degree you’ll develop a range of professional, research and practical skills highly desired by a range of employers. 

You’ll enhance your ability to communicate both orally and in writing, and gain experience in working closely with others in an intellectually stimulating environment.

You’ll learn how to:

• Critically evaluate key arguments and themes
• Analyse, evaluate and interpret a diverse range of primary and secondary source materials 
• Plan, conduct and communicate your own research and work
• Develop innovative, practical solutions to real-world challenges

You’ll also have the option to build digital and creative skills such as documentary film making, photography, podcasts and website creation.

Your future

Careers

Students on this programme receive advanced research training. This is excellent preparation for those interested in further academic study and research, as well as other careers that require excellent analytical skills.

Our graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers across the world, including:

• government and policy
• non-government organisations (NGOs)
• renewable energy
• environmental research and consultancy
• charity and aid organisations
• education
• planning and urban development

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

You'll be based in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology in the Henry Daysh Building. Here you'll have access to high quality modern classrooms, comfortable study spaces, and research facilities.

Our department staff all have offices on the same floor and are on hand to support you with your assignments and academic work.

The School is centrally located on Newcastle University’s vibrant city centre campus. There is nearby access to the university’s library, the student union, and the city centre. 

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

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INTO International Pre-Master's - Pathway course

Our Business and Humanities Pre-Master's will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course.

• Business and Humanities Pre-Master's

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

 

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

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