Data Driven Sustainability (Online Learning) PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev
Awards: PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev
Study modes: Part-time Intermittent Study
Online learning
Funding opportunities
Data is absolutely everywhere - it is all around us and continually growing. Huge data sources are increasing exponentially, but there are too few people with the specific skills and understanding to process the abundance of information available to inform the best ways forward in tackling pressing global challenges.
This qualification will train students in the use of data-driven approaches to inform practice, decision-making and policy relating to planetary health and sustainable futures.
Planetary health is defined as the health of human civilisation and the state of the natural systems on which it depends.
Science is often used to support decisions that have profound economic, social and environmental impacts. Good decision-making is fundamental to achieving policy aims, and science should be used as an instrument to evaluate proposed ways of reaching those aims; this is policy-led decision-making.
This qualification puts science under a planetary health and sustainable futures lens. An emphasis on translating policy aims into manageable scientific questions is a particularly distinctive, and possibly unique, feature among the University's courses on science and policy.
The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online postgraduate study since 2005 and is the largest provider of online learning in the prestigious Russell Group of universities.
Our online learning technology is fully interactive, award-winning and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.
Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh's excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
The certificate is designed to be tailored to your particular areas of interest. The qualification is offered online and on a part-time basis, allowing you to study at a pace and location that works best for you.
PG Certificate
The PG Certificate consists of 60 credits and can be completed in 1-2 years.
Postgraduate Professional Development
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through postgraduate-level learning, without the time, or financial commitment, of a full award.
You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses from within the certificate over two years and gain a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PgCert (ICL) | Data Driven Sustainability | Up to 2 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Programme structure 2024/25 |
PgProfDev | Data Driven Sustainability | Up to 2 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Programme structure 2024/25 |
The aim of the certificate programme is to train you in the use of data driven methodologies to inform practice, decision making and policy relating to planetary health and sustainable futures.
On completion of the qualification, in the context of data driven sustainability you will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of a range of theories, concepts, and principles.
- Apply knowledge, skills and understanding using a range of skills, techniques, or practices.
- Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues/developments/research.
- Communicate, using appropriate methods and/or applications to specific audiences, which may have different levels of knowledge/expertise.
- Take responsibility for the identification, selection and use of appropriate resources and develop the ability to work autonomously or work with others in relation to professional, research and equivalent activities.
You will gain skills and knowledge that will equip you to pursue careers in a variety of sectors, including:
- government
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- third sector policy
- financial investment
- health and nutrition
The courses offered within the certificate are primarily aimed at upskilling or reskilling those already working in a related industry. As such, many students will already have established careers.
This qualification may contribute to your employability and career progression by providing you with up-to-date research-based education and data skills that are attractive to employers across sectors focused on data, AgriTech and policy.
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent in a life science or social science.
We may also consider your application if you have less than a 2:1, or if you have a degree in another discipline, if you can demonstrate three or more years of relevant professional experience. Relevant experience should be detailed in the Personal Statement section of your application.
Students from China
This degree is Band D.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PgCert (ICL) | Data Driven Sustainability | Up to 2 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Tuition fees |
PgProfDev | Data Driven Sustainability | Up to 2 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
taking out a loan
family support
personal savings
income from work
employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
As this is a part-time intermittent programme, also known as invoiced-at-course-level (ICL), it is not eligible for UK government loan funding.
The following courses on this programme are available through the Data Upskilling Short Courses (DUSC) initiative:
- Making science relevant to policy and decision-making
- Understanding planetary health and data: An introduction to the concepts and themes
- Foundations of nutritional epidemiology
Learn more about the DUSC initiative
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Upskilling Fund offers a limited number of fully-funded places on Data Upskilling Short Courses at The University of Edinburgh. Eligibility criteria apply. Please submit an online enquiry form to request further information about this funding opportunity.
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Postgraduate Administrator, Gordon Littlejohn
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 7300
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Steph Smith
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 7300
- Contact: Steph.Smith1@ed.ac.uk
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
- Easter Bush
- Edinburgh
- EH25 9RG
- School: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
PgCert Data Driven Sustainability (Online Learning) (ICL) - 2 Years (Part-time Intermittent Study)
PG Professional Development Data Driven Sustainability(Online Learning) (ICL) - 2 Years (Part-time Intermittent Study)
Programme start date | Application deadline |
---|---|
8 September 2025 | 22 August 2025 |
We strongly recommend you submit your completed application as early as possible, particularly if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. We may consider late applications if we have places available.
You must submit one reference with your application.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Postgraduate Administrator, Gordon Littlejohn
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 7300
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Steph Smith
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 7300
- Contact: Steph.Smith1@ed.ac.uk
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
- Easter Bush
- Edinburgh
- EH25 9RG
- School: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine