Environment, Culture and Society MSc

This MSc programme (total 180 credits) comprises:

• compulsory and option courses (total 120 credits)
• dissertation (60 credits)

Topics

Examples of possible topics to explore in this MSc include:

• Different ways to value the environment beyond profit
• Bioregionalism and Transition Towns
• The role of the arts in engaging audiences about climate change
• Humanities based approaches to the ocean (Blue Humanities)
• The role of social movements.

Dissertation

Throughout your studies, we will work with you to prepare you for the dissertation project. This will be your opportunity to explore a topic of your choice in relation to the programme and prepare a dissertation that you can use to demonstrate your work to potential employers.

Examples of previous dissertation titles include:

• Growing Together: How seeds and the people who save them shape each other and the world.
• Neoliberalizing and commodifying nature: Safari Park in Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
• Indigenous-led Conservation: An eco-cultural response to Pacific salmon decline in British Columbia, Canada.
• Hostility as slow violence: a geographical analysis of the everyday experiences of practitioners working in the UK asylum system.
• Folklore and rewilding forests: Looking at the use of Scottish folklore narratives on rewilding initiatives within the Highlands.
• Diving deep: an ethnographic study of dumpster diving practices.
• Can board games save our planet?
• To what extend is the British countryside the “terrain of whiteness”: A case of the National Trust.

How will I learn?

You will experience a range of learning styles while studying, depending on the subject matter and courses you are taking. You will also be assessed using a range of methods such as:

• book reviews
• creative essays
• poetry
• zines
• course papers
• presentations.

Courses are delivered by staff who are active researchers in each field. Their expertise is supplemented by selected guest speakers, generally from industry or other research organisations.

You can view each relevant course for teaching and assessment methods through the ‘Programme Structure’ link under compulsory and option courses below.

Changes to teaching and learning

We are committed to offering high-quality education to all our students. However, please be advised that there may be changes to course options and delivery. All decisions are made to ensure we can provide the highest standards for your educational experience.

Although we try to provide a wide range of optional courses to choose from, these can be subject to change or cancellation at short notice. Places on optional courses can be limited due to course capacity and timetabling constraints. It may not be possible to guarantee every offer holder their top choice of optional courses.

Part-time study

You may study this programme part-time as we are committed to helping people into education while continuing to work or managing family and personal commitments.

A two-year part-time option is available. We recommend living within a commutable distance from Edinburgh in order to undertake part-time study, and we encourage you to contact us to discuss part-time study in more detail.

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.

On completing the MSc Environment, Culture and Society, you will be able to:

• Understand the importance of ideas in historical, contemporary and future approaches to the environment.
• Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts in the environmental literature.
• Critically assess a range of philosophical and conceptual approaches to the environment from across the humanities, arts and social sciences.
• Think about environmental problems across disciplinary boundaries.
• Use concepts, ideas and methods from the environmental literature to address urgent environmental challenges across a range of specialities such as policy, conservation, education, public consultation and the arts.
• Create and generate new knowledge about the environment through a range of media, including academic and creative forms of text and image.

Our graduates

Our graduates have been successful in pursuing a variety of careers, including:

• environmental policy
• conservation
• animal welfare
• corporate social responsibility
• education
• business communications
• research

Due to the diversity of the topics within the programme, you can work in a range of sectors, including government, NGOs (such as environmental charities and development organisations), the private sector and academia.

Examples of the organisations our graduates have gained employment with include:

• Conservation International
• National Forestry Commission
• Scottish Natural Heritage
• The Climate Group
• The Conservation Volunteers
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre
• Provincial Ministry of Environmental and Climate Change (Canada)
• KPMG Sustainability (Japan)
• Environmental Law Institute (USA)
• Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability
• American Sportfishing Association (USA)
• Clean Up Australia

Networks

Through this MSc, you will meet a range of practitioners who offer their perspectives on taught courses, or through dedicated postgraduate career activities, and potentially through collaborations during your own dissertation research.

Examples of practitioners include Creative Carbon Scotland, as well as creative practitioners in art, music and creative writing.

We also organise career events and encourage dissertations conducted in partnership with external organisations.

Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience at the University, providing:

• tailored advice
• individual guidance and personal assistance
• internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
• access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree. Studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success, whatever shape that takes.

• Careers Service

Field trips

This programme provides several day trips and workshop opportunities across southern Scotland.

Previous locations have included the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Jupiter Artland.

Our compulsory field trips or field courses are free, including travel.

Where you will study

Most of your compulsory courses will be taught within the Central Campus in the city's historical centre, including the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute.

Depending on the option courses you choose, you may study at various campus locations in Edinburgh.

Facilities

You will have access to the University's facilities across all University sites.

For example:

• laboratories
• libraries
• study spaces (some of which are open 24 hours)
• computing facilities
• social spaces
• leisure facilities

Masters Hub and Edinburgh Climate Change Institute

This programme is linked with the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI).

You will have access to the shared 'Masters Hub' study space in ECCI as well as the café and shared working spaces on the ground and first floors. Some of your teaching will take place in the ECCI.

ECCI is also close to many teaching spaces and facilities within the Central Area campus. For example, the Main Library and gym.

Visit the ECCI website

Take a virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the School of GeoSciences and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Discover our city's landmarks, our campuses, accommodation and get video tours - all in one place.

Take a virtual tour

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.

We may also consider a UK 2:2 honours degree, or its international equivalent, with relevant industry experience.

Students from China

This degree is Band B.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

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 7.0 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 100 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 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in 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:

• English language requirements

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place.

• £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

• Tuition fee deposits

Field trips and field courses

We do not charge extra fees for compulsory field trips or field courses.

The programme fees will cover costs of travel on compulsory field trips. However, you must pay for incidental or personal expenses. This may include suitable outdoor clothing and footwear.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

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

School of GeoSciences scholarships

• See potential funding for GeoSciences students

Scholarships and student funding

You can find funding opportunities, tuition fees and costs of living for prospective UK and international postgraduate students on the University website.

• Postgraduate scholarships and student funding

You are also encouraged to undertake your own research into the range of potential scholarships and other funding outside the University for which you may be eligible.

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding