Environmental Protection and Management MSc

This MSc programme (totalling 180 credits) comprises:

• compulsory and option courses (totalling 120 credits)
• a dissertation (60 credits)

Dissertation

Your teaching team will work with you throughout the programme to help prepare and develop your dissertation project. It will be your opportunity to explore a topic of your choice. It will also be designed specifically to develop your skill set for your individual interests and career goals.

For example, your bespoke project can be developed from your own idea and/or in collaboration with external organisations or with current ongoing research conducted at SRUC and the University of Edinburgh. We also work with our wide network to find opportunities for dissertation projects with external organisations, enhancing the real-world relevance of your degree.

Your dissertation can incorporate both desk-based and practical skills and methodologies used within the wide-ranging field of environmental protection. It will be something that you can use to showcase your skills and abilities to potential employers.

How will I learn?

You will experience a range of learning styles while studying, depending on the subject matter and courses you are taking. Teaching methods for this programme will typically include lectures, guest speakers, workshop-style activities, problem-based learning and hands-on fieldwork experience.

Courses are delivered by staff who are active researchers and/or practitioners in each field. Their expertise is supplemented by selected guest speakers, generally from our excellent network of industry and 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 endeavour 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. Two and three-year part-time options are 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.

By studying the MSc Environmental Protection and Management, you will:

• develop a scientific understanding of some of the major processes which influence the quality of land, air and water resources
• acquire knowledge of the most effective methods of environmental protection and the sustainable management of resources
• develop interdisciplinary skills through learning how other disciplines integrate with a scientific approach and understanding
• have the opportunity to study the integrated protection and management of particular ecosystems or resources
• be exposed to cutting-edge technology and data analysis tools
• develop high-level core skills (such as communication, writing skills) that will be vital in the future job market

Our graduates have a strong record of finding employment in the environmental sector around the world, and the data knowledge and skillsets we instil in our students are in demand with employers. Common career paths include:

• consultancy roles
• working for NGOs
• government departments/regulators
• further studies

In this programme students are exposed to industry speakers and visits, providing insight into possible future roles and career paths. In addition, we have strong links with our alumni, and alumni are strongly integrated with the student experience. For example, our alumni meet with new incoming students in Welcome Week to provide advice, but also to help new students start to build their professional networks and make contacts.

Our alumni are also involved in other activities such as being formal guest speakers on courses, participating in careers sessions, and informal social gatherings.

Our graduates

This programme has a strong alumni network, demonstrating how graduates can develop their careers though time. Examples of the organisations our graduates have gained employment with include:

• Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
• Talisman Energy
• Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation
• Vegware
• Tearfund
• Global Green Growth Institute
• Water Witness International
• IUCN
• Veolia UK

Examples of roles our graduates have gone on to do:

• Environmental Protection Officer
• Lecturer
• Policy Officer
• Planning Consultant
• Scientific Publisher
• Catchment Management Officer
• Ecological/Environmental Consultant

Further study

You can also progress to further research and academia.

Recent PhD subjects pursued include:

• water management
• carbon sequestration by agriculture
• air pollution modelling
• human-wildlife conflicts
• use of UAVs (drones) in environmental monitoring
• Arctic Ocean circulation systems

Networks

Throughout this MSc, you will engage with a range of environmental professionals and practitioners through things such as:

• guest speakers on courses
• field visits
• careers events and discussions

Alongside your own class and our alumni network, meeting such people is not only an opportunity to learn from them, but also to develop your professional network.

SRUC works closely with colleagues in our consulting division, SAC Consulting. In recent years, several graduates of this programme have obtained consultancy roles. As a result, SAC Consulting aims to offer two positions per year to suitable graduates across the SRUC-run programmes.

• Visit SAC Consulting

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

Field trips are an excellent way to explore the factors and forces that shape our world and enable you to put valuable skills into practice. Our compulsory field trips or field courses are included as part of your degree, and include travel, food and accommodation.

You will have the opportunity to participate in a residential field trip as part of this programme at the end of Semester 2. This will enable you to put into practice the skills you have learned as well as develop new tools and techniques for your dissertation and future career.

On recent trips (based in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco), students learned a range of field and data collection and analysis techniques, covering topics such as:

• water quality and biodiversity
• UAV (drone) surveying and flood modelling
• carbon footprinting of local agriculture
• evaluating tourist and local community attitudes to sustainable tourism
• soils, land use and biodiversity
• air quality monitoring

We also typically offer trips as part of your core courses to explore surrounding environments, day trips to get to know Edinburgh during your first weeks with us, and a residential dissertation retreat in the Highlands.

Changes to field trips Field course locations may change for a variety of reasons, including the health and safety of our students, staff and communities, and to ensure we can maintain the highest standards for your educational experience. Where suitable, fieldwork will be relocated or rescheduled. We will also look at alternative arrangements that will ensure you achieve the quality learning outcomes of your degree. We will announce any changes as soon as possible.

Accessibility on field trips We are committed to making our degree as accessible and inclusive as possible. In the event that you cannot attend a fieldwork trip, we will provide alternatives with comparable learning outcomes where necessary.

Where you will study

This programme is delivered in collaboration with Scotland's Rural College (SRUC).

You will have access to student facilities at both:

• Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)
• University of Edinburgh

As a student of this MSc, you will also have access to the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) Masters Hub.

University of Edinburgh

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

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

King's Buildings campus

The King's Buildings (KB) is the main campus of the College of Science and Engineering.

The King's Buildings campus is around 15 minutes from central Edinburgh. It is easily accessible by bus. You can also cycle (10 minutes) or walk (25 minutes) from the central area.

Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)

You will have access to SRUC's student facilities. These include facilities at SRUC Edinburgh, which is located within the University of Edinburgh's King's Buildings campus.

• SRUC Edinburgh campus

Edinburgh Climate Change Institute

As a student of this MSc, you will also have access to the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) Masters Hub. 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 may 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, in biological science, environmental science, physical science, geography, engineering, economics or other relevant subject.

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 C.

• 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, accommodation and subsistence 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.

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) alumni discount

The SRUC alumni discount aims to encourage SRUC graduates to take up opportunities to study taught masters (MSc). SRUC may provide a financial contribution towards tuition fees for eligible applicants for SRUC programmes delivered in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh.

SRUC will notify you if you are eligible to receive the discount on tuition fees during the application and admissions process. Please tell us on your application if you are a SRUC graduate, as this will help speed up the process. For further information, please get in touch with the Programme Administrator.

• Visit the SRUC website

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding