MSc Environmental Management

Environmental science is important for the UK’s goal of net zero. It helps the economy grow, builds resilience, and protects nature (source: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)).

The World Economic Forum estimates that £34.9 trillion ($44 trillion) in economic value depends on nature. Yet biodiversity is rapidly declining. As an environmental manager, you’ll play a vital role in the protection and sustainable use of natural resources.

Environmental managers play a vital role in the protection and sustainable use of resources. You’ll learn to address issues such as adaptation to climate change, biodiversity and sustainable energy management. At the local level, Environmental Management focuses on the conservation and protection of land and water resources and natural habitats.

Our Masters in Environmental Management course is internationally recognised as a leader in training environmental managers. The course covers ecological, economic, social, political, and legal aspects of environmental management. You'll focus on theory, research and analysis, along with practical skills.

Flexible degree pathways

You can work towards our core Masters degree or specialise in one of the following pathways:

• MSc Environmental Management (Conservation)
• MSc Environmental Management (Energy)
• MSc Environmental Management (Informatics)

Gain practical fieldwork experience

You can take a residential field module on the Environmental Management Masters. You’ll learn practical skills in identification, surveying, measuring and sampling on a six-day residential fieldtrip in the Cairngorms National Park. It's an immersive, hands-on experience across diverse habitat types. You’ll gain an awareness of up-to-date technologies available for fieldwork.

Through the fieldwork you’ll master key skills required as an environmental manager including the ability to:

• translate theory into practice,
• work in a team and independently,
• plan and coordinate research,
• engage with a variety of stakeholders.

Access to specialist research laboratories

On our Master of Science in Environmental Management you'll get practical teaching in specialist laboratories. The labs support a wide range of environmental management research interests from ecology to analytical chemistry. Our Stirling Controlled Environment Facility is a world-class experimental facility. It’s used for conducting experimental research investigating the impacts of climate and climate change. Learn more about our Biological and Environmental Science facilities.

A hub for environmental bodies in Scotland 

Several environmental consultancies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have offices on or near the University campus. This includes: 

• British Trust for Ornithology
• Buglife
• Bumblebee Conservation Trust
• On the Verge

We work closely with these organisations in conducting research.

We also collaborate with environmental regulators and organisations such as:

• Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
• Scottish Renewables
• Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux du Gabon
• Bats without Borders
• Forest Research
• NatureScot
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Scottish Government
• Wildlife Conservation Society

Opportunity to work on a commercially relevant project

Environmental Management students can opt to carry out an environmental management-related dissertation project. This can include working collaboratively with a business. Projects students completed recently include:

• What factors influence nature friendly farming uptake? - Scottish Farming and Wildlife Advisors' Group
• The ecological impacts of tree planting - The Conservation Volunteers
• Rhododendron ponticum invasion in Celtic rainforest - Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

You’ll take three modules in each semester followed by a dissertation. Each module is worth 20 SCQF credits at level 11 and the dissertation is worth 60 credits.

If you meet the requirements of the taught course you’ll qualify for the Diploma and may proceed to the MSc. This involves completion of a three-month Research Project, often in collaboration with an outside agency. Students frequently choose a topic complementary to their option selection, allowing them to develop a high level of competence in aspects of environmental management relevant to their future employment.

Flexible degree pathways

You can work towards our core Masters degree, the MSc Environmental Sciences, or opt to specialise in one of the following pathways of study.

MSc Environmental Management (Conservation)

This Masters pathway in conservation is relevant to graduates who are seeking a career in environmental conservation and management, either in governmental or non-governmental organisations.

You’ll have the flexibility to specialise in areas such as:

• ecosystem services
• environmental economics
• conservation conflicts
• habitat and biodiversity management
• application of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing

Graduates from this Masters course are knowledgeable in the broad field of conservation science. You will have skills in collecting and analysing relevant data for sustainable decision-making, as well as transferable skills relevant to your future employment at national and international level.

MSc Environmental Management (Energy)

We need to understand the various environmental costs associated with 21st-century energy technologies, whether renewable or non-renewable, and how these costs can be evaluated, managed and mitigated.

This MSc pathway in energy draws on our existing expertise and research strengths in environmental impact assessment, carbon trading, planning and impacts of wind, hydro and nuclear power, as well as our expertise in energy management and environmental economics.

The division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, which runs this course, specialises in studies of human interactions with the environment. Their key strengths are in environmental assessment and management.

MSc Environmental Management (Informatics)

Our ability to tackle some of the world’s most intractable environmental challenges is reliant on policy and decision makers having timely access to actionable intelligence.

This Masters pathway mixes Environmental Management with cutting-edge geographical information systems, data science and analytics, and high performance computing.

You’ll have the knowledge and skills required to manage, analyse, and visualise environmental datasets so that you can communicate key messages to a variety of stakeholders and audiences.