MSc Global Sustainability Engineering

Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Shortlist

# 201-250QS Subject Rankings

12 monthsProgram duration

24,496 GBPTuition Fee/year

YesScholarships

Shortlist

Program overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Chemical

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Overview of Programme

MSc Global Sustainability Engineering provides you with the opportunity to develop your engineering knowledge to identify existing unsustainable processes and practices and implement strategies to improve sustainability. The programme has been created in response to the current gap in industry and create graduates who have both a background in science or engineering and who can provide technical consultation and deliver specialist solutions to improve sustainability.

You’ll learn from academics and a curriculum focused on and drawing inspiration from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You’ll develop the knowledge and skills to become advocates for change within the sustainability engineering field, by understanding how both incremental and disruptive approaches can be harnessed for effective sustainable development. The programme adopts an interdisciplinary approach, to provide you with a holistic view of problems and solutions which can be developed.

During the master’s programme, you’ll develop a working knowledge of the relevant science and technology core to sustainability engineering, including environmental science and engineering, energy, recycling, sustainable processing, impact assessment, and environmental economics. You’ll gain an awareness of the context and framework within which the environmental degradation and sustainability problem and solutions exist. You’ll explore the implications of global trends on the environment, society, economy, and organisations to develop sustainable products and services with the aim to improve sustainability performance.

The flexible degree structure allows you to focus in on your specific Global Sustainability Engineering interests. On top of the mandatory fundamental teachings of energy, climate change, sustainability and adaptation, process engineering, sustainable processing, environmental impact assessment, and critical analysis and research preparation, you’ll have the opportunity to choose optional courses from an extensive list.

Our Expertise

96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh.

Our MSc Global Sustainability Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) research institute which focuses on promoting excellence across four main research themes:

Biomedical Engineering
Digital Engineering
Energy Harvesting and Conversion
Multiphase Flow

You’ll benefit from our innovative approach when it comes to meeting necessary carbon targets. Our Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) is an interdisciplinary engineering centre with a track record of inspiring and delivering innovation for the wider deployment of technologies needed to meet necessary carbon targets. This world-leading work has directly informed the Carbon Solutions course, which you can choose to study as part of the MSc Global Sustainability Engineering.

Your learning environment

The MSc Global Sustainability Engineering programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practicals, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.

During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, software and laboratories used by professional chemical and sustainability engineers, including a condensation rig, mock continuous stirred tank reactor, fermentation broths, flowmeter calibration, absorption columns, reactant distribution reactors, heat exchangers, distillation columns, absorption column, and fermenters. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems, and work across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact in our state-of-the-art GRID (Global Research Innovation and Discovery) facility.

Outside of the classroom, you can join several Sustainability and Engineering societies which provide you with a fantastic opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social events and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects in sustainability, engineering, and other relevant industries. Societies include:

Chemical Engineering Society
Eco Society
Engineers Without Borders, which is an international organisation of thousands of engineers around the world working to embed global responsibility into the heart of engineering
NetZero Society, a group for scientists and researchers focused on promoting a net zero future

Customise your learning

You’ll have the opportunity to focus on the areas of global sustainability engineering that interest you the most. You can customise your degree to match your specific interests or desired career pathway by studying six mandatory courses and choosing two further options from a range of sustainability and engineering specialist courses, including process intensification, renewable energy technologies, circular economy, carbon solutions, green and sustainable logistics, and demand management and energy storage.

In semester three, you’ll undertake an extensive and specialised investigation into your chosen area of sustainability engineering through your dissertation. You’ll be required to demonstrate your mastery of the subject area by applying the latest sustainability engineering technology developments to an extensive investigation into an advanced or specialist topic relating to the subject area.

You can choose whether to study the programme full-time, or part-time. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your lifestyle. You can choose whether to begin the programme in September or January, the full-time course will last 12 months or 24 months part time. If you decided to study part-time, you register for two courses per semester and progress to the dissertation at the end of your second year.

You may have the opportunity to Go Global on our Inter-Campus Transfer. Opportunities for postgraduate study abroad are assessed on a case-by-case basis and if you are interested in studying at our Dubai campus or Malaysia campus, you should contact the Go Global Team.

Industry

You will learn from a programme and course structure which has been specifically formed to respond to the global industry demand for graduates with science or engineering backgrounds, who can provide technical consultation and deliver specialist solutions to improve sustainability.

We work closely with industry to ensure our course content is up-to-date and reflects the current and emerging needs of industry and employers. You’ll gain the right blend of knowledge, practical skills, and soft skills to set you up for life after graduation.

Read less

Program overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Chemical

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Overview of Programme

Our Expertise

Biomedical Engineering
Digital Engineering
Energy Harvesting and Conversion
Multiphase Flow

Your learning environment

Chemical Engineering Society
Eco Society
Engineers Without Borders, which is an international organisation of thousands of engineers around the world working to embed global responsibility into the heart of engineering
NetZero Society, a group for scientists and researchers focused on promoting a net zero future

Customise your learning

Industry

Read less

Admission Requirements

IELTS

A minimum of honours degree at 2:1 or non-UK equivalent in a relevant background with a minimum of 3-4 maths modules at C grade or above. Relevant backgrounds include chemical and process engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, marine engineering, aerospace/aeronautical engineering, and energy and power generation. Applicants with qualifications in mathematical, chemical or physical sciences can also be considered where both substantial mathematics content and coursework in subjects such as fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics can be evidenced.

Applicants with a lower Second Class Honours Degree will be considered with substantial work experience.

Program Duration

1 Year

Starting Month(s)

Jan

Starting Month(s)

Sep

Tuition Fee and Scholarships

Domestic Students

Tuition Fee/year

10,600 GBP

Tuition Fee (Out of State)

International Students

Tuition Fee/year

24,496 GBP

Other Expenses

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

A list of available scholarships around the world

A scholarship application checklist

Download Scholarship Guide

QS subject rankings

2014
#151-200
2015
#151-200
2016
#151-200
2017
#101-150
2018
#101-150
2019
#151-200
2020
#151-200
2021
#151-200
2022
#101-150
2023
#151-200
2024
#201-250
2025
#201-250

Ranking criteria

Academic Reputation

61.1

Citations per Paper

78.7

Employer Reputation

63.2

H-index Citations

64.8

International Research Network

48.7

View all rankings data

Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

# 201-250QS Subject Rankings

12 monthsProgram duration

24,496 GBPTuition Fee/year

YesScholarships

Program overview

Main Subject

Degree

Study Level

Study Mode

Overview of Programme

Overview of Programme

Our Expertise

Your learning environment

Customise your learning

Industry

Program overview

Main Subject

Degree

Study Level

Study Mode

Overview of Programme

Overview of Programme

Our Expertise

Your learning environment

Customise your learning

Industry

Admission Requirements

Exam Scores

Important Dates

Tuition Fee and Scholarships

Tuition Fee

Domestic Students

International Students

Scholarships

In this guide you will find:

QS WUR Ranking By Subject

QS subject rankings

Subject: Engineering - Chemical

Ranking criteria

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