Sustainable Development with a Placement Year

University of East Anglia UEA

Course OverviewA new generation of graduates is urgently needed if we’re to make the crucial transition to a just and sustainable future. Our dynamic BSc in Sustainable Development with a Placement Year will prepare you to address pressing environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and food insecurity. On this course, you’ll embrace the complexity of the challenges facing humanity, learning how environmental issues such as climate change are interconnected with social challenges like poverty and inequality. You'll explore how sustainable actions must be founded on scientific understanding, as well as environmental justice and inclusiveness. You’ll learn about the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability and develop the creative and critical problem-solving skills needed for major initiatives such as the transition to NetZero carbon futures. As your course progresses, you’ll focus on potential solutions to environmental problems, exploring strategies such as Indigenous knowledge, environmental governance, environmental law, rights for nature, social movements, market-based economic incentives, sustainability standards, and emerging technologies. Our BSc in Sustainable Development with a Placement Year is an extremely flexible programme, allowing you to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career aspirations. You’ll develop key skills for sustainable development practice, including interdisciplinarity, data analysis methods, and ethical rigour. A special feature of the course is team-based ‘real world’ problem-solving through partnerships with regional businesses, charities and community organisations. Employability is central to the programme, and in your third year you’ll undertake a 9–12-month work placement in an organisation working on sustainability.At UEA, you’ll join our close-knit academic community, made up of leading experts from multiple disciplines. You’ll not only learn from our world-renowned environmental specialists but also benefit from a truly vibrant academic environment. 'Green jobs’ are rapidly growing worldwide, providing exciting and rewarding career opportunities. UEA is globally recognised for excellence in research and teaching on sustainability, ranking as a top 60 University in the world for its work in the area (QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025). Come join us and contribute to the transformation towards a just and sustainable future.After the CourseYou’ll graduate with knowledge and skills valued by a vast range of organisations offering ‘green jobs’. The green economy takes in the private, public and charity sectors and our degree will equip you to work in any one of these areas.

School of Global Development