Courses

Msc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment 2024/25 cohort welcome event. Photo: Laurence Wainwright

MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment

In brief

Fees
Start date1 October 2025
Duration12 months
Time commitmentFull time
LocationOxford
Home£29,510
Overseas£46,060

Deadlines

  • Friday 15 November 2024 (12:00 midday UK time): Applications are more likely to receive earlier decisions
  • Tuesday 28 January 2025 (12:00 midday UK time): Latest deadline for most Oxford Scholarships & Final deadline for entry

Contact

Dr Laurence Wainwright: msc-coordinator-see@ouce.ox.ac.uk

How to apply

Visit the University of Oxford graduate admissions page

Overview

Our MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment (MSEE) aims to address two pervasive and unmet challenges of our time: making the transition to a zero-carbon and environmentally sustainable economic model, whilst simultaneously enabling sustainable development for everyone, poor and rich alike.

The course views these challenges through the lenses of finance, economics and enterprise – both public and private – whilst also leveraging the environmental, systems and data sciences. MSc SEE will equip students with the rigorous academic knowledge and applied skills needed to understand and accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon, environmentally sustainable economic model.

MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment

Video transcript

We are pushing too hard against the boundaries of this planet and we're doing so at our own peril. We have to fundamentally shift the way that we think about the interaction between economies, human society and nature. You don't have to start soon, we've got to start now in terms of addressing these challenges, and I think industry is crying out for professionals with training in in these fields, in climate science. You know they want someone who can walk into a room and confidently speak about the physics of climate change, just in the ways they want someone who can understand ESG metrics and be able to interpret those properly. So there's a great need for formal qualifications in these fields and we're really giving that in this programme.

Should I compensate the next generation that I've used up that non-renewable natural capital and the next generation doesn't have it.

We're looking for a range of different applicants – we might have people coming straight from a bachelor's degree coming into the Master’s programme, we may have people with five, seven, ten years of work experience, mid to early career professionals. We're looking for people who are genuinely passionate about all things sustainability and have a real desire to get a rigorous understanding of the natural and social sciences, and to actually use that after they finish the course and go out into the world and lead impactful change towards net-zero sustainable development. We're talking in excess of 500 people interested in the programme, we're taking around 20 places, so it's phenomenally competitive.

Prices are being driven up which is good for a sustainable economy, what about the people who are being subjected to that?

We're looking at these problems through the lens of a finance economics business, we're saying, for better or for worse, the mess that we find ourselves in is a large result of human nature for starters, but also business and markets but paradoxically these mediums and these entities are also the way the way out of this problem. Oxford is a really special place, you can kind of sense it in the air, there's something magical about this place. There's a plethora of activities that go on outside of the classroom here at Oxford whether it be the colleges and the rich experience that college life brings which is the defining part of your experience at the university of Oxford, whether it be a range of leadership activities and opportunities to take on, whether you're captain of a sports team, whether you're in the Oxford Union and you're debating. There's a magical feeling when you step into the library and you think about all those who have been here before, and the remarkable things that they've done, and you almost feel a sense of obligation to manifest your potential in the world to, fulfill the ideas of what this university is about. I’ve worked and studied now at five different universities around the world and I have to say that this is by far the most impressive place that I've seen in terms of the opportunities that are that are available to students. It's an incredibly diverse cohort in the class, we have something like 14 or 15 nationalities represented in the 24 students which is quite phenomenal when you think about it. The diversity of age is very useful, some of the younger ones are able to learn from those who have worked for a couple of years, in some cases many years, and vice versa as well, there's a really rich interchange and you know. I say to the students they'll learn as much from the person sitting next to them as they will from us at the front of the room.

In my lifetime the world population has gone from 3.5 billion to 7.5 billion you can see the environmental consequences of that and the unsustainable conditions that go with it.

We're really passionate in this course to equip students with the leadership skills that they need to go out into the world and lead impactful change towards net-zero sustainable development. Let's actually supplement your in-class experiences of leadership with a whole range of other activities at the University, so when you go out into the world you actually can become a leader, and we take that incredibly seriously. This course is grounded in reality, it's realistic rather than idealistic about the world and I think that appealed to many applicants. It's a really exciting time to be doing this course and you're doing it at the top School of Geography in the world, at one of the world's best universities overall. It's a brand new course. it's exciting, it's innovative, the teaching team is really star-studded. These are the best of the best, we're just hugely excited about this programme and we really do welcome your applications.

Course design

Leaders of enterprise need to be increasingly resilient and able to cope with previously unseen levels of complexity and uncertainty. They will also need to lead with empathy and emotional intelligence, and foster diversity and inclusion through deeper levels of socio-cultural awareness.

The MSEE will provide you with both the academic knowledge and business acumen needed to thrive in the post-pandemic landscape and play a leading role in reorienting the relationship between enterprise, society and the natural environment.

This course has three overarching aims, to:

  • Develop a critical understanding of the nature, drivers and trajectories of climate change and economic development
  • Examine the role of enterprise and its relationship to environmental and development challenges across a range of risks, technological innovations, investment opportunities and policy responses
  • Enable students to integrate and apply their interdisciplinary knowledge, advanced methodological skills and science-policy-enterprise network to foster innovation and scalable progress toward net zero and sustainable development (NZSD).
Structure
Field trips
Assessment

The MSEE comprises:

  • 10 core modules
  • Two electives
  • A 15,000-word dissertation.

Our approach combines directed teaching, self-regulated learning, structured engagement with enterprise and formal assessment.

Combined programmes

The MSEE can be coupled with an MBA as part of the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme.

Field trips will explore the role of enterprise in tackling the NZSD challenges.

  • Induction field trip the week before the start of the course
  • Two one-day trips in each of Michaelmas and Hilary Terms
  • A week-long field trip at the end of Hilary Term.

During the week-long trip, you will visit a selected region to connect with individual companies and their supply chains in order to bring to life critical concepts and apply your learning.

Field trip costs are included in the course fee, and any specific accessibility issues will be taken into account when planning the visits.

  • Three 3-hour unseen written examinations in Trinity Term.
  • Two written essays of no more than 4,000 words plus a 150-word abstract on your selected elective subjects.
  • The 15,000-word dissertation, due in the first week of September.

An independent and original dissertation is an integral component of the course. We offer a suite of training activities to enable you to execute high quality independent and original research, and introduce you to applied research methods used widely in academic and professional research.

Oxford Terms

Our course is taught through lectures, seminars and workshops, together with field trips, which provide in-depth exploration of key issues. The elective modules are tutorial-style with discussion, in smaller groups.

Teaching is delivered by academic staff from the Smith School and School of Geography and the Environment as well as other departments across the University. In addition, guest lectures from enterprise, such as the Smith School’s Business Fellows, add to the breadth of teaching expertise.

The course is structured across three terms, progressing from broad-based concepts and skills to increased application and engagement:

  • Michaelmas Term: Nature and sources of climate emergency and development challenges, including scientific underpinnings and conceptual building blocks aimed at framing and understanding the problems and trade-offs posed by NZSD.
  • Hilary Term: Integrated assessment of potential solutions and pathways, offering applications and solutions.
  • Trinity Term: Implementation of knowledge and solutions through the enterprise forum and dissertation preparation.

During Michaelmas and Hilary terms (weeks 1 to 8), a typical study week includes an average of 16 contact hours:

  • 2 hours of lectures for each of the five core modules, with optional 30-minute discussion group per core module.
  • 2 hours per elective.
  • 2 hours for the Enterprise Forum.
  • 1.5 hours for the Business Case Seminar.
  • 45min for the Class Meeting.

In weeks 0 and -1 of Michaelmas Term, before the teaching term starts, activities comprise college inductions, university inductions, course refreshers, an induction field trip, and occasional guest speaker sessions.

MScSee brochure cover
MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise & the Environment (pdf)
(20 pages, 4.2 MB)

Enterprise forum

The Enterprise Forum will consist of weekly sessions, led by expert practitioners discussing different topics related directly to achieving the net-zero and sustainable development (NZSD) challenges.

The defining features of the model are three-fold: 

  • Purpose and impact driven, guided by clearly defined challenges associated with net-zero and sustainable development
  • Demand driven, based on co-production, sustained and strategic dialogue with enterprise partners about the major challenges and needs they face, as well as the ‘demand’ for innovation, knowledge, and skills
  • Practical and realistic in terms of small, targeted actions and inputs – by both students and enterprise partners – that can produce outputs.

The forum will also provide exposure across a broad range of actors and enablers within the enterprise system − from start-ups and private organisations to listed companies; from regulators and public organisations to financiers and private equity. By doing this, the Enterprise Forum provides students with the opportunity to put their academic knowledge and skills into context and practice by working on meaningful environmental and social change through enterprise. 

The forum will include activities such as development of leadership skills, mentorship with business fellows, case-based learning, guest lectures and seminars on personal effectiveness, and can act as an incubator for dissertation topics. At the same time, the forum enables enterprise to tap into the ideas and innovations of the next generation. 

Modules

Electives

Non-exhaustive list of electives available at the School of Geography and the Environment in 2024-25.

Meet Our Students

Our students have an average age of 26, spanning a range of 28 years, as the course attracts both recent graduates and experienced professionals. Work experience ranges from 1 to 16 years, with an average of 4.3 years. Between 2021 and 2023, cohorts were composed of 57.81% female and 42.19% male students. We are privileged to host students from across the globe, representing 28 nationalities to date.

  • North America (31.1%) included nationals from the United States, Canada
  • Europe (21.5%) included nationals from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark Russia, Ireland, Norway and Ukraine
  • Asia (10.4%) included nationals from India, Turkey, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Syria
  • Africa (6.7%) included nationals from South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe
  • Oceania (5.9%) included nationals from Australia, New Zealand
  • South America (3.7%) included nationals from Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Honduras

Academic background

Jobs and Graduates destination

The Course Director and University Careers Service will work closely with you from the outset to understand your aims, and where you see your career heading after the course. A degree from the University of Oxford – particularly an innovative MSc with a topical focus from the top-ranked School of Geography and the Environment – is highly sought after by employers.

Graduates from MScs within the School of Geography and the Environment often go on to prominent positions within government departments, non-governmental organisations, business organisations and international agencies. Many use their degree to pivot their career towards a particular goal. MSEE equips students with many of the skills and a knowledge base to pursue other pathways, such as an entrepreneurial career, or further study such as a DPhil/PhD.

The general insights below are based on destination data for graduates from first three cohorts of MSEE:

  • Sectorial shifts. Before the MSc, individuals were dispersed across diverse fields, including sustainability (30%), consulting (20%), finance (15%), and academia (15%). Upon graduation, sustainability-focused roles grew to 40%, and by November 2024, they accounted for 50% of careers, with an emphasis on climate and ESG fields. Consulting remained robust, while entrepreneurial and academic pursuits gained traction.
  • Company transitions. Approximately 60% of graduates transitioned to globally recognized organizations or impactful sectors post-MSc, with firms like McKinsey, BCG, and the World Bank being prominent destinations. Entrepreneurship and academic roles also flourished, reflecting diverse pathways enabled by the MSc. Meanwhile, 20% remained with their pre-MSc employers, often achieving promotions
  • Role Progressions. Career trajectories demonstrate a marked elevation in seniority while entry-level roles dropped from 50% pre-MSc to 10% by 2024. Senior leadership roles grew from 15% to 50%, with mid-level positions bridging the gap. Promotions were common, with 75% of individuals advancing within their companies or through strategic transitions.
  • Promotions and mobility. About 40% achieved promotions within their organizations, while 35% leveraged new opportunities to climb the career ladder. Others embraced non-traditional paths, such as entrepreneurship or advanced academic research. 
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Graduate stories

My goal has always been to create a better world for future generations. I decided to do this by working in corporate sustainability and helping companies embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals into their core operations

Claudia Herbert Colfer, Linbury Scholar
My aspiration is to be a pioneering environmentalist who consults with enterprise, governments and local communities to drive real, immediate change and long-lasting impact, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme as well as the networks and connections I will make through it will help spearhead my career in this direction.

Katherine Polkinghorne, Weidenfeld-Hoffman Scholar

What students say about this course

Student feedback plays a crucial role in refining the course and is gathered at the end of each term. A survey conducted in May revealed that 100% of students from the most recent cohort were satisfied with their experience. Furthermore, 76% of graduating students stated the course greatly exceeded their expectations, while the remaining 24% felt it met their expectations.

Disclaimer: The information appearing on this website / in this document is to be used as a guide only. The final and binding details pertaining to cost, selection criteria and required documents for application are those appearing on the central University of Oxford graduate admissions website. The final and binding details pertaining to course structure and content will be those given in the MSc SEE course handbook in September 2022. Covid-19-related restrictions may mean that some minor to moderate changes have to be made to the inaugural cohort of the course – for example, some components being taught online, and field trips being local rather than regional/international. Meeting selection criteria does not assure selection. It is likely that the course will be oversubscribed, meaning many qualified candidates may miss out on a place. The teaching staff list is subject to change.

IN THE NEWS

Business schools’ transatlantic divide over ESG

An increasing backlash against ESG investing in the United States is driving a divide between the country's business schools and their European counterparts. Professor Mette Morsing, Director of the Oxford Smith School, told the FT that many institutions still teach "outdated economic models and management frameworks that do not align with today’s sustainability challenges."

In brief

Fees
Start date1 October 2025
Duration12 months
Time commitmentFull time
LocationOxford
Home£29,510
Overseas£46,060

Deadlines

  • Friday 15 November 2024 (12:00 midday UK time): Applications are more likely to receive earlier decisions
  • Tuesday 28 January 2025 (12:00 midday UK time): Latest deadline for most Oxford Scholarships & Final deadline for entry

Contact

Dr Laurence Wainwright: msc-coordinator-see@ouce.ox.ac.uk

How to apply

Visit the University of Oxford graduate admissions page