Global Sustainable Futures MA
Source: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/degrees/4185f/ Parent: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/degrees/
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Overview
On our Global Sustainable Futures MA you'll develop the essential skills needed to respond to the global sustainability challenges impacting people and places.
On this programme you'll take a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the well-being, stability and sustainability of humanity and the planet as a whole.
Explore the causes of real-world problems and critically evaluate the competing solutions needed to enable a sustainable future.
Study a diverse range of topics from war and conflict, to development and sustainability, cities and creative methods.
Engage with our subject experts and utilise their extensive international knowledge to address these challenges effectively.
Gain the critical and transferrable skills sought after by employers, allowing for a diverse range of impressive graduate career options.
Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2025-26.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
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What you'll learn
On our Global Sustainable Futures MA you'll critically explore new spatial possibilities for social justice, sustainable development and empowerment of marginalised groups around the world.
You'll develop new in-depth knowledge by addressing vital questions:
- What is meant by ‘sustainability’, and how does it apply to different spatial contexts?
- What are ‘global issues’ and what can we do to address them locally?
- Where are global issues located, and which are most pressing in what places?
- Can individuals make a difference, or can global challenges only be addressed by global governance and cooperation?
- What other kinds of worlds are possible?
- How can we ensure that sustainable futures will benefit all, in a just society?
The diverse expertise of our academic staff allows you to tailor your degree to your interests through a range of optional modules. You’ll explore themes such as:
- Environment and Climate
- People and Society
- Sustainable Cities
- Economy and Policy
- Politics and Security
Through engaged and innovative teaching – including fieldwork options and community projects - you'll learn in real-world settings, through engagement with civic groups, and from experts who are passionate about their research-led teaching.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
The module information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Global Sustainable Futures MA modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Global Sustainable Futures: Solutions, Concepts, and Skills | 20 |
| Research Dissertation | 60 |
| Engaging with Research (G) | 10 |
| Thinking about Research | 10 |
How you'll learn
Teaching methods will depend on the optional modules you choose. You’ll be taught using a range of methods, including:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Group work
- Fieldwork
- Workshops
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Case study
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Oral presentation
- Portfolio
- Research proposal
- Written exercise
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- academic staff
- personal tutors and research supervisors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
- peers
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff, who will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Our staff
You'll join a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community at Newcastle University. Our staff are specialists in their fields, which range from the local to the global, and provide a pool of expertise in Economic Geography, Political Geography and Social Geography.
Our interdisciplinary research themes include:
- Development, migration, displacement, and humanitarianism
- Precarity, inequality, housing and social justice
- Conflict, militarism, and war/peace
- Cities, economies and sustainable development
- Identity, nationalism, and everyday geopolitics
- Gender, race, and multiculturalism
Your development
Over the course of your degree you’ll develop a range of professional, research and practical skills highly desired by a range of employers.
You’ll enhance your ability to communicate both orally and in writing, and gain experience in working closely with others in an intellectually stimulating environment.
You’ll learn how to:
- Critically evaluate key arguments and themes
- Analyse, evaluate and interpret a diverse range of primary and secondary source materials
- Plan, conduct and communicate your own research and work
- Develop innovative, practical solutions to real-world challenges
You’ll also have the option to build digital and creative skills such as documentary film making, photography, podcasts and website creation.
Your future
Careers
Students on this programme receive advanced research training. This is excellent preparation for those interested in further academic study and research, as well as other careers that require excellent analytical skills.
Our graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers across the world, including:
- government and policy
- non-government organisations (NGOs)
- renewable energy
- environmental research and consultancy
- charity and aid organisations
- education
- planning and urban development
Our Careers Service
Our expert Careers Service is here to help you take the next steps in your professional life. We will support you while you’re studying with us and for up to three years after you graduate.\ \ You will have access to expert one-to-one advice and guidance through our campus careers centre and online, along with digital resources, workshops, networking opportunities, and careers and recruitment events.\ \ We’ve been awarded 5 QS Stars for Student Employability (2025). Many of our degrees are shaped by strong links with national and international businesses. We are committed to helping you access real-world experience opportunities and develop key skills through paid work placements and internships.
Visit our Careers Service website
Quality and ranking
- Global Top 140 University - QS World University Rankings 2026
- Top 40 for Geography - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 200 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Top 125 for Social Sciences – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026
- Global Top 145 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026
- Joint 64th in the world and 22nd in the UK for sustainability – QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026
- Top 5 city for affordability in the UK – QS Best Student Cities 2026
- World Top 50 and UK Top 5 student city – QS Best Student Cities 2026
- 89th in the world - TIME Magazine: World’s Top Universities 2026
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
If you’re studying an accredited degree and thinking about working in Europe after you graduate, the best place to find current information is the UK Government’s guidance on recognition of UK professional qualifications in EU member states. This official resource explains whether your profession is regulated in another country, what steps you need to take, and which organisation you should contact.
Facilities
You'll be based in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology in the Henry Daysh Building. Here you'll have access to high quality modern classrooms, comfortable study spaces, and research facilities.
Our department staff all have offices on the same floor and are on hand to support you with your assignments and academic work.
The School is centrally located on Newcastle University’s vibrant city centre campus. There is nearby access to the university’s library, the student union, and the city centre.
Fees, Funding and Scholarships
Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)
| Qualification: MA Full time | |
|---|---|
| Home students Full time: 12 months | Tuition fees (per year) £11,400 |
| International students Full time: 12 months | Tuition fees (per year) £25,900 |
| Qualification: MA Part time | |
|---|---|
| Home students Part time: 24 months | Tuition fees (per year) £5,700 |
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding and scholarships
Find funding available for your course
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Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2026 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:2 honours degree, or international equivalent, in a relevant arts, humanities or social science subject, such as, but not limited to those listed below:
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• geography
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• planning
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• urban studies
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• environmental studies
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• sociology
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• politics
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• business studies
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• anthropology
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• history
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We will also consider your application if you have lower or non-standard qualifications and relevant industry experience.
Qualifications from outside the UK
Select your country AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCaribbeanCayman IslandsChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaltaMauritiusMexicoMongoliaMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRepublic of IrelandRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailandTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUruguayUSAUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamZambiaZimbabwe
English Language requirements
Select your qualification IELTSPearsonsDuolingo English TestTOEFLOtherPre-Sessional Entry - 6 weeksPre-Sessional Entry - 10 weeks
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
Pre-Master’s and English Language courses
Need an alternative route to study this course? Our International Study Centre offers Pre-Master’s degrees and English language courses to prepare you for study.
How to apply
Before you start
Start Dates
The course starts in September.
Closing Dates
There is no application closing date for this course, but we recommend that you apply by the start of September.
We suggest international students apply at least two months before the course starts. This is so that you have enough time to make the necessary arrangements.
Deposit
All International students
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you must pay a deposit or submit an official letter of sponsorship. The deposit is payable after you receive an offer to study with us. This deposit is non-refundable and will be deducted from your tuition fees when you register. You may also be subject to academic and English language qualification verification, confirmation of funds and credibility interviews.
International students who received an offer before 18 March 2026
- You are required to pay a £1,500 deposit or submit an official letter of sponsorship.
International students Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan who received an offer after 18 March 2026
- You are required to pay a deposit of £5,000 or submit an official letter of sponsorship by 01 August 2026.
All International students (excluding those from the markets above) who received an offer after 18 March 2026
- You are required to pay a deposit of £1,500 or submit an official letter of sponsorship by 01 August 2026.
Programme codes
| Qualification: MA Full time | |
|---|---|
| Full time: 12 months | Programme Code: 4185F |
| Qualification: MA Part time | |
|---|---|
| Part time: 24 months | Programme Code: 4185P |
Using the application portal
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You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.
If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.
Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
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Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually
Overseas events
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.
Visit our events calendar for the latest events
Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
[School of Geography Politics and Sociology](https://www.ncl.ac.uk/gps/)Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 3921 Email: geographyadmissions@newcastle.ac.uk
General enquiries
For more general enquiries, you could also complete our online enquiry form.
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