ENERGY, SOCIETY AND SUSTAINABILITY MSC

Why choose this program ?

The MSc in Energy, Society and Sustainability equips you with an understanding of how different societies can address the challenge of balancing energy with sustainability. It brings together a social, political, economic, and environmental understanding of low-carbon technologies.

You will explore the risks, costs, and benefits of transitioning to low-carbon energy in a globalised world by asking the following questions:

- How do we achieve environmental sustainability, energy security and energy justice across different contexts, timescales, places and people?
- How are societies affected by the energy transition?
- How do people, policy, and society enable or hinder the energy transition?

Our programme will equip you with a critical awareness of related local, regional and global debates and challenges, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the role of energy in development, facilitating the exploration of the above challenges affecting our world today and in the future.

You will benefit from our access to insightful case studies, as well as the organisations and communities our lecturers work closely with. These range from local Scottish islands to international corporations. The cases demonstrate global best practices and identify paths to sustainable energy management.

Scotland and Edinburgh are prime contexts in which to investigate the interplay between energy and society. Scotland is a world leader in renewable electricity generation. It has a history of hydroelectricity, North Sea oil, and a future in tide and wave energy. However, it also suffers from high levels of energy poverty, a challenge many people face.
Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action to address the significant global challenges of our generation. They address challenges such as:

- climate change
- environment
- water
- food inequality
- protecting our planet
- sustainable growth and energy
- supplies

With this degree, you can work in fields that directly contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, including the energy transition and climate change mitigation sectors.

Programme benefits

- This MSc is delivered in collaboration with the School of Social and Political Sciences, giving you access to a wide range of academic expertise across the institution.
- The affliation with ECCI also offers you the opportunity to work and network alongside professionals and potential employers within this high-demand field.
- This programme has something to offer to everyone, irrespective of academic background. Students with a natural science background might seek to understand the social factors associated with a lower carbon economy. Social science students might expand their skills and knowledge for a career in low-carbon energy.
- Field work plays a key role in this programme, allowing you to apply the knowledge and skills you have learnt in the field, whilst working alongside organisations linked to energy and sustainability.
- The MSc will enable you to translate complex social and technical issues into effective arguments, policies and innovative business opportunities, strengthening your ability to follow a career path of your choice across different sectors.