How my GSD MASc got me to where I am: Ubayd’s Story

Our GSD programmes equip students with the essential skills valued by employers across diverse industries, as demonstrated by the wide range of careers our graduates pursue. In this blog series, we sit down with some of our GSD Masters alumni to discuss their experiences of the course and some of the ways studying GSD has helped benefit their career. Ubayd graduated from our MASc course in 2025 and is currently on the Operational and Environmental Leadership Graduate Scheme at Severn Trent. We spoke to him to find out more about his journey from GSD to employment and how his postgraduate studies help build his new career.

Why I chose to study the GSD MASc course

I mainly chose to study GSD at master’s level because I had already completed an undergraduate degree in GSD and felt like I wasn’t yet done in my learning! I had thoroughly enjoyed my first degree as it had developed a strong interest in sustainability issues and how GSD impacts communities, the environment and the economic climate. However, there is so much breadth to GSD because of how interdisciplinary it is, so I was curious to learn more as well as find out how the jump from undergraduate to postgraduate differs.

My experiences of the GSD MASc course

If I was to describe how the postgraduate GSD programme is different from the undergraduate one, then I would say that the undergraduate programme was an introduction to the subjects discussed within GSD, whereas the MASc course is more introspective and focused. It digs deeper into what area of GSD is most important to you, whilst giving you the tools to specialise in that area and plan the rest of your journey - whether it be in employment, conducting research, or further study at PhD level.

One of the highlights of the course for me was the Leading Transformation in the Anthropocene module, as it helped narrow my focus onto the areas of sustainability I was most interested in. Rather than simply studying what others have modelled and theorised, we were encouraged to think deeper about our own positionality whilst developing our own personal methodologies.

The MASc also differed greatly from the BASc programme because of the wide array of people it attracted as students. Not only was it a more international cohort, we had a varied mix of people from different degree disciplines and careers, which exposes you to more knowledge and lived experiences as you also learn from each other.

For my final Capstone I chose to do the Workplace Project, which took place at Warwick Castle. I worked closely with Aramark (the company in charge of events and catering at Warwick Castle) to develop a policy handbook that not only gave recommendations on how to make their events more sustainable, but offered communication strategies for improving relationships with the locals surrounding the castle, as the huge tourism that the venue attracted could often cause disruption to their daily lives.

Having the option to do a workplace project as opposed to a typical degree dissertation was invaluable, as it allowed me to create meaningful work that had a demonstrable impact, which was useful when it came to job interviews once I had finished my studies!

What I am doing now

I am currently undertaking the Operational and Environmental Leadership graduate scheme at Severn Trent, which involves doing three placements across the business to understand how Severn Trent operates as a water provider. As of publishing, I have just completed the first placement - which was in the Public Health and Standards team - and am now at the second, which is in Procurement and Contract Management.

The graduate scheme at Severn Trent grants insight into all the processes behind getting safe and clean water into our taps, and I have learned so much from doing roles across the business. My first placement involved dealing with public health-related issues, such as water contamination and drain blockages. My current role includes securing contracts, and I am working closely with the Supply Chain Sustainability team helping the company try to reach its net zero goals.

In terms of my future, I am planning on remaining within the utilities industry and hope to stay at Severn Trent for as long as I am enjoying it!

My advice to those considering the GSD MASc course

If you are interested in sustainability but not quite sure how to funnel that passion into a career, then the GSD MASc at Warwick is great at helping you uncover the area of sustainability that interests you the most and guiding you towards successfully securing careers within that space.

Due to the flexible nature of the course, you have the freedom to mould the degree so that your learning opportunities and work placements fit the specific work industry you are trying to enter. As a result, my classmates from the course have gone on to work in a wide variety of sectors.

So, if this is what you are looking for, I highly recommend taking the GSD MASc degree, no matter what your educational or work background may be!