Do you want to identify solutions for global inequalities in food, education, work, and justice? Do you agree that our environment and societies are becoming increasingly unstable and volatile? Do you want to expand your knowledge of the social, economic, and environmental injustices that are unsustainable and demand change throughout the world? If you’re keen to search for the answers and make a difference to our world, our Global Sustainable Development (GSD) course will help you to explore how we can work and live in a way that safeguards environmental, social and economic wellbeing, both in the present and for future generations.

Our students are aspiring global citizens with social consciences. They are flexible, adaptable and broad-minded. By studying GSD, you’ll take a transdisciplinary approach and confront issues from a diverse array of perspectives. You’ll need to be ready to think creatively and embrace new opinions from your peers from across the world. We’ll challenge you to become an active participant in your own learning and help you to develop professional skills through certificates you’ll complete as part of the course. You’ll also have the opportunity to spend part of your second year studying abroad at our partner institution, Monash University, home to the world-leading Monash Sustainable Development Institute. Alternatively, you may choose to apply for an intercalated year spent either studying abroad or on a work placement (subject to you meeting departmental academic requirements).

Hear from GSD student ambassador, Kristina

Read the transcript for this video.

Core modules (60 CATS in total)

• Economic Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD104) (15 CATS, Term 1)
• Environmental Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD105) (15 CATS, Term 2)
• Social Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD106) (15 CATS, Term 1)
• Global Sustainable Development Project (GD107) (15 CATS, Term 2)

Optional modules with a GSD focus (60 CATS in total)

• Any approved modules with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University (60 CATS)

Certificates

• Certificate of Digital Literacy (Term 1)
• Certificate of Sustainability (Term 3)
• Certificate of Professional Communication with Work Placement

  The work placement is completed over four weeks, but can be longer (Term 3)

Optional core modules (60 CATS in total)

A choice of two modules from the following:

• Health and Sustainable Development (30 CATS, Terms 1 and 2)
  
• Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System (30 CATS, Terms 1 and 2)
  
• Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All (30 CATS, Terms 1 and 2)
  

Optional modules with a GSD focus (60 CATS in total)

• Any approved modules with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University (60 CATS, Terms 1 and 2)

Certificates

• Certificate of Coaching Practice (Term 2)
• Certificate of Professional Communication with Work Placement

  The work placement is completed over four weeks, but can be longer (Term 3)

Term 1

Optional core modules (30 CATS in total)

A choice of two modules from the following:

• Health and Sustainable Development (15 CATS, Term 1)
  
• Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System (15 CATS, Term 1)
  
• Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All (15 CATS, Term 1)
  

Optional modules with a GSD focus (30 CATS in total)

• Any approved module(s) with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University (30 CATS, Term 1)

Terms 2 and 3

Terms 2 and 3 are spent abroad, where relevant courses are taught by a partner institution. Students are required to register on the module Study Abroad Part-Year (GD200) which recognises the period of study abroad.

Core module (30 CATS in total)

• Dissertation (GD307) (30 CATS, Terms 1 - 3)
  

Optional GSD modules (30 CATS in total)

• Option(s) from within the GSD Department (30 CATS in total)

Optional modules with a GSD focus (60 CATS in total)

• Any approved modules with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University (60 CATS)

Your university experience could be a truly global one by studying overseas. You can access study abroad opportunities via two routes:

1. Study abroad in terms 2 and 3 of your second year

Read the transcript for this video.

You could spend terms 2 and 3 of your second year studying abroad at our Department's partner institution, Monash University, home to the world-leading Monash Sustainable Development Institute. Our integrated programme is specifically structured so you can spend time abroad without having to extend the overall length of your course. Your academic achievements abroad will count towards your degree awarded by Warwick, meaning your studies will be both rewarding and rewarded! You will continue to pay your course fees in full to Warwick and you will also continue to receive your student loan, if eligible.

2. Year-long study abroad

You may, alternatively, choose to spend an intercalated year at one of Warwick's many other partner institutions across the world. You'll spend your first and second years at Warwick, studying abroad in your third year. You'll then return to Warwick for your final year. Your year abroad won't count towards your final mark, but it will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Report, giving you the freedom to take chances with your module choice and push yourself outside of your comfort zone with your learning. Please see here for more information about the intercalated study abroad opportunity.

Find out more about your options for studying abroad.

In the GSD Department, we have a dedicated Employability and Placement Manager who’ll provide you with one-to-one careers guidance. They work in collaboration with employers, so you’ll be supported in securing appropriate work placements. You’ll have access to specialist pre-placement advice, guidance and preparation, as well as on-going support during your placement.

As a GSD graduate, you have a wide range of career pathways that are available to you. This is demonstrated by the variety of work placements that our students have completed with employers from different sectors.

Our students have been successful in securing work placements with employers from the private, public, and third sectors. This includes:

• Research Institutions
• Governmental Bodies
• Non-Governmental Organisations
• Intelligence Agencies
• Housing
• Sustainable Consultancies
• Finance

Our students have undertaken diverse roles such as:

• Marketing Assistant
• Sustainability Officer
• Intelligence Analyst
• Researchers
• Teaching
• Human Resources

You will learn valuable transferable skills that will help you with your employment prospects including:

• Analysing and problem solving: Through your study of economic principles and models, you’ll learn how to extract the essential features of complex systems, providing useable frameworks for evaluation
• Critical thinking: Assess arguments, make judgements, formulate reasoned debates and generate feasible solutions
• Communication: Develop advanced communication skills that enable you to communicate with a variety of audiences and in different settings
• Research: An integrated programme of research skills training, teaching you how to source, evaluate and use different forms of information and data
• Organisation: Through a rigorous assessment schedule and a compulsory dissertation module in your final year, you’ll learn the essentials of time management, prioritisation and how to be well organised
• Collaboration: You’ll have plenty of opportunities to work with others and nurture your emotional intelligence, developing a professional attitude

• Economic Studies and Global Sustainable Devement
• Education Studies and Global Sustainable Development
• Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies
• Hispanic Studies and Global Sustainable Development
• History and Global Sustainable Development
• Life Sciences and Global Sustainable Development
• Philosophy and Global Sustainable Development
• Politics, International Studies and Global Sustainable Development
• Psychology and Global Sustainable Development
• Sociology and Global Sustainable Development
• Theatre and Performance Studies and Global Sustainable Development