Global Sustainable Development Single Honours

Bachelor of Arts & Science (BASc)
Three year full-time programme
Transdisciplinary Single Honours Degree
Study abroad or work placement opportunities
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?
Our Single Honours BASc in Global Sustainable Development offers you a unique interdisciplinary education in the Big Questions of our time. This course is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. It offers you flexibility, varied assessment methods, and practical outputs from your studies, preparing you with a diverse skill set for pursuing a range of career pathways. You will be encountering problems surrounding food, water and energy security, biodiversity loss, gender equality, climate change, sustainable economic growth, and international governance. As you undertake your studies, we will provide you with the necessary support and tools to be able to understand, and perhaps even fix, today's important issues.

If your outlook is wider than one academic discipline and you have the passion to explore and understand problems from a variety of perspectives, then you are ideally placed to benefit from our style of teaching and learning. Our flexible BASc GSD course offers you a unique interdisciplinary and international learning experience, in which you examine in depth the economic, social, environmental, and governmental factors that shape our understanding of Global Sustainable Development.
Using a range of methods of enquiry from the social sciences, humanities, and sciences, you will explore a number of Big Problems such as food security and inequality. You will also engage with the concepts of social justice, ethics and wellbeing, to assess how they relate to ecological factors. Practical activities are at the heart of the way in which issues are examined, so there will be a number of opportunities to work with your peers, collaborating, debating, and researching practical solutions.
Your interdisciplinary skill set will be developed throughout the BASc degree programme, enabling you to pursue a diverse array of career pathways, including those directly relating to environmental sustainability and socio-economic development.
First Year
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, Terms 2 and 3)
Core optional modules (60 CATS in total)
- Any approved module(s) with a global sustainable development focus, offered by any department, within or outside the School for Cross-faculty Studies (60 CATS)
Certificates
- Certificate of Digital Literacy (Term 1)
- Certificate of Sustainability (Terms 2 and 3)
- Certificate of Professional Communication with Work Placement
The work placement is completed over four weeks, but can be longer (Term 3)
Second Year
(integrated year with Terms 2 and 3 spent abroad)
Optional core modules (30 CATS in total)
A choice of two modules from the following:
- Health and Sustainable Development (GD204) (15 CATS, Term 1)
- Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System (GD304) (15 CATS, Term 1)
- Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All (GD303) (15 CATS, Term 1)
Optional modules (30 CATS in total)
- Any approved module(s) with a global sustainable development focus, offered by any department, within or outside of the School for Cross-faculty Studies (30 CATS, Term 1)
Study Abroad
- Terms 2 and 3 are spent abroad, where relevant courses are taught by one of Warwick's partner institutions
- Students are required to register on the module Study Abroad Part-Year (GD200) which recognises the period of study abroad
Second Year
(remaining at Warwick)
Optional core modules (60 CATS in total)
A choice of two modules from the following:
- Health and Sustainable Development (GD204) (30 CATS, Terms 1 and 2)
- Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System (GD304) (30 CATS, Terms 1 and 2)
- Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All (30 CATS, Terms 1 and 2)
Optional modules (60 CATS in total)
- Any approved module(s) with a global sustainable development focus, offered by any department, within or outside of the School for Cross-faculty Studies
(60 CATS, Terms 1 and 2)
Certificates
- Certificate of Coaching Practice (Term 2)
- Certificate of Professional Communication with Work Placement
The work placement completed over four weeks, but can be longer (Term 3)
Final Year
Core modules (30 CATS in total)
- Dissertation (GD307) (30 CATS, Terms 1, 2 and 3)
Optional GSD modules (30 CATS in total)
- Option(s) from within the Global Sustainable Development Division (30 CATS in total)
Optional GSD focused modules (60 CATS in total)
- Any approved module(s) with a global sustainable development focus, offered by any department including from within the Global Sustainable Development Division (60 CATS)
Explore the full list of modules you might study:

A Global Sustainable Development programme offers you the opportunity for a truly global outlook. You could spend Terms 2 and 3 of your Second Year studying at the University of Warwick's partner institution, Monash University, either in Melbourne, Australia or their campus just outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You may, alternatively, spend an intercalated year at one of Warwick's many other partner institutions across the world. More information
Studying at Monash University
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Our integrated programme (Terms 2 and 3) is specifically structured so you can spend time abroad, without having to extend the overall length of your undergraduate course.
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Study at Monash University, home to the Sustainable Development Institute, a world-leading centre for multi-disciplinary research into sustainability.
- Your academic achievements at Monash will be accredited and transferred to your overall degree classification awarded at Warwick.
- Immerse yourself in the culture of one of the Pacific's most vibrant cities, Melbourne or Kuala Lumpur, and gain invaluable personal experience from living and studying abroad.
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Course fees continue to be paid in full to Warwick. You will continue to receive your student loan, if eligible. For further details regarding study abroad fees and support available, see here.
Warwick is a world of possibility, and it is up to you as to what opportunities you take. Our students gain a broad range of interests and commitments during their time studying at the University. Each experience can greatly benefit your future career, and all experiences can be beneficial when it comes to applying for volunteer work, internships, or a paid position. Here are just some of the opportunities you might encounter during your time at Warwick:
- Societies - Join one of Warwick's 250+ Student societies. Societies provide you with access to an incredible network of diverse students, and are the hub of campus life. Taking up a position on a society's executive committee also provides an invaluable opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills, highly desired by employers. You might even want to join the Global Sustainable Development Society
- Sports - Grow new talents and push your limits by joining one of campus' outstanding Sports Clubs. Opened in April 2019, you now have access to Warwick's world-class Sports and Wellness Hub, one of the largest in the United Kingdom.
- Volunteer - Make a difference in your community and sign up with Warwick Volunteers. Other opportunities you might want to consider include Warwick In Africa, and the Laksh Project. Many departments also offer dedicated outreach programmes.
- Research - Diversify your knowledge and gain invaluable research experience through one of our undergraduate funds: Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning, Undergraduate Research Support Scheme (URSS) and the Lord Rootes Memorial Fund. You could even present your research at the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR) or the International Conference of Undergraduate Research (ICUR).
- Work - Find part-time employment with UniTemps, Warwick Summer Internships, and Warwick Students' Union. Many students also take the chance to search for work in Coventry, Leamington Spa, Warwick, and surrounding areas of the University. Warwick's Careers Service offer comprehensive support for writing CVs and Cover Letters. We also have a dedicated Placement Officer within the division, responsible for supporting students in developing their employability skills.
Our current Global Sustainable Development students have expressed interest in the following job sectors. We recommend you explore this list, but bear in mind that your GSD Degree provides you with a unique skill set that prepares you in an ideal way for taking on a wide array of jobs after you graduate.
- Sustainability - green energy; environmental consultancy; conservation; sustainable transport; sustainable fashion; food and beverage industry; big businesses and banking; marketing; creative design and innovation; start ups; research and academia.
- International Development - Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), charities, and Think Tanks often employ fundraising officers, project managers, logistics, communications and PR, researchers, caseworkers, and overseas fieldwork positions.
- Social Justice and Humanitarian Aid - NGOs, charities, Think Tanks, and pressure groups are major employers in this sector. Key areas include law, advocacy, campaigning, policy specialists, engineers, marketing, communications and PR, caseworkers, administration, overseas fieldwork, journalism and media.
- Government and Politics - Civil Service (the Treasury, Foreign Office and Department for International Development run Graduate Schemes, alongside the wider Civil Service Graduate Scheme), Think Tanks, local government, political risk, journalism and media, academia and research.
- Supranational Institutions - United Nations, European Union, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Health Organisation, Commonwealth Secretariat.
- Health Care and Psychology - pharmaceuticals, research and academia, behavioural economics, marketing, sustainability innovations in NHS.
This list is far from comprehensive. You may also want to bear in mind that as the world's economy, climate, and political systems change, so too will the jobs associated with it.
Essential Information
Entry Requirements
A level: AAA, plus a minimum grade B in GCSE English and GCSE Mathematics
IB: 38 points including English and Mathematics (at Higher Level or Standard Level 5)
Applicants must satisfy the University's General Entrance Requirements.
There are no specified A-level subjects, however, General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted for this course of study.
We will consider applicants presenting the Access to HE Diploma (QAA recognised), including appropriate subjects with distinction grades in level 3 units.
We welcome applicants with other internationally recognised qualifications. Please see UK Equivalent Scores and WIFP.
UCAS Code
L8A1
Second Personal Statement
After initial UCAS application, see here for further details.
Course Duration
Three years full-time study.
CATS
An Honours Degree requires a minimum of 360 CATS during the course, comprising 120 CATS per year.
Award
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BASc) in Global Sustainable Development
Location
University of Warwick, Coventry
Tuition Fees
More Information
Study Abroad
Integrated (Term 2 & 3 of Year Two) or Intercalated (year-long) options available. More Information
Other Course Costs
There may be costs associated with other items or services such as academic texts, course notes, and trips associated with your course.
For further information on the typical additional costs please see the Additional Costs page.