The title of your degree will be the same as the title of the course which you applied for through UCAS.

Single honours:

• BASc Global Sustainable Development

Joint honours:

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

BASc stands for Bachelor of Arts and Sciences. Unlike most degree courses at UK institutions, our GSD degrees do not focus primarily on Arts or Sciences. Each of our courses takes a transdisciplinary approach. You will examine global sustainability issues and development from different disciplines (or subjects).

On our single honours degree you will spend most of your time learning with the GSD Department.

On one of our joint honours degrees you will combine your core GSD modules with modules from one of our partner departments. Teaching is equally split between the GSD Department and your partner department.

Transdisciplinary approach

The world faces unprecedented challenges with widespread human and ecological ramifications. The consequences of which will occur across social equity, individual wellbeing, cultural cohesion, migration, governance, environmental change, and the production, distribution and use of food, material and resources. These challenges are interconnected and cannot be solved in isolation. All of our degrees offer a transdisciplinary approach which will allow you to confront issues from a diverse array of perspectives in order to identify innovative solutions.

Expert academics

Our staff are expert academics and researchers drawn from a variety of disciplines across the humanities, social sciences and scientific fields, including politics, economics, history, sociology and many other fields of enquiry. All are passionate about defining, investigating and exploring solutions to those issues which are of vital importance to the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of society.

Institute for Global Sustainable Development

The School for Cross-faculty Studies is home to Warwick’s Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD). IGSD directs the Leverhulme Trust Postgraduate Scholarship Programme 'Transformations of Human-Environment Interactions to Sustainable Development'.

IGSD provides a focal point for Warwick’s sustainable development research, contributing towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but still challenging of them. IGSD’s vision is to be at the forefront of knowledge creation, enabling transformations towards a more sustainable, prosperous, healthier and just world for all. It undertakes innovative transdisciplinary research to tackle global challenges and enable changes in human-environment interactions.

By establishing equitable partnerships with researchers and non-scientific stakeholders across the Global North and the Global South, IGSD works on challenge-led research projects that cross disciplinary boundaries, and achieve impact towards the SDGs.

Unique study abroad programme

We will support you if you want to extend your learning and broaden your perspective by studying overseas. You will have the unique opportunity to spend part of your second year studying abroad at our partner institution, Monash University, home to the Monash Sustainable Development Institute.

Find out more about studying abroad.

Professional development skills

Employers need graduates who can consider global challenges from different perspectives, understand their complexity and competently contribute potential solutions using a variety of approaches. Our courses address this need by equipping you to work and live in a way that safeguards environmental, social and economic wellbeing in the present and for future generations, and by giving you the skills, knowledge and understanding to enable you to contribute to and lead on international debates at the highest levels on the world’s stage.

Find out more about professional development.

Year One

All students study four core GSD modules.

If you are a single honours student, the rest of your first year will consist of optional modules with a global sustainable development focus from within the GSD Department or from other departments.

If you are a joint honours student, the rest of your first year will consist of core and/or optional modules in your partner department.

Year Two

If you are a single honours student, you will study two optional core GSD modules. The other half of your second year will consist of optional modules with a global sustainable development focus from within the GSD Department or from other departments.

If you are a joint honours student, you will study an optional core GSD module, optional module(s) with a global sustainable development focus from within the GSD Department or from other departments, and core and/or optional modules in your partner department.

Final Year

All students take one core GSD module, the dissertation/long project.

If you are a single honours student, the rest of your final year will consist of optional modules with a global sustainable development focus from within the GSD Department or from other departments around the University.

If you are a joint honours student, the rest of your final year will consist of optional modules with a global sustainable development focus from within the GSD Department or from other departments around the University. You will also study core and/or optional modules in your partner department.

In the GSD Department, you will attend lectures and take part in seminars, workshops and tutorials. You will collaborate with other students on topical problems that pose significant sustainable development questions. You will undertake fieldwork, archival research and engage in peer discussion to propose alternative solutions.

Teaching is equally split between the GSD Department and the partner department.

If you are a joint honours student, in your GSD modules we will actively encourage you to share knowledge from your partner department. For example, in the first-year GSD Project we have previously created groups with a mix of joint honours students in order to have different perspectives investigating the problem of sustainable transport.

A lecture is usually given to all students on a module. This is where the key content is presented to you by a lecturer. You will usually then be given work or reading related to your lecture, in preparation for a smaller teaching group such as a seminar/workshop.

A seminar/workshop is a smaller group where teaching is more interactive. You will discuss and debate ideas based on the lecture and your work/readings.

Your contact hours will depend on the course you choose to study, and the optional modules which you select from those available.

Each module has a set minimum number of timetabled hours that you will be expected to attend, but these differ depending upon the way in which each module has been designed.

In each year, you will take core GSD modules and each of which typically involves attendance at a 1 hour lecture per week plus a seminar or workshop lasting for 1.5 hours per week. The amount of contact time may be higher than that, depending on how many of the optional certificates you intend to do.

In your first year, you will take four core GSD modules (two per term), so you can expect to be required to attend formal timetabled sessions for approximately four hours per week for your GSD modules. This represents half of your workload.

If you are a single honours student, the other half of your workload for your first year will consist of your optional module choices. Your contact hours will depend on which optional modules you choose.

If you are a joint honours student, the other half of your workload for your first year will consist of modules in your partner department, which may involve more or less formal teaching time per week than our core GSD modules. You can find information about minimum number of timetabled hours for these modules on the partner department’s website.

Warwick has a range of study facilities and areas for private and group study work. Study spaces include, but are not limited to:

• The Library
• The Learning Grid, University House
• The Learning Grid, Rootes
• The Learning Grid, Leamington
• IATL spaces

We also have our own common room in the GSD Department where our students can meet for group work.

Since March 2020, we have been hosting a virtual GSD common room. This is a group on Microsoft Teams that includes all GSD students and staff, designed to offer academic and pastoral support during the challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yes. Your course will involve practical components of how sustainable development is practiced in the world around us, such as writing policy papers and delivering presentations. You will also have the opportunity to work on local sustainable development issues and attend field trips.

Beyond the classroom, the Warwick community is highly engaged in innovating and acting for a more sustainable campus. There is an array of student societies with a sustainable development focus for you to join, including food waste and climate campaign organisations. You may also apply for research bursaries to conduct your own individual research into sustainable development. Find out more about the opportunities available to practice sustainable development on campus and beyond.

Our department is committed to undertaking in depth research and developing concrete proposals to better manage the development process. Here, our students learn as they are guided by our academics through collaborative and often personalised research, right from their first year.

In the classroom

Many of our modules are research-based, designed to help you develop your research skills. For example:

• GSD Project: This first-year core module is an innovative and practical module designed to give you crucial research and analysis skills linked to the important issue of sustainable transport. Working independently and in a team, you will carry out research that will advance your understanding of real-life application of theories you will have studied in your other first-year core modules.
• Environmental Principles of GSD: Throughout this module, you will undertake academically rigorous research into environmental problems to produce policy and practice relevant proposals.
• Dissertation: This final-year core module will give you the opportunity to undertake research to explore an issue of your choosing. This will be a problem that concerns you most and which you would like to tackle. Supported by an academic supervisor, you will take a transdisciplinary approach to your investigation to produce an original research output.

Beyond the classroom

Our students have been involved in a whole range of research activities beyond the classroom, including presenting their work at the British Conference of Undergraduate Research and the International Conference of Undergraduate Research, and completing research projects through the Undergraduate Research Support Scheme.

Read more about student research in GSD here.

In GSD we pride ourselves on having a wide variety of assessment types.

Our assessment methods are designed to prepare you to be effective and successful contributors in the world of work or further education. Traditional assessment methods are useful tools for testing your knowledge, and you will complete essays and examinations throughout your degree. However, we also believe that you should be assessed based on skills adaptable for the workplace. You will complete alternative assessment methods such as research papers, policy briefings, posters, portfolios, reports, and presentations.

You will also be expected to present your work in a public forum such as the British Conference of Undergraduate Research or the International Conference of Undergraduate Research. You will contribute to group projects and deliver extended pieces of writing (for the final-year Dissertation) as well as sit mid and end of year short tests and traditional end of year written examinations.

Please see our modules list to find out more about how our modules are assessed. You can also see examples of policy pitches and briefings produced by our students here.

GSD core modules

Year One

Year Two

(Optional core modules)

Please see:

• Health and Sustainable Development
• Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All
• Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System

If you choose to spend part of your second year studying abroad, the ratio of exams to coursework will be affected by your choice of courses from those available at Monash University.

Final Year

• Dissertation/Long Project: 100% coursework

Joint honours modules

Please note, assessment methods will vary depending on your joint honours course of choice. You can find a full list of joint honours courses available here, where you can view a breakdown of individual course structures. Assessment criteria is subject to change annually.

Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies

For your Business modules, the ratio of exams to coursework will vary according to the module(s) you choose from Warwick Business School in each year of your degree.

Economic Studies and Global Sustainable Development

In the first year, the core Economics module is 70% assessed by examination. You then have a choice of other Economics modules which have different assessment patterns, so the ratio of exams to coursework will vary according to which modules you choose.

In the second year, the core Economics module has an exam worth 60% of the module. You will also choose from two optional core Economics modules and each has an exam worth 60% of the module’s assessment.

In the final year, there are two core Economics modules with exams worth 70% and 80% respectively. You then have a choice of other Economics modules which have different assessment patterns, so the ratio will vary according to which modules you choose.

Education Studies and Global Sustainable Development

For your Education Studies modules, in your first year the core modules are 100% assessed by coursework.

In your second year, you will select two modules from a choice of three optional core Education Studies modules. All three are assessed by coursework. You then have a choice of other modules offered by any department in the University which have an Education Studies focus, so the ratio of exams to coursework will vary according to which modules you choose.

In your final year, you will have a choice of modules offered by any department in the University which have an Education Studies focus, so the ratio of exams to coursework will vary according to which modules you choose.

Hispanic Studies and Global Sustainable Development

For your Hispanic Studies modules, in your first year you will select two modules from a choice of several optional core Hispanic Studies modules. These optional core modules have varying assessment methods, so the ratio of exams to coursework depends upon your module choices.

In your second year, you will select one module from a choice of two optional core Hispanic Studies modules with exams worth 70% and 80% respectively. You then have a choice of other Hispanic Studies modules which have different assessment patterns, so the ratio will vary according to which modules you choose.

In your final year, the core Hispanic Studies module is assessed 100% by examination. You then have a choice of other Hispanic Studies modules which have varying assessment methods, so the ratio of exams to coursework depends upon your module choices.

History and Global Sustainable Development

For your History modules, in your first year there is one core module which is currently 100% assessed by coursework, including essays, a group presentation, and a project.

In your second and final years, there are no core History modules and you are able to choose options from a range of modules offered by the History Department with varying assessment methods, so the ratio of exams to coursework depends upon your module choices.

Life Sciences and Global Sustainable Development

For your Life Sciences modules, in your first year there are no formal exams for the core Life Sciences modules. The optional core Life Sciences modules are currently 100% assessed by examination.

In the second and final years, assessment methods will depend on your chosen route.

Philosophy and Global Sustainable Development

For your Philosophy modules, in your first year the core module is 100% assessed by coursework. You then have a choice of optional Philosophy modules which have different assessment patterns, so the overall ratio of exams to coursework will vary according to which modules you select.

This is also the case for the second and final years of the course as you have a choice of optional Philosophy modules available to you, so you can choose modules with assessments suited to your own strengths.

Politics and International Studies and Global Sustainable Development

For your Politics and International Studies modules, in your first year the two core modules are assessed 60% by examination.

In both the second and final years of your course, you have a choice of assessment patterns to choose from for the core Politics and International Studies modules and a choice of other optional modules with varying assessment patterns, so the ratio of exams to coursework will depend upon your choices.

Psychology and Global Sustainable Development

For your Psychology modules, in your first year the ratio is either 60% exam to 40% coursework or 80% exam to 20% coursework, depending on your chosen modules.

In your second year, the ratio of exam to coursework depends upon which combination of optional core Psychology modules you choose. All optional core Psychology modules have an examined element.

In your final year, the proportion of exams to coursework depends upon your choice of optional Psychology modules.

Sociology and Global Sustainable Development

For your Sociology modules, in your first year the core modules are 100% assessed by coursework.

In your second year, there are no exams for the core or optional core Sociology modules.

In your final year, the proportion of exams to coursework depends upon your choice of optional Sociology modules.

Theatre and Performance Studies and Global Sustainable Development

For your Theatre and Performance Studies modules, in your first year both of the core modules are 100% assessed by coursework.

In your second and final years of the course, you have a choice of optional Theatre and Performance Studies modules with varying assessment methods, so you can choose modules with assessments suited to your own strengths.

Yes. Some of the GSD core modules require you to sit an exam as well as complete other types of assignments such as written essays, project portfolios, and group presentations.

If you are considering doing one of our joint honours degrees, the assessment methods in your partner department may also require you to sit exams.

Throughout your degree, you will spend time studying core modules in GSD alongside other GSD students. In these modules, you will have the opportunity to examine a range of local, national and global problems which pose issues of sustainability. You will examine these questions from the economic, social and environmental perspectives. Experts in those fields will teach you the methods and techniques which they employ to investigate these questions. You will learn how to evaluate the evidence obtained, draw conclusions from it, make critical judgements and develop solutions.

Year One

The core modules will teach you the principles of sustainable development as identified by the United Nations (UN). You will also have the opportunity to see how the principles apply to a real case affecting a local community through a research project. The research you will undertake won’t just be desk-based. You will be out in the local community speaking to people and using research techniques employed by the professionals.

Year Two

In the optional core modules, you are able to start investigating the big problems that concern you as an aspiring global citizen, with the knowledge to execute meaningful interventions. You will choose from three modules focusing on food, health, or inequalities – these are complex topics affecting societies across the world which the UN has pledged to address. You will learn and use a range of methods from the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to delve into the relationships between each and the challenge of sustainable development.

Final Year

You will have the opportunity to bring together everything that you have learned about GSD in a dissertation by presenting your knowledge, ideas and conclusions on an issue or question which is of particular concern or interest to you – a problem that you want to address. You will be supported in your research activity by supervisors with expertise on your chosen topic.

Hear from GSD graduate, Rhys, about his research into student mental health for his dissertation.

Taking optional modules from other departments depends on the course you wish to apply to. Our single honours course is very flexible and you will be able to take modules from other departments. See the structure of our single honours degree.

As a joint honours student, in your first year you will only take modules from GSD and your partner department. In your second and final years, you will have some flexibility to select optional modules with a global sustainable development focus from within GSD or other departments. See the structures of our joint honours degrees.

You can find a list of optional modules offered by the GSD Department here. If you would like to explore optional modules from other departments, please see the University’s module catalogue.

Please keep in mind that for both single honours and joint honours students, the optional modules you choose in the GSD part of your degree should have a global sustainable development focus.

You will choose your optional modules in Welcome Week. You will be supported by your personal tutor (a staff member who supports your academic progress). Our Director of Student Experience will also be available to help you choose your optional modules.

For all Warwick students there are some restrictions and it may not always be possible to get every first-choice module. For example, some optional modules will require you to have studied another module first. In addition, some modules have limited capacity or are reserved for specific degree programmes. However, we will work with you to help you select optional modules that are in line with your interests.

If you are considering our single honours degree, you will be eligible to take modules at Warwick’s Language Centre when selecting your optional modules.

If you are considering one of our joint honours degrees, the structure of our joint honours programmes requires you to split your study equally between your core GSD modules and modules in your partner department. Therefore, there is no space for a language module to be taken as part of your degree (unless, exceptionally, you are given special permission by your tutors to take a particular language that is related to your joint degree discipline or focus of GSD study, or, if you are studying Hispanic Studies and GSD). If you decide that you want to learn a language while studying one of our joint honours degrees, this will need to be separate to your degree and you can do so by paying a fee.

For further information about studying a language module, please see The Language Centre’s FAQs page.

The Language Centre's modules are offered at a range of levels from beginners to advanced, depending on the language. There are accelerated options for those who wish to develop their language skills at a faster pace.

Our Director of Student Experience in GSD is a dedicated support resource who is there to work with you and to work for you from the start of your first year. We recognise you will be making a big change in your life as you become part of our exciting community of students and academics. We have several structured systems, processes and spaces in place to provide you with that all-important extra support as you make the transition to life at university. This includes having your own personal tutor to meet with regularly. Additionally, as the Senior Personal Tutors who oversee the personal tutorial system, you can also request to meet with one of the Director of Student Experience to discuss any aspects of your studies.

Furthermore, any first-year student enrolled on a GSD degree can request the support of a second- or third-year GSD student mentor. Mentors are specially selected, trained, and are current students who can provide guidance and advice within a limited scope of activities.

"When a person moves to a new country the experience, despite much preparation beforehand, can feel overwhelming. Whether an individual moves to a country with the same first language or not, the process of assimilating the new culture can be a time of great emotional turbulence. This can apply to international students and it is helpful to realise that it is quite normal to feel this way." (Warwick Wellbeing Services, Self-Help Resource, Culture shock)

Your personal tutor and our Director of Student Experience in GSD will be here to support you as you learn to live and work in our community. We will also encourage you to join student societies and sports clubs, where you may find people from your country or background.

If the challenges you may experience in adjusting to a new culture impacts your overall wellbeing in any way, we will be able to refer you to Warwick’s Wellbeing Support Services for professional help and guidance.

At Warwick, Disability Services are part of our Wellbeing Support Services. Our Disability Services are designed to assist with academic adjustments, as well as provide emotional support and promote wellbeing.

You will be able to book an appointment with the Disability Services team to discuss how best they can help you. For example, they will be able to advise on available funding for support, such as the Disabled Student’s Allowance.

Read the University's Disability, Mental Health and Inclusion Policy to find out about Warwick's commitment to creating an inclusive environment for staff and students with disabilities.

You may also be interested in:

• University Disability Policy for Students and Staff
• Information for Parents

No it is not, however, in GSD we certainly encourage students to consider our study abroad options - in particular, our unique integrated programmes with Monash and Universitat Pompeu Fabra - and students who have studied abroad have found it extremely beneficial.

If you are considering a year-long study abroad placement: you are automatically enrolled on a three-year course, and we will transfer you to the four-year course once your application to the partner institution is finalised.

All of our GSD courses offer two options for studying abroad:

1. Integrated year abroad: Spend terms 2 and 3 of your second year studying at Monash University (either in Australia or Malaysia) or Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Your time at Monash or Universitat Pompeu Fabra will be part of your degree, so you will graduate in three years. You will therefore gain the benefits of studying abroad without extending the length of your course. The grades that you achieve at Monash or Universitat Pompeu Fabra will count towards your degree awarded by Warwick. This is a unique opportunity exclusively available to you as a GSD student. Find out more.
2. Intercalated year abroad:You can choose to spend a year at one of Warwick’s partner institutions. These destinations are subject to annual confirmation and availability. You will spend your first and second years at Warwick, studying abroad in your third year. You will then return to Warwick for your final year. Your year abroad will not count towards your overall final mark (but it will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Report). Find out more.

The integrated year abroad does not extend the length of your degree, so you will graduate in three years. You will spend time abroad in your second year, during terms 2 and 3. The work you complete during your time abroad will count towards your degree awarded by Warwick.

The intercalated year abroad extends the length of your degree by one year, so you will graduate in four years. Your year abroad will not count towards your overall final mark (but it will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Report).

It is technically possible for you to do both, but our advice is that you discuss this as soon as possible with the GSD Study Abroad Coordinator when you arrive at Warwick. We will need to discuss with you whether studying abroad during part of your second year and for your third year is the right option for you. This decision should not be taken lightly and it’s important that you speak to us when you start at Warwick to ensure that you understand the complexities of undertaking both study abroad programmes.

You will not need to decide about studying abroad or enrol onto a year abroad before you arrive at Warwick.

Information about studying abroad is provided once you arrive. In your first year, you will receive information about the integrated programmes at Monash and Universitat Pompeu Fabra. In Term 1 of your second year (when possible destinations are confirmed), you will be asked to express your interest in one of the intercalated study abroad programmes.

Yes. The GSD Department will have to nominate you and will base this decision on the strength of your expression of interest and your academic performance in your first year. Once you have been nominated, your selected partner university will send you the relevant application form to fill in, which sometimes includes a statement and a reference letter. More information about the process will be provided to you nearer the time.

Integrated study abroad at Monash or Universitat Pompeu Fabra

The GSD Department needs to support your application (we usually collect expressions of interest forms in your first year). You will apply to Monash or Universitat Pompeu Fabra through their processes (typically in Term 1 of your second year).

The eligibility criteria are set by the partner university. We usually recommend students with a 2:1 degree classification to consider taking a study abroad year, and we will also consider your motivation in choosing to study abroad.

Intercalated year abroad at one of Warwick’s partner institutions

The application process starts in Term 1 of your second year. After the GSD Department nominates you, you will apply to the partner institution through their processes (usually in Term 2 of your second year).

For us to support your study abroad ambitions, we would recommend you to be performing academically at the level of a 2:1 degree classification. We will also consider your motivation in choosing to study abroad.

Yes. You will need to arrange a student visa in order to study abroad. It is your responsibility to have a valid passport which will cover the time of your stay abroad, and to acquire a visa in time to travel. All guidance will be provided by the Student Mobility Team.

Integrated study abroad at Monash

You will be able to pick the modules that you are most interested in that Monash University offers. As this is an integrated programme, please note that your module choice must be approved by the GSD Department.

If you are a single honours student, you must continue to study modules related to GSD.

If you are a joint honours student, you must continue to study modules related to GSD and your joint subject discipline.

Intercalated year abroad at one of Warwick’s partner institutions

You are free to study whichever modules offered by the partner institution interest you most if you fulfil the academic requirements set by the partner institution for you to be able to complete your study placement. This is because the modules you take while abroad will not contribute to your final degree grade. Your Study Abroad Coordinator in the GSD Department at Warwick will be able to guide you in your module choices and will need to sign off your final selections.

While you are abroad, your main point of contact in GSD at Warwick will be the Study Abroad Coordinator. Your Warwick personal tutor will also be available to support you throughout your study abroad experience, particularly if you encounter any issues or have any concerns about your progress. Towards the end of the year abroad, you will need to advise us on your choice of modules for your final year of study back at Warwick. You will also be required to maintain regular contact with Warwick staff as part of your compliance with our Student Attendance and Monitoring Scheme.

The partner institution will send you any relevant information and they will support you when making arrangements for your accommodation, but you will still need to apply for it.

The cost will depend on your destination:

Integrated study abroad at Monash or Universitat Pompeu Fabra

You will continue to pay full fees to Warwick for the two terms that you are abroad. Please see our Student Finance website for more information. You will not pay tuition fees to your host institution abroad.

You will be responsible for covering your travel costs and you will need to meet your living costs while you are abroad (as you would have to do if you stayed at Warwick).

The Student Mobility Team will be able to provide further information about fees and finance. For example, you will need to consider the costs of the compulsory student visa and health insurance that is required, whether you are going to Australia or Malaysia, and you may wish to take out travel insurance.

Intercalated study abroad at one of Warwick’s partner institutions

You will pay a reduced fee to Warwick for the year of your intercalated year abroad. Students who are intending to spend either a term or a full-year on a student mobility programme will be charged the standard 15% of the relevant fee as set out in Fees for Year Abroad students.

Please see the Student Mobility study abroad pages for more information. You will not pay any tuition fees to your host institution.

The Student Mobility Team will be able to provide further information about fees and finance. For example, you will need to consider the cost of visas, health insurance, flights, accommodation, and living costs.

At the time of your application, you may find that bursaries are available from a variety of sources. Please speak to the Student Mobility Team for more information.

We offer unique certificates outside of the curriculum as a way of continuing your professional development. These certificates are designed to develop skills identified by employers as being vital for success in the workplace. Your achievement will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Report which you can show to employers.

• New: Carbon Literacy Certificate
• Certificate of Digital Literacy
• Certificate of Coaching Practice
• Certificate of Professional Communication with Work Placement
• Certificate of Sustainability Consultancy (Auditing)

The Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) is an electronic document issued to you at the end of your studies which records all your academic and non-academic achievements at Warwick, as verified by the University. It includes information about achievements such as volunteering and prizes awarded, as well as information about module marks and your degree classification. You can show your HEAR to potential employers to evidence your attainments.

No, it is not compulsory to do a work placement as part of the GSD degrees. If you are studying Education Studies and GSD, you will have the opportunity to select an optional core work placement module in your second year.

We would strongly encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the GSD Team to gain some professional experience during your time at Warwick. This can be obtained either via our bespoke short term placements programme associated with our Certificate of Professional Communication, or through the intercalated year-long work placement which takes place in your third year.

Our dedicated Employability and Placement Manager will guide you through the entire process from sourcing opportunities, applications, interviews, and supporting you while on placement as well as when you return to Warwick.

As part of your degree, you will have the option to take part in short and long work placements which are formally recognised on your Higher Education Achievement Report. The two work placement options are:

Intercalated year-long work placement

You will complete a four-year degree and your work placement will take place in your third year. The work placement can take place in the UK or globally and after completion, you will return to university for your final year.

Short work placement

As part of the Certificate of Professional Communication, you will undertake a short four-week work placement which takes place during the summer.

We also support students to undertake work placements outside of the two options listed above.

For the intercalated year-long work placement you need to pass your second year and the placement needs to meet the minimum requirements (7 months over the academic year).

For the short work placement associated with the Certificate of Professional Communication, the only requirement is that you are either in your first or second year.

Yes. We encourage our students to engage in as many work experience opportunities as possible. This can be outside of the short work placement attached to the Certificate of Professional Communication and the intercalated (year-long) work placement.

As our students have very diverse interests, they have chosen to go on to complete very different types of work placements in the past. Our students have been successful in securing work placements with employers from the private, public, and third sectors. This includes, but is not limited to, research institutions, governmental bodies, NGOs, intelligence agencies, environmental consultancies, and many others. They have undertaken diverse roles such as Marketing Assistant, Sustainability Officer, Human Resource, Intelligence Analyst, and Researchers.

Yes. On campus you will be able to apply for jobs via Warwick’s employment agency, Unitemps. There are also other opportunities for part-time work, such as through Warwick’s Welcome Service and the Students’ Union. You can find out more information about part-time work here.

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

In addition, the University has a Student Opportunity Team which offers a range of services designed to support you as you think about and plan your future. These range from careers advice, employer presentations, careers fairs, skills workshops, all designed to support your professional development.

A degree in GSD from one of the UK’s top universities will set you up for some of the most competitive jobs for employers within the public, private and third sector. Warwick graduates are targeted by employers who value their creativity, the depth of their knowledge and their ability to adapt to the professional demands of the work environment.

In recent years, the demand for graduates with expertise in sustainable development has increased dramatically. Employers from different sectors including transport, conservation, environment, energy, information technology, retail, finance, education, government bodies and think tanks are all seeking graduates who are passionate about sustainability. The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment maintains that:

“Even industries that were not previously aligned with environmental principles are now required to employ environmentally knowledgeable professionals and therefore the profession is on the move, making its way to the centre of organisations’ business plans. That means, more jobs are being created, opening up opportunities for those with an interest in the environment.”

Our GSD courses and professional development certificates have been designed to equip you with a range of transferrable and practical skills that are highly valued by employers within the UK and globally. These include research, analysis, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, organisation and team working.

Studying GSD will maximise your career options. What you decide to do will largely depend on your interests and you will have the opportunity to experience the world of work as well as explore different career paths through a work placement. This will support you in making an informed career choice after you graduate. Careers you may want to pursue include project management, corporate governance, resource management, corporate social responsibility, environmental planning, research, teaching, consultancy and many more.

Our graduates have applied for all sorts of postgraduate programmes, from further study in the area of sustainable development, to ‘subject-specific’ programmes, for example, in the areas of Environmental Policy, Health, and Politics. The transdisciplinary approach of GSD will provide you with a range of skills that you will be able to apply to your preferred area, and you will have the chance to specialise in a specific area through your dissertation.

We have now launched our own postgraduate programmes in GSD. Find out about our MASc and MPhil/PhD programmes.

Tuition fees cover most of the costs of your study, including teaching and assessment. Fees are charged at the start of each academic year. If you pay your fees directly to the University, you can choose to pay in instalments. Find out more about tuition costs.

There may be extra costs related to your course for things such as stationery, books, materials and field trips.

Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship 2022

We believe there should be no barrier to talent. That is why we are committed to offering a scholarship that makes it easier for gifted, ambitious international learners to pursue their academic interests at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. This new scheme will offer international fee-paying students 250 tuition fee discounts ranging from full fees to awards of £13,000 to £2,000 for the full duration of your undergraduate degree. Please see here for more information about the Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship 2022.

Find out about scholarships and bursaries.

Once you have responded to UCAS and placed Warwick as either your Firm or Insurance choice, you will be able to apply for accommodation at Warwick. Please see the University’s accommodation page where they will publish further information about when applications for accommodation will open.

Please visit our Offer Holders pages. There are recommended readings and video interviews on these pages which we think you might be interested in.

We would also recommend, if possible, that you get hold of a good guide to studying. You can find a range of useful books here. This will help you to prepare for the step up from school to university.

It is also a great idea to keep up to date with the news and current affairs. Our students tell us that this helps them with understanding sustainability challenges, and it also helps them draw on real-world examples in seminars.

Stay in touch with us! We are happy to work with you one-to-one to help you think about what you might want to do during your degree. You can email us on: UGGSD@warwick.ac.uk.

If you have a question about GSD or life at Warwick, please send us an email: UGGSD@warwick.ac.uk.

We are also hosting online live chats where you can speak directly to our staff and current students, who will be happy to answer any of your questions about GSD at Warwick. Join us for one of our upcoming live chats.

You can also sign up here to receive email invites to our live chats and other events, such as Open Days.

Our students will be very happy to chat with you during our regular live chats and Open Day events.