Design for Sustainability (MASc)

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) from a range of academic disciplines. This course would be particularly suitable for graduates with background in design, creative, engineering, environmental, ecological and sustainability sciences, keen to apply their skills within the context of design and engineering.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

• Band A
• IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

References

We typically ask for an academic reference if you have studied in higher education within the last two years or a professional reference if you graduated more than two years ago.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you. 

Please refer to the WMG department pages for more detailed information on references. Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

Candidates with professional experience should include their CV with their application.

Core modules

Core modules are required modules that all students will complete whilst on this programme. This course covers a comprehensive range of topics designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in the field.

For Design for Sustainability (DfS) your core modules are:

Find out more and read the module descriptions for this course on WMG's websiteLink opens in a new window.

Teaching

This course has two components – a taught component accounting for two-thirds of your time and effort, and a research component accounting for one-third.

For the taught component, we blend synchronous and asynchronous lectures and seminars, with syndicate exercises, simulations, design sprints, workshops, studio-based teaching, personal reflective practices, and case studies. The majority of modules are taught in small classes to facilitate and encourage interaction. Others practice large-scale lectures, which are then supported by small class seminar and group activities.

Our module leaders have extensive industry experience. Guest speakers from industry also contribute regularly, bringing real-world insight into your learning experience.

In addition to your taught modules, you will undertake a major project as part of your Master's degree. This is nominally 600 hours (60 CATS points) of learning, mainly taking place during the Spring and Summer terms. You will be expected to engage regularly with your Project Supervisor and to provide progress updates and drafts of your work to an agreed schedule.

Class sizes

Overall, this course can accommodate 30-40 students, divided into smaller teaching groups for workshop and studio sessions.

Typical contact hours

Module delivery patterns vary, but most will be delivered in a short learning block of up to 4 weeks, allowing your focus to be on one module at a time. Each module nominally accounts for 150 hours, which includes scheduled classroom time and online sessions as well as your independent study and assessments.

Assessment

The course uses a variety of assessment methods across modules. These may include reports (both topic-based and reflective), individual and group presentations and discussions, design artefacts, critical evaluation or commentary pieces, case-study exercises, simulation reports, CRITS (critical reviews), design portfolios, and business or consultancy reports.

Assessments have been designed not only to assess your achievement in meeting the course learning outcomes in an academically sound manner, but also contribute to preparing you with the requisite competencies required for employment.

Reading lists 

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform. 

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.  

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department. 

Your timetable

Core modules will be allocated to students at the end of the first week of term - you will then be able to view your individual module schedule for the rest of the year via the WMG module selection system.

Modules will include scheduled classroom time and online sessions as well as your independent study and assessments, and will usually be delivered within a 4 week timeframe. Occasional classes and study skills sessions may be held at weekends or in the evenings.

As a Master's student, you are expected to manage your own time appropriately. On average, you are expected to commit 38-40 hours of study each week, in order to successfully achieve your Master’s degree.

This is a full-time postgraduate course - undergraduate term dates do not apply. Whilst there are no holidays as such, there will be no teaching scheduled when the University is officially closed for staff, during the two weeks over Christmas and New Year.

Your career

As a Design for Sustainability graduate, you will have developed a key set of valuable skills enabling you to design and implement sustainable products, services, and systems, work effectively with diverse stakeholders, and lead change within industries and communities toward more responsible and regenerative futures.

Graduates will be equipped to pursue careers in both established industries and emerging sectors driving sustainable transformation. You will be well-prepared to work across a wide range of contexts, from start-ups and large corporations to NGOs, government agencies, consultancies, research institutes, and educational organisations, all with a focus on sustainability and innovation.

 
Helping you find the right career

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
• WMG Future Fest
• Options in Engineering sector event
• Careers for Experienced Hires
• Careers in Cyber Security
• Careers in Healthcare
• Careers in Project Management

WMG at Warwick

As one of the largest departments at Warwick, WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group), is a multidisciplinary department delivering a unique combination of world-class education with real business and industry application.

Our industry relevant management and technical education, and highly impactful applied research, have positioned WMG as a leading international role model for successful partnership between academia and industry. Having forged strong links with local, national, and global companies through 45 years of collaborative research and development, we really understand the global market you’ll be operating in and have designed our programmes to match.

Our expansive expertise includes artificial intelligence, automation systems, cyber security, data science, engineering management, design, supply chains, healthcare systems, sustainability, energy applications, materials, manufacturing, and visualisation to name but a few.

Find out more about our full-time Master's coursesLink opens in a new window, find out more about our part-time programmesLink opens in a new window, and learn more about the WMG department.Link opens in a new window

Our courses

• Applied Artificial Intelligence (MSc)
• Cyber Security Engineering (MSc)
• Cyber Security Management (MSc)
• Design for Sustainability (MASc)
• e-Business Management (MSc)
• Engineering Business Management (MSc)
• Engineering Design Management (MSc)
• Games Engineering (MSc)
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MSc)
• International Trade, Strategy and Operations (MSc)
• Management for Business Excellence (MSc)
• Programme and Project Management (MSc)
• Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (MSc)
• Supply Chain and Logistics Management (MSc)
• Sustainable Automotive Electrification (MSc)

Our part-time courses for working professionals

• Engineering Business Leadership (MSc)

Our Postgraduate Research degrees

• Engineering (MPhil/PhD)
• Engineering Doctorate (EngD)
• MSc by Research (WMG) (MSc)

Visiting WMG

There are a number of different ways to visit University of Warwick throughout the year. We host bespoke PG visits, where you can talk directly with your chosen department and explore our campus through a personalised tour. WMG also organises events and information sessions for prospective students including 1-1 bookable appointments, departmental open days, and independent visits so you can connect directly with the departmentLink opens in a new window and speak with staff and students from WMG. For more about university wide open days and tours, visit our Postgraduate Visits page.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, examinations and assessment and some student amenities.

Find your course fees  

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2025/26 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits *
• Dissertation binding *
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

*Dissertations and Assignments are only submitted digitally. However students may wish to print and bind their dissertation for their own purposes. Students on some courses will have a final poster presentation as part of their project and the printing of posters may be at the students’ expense.

Scholarships and funding