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Study Undergraduate

Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies (BASc) (UCAS L8N1)

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General entry requirements

A levels

A level typical offer

AAA. You will also need grade B or grade 6 in English and Mathematics at GCSE.

We make differential offers to students in a number of circumstances at AAB, plus grade B or grade 6 in English and Mathematics at GCSE.

A level contextual offer

We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is AAB. See if you're eligible.

General GCSE requirements

Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept. We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.

You also need to meet the additional requirements listed below.

IB

IB typical offer

38 to include English and Mathematics.

IB contextual offer

We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is 36. If you do not have a grade B in GCSE Mathematics, you will need a grade 5 in Higher Level Mathematics or 6 in Standard Level Mathematics. See if you're eligible.

General GCSE requirements

Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept. We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.

You also need to meet the additional requirements listed below.

BTEC

We welcome applications from students taking BTECs alongside one or two A levels.

You will also need grade B or grade 6 in English and Mathematics at GCSE.

You also need to meet the additional requirements listed below.

International qualifications

Language requirements

All applicants have to meet our English Language requirements. If you cannot demonstrate that you meet these, you may be invited to take part in our Pre-sessional English course at Warwick.

Frequently asked questions

Warwick may make differential offers to students in a number of circumstances. These include students participating in the Realising Opportunities programme, or who meet two of the contextual data criteria.

Differential offers will usually be one or two grades below Warwick’s standard offer.

All students who successfully complete the Warwick IFP and apply to Warwick through UCAS will receive a guaranteed conditional offer for a related undergraduate programme (selected courses only).

Find out more about standard offers and conditions for the IFP.

For the following IFP streams we will issue a guaranteed offer for the Liberal Arts degree: Business Management, Psychology, Social Science, Arts & Humanities and Law & Politics.

We welcome applications for deferred entry.

We do not typically interview applicants. Offers are made based on your UCAS form which includes predicted and actual grades, your personal statement and school reference.

Course overview

Today, economic growth and business expansion must answer to critical concerns about environmental sustainability, biodiversity loss, and human exploitation. On this degree you will grapple with these debates and reconcile them with your Business Studies modules.

You will be challenged to consider current problems of sustainability from different perspectives, understand their complexity and use a variety of approaches to think creatively about potential solutions.

The holistic approach taken with GSD will complement and challenge your studies within Warwick Business School (WBS), which has a worldwide reputation for its expertise in Business and Management.

You can enhance your skills and studies through optional work placements, study abroad, and certificates.

Study abroad

We encourage you to take the opportunity to study abroad during your course at Warwick.

  • Enjoy the freedom to take chances with your module choices.
  • Push yourself outside of your comfort zone with your learning.
  • You may have the opportunity to learn a new language and immerse yourself in a new learning context.

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). This will mean extending your course to four years.

If you want to extend your learning and broaden your perspective by studying abroad for a year, Warwick has partnerships with universities across the world. 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).

Learn more about spending a year abroad.

Core modules

Teaching on this course will be equally split between the GSD Department and WBS.

In the first year you will study core GSD modules designed to provide a critical understanding of the ‘three pillars of sustainable development’:

You will also study the core Global Sustainable Development Project module, giving you the chance to see how the principles of GSD apply to a real case affecting a local community. The Business Studies half of the workload will include optional first-year modules offered by WBS.

In the second year, in GSD you will have the opportunity to engage with a key issue in sustainability, studying one of the following optional core modules:

You will also choose optional modules with a GSD focus from within or outside of the School for Cross-faculty Studies. The Business Studies half of the workload will consist of second-year optional modules offered by WBS. Please note, there may be pre-requisites for some WBS modules.

You may choose to study abroad for part of your second year at Monash University. In Term One at Warwick you will study an optional core GSD module, an optional module with a GSD focus, and optional modules offered by WBS. The remaining study will consist of pre-approved modules at Monash University.

In the final year, you will take the core GSD Dissertation module. You will also choose optional modules with a GSD focus from within or outside the School for Cross-faculty Studies. The Business Studies half of the workload will consist of final-year optional modules offered by WBS. Please note, there may be pre-requisites for some of the WBS modules.

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year.

Optional GSD modules

See a full list of optional modules offered by the GSD Department.

Optional WBS modules

Co-curricular certificates

We offer a range of unique certificates outside of the curriculum as a way of continuing your professional development. In your first year, you can complete certificates in Digital Literacy, Sustainability, and Professional Communication.

Explore our range of certificates

Assessment

Your final degree classification is determined by your second and final year marks and each contributes 50%.

GSD modules

In the first year, two of the core modules have an exam worth 40%. The remaining core modules are assessed by methods such as essays, online quizzes, presentations, and a group research project.

In the second year, optional core modules and optional modules in the GSD Department do not have traditional examinations. Depending on your module choices, assessment methods may include case studies, research papers, essays, log books, projects, presentations, quizzes and critical policy reviews.

The final-year dissertation is assessed via coursework, including a research proposal and presentation or other means of dissemination.

See assessment methods for individual GSD modules.

WBS modules

Modules may be assessed by a mix of examinations, essays, reports, case study analyses and group work. The relative proportion of examined and coursework assessment will vary according to which modules you choose.

Modules from across the University

Assessment methods will vary according to the optional modules that you choose from across the University. The overall percentage of the course that is assessed by coursework depends upon the external options taken.

We continually review our assessment methods considering feedback. Therefore, assessment criteria is subject to change annually.

Assessment for other department

Co-curricular certificates

We offer a range of unique certificates outside of the curriculum as a way of continuing your professional development. In your first year, you can complete certificates in Digital Literacy, Sustainability, and Professional Communication.

Explore our range of certificates

Teaching

In the GSD Department you will be taught by a range of academics from different disciplines. They will communicate their expertise on a specific issue and describe their methodology for addressing it. We expect you to bring together these various approaches and to develop your own informed stance on each issue.

Throughout the course you will:

  • Attend lectures and take part in seminars, workshops and tutorials.
  • Work with other students in teams on topical problems that pose significant sustainable development questions.
  • Undertake fieldwork, archival research and engage in peer discussion to propose alternative solutions.
  • Review the work of other students.

Discover how you will learn in GSD modules

Class sizes

Seminar groups in GSD comprise of around 20 students.

Typical contact hours

First-year core GSD modules have between 20 and 25 hours of contact time. Each module consists of lectures, workshops and, for the 'Global Sustainable Development Project' module, group supervision sessions.

Second-year optional core GSD modules have up to 45 and 50 contact hours.

The final-year core GSD dissertation module currently involves seven lectures and eight supervision sessions across three terms.

Optional modules in the GSD Department are available with between 25 and 50 hours for scheduled contact time, depending on the module. Some modules have lectures, workshops, film screenings and research supervision, whereas others only have lectures and workshops. Some modules may also include field trips.

 Module offerings in other departments may involve more or less formal teaching time per week than the GSD modules.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees cover the majority 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.

Undergraduate fees

If you are a home student enrolling in 2021, your annual tuition fees will be £9,250. In the future, these fees might change for new and continuing students.

2+2 course fees

If you are a home student enrolling in 2021 for a 2+2 course through the Centre for Lifelong Learning, your annual tuition fees will be £6,750. In the future, these fees might change for new and continuing students.

How are fees set?

The British Government sets tuition fee rates.

Learn more about fees from UCAS.

Undergraduate fees

If you are an EU student enrolling in 2021, the tuition fee will be charged in line with government policy and therefore the same as Overseas Tuition Fee rates.

For details please see Overseas students section below.

Undergraduate fees

If you are an overseas or EU student enrolling in 2021, your annual tuition fees will be as follows:

  • Band 1 – £21,220 per year (classroom-based courses, including Humanities and most Social Science courses)
  • Band 2 – £27,060 per year (laboratory-based courses, plus Theatre and Performance Studies, Economics, and courses provided by Warwick Business School, with exceptions)

Fees for 2022 entry have not been set. We will publish updated information here as soon as it becomes available, so please check back for updates about 2022 fee rates before you apply.

Fee status guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students from 2021 entry will be classified as Home or EU/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

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

Further information

Find out more about tuition fees from our Student Finance team.

Scholarships and bursaries

Learn about scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate students.

We offer a number of undergraduate scholarships and bursaries to full-time undergraduate students. These include sporting and musical bursaries, and scholarships offered by commercial organisations.

Find out more about funding opportunities for full-time students.

If you are an international student, a limited number of scholarships may be available.

Find out more information on our international scholarship pages.

You may be eligible for financial help from your own government, from the British Council or from other funding agencies. You can usually request information on scholarships from the Ministry of Education in your home country, or from the local British Council office.

Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship 2021

We believe there should be no barrier to talent. That's 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 course.

Find out more about the Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship 2021.

We provide extra financial support for qualifying students from lower income families. The Warwick Undergraduate Bursary is an annual award of up to £3,000 per annum. It is intended to help with course-related costs and you do not have to pay it back.

Find out more about your eligibility for the Warwick Undergraduate Bursary.

As part of the 'City of Sanctuary' movement, we are committed to building a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for those seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. We provide a range of scholarships to enable people seeking sanctuary or asylum to progress to access university education.

Find out more about the Warwick Undergraduate Sanctuary Scholarships for asylum seekers.

Further information

Find out more about Warwick undergraduate bursaries and scholarships.

Eligibility for student loans

Your eligibility for student finance will depend on certain criteria, such as your nationality and residency status, your course, and previous study at higher education level.

Check if you're eligible for student finance.

Tuition Fee Loan

You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your tuition fees. It is non-means tested, which means the amount you can receive is not based on your household income. The Loan is paid directly to the University so, if you choose to take the full Tuition Fee Loan, you won’t have to set up any payments.

Maintenance Loan for living costs

You can apply for a Maintenance Loan towards your living costs such as accommodation, food and bills. This loan is means-tested, so the amount you receive is partially based on your household income and whether you choose to live at home or in student accommodation.

Find out more about government student loans for home students residing in England.

Tuition Fee Loan

For the 2020 academic year, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your tuition fees if you’re from an EU country. It is non-means tested, which means the amount you can receive is not based on your household income. The Loan is paid directly to the University so, if you choose to take the full Tuition Fee Loan, you won’t have to set up any payments.

Help with living costs

For the 2020 academic year, you may be eligible for help with your living costs if you’ve lived in the UK for more than 5 years before the first day of the first academic year of your course.

If you are starting a course on or after 1 August 2021, you must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance.

Find out more about government student loans for EU students.

Repaying your loans

You will repay your loan or loans gradually once you are working and earning above a certain amount (from April 2021 the repayment threshold is £27,295 and is expected to rise each year). Repayments will be taken directly from your salary if you are an employee. If your income falls below the earnings threshold, your repayments will stop until your income goes back up above this figure.

Find out more about repaying your student loan.

Placements and work experience

We encourage you to undertake a work placement as part of your degree.

You will have the opportunity to take part in short and long work placements. These support you in developing your employability skills and prepare you for future employment.

  • Apply theory to practice
  • Explore a future career path
  • Learn about the professional environment
  • Learn from industry professionals

Year-long work placement

You can complete a four-year degree and your work placement will take place in your third year. The work placement can take place inside or outside the UK.

Short work placement

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

Supporting you

We will also support you in sourcing your own work placements outside of the options above.

Your career

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

GSD students have secured work placements with employers from the private, public, and third sectors. These include:

  • Research institutions
  • Governmental bodies
  • Non-governmental organisations
  • Intelligence agencies
  • Housing
  • Environmental consultancies

They have undertaken diverse roles such as:

  • Marketing Assistant
  • Sustainability Officer
  • Intelligence Analyst
  • Researchers

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 will learn how to extract the essential features of complex systems, providing useable frameworks for evaluation
  • Critical thinking: You will assess arguments, make judgements, formulate reasoned debates and generate feasible solutions
  • Communication: You will develop advanced communication skills that enable you to communicate with a variety of audiences and in different settings
  • Research: You will undertake 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 will learn the essentials of time management, prioritisation and how to be well organised
  • Collaboration: You will have plenty of opportunities to work with others and nurture your emotional intelligence, developing a professional attitude

Helping you find the right career

We have a dedicated Employability and Placement Manager 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.

You will also have access to the University’s Student Opportunity resources (including careers counselling, employment advice, and job fairs).

Find out more about careers support at Warwick.

Life at Warwick

Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities. A place where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. Our supportive, energising, welcoming space creates the ideal environment for forging new connections, having fun and finding inspiration.

Keep exploring life at Warwick

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

Warwick Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is key to helping you settle in quickly.

We have 12 self-catering undergraduate halls of residence on campus.

Our student property management and lettings agency manages more than 8,000 rooms both on and off campus, and provides advice to all full-time undergraduates.

Explore Warwick Accommodation

Our campus

You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible new sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.

Explore our campus

Food and drink

We have lots of cafés, restaurants and shops on campus. You can enjoy great quality food and drink, with plenty of choice for all tastes and budgets. There is a convenience store on central campus, as well as two supermarkets and a small shopping centre in the nearby Cannon Park Retail Park. Several of them offer delivery services to help you stay stocked up.

And don't miss our regular food market day on the Piazza with tempting, fresh and delicious street food. Soak up the atmosphere and try something new, with mouth-watering food for all tastes.

Explore food and shops

Explore Students' Union venues

Clubs and societies

We currently have more than 300 student-run societies.

So whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.

Or you could try something new, or even form your own society.

Explore our societies

Sports and fitness

Staying active at Warwick is no sweat, thanks to our amazing new Sports and Wellness Hub, indoor and outdoor tennis centre, 60 acres of sports pitches, and more than 60 sports clubs.

Whether you want to compete, relax or just have fun, you can achieve your fitness goals.

Explore sports at Warwick

Studying on campus

Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs.

You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.

  • The Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas.
  • The University Library provides access to over one million printed works and tens of thousands of electronic journals
  • Three Learning Grids offering you flexible individual and group study spaces.

Studying at Warwick

Travel and local area

Our campus is in Coventry, a modern city with high street shops, restaurants, nightclubs and bars sitting alongside medieval monuments. The Warwickshire towns of Leamington Spa and Kenilworth are also nearby.

The University is close to major road, rail and air links. London is just an hour by direct train from Coventry, with Birmingham a 20-minute trip. Birmingham International Airport is nearby (a 20-minute drive).

Travelling from campus

Wellbeing support and faith provision

Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.

Our Chaplaincy is home to Chaplains from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. We provide regular services for all Christian denominations and a Shabbat meal every Friday for our Jewish students. There is also an Islamic prayer hall, halal kitchen and ablution facilities.

Student support

Chaplaincy

How to apply

Learn more about our application process.

Key dates

Key dates for your application to Warwick.

Writing your personal statement

Make an impression and demonstrate your passion for your course.

After you've applied

Find out how we process your application.

Our Admission Statement

Read Warwick's Admission Statement

Useful links

3 ways to connect

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Student blogs

Explore our student blogs in OurWarwick. You can read about campus life from students themselves, and register to post questions directly to students.

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  • Watch student videos
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  • Learn about facilities and landmarks

Explore our campus virtually through our 360 campus tour now

Come to an Open Day

Don’t just take it from us, come and see for yourself what Warwick is all about. Whether it's a virtual visit or in-person, our University Open Days give you the chance to meet staff and students, visit academic departments, tour the campus and get a real feel for life at Warwick.

Open Days at Warwick

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(The Guardian University Guide 2021)

62nd in the world
(QS World University Rankings 2021)

6th most targeted university by the UK's top 100 graduate employers

(The Graduate Market in 2021, High Fliers Research Ltd.)

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2022 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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