Environmental Sustainability

This course is taken online in your own time and you can choose to study for a 30-credit Graduate Certificate, a 60-credit Graduate Diploma or a 90-credit MSc degree.



Dwindling natural resources and environmental quality issues are challenging businesses to work within a sustainability framework, while at the same time maximising employment provision and profitability. Consequently, there are a growing number of green technology and related enterprises that require a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Equally, those within the regulation or policy environment must have the knowledge base to address the complexities of the ‘sustainability’ challenge.



The Environmental Sustainability degree programme aims to develop your understanding of the environmental issues and sustainability goals facing society. We offer three degree options: MSc, Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate. You will be challenged to apply your scientific and technical knowledge to develop solutions to local and global problems and needs.



- Eight schools contribute to the course capturing the significant strengths of UCD Science and Engineering in renewable energy resources, sustainable energy systems, environmental engineering and resource management, water quality assessment, protection/management and conservation science.



- The opportunity exists to harness these strengths within a negotiated and distance learning framework, offering you, the student, flexibility to gain a broad understanding of sustainability issues or to specialise more deeply in one of these particular fields of study.

Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:

Please consult the current course prospectus to ensure you are meeting all prerequisites for your chosen modules before you register online.



If you have any questions about your module choices or are unsure which modules are suitable for your learning objectives, please contact Elke Eichelmann at sustainabilityonline@ucd.ie



Modules and Topics (Subject to change and are not guaranteed by UCD)

• Impact Assessment Procedures

• Managing the Interface between Science and Policy

• Ecology and its Application

• Wildlife Management/Conservation

• Natural Heritage Conservation

• Management of Sustainable Fisheries

• Bioinvasions: Impact to Management

• Applied Ecotoxicology

• Soil Resources

• Carbon and Sustainability

• Peatlands and Global Change

• Genetics for Environmental Scientists

• Water Quality Assessment, Protection and Management

• Water Resource Engineering

• Nature Based Water Infrastructure

• Environmental Geoscience

• Air Pollution

• Sustainable Energy and Environment

• Green Technology Project

• Energy, Climate and Sustainability

• Technical Communications

• GIS for Environmental Investigations

• Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Practicum (Research: lab/field)

• Practicum (Desk Study)



The following modules are not available for online registration. If you wish to register to one of the modules listed below please contact Elke Eichelmann at sustainabilityonline@ucd.ie



MEEN40820 Technical Communications (Spring)

BSEN40790 Carbon & Sustainability (Autumn)

ENVB40350 Applied Ecotoxicology (Spring)

ENVB40430 Bioinvasions: Impact to Management (Spring)

ENVB40620 Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures On-line (1 of 2) (Autumn)

ENVB40630 Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures On-line (2 of 2) (Spring)

GEOG40850 GIS for Environmental Investigations (Spring)

ENVB40340 Practicum (Research; lab/field) (Year long)

ENVB40520 Practicum (Research; lab/field) Jan (Year long)

ENVB40580 Desk Study Proposal (Autumn)

ENVB40590 Desk Study Thesis (Summer)

ENVB40600 Desk Study Proposal (Spring)

Applicants must hold a minimum of a 2.2 honours level degree in a science, engineering or related discipline. Applicants with pass degrees and who also have substantial relevant work experience may also be considered.



If English is not your native language, proof of your proficiency in English will be required, unless you have taken your primary degree through English, in an English speaking country. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL Internet Based Test is 100, on the IELTS system it is 6.5. The original certificate of completion of an English language test must be enclosed with the application. In all cases the test results must not be more than 2 years old.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

Apply online



Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes



Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No



For both Full time and Part time options, as this is an online programme, we can enroll International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region where they are residing in their home country.

2 years full-time (F063),

4 years part-time (F064).

Delivery: Online.

F063 Environmental Sustainability (Graduate Diploma) Full-Time - Online

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught



F064 Environmental Sustainability (Graduate Diploma) Part-Time - Online

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of this course will provide you with the professional competitive advantage to choose from careers in the application of green energy technology, environmental engineering, environmental monitoring and protection, resource and waste management, consultancy, research, heritage, conservation and education, either within regulatory bodies or in a wide range of industries, both multinational organisations and small- and medium-sized enterprises. The course also opens up opportunities to pursue further studies including up to PhD level.