Top jobs with a masters in environment and sustainability
Find out how studying for a masters qualification in the Centre for Environment and Sustainability at Surrey opens the door to a wide range of careers and industries.
The jobs market
Our masters courses will prepare you to join a new generation of environment and sustainability professionals ready to take on the challenges our planet faces. Graduates who understand how economic development and social equity can be balanced with environmental protection are increasingly in demand by employers and can have a real impact on the future of our planet.
Governments and businesses are increasingly taking environment and sustainability seriously, leading to jobs growth and exciting new jobs in this sector. With the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), sustainability is no longer optional, as most companies operating in Europe must now assess the impacts of their operations and report according to European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). Within the UK, since 2019, medium and large companies must report on their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Meeting these reporting requirements requires skilled professionals.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that the transition to a green economy will lead to the creation of some 24 million new jobs globally by 2030, noting that ‘from a jobs perspective, environmental sustainability is critical’ (World Employment and Social Outlook 2018: Greening with jobs). According to the Local Government Association employment in the low-carbon and renewable energy sector alone in England could grow from 185,000 in 2018 to 694,000 by 2030 and 1.18 million by 2050.
The jobs market for environment and sustainability professionals is expanding much faster than the overall jobs market, with new roles opening in environmental science, renewable energy, green finance, sustainability communication, climate change adaptation and policy.
What Surrey offers
The University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability is an internationally acclaimed centre of excellence on sustainable development, and together with Surrey's Institute for Sustainability forms an interdisciplinary hub for research and postgraduate teaching.
At Surrey, our masters courses in environment and sustainability cover Corporate Environmental Management, Environmental Strategy and Sustainable Development. Through the application of interdisciplinary approaches and analysis, you will have the necessary training to pursue a diverse range of careers.
Each course also offers full-time students the opportunity to do an industrial placement as an elective module. This means spending six to 12 weeks with a company or non-governmental organisation doing the work you’ll aim to find after graduation. Alternatively, some students opt to do a second year on their MSc on a full year industrial placement.
Students have completed industrial placements in companies such as:
- Brodie Consulting Ltd
- Climate Bonds Initiative
- Derbyshire NHS
- Global Action Plan, London
- Guildford Environmental Forum
- Hammersmith & Fulham Council
- Hubbub
- Klimato, Sweden
- LC Energy Ltd
- Modulaire Group Holdings Ltd, London
- Surrey County Council.
Graduate success stories
Recent masters graduates from Surrey have secured roles such as:
- Biodiversity and climate change engagement officer
- Climate change campaigner
- Energy efficiency officer
- Energy manager
- Environment consultant
- Environmental officer
- Renewable energy analyst
- Sustainability programme officer
- Sustainability adviser
- Sustainability business consultant
- Sustainability and flood risk officer.
These roles have been taken in local government, multinational companies, engineering consultancies and sustainability charities.
Discover more about our masters degrees in environment and sustainability.
