Sustainability, Environmental Policy and Innovation
Gain skills for leadership in sustainability and environmental technology.
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
2:1, or a comparable qualification recognised by the university. Science, engineering or social science subjects are preferred, but other subject areas will be considered.
Course overview
Develop the advanced training in the skills required to address interconnected environmental challenges through the application of science, technology, economics, policy, innovation, and systems thinking.
You will learn from leading researchers and practitioners, and study alongside students from diverse backgrounds to explore how environmental change interacts with society, policy and innovation.
You will have the opportunity to meet and learn from experts and industry professionals, helping you develop the critical evaluation skills, research techniques and methods essential for a career in sustainability.
You can specialise through elective modules and by focusing your dissertation on your own interests and career goals. Choices include Biodiversity, Business, Climate, Economics, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Policy, Pollution, Water, Waste, Urban Transitions, and more.
You’ll graduate from a world-leading university, with in-demand skills and knowledge that prepares you for many future career paths in sustainability, including business, consulting, finance, policymaking and research.
Delivered by Imperial’s Centre for Environmental Policy, the MSc Sustainability, Environmental Policy and Innovation is the new name for Imperial's MSc in Environmental Technology, building on 50 years of cutting-edge sustainability teaching and research with an alumni network of over 6000 successful graduates and sustainability professionals worldwide.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
In term one you will study modules that build your understanding of environmental systems, sustainability challenges, and innovation.
In addition to the two core modules, you will also select a special topic module, which will allow you to tailor the course to your interests and engage with emerging sustainability topics. Please note that the list of optional ,special topic modules (electives) is subject to change.
Core modules
Develop a systems understanding of the natural environment, exploring the processes that shape environmental change and the challenges facing ecosystems and natural resources.
Examine how societies understand, govern and respond to environmental challenges, drawing on policy, economics, law, justice, innovation and management.
Special topic modules
The interconnected challenges of food, land use, justice and livelihoods.
Critical perspectives on development and environmental change
The concepts, methods and metrics used to understand sustainability challenges.
Negotiation, stakeholder engagement and decision-making for sustainability.
In the second term you begin to specialise by choosing a learning pathway that aligns with your interests. Each pathway provides a choice of modules allowing you to tailor the course to your career goals.
In addition to your two chosen pathway modules, you will also choose a special topic module. Please note that the list of optional, special topic modules (electives) is subject to change.
Learning pathways
Examine how policy, governance and innovation can drive sustainable transitions and enable environmental change in practice.
Select two elective modules:
- Sustainable Business and Transformation
- Innovating for Sustainable Futures
- Environmental Economics and Policy
- Climate Change and Sustainability
- Implementing Climate Change and Sustainability Solutions
Typical career directions include: policy, strategy, international organisations, consulting, sustainability management.
Develop systems-based approaches to measuring, managing and solving complex environmental challenges.
Select two elective modules:
- Circular Economy
- Environmental quality
- Integrated Water Systems and Technology
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management
- Sustainable Urban Infrastructure: Systems & Integration
- Sustainable Urban Transitions: Governance & Professional Practice
Typical career directions include: environmental consultancy, regulation, impact assessment, corporate sustainability analytics.
Explore how technological, economic and policy innovation can support the transition to low-carbon energy systems.
Select two elective modules:
- Energy Systems and Technology
- Energy Economics and markets
- Modelling Energy Systems
- Market Mechanisms for Accelerating Sustainable Transitions
Typical career directions include: energy policy, climate consultancy, clean-tech sectors.
Special topic modules
Analytical tools and approaches for evaluating environmental problems and supporting decision-making.
Responses to climate change impacts, adaptation, resilience and extreme weather risks.
The environmental impacts of products and services across their lifecycle, from resource extraction to disposal.
The co-production of environmental evidence through collaboration between researchers and the public.
Apply your learning to explore a sustainability problem of your choice in-depth, with academic supervision.
Research project
The Summer term begins with an intensive training in research methods providing you with the skills to design, conduct and communicate your research.
Undertake rigorous independent research and apply your knowledge and understanding of environmental disciplines to practical problems. The project can be desk and/or laboratory-based and/or involve fieldwork and can be carried out in conjunction with an outside organisation.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
This is a general guide to how teaching and learning are usually balanced across this course. The methods used may change based on the modules you take.
Key
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Small group seminars
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Literature reviews
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MCQ times exams
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Group coursework
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Videos and posters
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Assessed discussion groups
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Reflective essays
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Role play
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may vary depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Presentation(s)
- Written coursework and times exams
- Groupwork
Term 1
- 35% Title 1 goes here
- 25% Title 2 goes here
- 40% Title 3 goes here
Term 2
- 40% Title 1 goes here
- 20% Title 2 goes here
- 40% Title 3 goes here
Term 3
- 15% Title 1 goes here
- 85% Title 2 goes here
Assessment methods
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Presentations
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Reports
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Essays
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Examinations
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Poster
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Project proposal
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Video
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Coursework
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Thesis
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026.
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
Round 5
- Applications open on Thursday 29 April 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 16 June 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 14 July 2027
Round 6
- Applications open on Thursday 17 June 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 18 August 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 25 August 2027
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
Students who require a student visa to study at Imperial should apply no later than 18 June 2026 to allow for CAS processing.
When applying to MSc Sustainability, Environmental Policy and Innovation, you should apply to a specific learning pathway:
- Policy, Innovation and Sustainable Futures
- Environmental Systems and Solutions
- Energy Systems and Policy Innovation
You will choose your optional modules after enrolment. Changes between pathways are not possible after offers have been accepted.
Applications that meet our course-specific entry requirements may be invited to an online interview with an academic member of staff.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee
Full-time
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £16,500
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee
Full-time
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £34,500
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Data from the latest graduate survey, conducted 15 months after graduation and published by Imperial College London’s Careers Service in 2023, shows that 91% of graduates from this programme were in employment, further study or training:
- 82% entered employment, with 53% of those employed working in professional, scientific or technical fields
- 9% continuing their studies
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 9285
- Email: enquiries.env@imperial.ac.uk
Programme Director: Karen Makuch
View the Centre for Environmental Policy website.
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Events, tasters and talks
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications