Sustainable development

Rise to the challenge and create solutions for the environmental and developmental issues we face today – from providing clean water and adequate sanitation to energy generation and supply.

At St Andrews, you will learn about developmental challenges from many perspectives and use the knowledge you gain to tackle these issues and realise the opportunities they create.

Highlands field trip

Undergraduate

Postgraduate taught

Postgraduate research

The School of Geography and Sustainable Development offers PhD, MPhil, MSc (Res) and MSt (Res) research programmes.  
 
Research project opportunities are available in the following areas: 

  • geoinformatics 
  • human geography 
  • physical and environmental geography 
  • sustainable development. 

To apply, you should first identify and contact a potential supervisor you would like to work with in your intended research area. Find out how to contact a research supervisor.  

“As Sustainable Development is considered both an arts and a science subject, I have been able to choose from a wide variety of modules. I have taken ones in biology and anthropology, which have helped me see sustainability ideas and issues in a new light. St Andrews’ location and environment provides a unique microcosm for practical sustainability projects to take place.”

Benjamin
Benjamin
- Taipei City, Taiwan

Awards

First in Scotland and fourth in the UK for geography

Guardian University Guide 2023

First in Scotland and fifth in the UK for geography and environmental science

The Complete University Guide 2023

94% of research activity rated 3* or 4*

Most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021)