Key information
Heriot-Watt University was recently ranked 3rd in Scotland by the Guardian University Guide 2026.
- Level
- Postgraduate Taught
- Delivery type
- Full Time, Part Time
- Degree qualification
- MSc
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 1 year
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September, January
- Next intake
- September
The MSc in Global Sustainability Engineering equips students to identify unsustainable practices and implement effective strategies for improvement, drawing inspiration from the UN Sustainable Development Goals and adopting an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.
You’ll gain expertise in environmental science, energy, recycling, sustainable processing, impact assessment, and environmental economics, while also developing an understanding of the wider social, economic, and organisational contexts in which sustainability challenges and solutions exist.
The programme explores how global trends affect the environment and society, preparing you to design sustainable products and services that enhance performance and resilience.
With a flexible structure combining core modules in energy, climate change, process engineering, and sustainability with a wide range of optional courses, the degree allows you to tailor your studies to your specific interests and career ambitions, ensuring you graduate with both technical expertise and the ability to drive meaningful change in the sustainability engineering field
The Future Shapers scholarship
The Future Shapers scholarship is looking for students who want to use research to create solutions to solve major global challenges. This has been established for 2026 by one of our generous donors and is a testament to the talent and world-shaping potential of our University's students and researchers. We are offering 12 scholarships across our 4 research areas, worth 50%, 75% and 100% of your tuition fee respectively.
Apply nowYour student experience
Our MSc Global Sustainability Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) research institute which focuses on promoting excellence across four main research themes:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Digital Engineering
- Energy Harvesting and Conversion
- Multiphase Flow
Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active chemical and sustainability engineers and academics.
You’ll benefit from our innovative approach when it comes to meeting necessary carbon targets. Our Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) is an interdisciplinary engineering centre with a track record of inspiring and delivering innovation for the wider deployment of technologies needed to meet necessary carbon targets. This world-leading work has directly informed the Carbon Solutions course, which you can choose to study as part of the MSc Global Sustainability Engineering.
The research relevance of this postgraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused.
96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh.
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
Mandatory September
- Process Engineering A
- Climate Change, Sustainability and Adaptation
- Foundations of Energy
Optional September
- Process Intensification
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Circular Economy
Mandatory January
- Sustainable Processing
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Critical Analysis and Research Preparation
Optional January
- Carbon Solutions
- Technology Futures and Business Strategy
- Demand Management and Energy Storage
- Green and Sustainable Logistics
Mandatory May
- MSc Research Project in Global Sustainability Engineering
January Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
Mandatory January
- Sustainable Processing
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Critical Analysis and Research Preparation
Optional January
- Demand Management and Energy Storage
- Carbon Solutions
- Technology Futures and Business Strategy
- Green and Sustainable Logistics
Mandatory September
- Climate Change, Sustainability and Adaptation
- Process Engineering A
- Foundations of Energy
Optional September
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Process Intensification
- Circular Economy
Mandatory Second January
- MSc Research Project in Global Sustainability Engineering
Disclaimer
The courses mentioned above may change between now and the time that you study. For more information, please view our Terms and Conditions.
Programme Video
Built Environment
Fees and funding
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £12,584 | £6,292 |
| International | £26,296 | £13,148 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries
We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Year 1
A minimum of honours degree at 2:1 or non-UK equivalent in a relevant background with a minimum of 3-4 maths modules at C grade or above. Relevant backgrounds include chemical and process engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, marine engineering, aerospace/aeronautical engineering, and energy and power generation. Applicants with qualifications in mathematical, chemical or physical sciences can also be considered where both substantial mathematics content and coursework in subjects such as fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics can be evidenced.
Applicants with a lower Second Class Honours Degree will be considered with substantial work experience.
We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.
If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
Please see our detailed English language requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
We have been producing career-ready graduates since 1821. With our roots as the world’s first Mechanics Institute, Heriot-Watt is a pioneering university with a global reach.
At Heriot-Watt, learning goes beyond the lecture theatre. We tackle real world challenges through extraordinary research – from climate change to protecting our oceans, to advancing life-saving medical breakthroughs and shaping the next generation of AI. We are also committed to developing forward-thinking design and sustainable business practices that impact industries worldwide. On our campuses you’ll find some of the world’s most advanced facilities, while our strong industry links set you up for career success. This is why almost 90% of our graduates are in employment or further education (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
Student life
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