Programme Information
MSSc in Sustainable Development
This Programme is designed for students who wish to pursue a higher degree in the broad area of sustainable development, and related policy and governance. Taught by experienced professors and expert practitioners, students will get high-quality theoretical and scientific training, and practical, skilful learning experience. This Programme provides a transformative opportunity for those who are eager to develop a comprehensive and systematic understanding of sustainable development. Applicants should have an educational background in sustainable development, environmental sustainability, environmental studies, development studies, urban and regional planning, land resource management, public administration, public policy, sociology, economics, geography, political science, and other related social science disciplines.
| Course Groupings | Course Units | Minimum Grade | Units Required for Graduation |
| I. Required Courses (9 units) | |||
| SUD5010 Environmental and Natural Resource Policy | 3 | C- | 9 |
| SUD5020 Social Science Research Methods | 3 | C- | |
| SUD5030 Contemporary Issues in Sustainability Studies | 3 | C- | |
| II. Elective Courses (27 units) | |||
HSS5001 Professional Internship | 1 | Pass | 27 (at least nine 3-unit courses from the group) |
PUB5130 International Political Economy of Development | 3 | C- | |
SUD5150 Biodiversity Conservation | 3 | C- | |
SUD5170 Climate Change: Regime and Policy | 3 | C- | |
SUD5210 Geographic Information System for Sustainable Development | 3 | C- | |
SUD5230 Sustainable Cultural Future | 3 | C- | |
SUD5310 Economic Development in China | 3 | C- | |
SUD5320 Development and the State | 3 | C- | |
SUD5330 Migration and Sustainable Development | 3 | C- | |
SUD6010 Economics of Environmental Sustainability | 3 | C- | |
SUD6020 Economic Development and Policy Evaluation | 3 | C- | |
SUD6030 Business and Sustainability | 3 | C- | |
URB5330 Transport, Economics and Policy | 3 | C- | |
URB5340 Population and Society | 3 | C- | |
| Total Units: | 36 | ||
| Required: | 9 | ||
| Elective: | 27 | ||
| Graduation Requirement | |||
| All students are required to meet all the programme requirements, pass all the assessments and obtain a cumulative overall GPA of at least 2.0 in order to graduate. | |||
*Applicable to students admitted in or after AY2025-2026
Course and Unit Exemption
Students may be granted exemption from courses if they have taken similar or equivalent postgraduate courses with satisfactory performance (“B” grade or above) elsewhere. Supporting documents such as academic transcripts, course syllabus should be provided for evaluation. Exemption for a maximum of nine units may be granted. In case of course exemption only, a student is required to take an elective course of equal number of units to replace the exempted course. The application should be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School after the endorsement of the Programme Director/Coordinator and the Graduate Panel Chair.
