MRes Sustainability and Adaptation
Masters of Research
Focus on researching the causes and urgency of climate change, the solutions we have already, and the actions needed, on our MRes in Sustainability and Adaptation.
The course offers a holistic view of sustainability through its taught modules and allows students more time than a traditional Masters course to independently research and use the concepts of sustainability and adaptation transformation to frame an analysis of environmental and climate change policy and its implications for society in research through an extended research dissertation.
Key Areas of study
Taught over two years full-time or three years part time, students will study taught modules over the first 12 months and then move onto a 120 credit extended research Dissertation module where you will learn how to lead and manage your own research project on a sustainability-related, discipline-relevant topic of your particular interest, and write an extended dissertation on the findings. The programme aims to be a foundation for student wishing to move into further research roles or programmes in environmental science, sustainability, and address the issues and solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis.
Some of the topics you’ll study include:
- Sustainability thinking and adaptation transformation planning
- Research philosophy, approaches, and strategy
- Analysis techniques and research design methods
Depending on your area of research you will be able to focus on one of the following topics through your optional taught module:
- Acute resilience pathways for cities and communities
- Environmental politics and social and economic systems
- Sustainable design of buildings and environmentally responsive materials and resources
- Transformational change to meet the climate emergency
- Risk and vulnerability assessment and adaptive capacity
- Land use and food security
- Restoration ecology, environmental assessments and ecosystem services, including waste and water
- Energy provision and energy flows in buildings
CAT Stories: Ffion Thomas
Following her studies at CAT Ffion is now working towards a PhD focusing on agroecological approaches to managing ash dieback at the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University. Having come from a background in banking and modern languages, Ffion chose to study a postgraduate course at CAT to follow a different career path into academic research.
Modules
When studying this course as an MRes you will need to study 60 credits of taught modules including two introductory core modules, the Applied Research Design module plus one optional taught module, before undertaking a 120 credit extended research dissertation. The optional module should ideally cover the subject material of the dissertation, but this is not essential depending on the experience of the student. Please click on the descriptions below for information about each module.
Core modules
- EV7132 – Introduction to Sustainability and Adaptation
- EV7137 – Sustainability and Adaptation Concepts in Practice
- EV7125 – Applied Research Design
- EV7135 – MRes Dissertation Module
Optional Modules
- EV7131 – Introduction to Politics and Economics of the Environment
- EV7128 – Energy Flows in Buildings
- EV7105 – Cities and Communities
- EV7108 – Energy Provision
- EV7110 – Sustainable Materials in the Built Environment
- EV7129 – Food Systems and Sustainability
- EV7126 – Communicating Transformational Social Change
- EV7136 – Restoration Ecology
- EV7130 – Transformational International Energy Management
Our timetable of module dates changes year on year. You can view our most recent version of the Timetable, Programme Specifications, Course Handbooks and Current Student Information on our Current Students page.
FEES AND FUNDING
Tuition fees for this course for a full MRes for Home Students are £9,800 or for Overseas students £12,600. This is the cost payable to CAT for the course tuition. Please visit our Fees and Funding pages to see the tuition fees for other study levels, additional fees and funding opportunities.
Entry requirements
We ask for a Bachelor’s degree or knowledge and skills equivalent to degree standard. A 250-word proposal outlining your plan for the extended research dissertation. IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required for applicants whose first language is not English.
Why study at CAT?
Benefit from over 50 years of research and sustainability experience
CAT is a world-leading eco centre and a pioneer in Zero Carbon Britain researching and teaching practical solutions for sustainability, with over five decades experience in low-impact building, energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable food production, natural resource management and more.
Immersive or distance learning
Students can decide whether they want to study a module on-site or via distance learning.
Our taught modules offer an immersive learning experience through lectures, talks, seminars and workshops delivered by our expert in-house staff, with specialist insights from visiting lecturers from industry and academia. Practical sessions during on-site study visits at CAT, allow you to get hands-on with sustainable building materials, ecological assessments and energy efficiency.
Many modules are shared with our other postgraduate courses, providing you with a rich learning experience. Our teaching resources are available through Microsoft Teams for students taking the module by distance learning and on-site, creating a space for students to interact and share ideas and expertise, adding to the immersive learning environment.
Flexible study options
Courses can also be studied full or part-time, helping you fit your studies around your life and existing commitments. Full-time study at MRes level will allow you to complete the course in two years. Part-time study at MSc level will allow you to complete the course over three years.
Interested in studying this course? Join us for our next open day, contact us for more information or apply today.
This course is created and delivered by CAT and is validated by the University of East London.
Learn more about studying at CAT
APPLY NOW
Apply for our 2025 entry to study on our MRes Sustainability and Adaptation course.
Due to high interest we recommend you apply early as we consider applications on a first-come first-served basis. If you have further questions or need support with your application then do get in touch.