BSc Environment and Sustainable Development

How can we reconcile economic development and environmental protection? Is globalisation bad for the environment? Why is it so difficult to address the challenges of sustainable development? These are just some of the tough questions you’ll tackle on this stimulating programme.

You’ll examine the nature, drivers and politics of sustainable and unsustainable development and look at the relationship between environmental change and human wellbeing and development. As you progress, you’ll develop the skills needed for environment and development policy and analysis.

Unlike many university courses, this programme explores these issues from a social sciences as well as a natural sciences perspective. Our teaching team brings together the world’s leading geographers and social scientists, so you’ll learn about environmental issues and sustainable development from many different viewpoints.

Across all years, you’ll have the flexibility to pursue your chosen interests and options. You can also take part in a field trip, usually overseas, in the second year.

If you would like to gain further insight into the subject we suggest that you look at one or more of the following books:

• N Castree Making Sense of Nature (Routledge, 2013).
• S Chant and C McIlwaine Geographies of Development in the 21st Century: an introduction to the Global South (Edward Elgar, 2009)
• J Elliot An Introduction to Sustainable Development (4th edition, Routledge, 2012)
• J P Evans Environmental Governance (Routledge, 2012)
• A S Goudie The Human Impact on the Natural World: past, present and future (7th edition, Wiley-Blackwell, 2013)
• N Klein This Changes Everything: capitalism vs. the climate (Simon & Schuster, 2014)
• D Pearce and B Barbier Blueprint for a Sustainable Economy (Earthscan, 2000)
• D Simpson, M Toman and R U Ayres Scarcity and Growth Revisited (Resources for the Future, 2005)
• M Whitehead Environmental Transformations: a geography of the anthropocene (Routledge, 2014)

Our department is highly regarded both nationally and internationally – ranked second for Geography in the QS World University Rankings 2023.

Here at LSE, we offer a unique opportunity to study geography in a university with a worldwide reputation in the social sciences. We specialise in economic, urban and development geography, environmental social science and climate change, all with a strong emphasis on real-world applications.

Many of our academics are internationally renowned in their fields. You’ll find a good balance of experienced and younger academics in the department. Within the team, we’ve had three holders of the highly prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prize Fellowships for researchers under the age of 36.

Our research is interdisciplinary and international in its scope and we work closely with academics from several other departments at LSE. Teaching staff are active within the following research centres:

• Cañada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies
• Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy
• Centre for Economic Performance
• Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
• LSE London
• Middle East Centre
• Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre
• Transition Pathway Initiative Centre
• What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth

Based in the heart of London opposite Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the department offers a lively, welcoming and supportive community for students and staff.
Learn more about our undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD study opportunities, as well as our research.

Department of Geography and Environment

We consider each application carefully, taking into account all the details you’ve included on your UCAS form, such as:

• academic achievement, including predicted and achieved grades (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• subjects and subject combinations (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• your personal statement
• your teacher’s reference
• educational circumstances

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although this is not needed at the application stage. See our English language requirements page.

We’re looking for students who demonstrate:

• a desire to contribute to the environmental debate
• an interest in the significance and impact of policy at all levels
• an ability to evaluate and challenge conventional views
• logical thinking (to follow complex lines of reasoning and data analysis)
• an ability to think independently and show initiative
• excellent time-management skills
• intellectual curiosity
• self-motivation and a willingness to work hard.

Formative coursework

All taught courses include formative coursework, which is not assessed. This helps prepare you for summative assessment. We use a range of formative assessment methods, such as essays, case studies, reports, quizzes and mock exams. Feedback on coursework is an essential part of the learning experience. Class teachers mark formative coursework and give feedback within two weeks – provided it’s submitted on time.

Summative assessment

This assessment counts towards your final course mark and degree award.

• Summative assessment usually involves examinations for each course at the end of the academic year.
• Environmental courses typically involve a three-hour examination plus an extended essay (or practical work for methods courses).

You’ll receive feedback on summative coursework as part of the assessment for individual courses (except on final submitted dissertations). Feedback is normally provided before the examination period. There are clear guidelines and advice for all assessed assignments.

Please note that assessment on individual courses can change from year to year. You can read more about the current formative coursework and summative assessment for each course in the relevant course guide.

Find out more about LSE’s teaching and assessment methods.

Recent graduates have gone on to work in all areas of environmental policy and economics at the local, national and international level, whether in the public sector for government departments and agencies, in the private sector for industry and environmental/management consultancies, or in the NGO sector for pressure groups and think tanks. A number of recent graduates have also gone on to further study at graduate level.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.