Sustainability BSc

About This Programme

The BSc Sustainability at the University of Birmingham Dubai is a three-year degree that tackles global sustainability challenges, such as the climate emergency and energy futures, from an interdisciplinary perspective grounded in the University's research. Students work with experts and communities to develop solutions and build the knowledge and skills to lead in the field. The course uses Dubai as a living laboratory: most modules include site visits, fieldwork and personal reflection, and assessments are built on authentic scenarios and live case studies. Fieldwork runs in the UAE in Year 1 and in Berlin in Year 2, alongside students from the Birmingham campus, with a visit to Abu Dhabi's Sustainable City, and the final year includes a sustainability placement and an individual dissertation.

Course Highlights

• Hands-on experience through live projects, fieldwork and a final-year placement.
• Teaching from specialists and experts in the field, with real-world assessments.
• Dubai as a living laboratory, with site visits and fieldwork in most modules, and Year 2 fieldwork in Berlin with students from the Birmingham campus.
• An award-winning, state-of-the-art smart campus.
• 12th in the UK for Geography and Environmental Science in the Complete University Guide 2026, as stated on the course page.
• Birmingham is ranked 68th in the world and 10th among UK universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027, as stated on the course page.

What You'll Study

Teaching combines lectures, tutorials, workshops, project-based learning, laboratory work, site visits and fieldwork, with industry specialists and practitioners and a final-year placement. Most modules use Dubai as a living laboratory, with site visits, fieldwork and personal reflection, and assessment is mixed and based on real-world issues, authentic scenarios and live case studies. A dissertation tutor supports each student's project with formative written and verbal feedback. Students complete 120 credits of modules a year; the modules are updated to reflect the latest research and teaching, and compulsory modules may occasionally change. Support includes a personal tutor for each student, weekly drop-in hours with academics, wellbeing officers (for matters such as extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments and extenuating circumstances), the Academic Skills Centre's workshops on note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentations, the Academic Writing Advisory Service for essays and dissertations, and a Student Experience Team offering research opportunities, study skills support, career preparation and social events such as field trips. The Programme Director is Dr Elena Cantarello, Associate Professor in Sustainability in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Entry Requirements

Careers

The degree offers clear routes into green careers across the fast-growing green economy, where the University notes a growing shortage of talented graduates, backed by hands-on experience and industry connections. Possible paths include sustainability consultancy, roles in companies or government, research, finance, journalism, NGOs such as the UN, major consultancy firms and any sector that needs sustainable processes. The Careers Network Dubai offers information, advice and guidance to identify options, build skills and reach opportunities.

Accreditation & Professional Recognition

Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation register as the Bachelor of Science in Sustainability.

Programme Details