Student Opinions

Both theoretically and practically, the MSc in Environmental Governance equipped me with a diverse skill set that allowed me to establish myself in a variety of sectors.

I was since offered a PhD scholarship by the Sustainable Consumption Institute at the University of Manchester. I completed a summertime placement at the Department of Energy and Climate Change as a policy advisor. I recently accepted a position at a leading brokerage firm trading carbon credits and investing in renewable energy projects in developing countries.

Without the MSc these opportunities would have evaded me.

More information on the MSc Environmental Governance programme.

I was looking for a Master programme that focused on trade policy issues in international development, and ITD was the one that sounded as if it would match most of my expectations (which it did).

Moreover, I liked the idea of doing a field trip, to not only get to know the theoretical perspective, but also see it applied practically. The fact that IDPM is always ranked high or highest in surveys on the quality of their research and teaching further supported my decision.

I really appreciated the high quality of the programme. In most classes teaching was of exceptional quality and made it easy to acquire lots of knowledge.

The topics we discussed in the courses were highly relevant, and when I started working for the German Technical Cooperation (Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit – GTZ) after the Masters programme, I could make direct use of the knowledge I gained during the time in Manchester, e.g. on value chain promotion or on WTO trade issues. This high level of applicability is wonderful.

Also, the other students and the staff at IDPM were from all over the world, which added a lot to understanding the difficult topic of international development.

More information on the MSc Industry, Trade and Development programme.

Following a BSc in Environmental Science and Planning at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Mostoles, Spain), I worked for a year managing waste contracts.

I had already worked on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during an internship and I really enjoyed it, so I thought: why not specialise in an area which is at present in high demand?

Specialising does not mean limiting your opportunities to only one sector, but broadening your knowledge and improving your chances to enter the working market.

It was the University of Manchester’s and SED’s reputation for excellence in the UK and worldwide that led me to choose it – and it was the right decision.

I was amazed from the beginning by lecturers’ excellent preparation of the sessions and by their deep knowledge of their subject.

The personal assistance we received, always considering each one’s needs and difficulties, also impressed me. As an international student, I equally valued the multi-cultural and friendly atmosphere, not only in the class, but in the whole university.

My favourite experience was the workshops we had for the module of ‘EIA project’, where we could emulate, in small multidisciplinary groups and with the supervision of the professor, an EIA process. That really felt like working in a planning consultancy.

Once I finished my studies at The University of Manchester, I took an intensive course of French and I got a six month internship with an international climate change association based in Belgium. With some 200 applicants for the internship, I believe it was my masters degree that helped me get selected.

Overall, my experience at SED and at the University of Manchester has been infinitely positive. I have already recommended the MA EIAM to several of my Spanish former classmates and I would recommend it to anyone else.

More information on the MA Environmental Impact Assessment and Management programme.

With a masters degree in English Literature and a settled career of thirteen years with the Government of Pakistan in education and development, the dynamics of human behaviour and development had always intrigued me.

SED and IDPM were my first choice because besides being hubs of teaching and research excellence, they were offering an international perspective to HR and development studies.

The modules I followed all contributed to enhance and my skills and knowledge regarding the critical role human resources play towards organization, social and capacity development in the global economy.

Group activities in classes were an excellent teaching method to prepare students for their practical lives, by making them work and produce results amidst diversity and differences of opinion. And the field trip we did could be termed as ‘edutainment’, as it encapsulated fun, friends, international exposure and learning.

The year I spent on the Masters was inspirational enough to stimulate my desire for intellectual excellence by pursuing a doctorate study in a related field.

Thank you for helping me understand more about human development issues, humanity and myself!

More information on the MSc Human Resource Development programme.