Sustainable Integrated Coastal Zone Management MSc

Focused on community interaction and practical experience, our programme offers a global perspective to the challenges facing coastal environments. By integrating community perspectives with social and natural sciences, and exploring the economic impacts of various activities, this programme will support the development of practical solutions within a whole systems approach.

Academic contact: nwamaka.okeke-ogbuafor@glasgow.ac.uk
Teaching start: September

Dumfries campus
MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time

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Why this programme

This programme explores marine and coastal challenges using an integrated, whole-systems approach that addresses social, environmental, and economic factors.
You will learn to adapt to evolving global challenges through a programme that prepares you for long-term success, with the skills to anticipate and react to future challenges in marine and coastal planning and sustainability.
Working with local authorities, communities, and leading industry professionals, you will gain real-world experience in marine coastal planning and management.
You will be taught at the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability, Dumfries Campus, an ideal location that gives you access to a range of coastal and marine environments.
Our teaching staff is made up of both academic and industrial experts, ensuring your knowledge is grounded in current industry practices and developing trends.
By building on your own knowledge and experience, you will develop skills to plan for the ever-changing challenges facing coastal communities.
You will collaborate on coastal issues that have worldwide implications with learning opportunities through international partnerships and exposure to global perspectives.
We offer work placement opportunities that allow you to put theory into practice.

Programme structure

Core courses provide essential subject knowledge and skills in coastal policy analysis, economic, social, and environmental risk assessments, marine ecology, and research methods required to design coastal plans.

Learning and teaching on this programme consists of a variety of methods including classroom lectures and seminars with problem-based learning activities, case study simulations, policy debates and discussions, interactive workshops, research, work placements, and fieldwork. Group work is an integral feature of the programme and is embedded in the various methods of learning and delivering the courses.

There is also a strong emphasis on applying new knowledge via self-directed study in the field. These subject-specific research skills, data analysis, presentation, and GIS will be developed through extended projects, skills, and summative assessments. To produce graduates who can work in diverse settings, you will also learn from academic and industry experts from the global north and south.

You will take four core and two optional courses across two semesters. During the summer you will either undertake a dissertation or a work placement.

Core courses

Principles and Practices of Coastal Area Planning
Integrated Costal Ecosystem Dynamics
Advanced Techniques in Coastal Area Planning
RESEARCH METHODS IN ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AND MANAGEMENT
DISSERTATION or WORK PLACEMENT

Recommended optional courses

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All optional courses

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Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Career prospects

This programme will produce graduates who have a deep understanding of the competing and often conflicting uses of coastal resources and environment, and sustainable solutions to these issues. Graduates can work for NGOs and national or international marine and coastal organisations, with roles such as:

Coastal and marine policy advisors
Environmental impact assessors
Environmental consultants
GIS and geospatial analysts
Researchers
Legislators

Find out more about career paths and opportunities.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2025-26

MSc

UK

Full-time fee: £11250
Part-time fee: £1250 per 20 credits

International & EU

Full-time fee: £25320

Deposits

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 within four weeks of an offer being made.

Deposits: terms & conditions

This programme requires some students to pay a deposit to secure their place.

If you are an international student, we will only issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) once the deposit has been paid.

Your offer letter will state:

how to pay the deposit payment
the deadline for paying the deposit

The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% handling fee will be deducted.

Deposits will be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

Where the University is unable to offer you a place.
Where the applicant has personal circumstances such as illness, bereavement or other family situations that has prevented them coming to the UK. Medical or other proof may be requested.
Applicant can prove that they have applied for a visa to attend the University of Glasgow, but the VISA has been refused. The applicant must have shown 'real intent' to study at the University of Glasgow but has been unable to obtain their visa.
Applicant does not meet his / her conditions of offer: this may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide a language test which was taken after the date that the deposit was paid).

Deposits will not be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and credit it against the applicant’s account for securing their place for the following year of entry.

Refund requests must be made within 30 days of the programme start date stated on your offer letter.

Requests made after this date will be subject to discretion.

Find out more about Deposits

Additional fees

Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
Registration/exam only fee: £170

Entry requirements

2:1 Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Relevant subjects may include: Marine, Maritime, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Coastal Sciences, Coastal Tourism, Water Management, Environmental and/or Sustainability, Sustainable Development.

Individuals with professional experience working or volunteering in the fields of marine or maritime sectors, coastal management or tourism, coastal sustainability, or environmental risk/flooding management may also be considered even if they do not necessarily hold a 2:1 qualification.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common equivalent English language qualifications for entry to this programme

TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome)

90 overall with Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

59 with minimum 59 in all subtests
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

176 overall, no subtest less than 169
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Oxford English Test

7 overall with no subtest less than 6
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

LanguageCert Academic SELT

70 overall with no subtest less than 60
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Password Skills Plus

6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

Pre-sessional courses

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

Heriot Watt
Kingston Upon Thames
Middlesex University
Manchester University
Reading University
Edinburgh University
ST Andrews University
UCL
Durham.

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
One reference letter on headed paper
Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
A copy of the photo page of your passport (Non-EU students only)

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

September 2025

International & EU applicants

25 July 2025

UK applicants

22 August 2025