PgProfDev Data Driven Sustainability at University of Edinburgh

Programme overview

Standalone online courses from the Data-Driven Sustainability programme, which trains students in data-driven approaches to inform practice, decisions and policy on planetary health and sustainable futures.

Faculty: College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine | Department: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies | Duration: Up to 2 years (maximum 50 credits), part-time intermittent online study | Intake: Multiple start dates | Study mode: online | Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Students take up to 50 credits of individual courses over two years, transferable towards the PgCert (ICL). The Certificate has core courses in making science relevant to policy and decision making and in understanding planetary health and data, plus electives such as One Health, ecosystem health, food policy and nature-based solutions. 10-credit courses run over five weeks at about 20 hours per week.

Career pathways

Graduates pursue careers in government, NGOs, third sector policy, financial investment, and health and nutrition; the courses mainly upskill or reskill people already working in a related industry.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Programme (2027-28 entry): UK 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in a life science or social science. Applicants with less than a 2:1 or a degree in another discipline may be considered with three or more years of relevant professional experience, detailed in the personal statement. English language (all applicants, including UK nationals): IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component; TOEFL iBT (from 21 January 2026) 4.5 overall with at least 4.5 in each component; C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency 176 overall with at least 169 in each component.

Intake: Multiple start dates

Duration: up to 2 years part-time (intermittent study)

Explore more study programmes

Engineering