
Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our postgraduate courses will be published from mid-October 2025.
Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our postgraduate courses will be published from mid-October 2025.
Our Environment, Politics and Development MSc programme provides an advanced theoretical understanding of the relationship between development problems and environmental issues. You will explore these relationships from the perspectives of political ecology, development geography and environmental governance. To illustrate these relationships, we use relevant case studies drawn from across the globe.
“I find many attractive things about King’s particularly the huge community of talented global students from whom I have gained invaluable insight into their rich cultural and built lifelong relationships. Kings facilities such as the academic libraries IT services and extensive dedicated student support services are world class!”
Our Environment, Politics and Development MSc offers you a demanding and stimulating programme of study, with an emphasis on developing knowledge and critical understanding as highlighted above. This is complemented with the development of a broad suite of intellectual and practical skills such as: • Assessing the relative merits of contrasting theories, explanations and policies; • Conceptualising problems and identifying possible methods for their solution; • Critically evaluating evidence; • Critically analysing qualitative and quantitative data; • Planning, designing and executing an individual piece of research, including the production of a thesis/report; • Undertaking effective fieldwork as part of dissertation, if suitable; • Employing a variety of social survey and interpretative methods for analysing information from the human world.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).
Candidates who do not achieve a 2:1 but have professional or voluntary experience will also be considered.
In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree or international equivalent. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.
Please note that as part of the evaluation process of your application you may be required to undertake a Skype interview.
You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
Supporting Document | Yes |
Please provide a writing sample of around 500 words, answering the following questions. Please note this an essential requirement and supporting statements which do not answer the questions below will not be assessed as part of your application. Why you are applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit in with your future plans? (max 250 words) How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? (max 250 words) Please write these questions as separate answers, with a clear title for your answer to each question. Documents where your answers are not clearly titled and separated will not be accepted |
---|---|---|
Previous Academic Study | Yes | A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents. |
References | Yes | One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you. |
Other | Optional | Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application |
Check out further information about our Geography courses including our teaching team, exclusive videos and more on our hub page.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
We will teach you through a combination of lectures and seminars, typically 20 hours per module. We also expect you to undertake 130 hours of independent study for each module.
Module |
Lectures, seminars and feedback |
Self-study |
Per 15-credit taught module |
16-30 hours. |
120-134 hours (some modules may involve lab work or e-learning which would require less self guided learning). |
Dissertation module |
Usually 5 contact hours of one-to-one or group consultation with supervisors. |
595 hours of self-study and project work. |
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Location
This programme is primarily taught at the King’s College London Strand Campus, with occasional lectures and practical sessions taking place at the Waterloo Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select.
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include essays and other written assignments, oral presentations, lab work and occasionally by examination, depending on the modules selected. All students also undertake a research-based dissertation of 12,000 words.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180-190 credits as outlined below.
Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180-190 credits as outlined below. You are required to take the following modules:
In addition, students are required to take 75-85 credits of optional modules, of which at least 30 credits must be from the prescribed list of options specific to this programme. Prescribed list of options specific to this programme, which may typically include:
Other Optional Modules Available to Students on this Programme:
Part-Time Students
Part-time students are advised to take 75-90 credits of taught modules in their first year, including Fundamentals of Environment, Politics and Development and Environmental Justice and Governance, thereby allowing enough time to focus on the dissertation in their second year. Students are normally advised to take Practising Social Research in their second year, but that can be taken in the first year, should students have strong reasons to do so and have the agreement of their Programme Director.
Part-Time International Students and paid or unpaid work
Please note that for international students, UK Government guidelines are currently more restrictive for those holding part-time visas than full-time visas. If you hold a student visa for a part-time programme, you will not have the right to undertake any work, paid or unpaid, in the UK. Therefore, the Internship (Environment and Society) module is only available to full-time overseas students but not part-time overseas students, as the UK Government considers it unpaid work. The Internship module is also available to full- or part-time home students.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
On completion of the Environment, Politics and Development MSc programme you will have attained a range of knowledge and skills appropriate to careers in research, management and consultancy in organisations engaged in the environment and development field in developing countries, as well as generic skills opening the way to more general employment opportunities for M-level graduates.
Many of our graduates have gone on to undertake further graduate study and work as research assistants for international development agencies. There are also good career opportunities with government agencies, international and national non-governmental organisations and academic research institutes.
Our ever-popular Internship module, which has been running for over 20 years, helps master’s students take their first steps towards employment, offering opportunities to undertake a period of work with an organisation broadly related to their programme of study. The internship not only provides valuable career enhancing opportunities but also counts towards their degrees. In 2021-22, over 150 students worked with 60 different organisations across a range of sectors including: international agencies; local councils and national government departments; companies in the for-profit and not-for-profit sector, research institutes and charities. As well as UK organisations, partners also included Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany and the United States.
Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.
Where can a degree like this take you? Hear from 2022 graduate Nikhil Kapila:
I work in the International Biodiversity and Climate directorate, on international sustainable agriculture and land use. I mainly manage a project which supports small and medium sized farmers in their transition to lower carbon agriculture methods in Brazil. I wouldn’t be in this role without Kings. The content in the modules I studied provided the most incredible foundational understanding for my role.
Don’t ever give up, there is always something better just around the corner.
Full time: £14,500 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £7,250 per year (2025/26)
Full time: £31,600 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £15,800 per year (2025/26)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.
The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.
If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
Our Environment, Politics and Development MSc offers you a demanding and stimulating programme of study, with an emphasis on developing knowledge and critical understanding as highlighted above. This is complemented with the development of a broad suite of intellectual and practical skills such as: • Assessing the relative merits of contrasting theories, explanations and policies; • Conceptualising problems and identifying possible methods for their solution; • Critically evaluating evidence; • Critically analysing qualitative and quantitative data; • Planning, designing and executing an individual piece of research, including the production of a thesis/report; • Undertaking effective fieldwork as part of dissertation, if suitable; • Employing a variety of social survey and interpretative methods for analysing information from the human world.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).
Candidates who do not achieve a 2:1 but have professional or voluntary experience will also be considered.
In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree or international equivalent. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.
Please note that as part of the evaluation process of your application you may be required to undertake a Skype interview.
You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
Supporting Document | Yes |
Please provide a writing sample of around 500 words, answering the following questions. Please note this an essential requirement and supporting statements which do not answer the questions below will not be assessed as part of your application. Why you are applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit in with your future plans? (max 250 words) How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? (max 250 words) Please write these questions as separate answers, with a clear title for your answer to each question. Documents where your answers are not clearly titled and separated will not be accepted |
---|---|---|
Previous Academic Study | Yes | A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents. |
References | Yes | One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you. |
Other | Optional | Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application |
Check out further information about our Geography courses including our teaching team, exclusive videos and more on our hub page.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
We will teach you through a combination of lectures and seminars, typically 20 hours per module. We also expect you to undertake 130 hours of independent study for each module.
Module |
Lectures, seminars and feedback |
Self-study |
Per 15-credit taught module |
16-30 hours. |
120-134 hours (some modules may involve lab work or e-learning which would require less self guided learning). |
Dissertation module |
Usually 5 contact hours of one-to-one or group consultation with supervisors. |
595 hours of self-study and project work. |
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Location
This programme is primarily taught at the King’s College London Strand Campus, with occasional lectures and practical sessions taking place at the Waterloo Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select.
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include essays and other written assignments, oral presentations, lab work and occasionally by examination, depending on the modules selected. All students also undertake a research-based dissertation of 12,000 words.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180-190 credits as outlined below.
Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180-190 credits as outlined below. You are required to take the following modules:
In addition, students are required to take 75-85 credits of optional modules, of which at least 30 credits must be from the prescribed list of options specific to this programme. Prescribed list of options specific to this programme, which may typically include:
Other Optional Modules Available to Students on this Programme:
Part-Time Students
Part-time students are advised to take 75-90 credits of taught modules in their first year, including Fundamentals of Environment, Politics and Development and Environmental Justice and Governance, thereby allowing enough time to focus on the dissertation in their second year. Students are normally advised to take Practising Social Research in their second year, but that can be taken in the first year, should students have strong reasons to do so and have the agreement of their Programme Director.
Part-Time International Students and paid or unpaid work
Please note that for international students, UK Government guidelines are currently more restrictive for those holding part-time visas than full-time visas. If you hold a student visa for a part-time programme, you will not have the right to undertake any work, paid or unpaid, in the UK. Therefore, the Internship (Environment and Society) module is only available to full-time overseas students but not part-time overseas students, as the UK Government considers it unpaid work. The Internship module is also available to full- or part-time home students.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
On completion of the Environment, Politics and Development MSc programme you will have attained a range of knowledge and skills appropriate to careers in research, management and consultancy in organisations engaged in the environment and development field in developing countries, as well as generic skills opening the way to more general employment opportunities for M-level graduates.
Many of our graduates have gone on to undertake further graduate study and work as research assistants for international development agencies. There are also good career opportunities with government agencies, international and national non-governmental organisations and academic research institutes.
Our ever-popular Internship module, which has been running for over 20 years, helps master’s students take their first steps towards employment, offering opportunities to undertake a period of work with an organisation broadly related to their programme of study. The internship not only provides valuable career enhancing opportunities but also counts towards their degrees. In 2021-22, over 150 students worked with 60 different organisations across a range of sectors including: international agencies; local councils and national government departments; companies in the for-profit and not-for-profit sector, research institutes and charities. As well as UK organisations, partners also included Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany and the United States.
Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.
Where can a degree like this take you? Hear from 2022 graduate Nikhil Kapila:
I work in the International Biodiversity and Climate directorate, on international sustainable agriculture and land use. I mainly manage a project which supports small and medium sized farmers in their transition to lower carbon agriculture methods in Brazil. I wouldn’t be in this role without Kings. The content in the modules I studied provided the most incredible foundational understanding for my role.
Don’t ever give up, there is always something better just around the corner.
Full time: £14,500 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £7,250 per year (2025/26)
Full time: £31,600 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £15,800 per year (2025/26)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.
The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.
If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed and we may need to request further information from you during the application process.
The final application deadlines for this programme are:
· Overseas (international) fee status: 25 July 2025 (23:59 UK time)
· Home fee status: 25 August 2025 (23:59 UK time)
If the programme becomes full before the final application deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications. Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if we are unable to process further offers because places are filled and we close the course before the final application deadline.
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