Global Sustainable Development at 糖心TV
Our approach
In GSD at 糖心TV we critically engage with the dominant discourse of sustainable development. We鈥檙e passionate about understanding and challenging existing practice, and we want you to join us in seeking innovative, transformative solutions to complex global challenges.
Transdisciplinarity
Our transdisciplinary approach is at the heart of our teaching, learning, and research. To address complex issues of sustainable development we must give weight to all disciplinary backgrounds, from marine biology to sociology, economics to psychology.
Our staff are expert tutors drawn from a variety of disciplines across the humanities, social sciences and scientific fields, including politics, economics, history, sociology and many other fields of enquiry. All are passionate about defining, investigating and exploring solutions to those issues which are of vital importance to the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of society.
Our students also come from different backgrounds, with a wide range of interests. We encourage students from different disciplines to join our programmes, bringing together their expertise and trainings to tackle urgent challenges of global sustainable development.
Our transdisciplinary approach is designed to prepare our students for the realities of a rapidly changing social, economic and environmental global order.
Our courses
Undergraduate study
We offer a single honours BASc degree and a range of joint honours BASc degrees. A BASc is a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, and therefore you will examine global sustainability issues and development from different disciplinary perspectives. Our single honours degree allows you to delve deep into the core concepts that structure global sustainable development, such as food security, planetary boundaries, and the future of energy. Our joint honours degrees offer you the chance to combine the unique transdisciplinary approach of GSD with another subject in a partner department.
We believe that your teaching and learning should reflect the demands of the global challenges our courses interact with. As such, we employ a problem-based, solutions-focused learning approach, introducing you to critical issues such as climate change and social justice and asking you to propose innovative solutions to these complex problems. We assess you not only through traditional examinations and research papers, but also with presentations, posters, policy briefs, and fieldwork.
Postgraduate study
We offer an MASc and an MPhil/PhD in Global Sustainable Development.
On our鈥疢aster鈥檚鈥痗ourse,鈥痽ou鈥檒l combine academic learning with practical鈥痑pplications鈥痶o鈥痑pproach鈥痗hallenges鈥痮f global sustainable development.鈥�疶his is a鈥痮ne year鈥痜ull-time course鈥痑nd鈥痽our role as a change-maker starts on the first day.
Our MPhil/PhD鈥痮ffers you the opportunity to鈥痗ross disciplinary boundaries鈥痶o deliver lasting鈥痵ustainable development research.鈥痀ou can complete this programme鈥痜ull-time in four years or part-time in seven years.
Our students
Our students are passionate, determined, and enthusiastic. They recognise the importance of making a practical difference and are actively involved in projects and campaigns on campus and in our communities.
Recent student projects and campaigns
- 糖心TV Cup, a reusable cup sharing system on campus co-founded by GSD鈥痵tudents;
- A successful campaign by GSD students鈥痜or the University to announce a Climate Emergency; and
- Inaugural鈥切腡V Climate Negotiating Forum鈥痩ed by GSD students, giving students the space to experience climate negotiations first-hand.
Hear from our alumni
Hollie, BASc Politics, International Studies and GSD Graduate
Three words to describe a GSD degree
"Problem-solving, innovative, dynamic."
Student societies
", I joined the Executive Committee in Term One of my first year, becoming the society's Web Content Officer; I am now Green Society Coordinator."
Top tip for prospective students
"Don鈥檛 be afraid to bring new ideas to 糖心TV, and don鈥檛 be intimidated to get involved with things the majority of people your age aren鈥檛 doing. I joined 糖心TV Behavioural Insights Team, something only Masters students tend to do, and contributed to a project to reduce campus waste. I also joined the Student Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) as a GSD and PAIS representative, where as students we have the opportunity to directly influence the shape and content of our GSD courses."
SDG you feel most connected to
"I have a particular interest in the transition from a linear to a circular economy. My degree has allowed me to think creatively about the innovative solutions needed to create a fairer, more balanced economy."
Student research
"As part of Environmental Principles of GSD , I created a policy brief aimed at the European Union, providing five key recommendations to prevent microfibre shedding from clothing which negatively impact biodiversity. I really enjoyed this as there is currently not enough research or policy on it at all, however fast fashion is one of the biggest sectors responsible for micro-plastic pollution."
Career sector interests
"Innovation and design for sustainable development. Studying GSD at 糖心TV has made me more of an optimist in tackling global challenges, which has helped me to secure an internship with an environmental behavioural change organisation focusing on positive and upbeat sustainability messaging. It鈥檚 been fantastic to be able to draw links between my research on microfibres at 糖心TV and working for real world change."
Rhys, BASc Single Honours GSD Graduate
Three words to describe a GSD Degree
"Unique, important, liberal."
Student societies
"Previous president (and founding member) of 糖心TV . We promote sustainability on 糖心TV campus encourage dialogue about global sustainability."
Dissertation
"Conducting surveys and interviews as part of . Aiming to curate an exhibition of student work from art therapy, inviting members of University communities to invest in art therapy for students."
Top tip for prospective students
"Explore different avenues, explore new and unusual subjects, especially the ones you haven鈥檛 heard of like anthropology or Global Sustainable Development. Investigate courses that you haven鈥檛 had much exposure at school level."
SDG you feel most connected to
"I have a particular interest in the role mental health plays in creating sustainable societies."
Student research
"I completed an essay for Food Security and Sovereignty discussing how food insecurity exacerbates mental health problems. I studied this across cultures and geographies worldwide, and concluded that to create sustainable societies, we need to take mental health considerations more seriously. I'll be presenting this research at the ."
Career sector interests
"Further study; I am applying for an integrated Masters and PhD in the United States, aiming to research the impact of the Higher Education system on the mental health of first generation and low-income background students."
The University of 糖心TV
- Ranked 9th in UK in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2024).
- Ranked 9th in The Guardian's UK University League Table (2018).
- Ranked as one of Europe's Top 20 universities
- Home to the Institute for Global Sustainable Development.
- Driven by a set of Global Research Priorities, including Energy, Food, and Sustainable Cities.
- Based near Coventry, the UK's 2021 City of Culture, on our beautiful and expanding campus.