Infrastructure and Sustainable Development
PGDip or PGCert or MSc
Key facts
Start dates
January 2020 / September 2020
Course length
Full time: 12 months
Part time: up to 5 years
Department
School of the Built Environment
Accreditation(s)
The MSc is seeking full accreditation with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Overview
Our MSc Infrastructure and Sustainable Development offers a new approach to studying infrastructure planning and delivery. It is designed to make the step change needed to meet the sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
The course is ideal if you have or are seeking a career in the field of infrastructure planning and international development in:
- government
- the private sector
- NGOs
- multilateral and bilateral development agencies.
By engaging with new and innovative thinking on infrastructure, you'll learn to respond to the imperatives of rapidly growing cities. And in doing so achieve poverty alleviation, ecological sustainability and local economic growth.
Our core teaching offers a unique mix of theoretical perspectives and practical skills covering:
- governance
- human development
- ecological sustainability
- finance
- programme/project planning.
You'll be prepared to engage with more holistic approaches to decision making and problem solving. So you can deliver infrastructure that provides for both inclusive and sustainable development.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
The course is open to applicants who hold a 2.1 undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent).
We will actively consider applications from candidates with lower degrees, who can effectively portray suitable credentials, and usually have an appropriate professional background.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English you will require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all components.
OR
An equivalent English language qualification acceptable to the University.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
There is no formal application deadline. We advise applying in good advance to secure places.
Applicants should factor in any time needed to meet offer conditions, arrange accommodation, and obtain a UK Tier 4 visa (if applicable). Distance learning study can sometimes close sooner than on-campus study, as it requires additional Faculty preparation.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
International Field Trip
The cost is partially subsidized by the University but you will need to:
- cover the cost of your travel to the destination
- make a contribution to the accommodation and food costs.
The total cost will be in the region of £600-800. This may vary depending on flight and visa costs from your location to the destination.
Intensive Study Periods
Open-learners must find their own accommodation and cover expenses for travel, food and accommodation. To give an indication of the cost:
The University's Scott House offers single en suite rooms with self-catering facilities at £50.40 per night subject to availability (2018 rates).
B&B accommodation or rooms in Oxford University Colleges start from approximately £40 per night.
Hotel accommodation starts from approximately £100 per night.
Learning and assessment
There are two modes of delivery for the MSc Infrastructure and Sustainable Development:
- full-time on campus
- open learning (distance learning).
The modules are self-contained so you can start the course either in September or January.
All students have the option to participate in one international field trip and four intensive study periods (one per module).
Study modules
The course consists of: four core modules; research methods; and a final dissertation.
The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
We use an 'applied' approach to learning, sometimes called 'problem based learning' or PBL. It leads to a more challenging and industry relevant experience. You'll learn in groups and work through problems adapted from complex real situations and case studies.
Full time
Our teaching methods include:
- lectures
- webinars
- online discussion forums
- skills workshops
- seminars
- practical and project work.
Your time will usually consist of:
- two 2-hour weekly sessions for each of the two core modules
- one 1½ hour session for research methods
- independent learning and work on coursework assignments
Distance learning
Online learning material is provided via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Teaching methods include:
- webinars
- recorded lectures
- discussion forums
- Question and Answer sessions
- online collaboration with peers for assessments.
You will have the opportunity for face-to-face contact within the Intensive Study Periods.
Field trips
International Field Trip
This a great learning opportunity which usually takes place during the Easter break. We expect that most students from your cohort will take part.
Intensive Study Periods
Twice a year open-learners are invited to join full-time students on campus for a three-day intensive study period.
These activities carry an extra cost. Please see the Additional costs section of this page for more details.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
You will be assessed solely by coursework. There are no examinations on the programme due to the problem-solving nature of our teaching methods.
You will develop and practice different skills based on the range of assessment methods which include:
- report writing
- verbal presentations
- essays
- journal entries
- quizzes
- collaborative group assignments.
Research
The School of the Built Environment has an impressive list of funders and clients covering UK and EU government, research funding councils and industry.
Research areas and clusters
The Impact Assessment Unit (IAU) brings together one of the largest teams of expertise in this field worldwide. Our clients include:
- the European Commission
- UK Government/Agencies
- local government
- the commercial sector.
Infrastructure and energy continue to be a key focus as they are the essential components of a rapidly urbanising world.
The IAU works closely with colleagues in the following research groups:
We have links with universities worldwide so there are exciting opportunities for collaborative research, exchanges and study overseas.
After you graduate
Career prospects
Graduates of the School of the Built Environment have an outstanding employment record. To provide an example, usually 100% of the graduates of the MSc Project Management in the Built Environment are in employment within six months after graduation.
Local, national and international planning consultancies, construction companies, developers, project management consultancies, bilateral and multilateral development agencies and large NGOs all recruit our graduates.
Many of these organisations visit the School regularly to meet students for graduate positions. Our graduates are recognised as having an excellent level of communication, presentation and problem-solving skills.
Free language courses for students - the Open Module
Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Please note that the free language courses are not available if you are:
- studying at a Brookes partner college
- studying on any of our teacher education courses or postgraduate education courses.
Programme Changes: On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.
For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.