MSc Environmental Entrepreneurship
ApplyKey facts
- Start date: September
- Study mode and duration: 12 months full-time; 24 or 36 months part-time (on campus); 60 months professional development route
Eligibility: All academic backgrounds accepted
Work placement: MSc includes industry-based work
Award: Only engineering department of its kind in Scotland with an Athena SWAN Gold Award
Study with us
- suitable programme for graduates of any background
- develop skills to contribute to environmental improvement and the circular economy
- learn how to identify business opportunities
- carry out a four-month project for a client
Accreditation
This degree is accredited by the
- Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
- Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
- Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT)
- Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE)
on behalf of the Engineering Council as: meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree.*
See Joint Board of Moderators website for further information.
*It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.
Why this course?
This unique course, running since 2008 – the first of its kind in Europe – meets the needs of graduate students who want to contribute to environmental improvement and the circular economy, and learn how to identify and evaluate business opportunities. Students are accepted from all backgrounds (social sciences, arts, engineering, law, chemistry, maths, physics, geology, biology and business).
The course is suitable for anyone who'd like to refocus their career on environmental or sustainable entrepreneurship. You'll develop skills to enable you to launch new ventures, strategies, products and technologies that address society's environmental and natural resource problems. It's a collaboration between the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship.
It has contributions from four other departments:
- Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management
- Economics
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
- Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering
Although the course is offered by an engineering department, it's unique in that it accepts students from all backgrounds (social sciences, arts, engineering, law, chemistry, maths, physics, geology, biology and business). You'll have the opportunity to select class options from a wide range of subjects to suit your background.

What you'll study
You'll undertake four core modules and a wide range of optional modules. Each class is normally taught for two hours per week over eight to 11 weeks. Following successful completion of the taught component, you’ll undertake a MSc dissertation from June to August.
Work placement
The Client-Based Environmental Entrepreneurship in Practice class has been developed for this MSc. This class has no formal teaching – instead you'll carry out a four-month project of interest to a client, while at the same contributing to ecopreneurship in practice.
Flexible learning
Scottish/EU students can also choose to study through Flexible Learning. This is initially a non-graduating route. You register for one module at a time and have the option to build up credits eventually leading to a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or MSc. You can take up to five years to achieve the qualification.
This option is popular with those in employment, who may wish to undertake modules for Continuing Professional Development purposes.
Students from Scotland/EU who do not meet the normal MSc entry requirements for this programme are welcome to apply through the Flexible Learning route.
Client-Based Environmental Entrepreneurship In Practice
This class, run by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, is a client-based project work where you carry out a project of interest to a client while at the same contributing to environmental entrepreneurship in practice.
The potential projects are identified by the students. The aims of each project are defined in terms of progressive risks in effecting a solution. The first aim has a high chance of success and low risk of failure; the second aim is more challenging but capable of solution given initiative and energy on the part of the students; and the third aim can have a 'blue skies' element, a real research challenge and consequently a high risk of failure but success will demonstrate exceptional competence and initiative.
The class manager approves all the final chosen project topics. The project has a four-month duration and is carried out between January and April.
Please note this class is only for MSc Environmental Entrepreneurship students.
Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methods
In this class, run by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, students will acquire familiarity with, and practice of, research techniques, and examine different ways of, and gain experience in, presenting research results.
The class discusses the key principles, and practical exercises, on both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including survey methods, interviewing techniques, use of census data and statistical methods.
The class also includes discussion of ethical issues.
Finally, there is dissertation-related teaching on choosing a research question and a research method, and writing a research proposal. This is a semester 1 and 2 class but meetings do not take place every week.
Entrepreneurial Management & Leadership
The class, run by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, helps participants better understand their leadership style and also understand the key characteristics and behaviours of entrepreneurial leaders. Entrepreneurial leadership is distinct and different from leadership found in large corporates. Entrepreneurial leaders tend to be more adept at exploring and exploiting opportunities in the marketplace and dealing with constant change and competition. This class also explores the importance of entrepreneurial management and how start-ups and SMEs can benefit from having a programmed approach for business growth. Entrepreneurial management shows similarities to management functions in established organisations – strategic planning, marketing.
Students pick one of the following:
Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Commercialisations
This class, run by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, aims to provide engineers and scientists with a better understanding of what it takes to create and grow technology-based businesses. Specifically, it aims to provide students with:
- an appreciation of the intrinsic value of entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialisation activities to business
- a set of frameworks to better understanding and more successfully engage in high-tech business opportunities
- a better appreciation and understanding of management in a complex, uncertain and interdisciplinary high-tech business environment
or
New Venture Creation (Spring School)
This class, run by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, is designed to provide a practical introduction to business modelling and understanding of how new ventures are developed. The class is multi-disciplinary in nature and integrates within it the main business disciplines. It focuses upon the processes within new businesses but draws comparisons with larger organisations and as such introduces a more entrepreneurial approach to the career patterns of individuals who pursue careers in larger organisations. The class will not follow the more traditional lecture pattern but will be highly interactive with class participants being involved in individual and group activities which will encourage creative thinking and “learning by doing” in addressing the real opportunities and challenges that face the first-time entrepreneur.
Contaminated Land*
Within the background of land redevelopment (residential, industrial/commercial and gardens/parks), this class aims to provide insights into the remediation of contaminated land, including the regulatory framework and risk assessment, sampling and analysis, and various remedial techniques for contaminated land. Teaching staff: Dr Christine Switzer.
Circular Economy & Transformations Towards Sustainability (10 credits)
The class, run by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, introduces circular economy as a systems-based concept in which production is designed to be restorative and resilient, while waste is designed out of the system. Circular economy is thus featured as a reaction to the conventional dispensation of the linear ‘make-use-dispose’ economy, and as a framework for the development and management of a sustainable, ‘waste-as-a-resource’ economic system. The implications of the concept for research, policy and industrial practice are also explored as these relate to innovation and knowledge production; social trends and consumer behaviour; conservation and sustainable use of energy and material resources; climate change and environmental sustainability; and design of business models for green enterprise development and for sustainable growth and employment generation.
City Systems & Infrastructure
This class will examine the key systems and infrastructure on which urban centres depend and promote critical reflection on how the design, management and monitoring of these systems impact on the social, environmental and economic sustainability of cities. The use of case studies will allow students to engage with real-world situations, challenges and opportunities and consider multiple infrastructure and technology options for sustainable city strategies. Teaching staff: Dr Neil Ferguson
Electrical Power Systems
This class, from the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, aims to provide students with an understanding of the operation of modern electrical power systems along with the techniques to undertake a basic technical analysis of key electrical devices and systems. Students learn the basis of operation of modern electrical power systems incorporating renewable energy technologies and the consequences for the environment and energy security. The class covers complex numbers and fundamental analysis techniques such as Kirchoff’s current and voltage laws to solve power flow problems.
Energy Economics*
Energy resources (such as crude oil, natural gas, coal, biomass, wind and sunlight) can be harvested and converted into useful forms to produce energy commodities (such as petroleum and diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity) that can be used to provide energy services for human activities.
The class begins by studying the forces that generate both demand for and supply of energy resources and energy commodities. It considers what factors determine the way those commodities are transported to users, and how residuals are disposed of. It investigates the roles of alternative market and regulatory structures on these activities, the impacts of such activities and their environmental consequences.
The class identifies criteria required for the efficient provision and use of energy commodities and resources and reasons why efficiency is rarely achieved. The class adopts a practical, applied orientation throughout. Applications include the evaluation of renewable energy projects and the economic analysis of nuclear power.
Energy Modelling & Monitoring (10 credits)
This module provides an understanding of the theoretical and operational principles underlying simulation modelling of energy supply and demand systems and their environmental impact. The emphasis is on practical computer lab-based modelling exercises. It covers detailed energy system simulation, supply-demand matching, energy management and monitoring.
Energy Resources & Policy
Against the background of international commitments on atmospheric emissions, diminishing fossil fuel resources and the liberalisation of energy markets, this class examines sustainable options for energy production, supply and consumption.
The aim is to give students an understanding of current trends, and to enable a critical evaluation of emerging ideas, technologies and policies.
Environmental Economics*
The main objective of this class is to provide a grounding in the economics of the environment. It demonstrates what economic analysis can contribute to discussions about the use of our natural capital (or environmental resource) base, and to discussions about policy responses to environmental problems.
A key element of the economic approach to environmental policy is ‘value for money’ - designing policy interventions that give the greatest environmental improvement for any particular budget outlay. But economic analysis also deals with questions about sustainability (and so impacts on future generations) and equity between different individuals, groups, and countries.
This class pays particular attention to international environmental problems. Such problems have been high on the agenda for environmental policy interventions since the Rio Summit of 1992, yet are ones that seem to be the most difficult to make progress with. We examine why this has been the case, making use of the growing literature on international environmental agreements.
The class adopts a practical, applied orientation throughout. Applications include transport policy, water quality and availability, global climate change, and loss of biological diversity.
Environmental Impact Assessment*
This class, run by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, provides an introduction to the methods used to predict environmental impacts, and evaluates how these may be used to integrate environmental factors into decisions. The class draws principally on the UK planning context of environmental impact assessment of individual projects (project EIA), but also takes account of EIA experience in other countries and international organisations. Students are also introduced to key principles of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).
Environmental Pollution Management*
In this class, you'll develop in-depth knowledge and skills regarding the science, engineering and management of environmental pollution control approaches to protect public health. You'll benefit from research-led teaching at the interface between public health and environmental engineering, with a particular focus on risk-centred methods. Lecture sessions are complemented by industrial and government case studies in contemporary air quality management practice. Teaching staff: Dr Iain Beverland.
Financial Engineering
This module introduces elements of financial engineering that are applied to reduce risk of business insolvency and enhance the financial robustness of business enterprises. Questions addressed include: What is the best strategy for survival and growth?; What are the options for financing investment projects both in the private and public sectors of an economy?; How would the financial engineer propose to combine loan capital and equity capital to raise funds for an investment initiative; How would he/she advise his/her company/organization to build its investment portfolio to ensure financial security in volatile market conditions?
Foundations of Operational Research & Business Analysis
This class provides an introduction to, and an overview, of the fields of Operational Research and Business Analysis. The class explores the generic problem solving process which underpins the provision of decision support. In particular, it will consider the role of modelling in that process.
The activities of problem structuring, data collection and analysis, identification and evaluation of options, communication and implementation of learning, findings and recommendations will each be discussed along with the issues pertaining to each of them. In addition, the links between each of these activities will be explored. Basic methodological issues will be considered and debated.
Relevant and up-to-date case studies will be used to illustrate key points and to initiate debate. Time will be spent appreciating the role of problem structuring methods and a variety of other approaches to modelling will be briefly discussed in order to introduce students to key techniques and tools in the field.
Geographical Information Systems
This class provides a thorough introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
GIS are spatial databases which can handle spatial information in a far greater variety of ways than was previously possible with paper maps. By capturing, manipulating, integrating and displaying digital spatial data, a wide range of different analyses can be carried out and questions addressed.
The class covers the key theoretical principles of GIS, provides practical hands-on exercises using current state-of-the-art GIS systems, including raster (IDRISI Andes) and vector (ArcGIS) based software, and demonstrates how GIS can be used for spatial query and analysis.
Global Water Policy*
This class aims to provide you with the ability to:
- recognise the issues relating to overall global water policy and its interactions with other global issues
- discuss the impact of climate change and economic development on water resources and availability
- explore the different implementation issues based on regional case studies
- explore the role of stakeholders on the acceptance and achievement of policy objectives
Public Health Studies*
This class, run by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, develops students’ understanding of public and environmental health, and the multidisciplinary approach in preventative and proactive action to safeguarding public health.
A diverse range of subjects are covered ranging from the risk assessment approach taken with respect to protecting the public from private water supplies, to the role of environmental health professionals in the prevention of the spread of infectious disease.
The class also provides students with fundamental knowledge regarding Health Improvement/Promotion and Health Protection, including the different methods used and the variety of agencies involved.
Sustainable Product Design & Manufacturing
Social Entrepreneurship
There is a growth in the number of entrepreneurs starting businesses with social and environmental purposes. This module examines ideas and practices for addressing social needs. These include social enterprises, collaborative innovation networks, hubs, digital platforms, and support intermediaries. The module is centred around how students can start their own social entrepreneurship projects. The module will consist of a selection of presentations and discussions around social innovation and social entrepreneurship.
Waste Management & Landfill Design*
This class covers organisational and regulatory aspects of waste management practice in the UK: legislation, composition of domestic and industrial wastes, storage, collection, reception, and disposal of solid wastes, clinical wastes, sewage sludge disposal, recycling and recovery. Teaching staff: Dr Tara Beattie
Family Enterprise
Family businesses represent an important part of all businesses across different types of economies, encompassing larger to smaller firms. The specific nature of family business compared to other businesses emphasises the importance of family members on business creation, strategy and growth. In this class, participant explore aspects of governance, work ethics and succession as well as family dynamics, conflict on gender issues. The class, run by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, gives students insights into effective and professional work with and within family firms.
Internationalisation & Growth
The Internationalisation & Growth Lab recognizes that in today’s globalised business world, ventures often face international competition and international opportunities from inception. Therefore, internationalisation is no longer the premise of larger, more established corporations but it also happens in new and small firms. Identifying and selecting international markets for entry requires considering a number of factors and planning accordingly. This lab, run by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, will equip students with the critical and applied understanding needed to plan international market selection and entry
Strategic Innovation Management
This class, run by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, is designed to build knowledge of the processes underpinning innovation. The class will provide an introduction to the main concepts and frameworks related to definitions, processes, strategies, organisation and sources of innovation. Towards the end of the class, new trends in innovation, such as social innovation and frugal innovation, will also be covered.
International Development
This class, run by the Department of Economics, introduces contemporary issues in the economics of development. The course aims to combine insights from theoretical economic models with empirical evidence regarding issues in low-income countries.
Games of Strategy
In many environments, decisions are not made in a vacuum: what any individual does affects the wellbeing of others, and vice-versa. When this is the case decision-making requires some very careful thought indeed. Game Theory recognises this inter-dependence of decisions, and through its study students will develop skills to analyse such strategic environments using appropriate game theoretic tools, enabling them to enhance their decision-making ability in environments where they face strategic adversaries. Whilst Game Theory is used extensively in Economics, it is also of great importance in the business environment whenever interactions take place at a strategic level.
Renewable Energy Marine Systems
This class gives you an understanding of the ways in which the maritime environment can offer a significant contribution, in a sustainable manner, to global energy demands. You’ll undertake engineering assessments of the design and operation of marine energy generating systems.
Energy Modelling & Monitoring

We've been awarded the Athena Swan Gold Award for our work supporting women in engineering.
Learning & teaching
The Client-Based Environmental Entrepreneurship in Practice class has been developed for this MSc. The class has no formal teaching and instead sees you, working in small groups to carry out a project of interest to a client while at the same contributing to ecopreneurship in practice. The project has a four-month duration, carried out between January and April.
Living Laboratory for Sustainability
You'll benefit from this innovative initiative which encourages students and researchers to carry out projects that aim to work towards the enhancement of the university’s sustainability. Get involved with Sustainable Strathclyde.
Facilities
Our £6 million state-of-the-art laboratory facilities are well-equipped with high-technological instrumentation and available space to investigate:
- environmental & molecular microbiology
- environmental chemistry
- analytical chemistry
- geomechanics & soil quality
- structural design & material science
Teaching staff
The delivery team is made up of leading academics from the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship.
- Elsa João -– Course Leader, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Ranjit Das – Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship
- Matthew Hannon – Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship
The course also has contributions from the departments of Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Economics, and Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering.
Strathclyde Inspire
The University is home to the Strathclyde Inspire, a global support network for current students and graduates. The network has supported many internationally successful student and graduate businesses and yours could be next!

The programme offers modules with unique content about the circular economy, sustainable development and environmental impact assessments.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements | Normally a first-class or second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in any degree discipline. All backgrounds considered, including social sciences, arts, engineering, law, chemistry, maths, physics, geology, biology and business. Lower degree classifications may be considered if there is strength elsewhere (for example, relevant work experience, excellent final project/dissertation, very strong academic letter of reference, very strong application statement linking with career goals). |
---|---|
English language requirements | If English is not your first language, please visit our English language requirements page for full details of the requirements in place before making your application. |
Professional Development Courses | Alternative qualifications or professional experience may be considered by the course leader (Scottish/EU students only), depending on the class chosen. Find out more about our Flexible Learning options. |
Pre-Masters preparation course
The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non EU/UK) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde. The Pre-Masters programme provides progression to a number of degree options.
Upon successful completion, you'll be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 100 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Visit our international students' sectionChat to a student ambassador
Want to know more about what it’s like to be a student at the University of Strathclyde? A selection of our current students are here to help!
Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.
Chat now!Fees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.
Scotland | £9,600 |
---|---|
England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £9,600 |
International | £24,450 |
Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Additional costs | International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.

During the course, I have developed a great number of specialist knowledge and professional skills including how to contribute to environmental improvement and the circular economy, both on a personal and business level.
How can I fund my course?
Scottish postgraduate students
Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from England
Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Wales
Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Northern Ireland
Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
International students
We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Faculty of Engineering Scholarships for International Students
If you're an international applicant applying for a full-time, on-campus postgraduate taught course in the Faculty of Engineering, you'll be eligible to apply for a scholarship award equivalent to a 15% reduction of your tuition fees, which will typically be £3,670.
In addition to this, we also have a limited number of Dean’s International Excellence Awards for our postgraduate taught applicants. These scholarships are worth £5,000 and £8,000 and will be offered to exceptional applicants at postgraduate taught level only. Applicants need to only submit one application and will be considered for all levels of postgraduate taught scholarships.
Scholarships are available for applicants to all self-funded, new international (non-EU) fee paying students holding an offer of study for a full-time, on campus postgraduate taught course in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Strathclyde.
Please note you must have an offer of study for a full-time course at Strathclyde before applying. You must start your full-time postgraduate taught course at Strathclyde in the coming academic year (2023-24), this can be in September 2023 or January 2024.
The deadline for applications for the Dean’s International Excellence Award is 30 June 2023.
Faculty of Engineering Scholarships for International StudentsCareers
This MSc course in Environmental Entrepreneurship is not only for those graduates who see their future in small and medium sized enterprises. It can also lead to traditional graduate employment in large companies who need employees who can think entrepreneurially and make a positive contribution to environmental issues.
As a graduate you may follow a broad range of careers including:
- manufacturing
- food industry
- tourism
- engineering
- retailing
- business
- energy & technology sectors
- local or central government
You may follow a consultancy path or choose to start your own business. If you want to start your own business, the Strathclyde Entrepreneurial Network (SEN) group gives practical help to graduates from this MSc in relation to innovative ideas in the area of environmental entrepreneurship. SEN is designed to support Strathclyde alumni with new business creation and business growth.
Where are they now?
Many of our graduates are in work or further study.*
Job titles include:
- Lecturer
- Manager
- Organisational Improvement Practitioner
- Project Manager
- Small Business Owner
Employers include:
- 10 Trophies
- AH Consulting
- Petronas
- University of Aberdeen
*Based on the results of the national Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey.
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Life in GlasgowApply
During the application process, you're required to upload the following supporting documents. If these are not provided, we'll not be able to process your application:
- certified individual semester mark sheets/academic transcript showing subjects taken and grades achieved for all qualifications; please note consolidated transcripts are not accepted
- if still studying, provide individual semester mark sheets to date
- certified degree certificate for all qualifications
- if still studying, provide this after completing the qualification
- provide evidence of suitable English language proficiency if English is not your first language, or you're not from a “UKVI recognised "Majority English Speaking" country”; check the University’s language requirements
- if you have been out of full-time education for over two years, provide a CV, detailing employment history, organisations worked for and a brief description of roles and responsibilities
- a copy of your passport containing your photo and passport number
- a copy of your sponsor letter/scholarship award (if appropriate)
- names, job titles and email addresses for two nominated referees
Start date: Sep 2023
Environmental Entrepreneurship
Start date: Sep 2023
Environmental Entrepreneurship
Contact us
Have you considered?
We've a range of postgraduate taught and Masters courses similar to this one which may also be of interest.