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Sustainability

Course overview

The Sustainability program delivers cross-disciplinary qualifications aimed at producing sustainability professionals able to extend their discipline-specific skills with an appreciation of the technological, commercial, legal, environmental, governmental and societal imperatives underpinning sustainability issues.

The Master of Sustainability builds upon the Graduate Diploma with a capstone experience in which students research current sustainability problems in collaboration with a workplace (including their own employment if appropriate). The definition of 'workplace' is broad and includes government, academic, industry, business and not-for-profit organisations. The workplace can be in Sydney, elsewhere in Australia or overseas. The project's aim is to assist in delivering solutions to the partner organisation's sustainability problems.

Contact and further information

Program Director: Manfred Lenzen
sustainability.program@sydney.edu.au

Course resolutions

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1 Course codes

Code Course title
GCSUSTAI-01 Graduate Certificate in Sustainability
GNSUSTAI-01 Graduate Diploma in Sustainability
MASUSTAI-01 Master of Sustainability

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for these courses is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

3 Master's type

The master's degree in these resolutions is an advanced learning master's course.

4 Embedded courses in this sequence

(1) The embedded courses in this sequence are:

(a) Graduate Certificate in Sustainability

(b) Graduate Diploma in Sustainability

(c) Master of Sustainability

(2) Providing candidates satisfy the admission requirements for each stage, a candidate may progress to the award of any course in this sequence. Only the highest award completed will be conferred.

5 Admission to candidature

(1) With approval from the Dean, available places will be offered to qualified applicants according to the following admissions criteria:

(2) Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Sustainability requires:

(a) a degree of Bachelor from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification; or

(b) experience which is considered to demonstrate the knowledge and aptitude required to undertake the units of study.

(3) Admission to the Graduate Diploma in Sustainability requires:

(a) a degree of Bachelor from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification; or

(b) completion of the requirements of the Graduate Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification.

(4) Admission to the Master of Sustainability requires:

(a) a degree of Bachelor with a credit average from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification; or

(b) completion of the requirements of the Graduate Diploma in Sustainability from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification.

6 Requirements for award

(1) The units of study that may be taken for these awards are set out in the table for Sustainability postgraduate courses. With the approval of the Dean and the program coordinator, candidates for the graduate certificate, graduate diploma or master's degree, with special aims or interests, may be allowed to substitute up to 12 credit points with relevant postgraduate units from outside the table.

(2) To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Sustainability a candidate must complete 24 credit points, including:

(a) 6 credit points of core units of study;

(b) 6 credit points of selective units of study; and

(c) 12 credit points of units of study selected from the remaining selective units of study or elective units of study.

(3) To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Sustainability a candidate must complete 48 credit points, including:

(a) 6 credit points of core units of study;

(b) 30 credit points of selective units of study; and

(c) 12 credit points of units of study selected from the remaining selective units of study or elective units of study.

(4) To qualify for the Master of Sustainability a candidate must complete 72 credit points, including:

(a) 6 credit points of core units of study;

(b) 30 credit points of selective units of study;

(c) 12 credit points of units of study selected from the remaining selective units of study or elective units of study; and

(d) 24 credit points of Capstone experience units of study.

7 Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions apply to persons who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2023 and persons who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.

(2) Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2023 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.