Key information
- Duration:
- 3 years full time
- Start date:
- September 2026
- 1st in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
- Top 20 in the UK for Business and Economics (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
- 8th in the UK for Sustainability (QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025)
Sustainable development is key to helping future generations flourish. Despite global efforts, our uncertain world can make this feel difficult to achieve. Is it possible to balance development with ecological preservation? And how can we ensure we meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
More than ever, we need innovative strategies and effective resource management. We need people who understand interconnected challenges to generate long-term prosperity. On this course, you’ll develop the skills to address sustainability issues by examining the complex dynamics of environmental change, human wellbeing and economic growth.
Integrating economics, geography and international development, you'll gain a multidisciplinary perspective on sustainable development. You’ll learn from academics with teaching and research excellence in economics, climate change, sustainability, development, quantitative methods and applied policy analysis.
By studying at Sussex, you will:
- analyse environmental and climate processes
- gain a comprehensive understanding of core economic fields
- develop strong quantitative skills
- learn to design policies for development issues, including economic stability, food security, global health, migration, displacement and the climate crisis.
When you graduate, you’ll be ready for a wide range of career opportunities. This could include:
- economic consultancy, policy or data science
- positions within public-sector agencies, research institutions and think tanks
- opportunities linked to the growing green economy.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Course content
This is a joint-honours course, offering you a combinations of subjects, each taking up 50% of your time.
Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits
Your degree
In your first year, you’ll build a strong foundation in economics by exploring core principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics. You’ll also develop essential mathematical skills tailored to economics, providing the analytical tools needed for more advanced study.
Alongside, you will be introduced to climate change, environmental risks and global development, in a rigorous fashion by exploring policy and politics that will help you understand the challenges of managing natural resources and mitigating environmental crises. You’ll move on to more advanced study and engage in real-word applications. Concurrently, you will explore environmental and sustainable management issues while looking at challenges and innovations in global development. This combination of rigorous theoretical training and real-world applications will prepare you to tackle the intersection of economics, environment, and development.
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include a combination of Lectures and Seminars.
67%: Lecture
33%: Seminar
Assessment
Assessments typically involve an examination that carries greater weight and one or two secondary assessments.
30%: Coursework
70%: Examination
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 240 hours of contact time and about 960 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
- Introduction to Economics
- Introduction to Mathematics for Finance and Economics
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Development: Paradigms, Policy and Politics
Spring teaching
- Microeconomics 1
- Macroeconomics 1
- Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
- Global Development Challenges and Innovations
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2026 for more module details.
Your degree
In your second year, you’ll build on foundational knowledge with advanced study in microeconomics and econometrics, equipping you with the tools to analyse complex economic systems. You’ll study environmental economics to understand the economic drivers of environmental challenges and explore practical solutions. Alongside these core modules, you’ll sharpen your technical skills through data coding and visualization, gaining proficiency in the techniques essential for modern economic and environmental analysis.
You’ll also broaden your perspective on climate change by rigorously examining its causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies. You’ll be introduced to different environmental perspectives on development and geographies of the living earth.
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include a combination of Lectures and Seminars.
67%: Lecture
33%: Seminar
Assessment
Assessments typically involve an examination that carries greater weight and one or two secondary assessments.
30%: Coursework
70%: Examination
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 240 hours of contact time and about 960 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
- Microeconomics 2
- Introduction to Econometrics
- Economic Perspectives on Development
- Global Climate Change
Spring teaching
- Environmental Economics
- Data Coding and Visualization
- Environmental Perspectives on Development
- Geographies of the Living Earth
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2026 for more module details.
Study abroad (optional)
Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you
If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student
Placement (optional)
To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.
Find out more about placements and internships
Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
Your degree
In your final year, you’ll deepen your expertise by focusing on climate change economics, the economics of development, and advanced data science. You’ll also have the flexibility to tailor your studies to your interests, with options in areas like international trade, applied econometrics, and sustainability in policy. To further expand your understanding of sustainable development, you can choose from optional modules covering topics such as environmental disasters, political ecology, environmental justice, food security, and global development politics.
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include a combination of Lectures and Seminars.
67%: Lecture
33%: Seminar
Assessment
Assessments typically involve an examination that carries greater weight and one or two secondary assessments..
30%: Coursework
70%: Examination
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 240 hours of contact time and about 960 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
- Climate Change Economics
Spring teaching
- The Economics of Development
- Economics and Data Science
Options
You choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
Autumn teaching
- Topics in Growth and Inequality
- Applied Econometrics
- International Trade
- Advanced Sustainable Development: Sustainability in Policy and Practice
- Disasters, Environment and Development
Spring teaching
- Political Ecology and Environmental Justice
- Global Environmental Change
- Global Food Security
- Environment and Development in World Politics
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2026 for more module details.
This course is currently subject to validation, in line with our procedures for assuring the quality of our degrees. This means that some course detail and content may change as we develop this new course. The validation process will be finished before your course starts. Keep an eye out for exciting developments to this course.
Silver
The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive
Our staff
For those aspiring to drive meaningful change through rigorous analysis, innovative policy design, and effective governance, this programme offers the foundation to make a lasting impact on global sustainability challenges” Diego De la Fuente Stevens
Assistant Professor in Economics and Course Convenor
Prof Grace Carswell
Professor of Geography and International Development
Mr Diego De La Fuente Stevens
Assistant Professor in Economics
Prof David Ockwell
Professor of Sustainability and International development
Careers
We'll help prepare you for an impactful and diverse career. You'll be able to help shape policies and strategies that drive sustainable and inclusive growth.
You'll graduate ready to pursue a range of careers, including:
- economic and sustainability analyst
- data scientist
- policy advisor across a variety of sectors.
Your job opportunities will span industries such as renewable energy, environmental consultancy, international development, financial services, and technology. You may also find roles in public-sector organisations, NGOs and global institutions.
Working while you study
Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work
Design your future at Sussex
Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.
As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:
- our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations including Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Gatwick Airport and the Knepp Rewilding Project
- one-to-one coaching with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
- entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.
Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you
Winner
Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
National Enterprise Educator Awards 2024
Winner
Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2024
Top 50
Best Universities for Work Experience in the UK
2025 RateMyPlacement Awards