Program Overview
The Sustainability and Adaptation in the Built Environment at Centre for Alternative Technology is a MSc programme in Humanities over 18 months, delivered Hybrid. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of humanities. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Sustainability and Adaptation in the Built Environment programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 18 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: Hybrid
- English requirement: IELTS 6
- Tuition: GBP 6,500 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 5,500 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
- Location: Wales, United Kingdom
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Sustainability and Adaptation in the Built Environment programme are prepared for diverse careers in humanities:
- Researcher / Academic
- Cultural Programme Manager
- Editor / Writer
- Translator / Interpreter
- Museum Curator
- Communications Specialist
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
- A compulsory double module in September and October Sustainability and Adaptation Concepts and Planning (30 credits)
- Two further compulsory modules: Energy Flow in Buildings (March \x96 15 credits) and Built Environment Applied Project (July \x96 15 credits)
- Four optional modules from the choices available throughout the remainder of the academic year (or over two years if studying part time)(15 credits each, total of 60 credits)
- A dissertation (60 credits)
- A typical 15 credit module lasts 8 weeks and students are expected to spend about 150 hours on study and assignments. Unless students are studying the module by distance learning it also includes a residential stay at CAT which lasts from Monday until Saturday (the time for this residential stay is included in the 150 hours for the module).
- Sustainability and adaptation concepts and planning core 13-19th September and 12-17th October 2015
- Ecosystem Services, Land use and Water and Waste Managementoptional9-14th November 2015
- Adaptation Transformation Politics and Economicsoptional14 - 19th December 2015
- Cities and Communitiesoptional11-16th January 2016
- Energy Flows in Buildings \x96 Part Aoptional15-20th February 2016
- Energy Provisionoptional14-19th March 2016
- Energy Flows in Buildings \x96 Part Bcore11-16th April 2016
- Sustainable Materials in the Built Environmentoptional9-14th May 2016
- Built Environment Applied Project or Practice Based Projectcore13-18th June 2016
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Bachelor\'s degree.
- Students who do not possess formal qualifications but who can demonstrate that they have gained appropriate knowledge and skills equivalent to degree standard and that they will benefit from and contribute to the programme, may be accepted. Students may be admitted with advanced standing through the recognition of credit or the accreditation of experiential or certificated learning according to the University of East London Accreditation of (Experiential) Learning (A(E)L) policy.
- A student may gain admission to a programme, with advanced standing, with up to half of the credits associated with the award being achieved through accredited experiential learning, or up two thirds through accredited masters certificated learning. (Where a combination of experiential and certificated learning is involved up to one half of the credits for the award may be achieved through accredited experiential learning with further credits being achieved through accredited certificated learning up to a maximum of two thirds of the credits for the award).
- Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.
- The University and CAT are strongly committed to widening participation and equal opportunity for all.
- In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required.
English Proficiency: IELTS 6 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 6,500 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 5,500 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: GBP 6,500 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 5,500 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
IELTS requirement: 6
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact Centre for Alternative Technology directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About Centre for Alternative Technology
Centre for Alternative Technology
Powys, Wales
The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is a charity and eco-centre in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales dedicated to demonstrating and teaching sustainable development. CAT, despite its name, no...
University Profile- Application Deadline on our courses on a first-come-first-served basis
- Start Date September 2026
- Language English
- Duration 18 months
