Protect your career and our planet in the essential field of sustainability

The diverse field of sustainability is constantly evolving, with new technologies and techniques being developed to tackle the challenges facing the planet. As climate change continues to have extreme environmental and social effects, sustainability professionals who are up-to-date with the latest innovations will be in high demand.

UNE offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in sustainability designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to contribute to a viable and equitable future for all. As a result of our lengthy history of preparing adults for constantly evolving workplaces, our sustainability courses focus on integrating social science with environmental science, to ensure you are future-fit to adapt to the expected changes and advancements in the field. You’ll learn about critical thinking, problem-solving, research and data analysis from leading experts who are engaged in cutting-edge research, have a passion for teaching, and have the experience to help you secure your career in sustainability.

Most of our students choose to study online and become members of a community of adults who bring their life and work experiences together to develop real-world networks for the future. On-campus learners can access campus accommodation, sports facilities and support services. Whether online or on-campus, you can choose to study full-time or part-time over three trimesters.

With UNE, you’ll graduate feeling prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in sustainability, whether you wish to work with NGOs, local communities, in education, research or in a specialist role. By choosing UNE, you’ll be studying with an industry leader in the provision of online lifelong learning. Year after year, students award us the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.

Explore the sustainability courses and specialisations on offer at UNE. 

Courses by study level

Food safety and security, natural resource depletion, climate change and the drive for sustainability are among the most significant global challenges of our time. There is a growing demand for professionals who are skilled at solving economics problems and making decisions relevant to these critical agricultural and natural resource issues.

With UNE’s Bachelor of Agricultural and Resource Economics, you will build specialist quantitative skills to pivot your career in a diverse range of agricultural and natural resource settings.

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

With UNE's Bachelor of Agriculture, you will gain practical, production-oriented, specialist skills. You will have the paddock-ready skills and knowledge to solve problems and adapt to future challenges as a professional. Choose a major from one of three production-based options — animal, plant, and mixed farming — to gain a specialisation allowing you to enter the agricultural industry with expert knowledge and a technical skillset in the productive management of agriculutral landscapes.

With a Bachelor of Agriculture from UNE you will be well positioned to gain employment across a range of agricultural industries, and fit for the future.

Duration
  • 3 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

With UNE's Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Business you will gain practical, production-oriented skills and knowledge in agriculture together with in-depth skills and knowledge in business, management and finance. You will learn to formulate strategies and become an informed decision maker who can communicate effectively in this rapidly evolving industry.

Our combined degree enables you to specialise by studying one of four business majors to complement the paddock-ready skills you gain from the Bachelor of Agriculture component. Depending on your business major, you may also focus your agriculture studies by choosing one of six agriculture minors. You will be well positioned for career success with the expertise to adapt to a changing world.

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

Anticipate and respond to the demands of agricultural industries and businesses in a changing global environment and gain a broad range of in-demand legal skills with the UNE Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Laws. In this double degree you will benefit from UNE’s unique position in regional Australia, with the flexibility to build your capabilities in areas that interest you most. With your acquired legal and agricultural knowledge, advanced research skills and technical skillset, you will graduate with broad knowledge and specialist skills for greater career flexibility.

Duration
  • 5 years full-time
  • Up to 12 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Workplaces value employees who have a broad range of real-world skills, and this combined degree will equip you to excel in today’s dynamic working environment. In our Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business, you’ll gain business knowledge and learn to think like an entrepreneur. You’ll develop creative and/or socio-cultural knowledge, plus skills in critical thinking and communication. Our degree fosters the accumulation of knowledge and the acquisition of a diverse set of skills, essential to helping you be an independent thinker, and empowering you to create a new future, new career prospects and the ability to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing modern workplace.

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

The UNE Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws provides you with the opportunity to combine your study of law with an area of interest drawn from a wide variety of the arts, humanities and social sciences. As a double degree for the future, it has been developed in response to the needs of today’s rapidly changing workplaces and a growing employer demand for double degree graduates.

Your choice of arts major allows you to become an expert in a discipline of your choice. The legal knowledge and practical skills will also enable you to pursue many pathways in law, benefiting from UNE’s deep expertise in regional, rural and remote legal issues.

Duration
  • 5 years full-time
  • Up to 12 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Do you dream of a career where you’re helping to address the big issues facing humanity? Or perhaps you crave the excitement of being at the forefront of scientific discovery? Maybe you wish to instil your passion for the environment into future generations? Our Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science is uniquely positioned to help you reach your goals, with wide-spanning knowledge and a diverse set of skills to be adaptable in a rapidly changing world. This combined degree will help lay the foundation for you to acquire the ability to innovate and problem-solve — attributes that are in demand more than ever by employers in Australia and internationally.

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Business and economics make a powerful combination. Graduates with skills in both disciplines are highly sought after for a range of roles in business, government and non-profit organisations.

Studying the combined Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Economics at UNE gives you flexibility to take your career in whichever direction you choose. You will combine a solid grounding in accounting, business ethics, management and marketing with the quantitative and analytical skills needed to solve complex problems in the real world.

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

The world's economies, living standards, commercial and political systems are at the heart of the study of economics. Economics involves weighing up choices and alternatives and seeing how they impact upon businesses, societies and individuals. By applying quantitative analysis to current issues and trends, economists can develop and model scenarios to predict possible results and make recommendations on how to respond to produce the best outcomes.

You will look at how modern economies operate - how they trade and grow, the role of prices, supply and demand, and how business and government both affect and are affected by the economy. The insights economists provide allow organisations and individuals to plan and make better decisions for the future.

You will develop analytical skills to enable you to consider both quantitative and policy-based economic issues - practical skills and knowledge that can be then adapted to a range of careers.

Duration
  • 3 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

With economics and law influencing almost every aspect of society, the UNE Bachelor of Economics/Bachelor of Laws will equip you with a valuable portfolio of knowledge and skills relevant to a wide range of careers. You will graduate with knowledge and skills in the most recent theory and practice of law and an in-depth practical understanding of how the economy works, as well as transferable critical thinking, problem solving and analysis skills to apply to many industries. Study online in a timeframe that suits your lifestyle and get job-ready practical skills to future proof your career.

Duration
  • 5 years full-time
  • Up to 12 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Whether you are looking to re-train to become a Primary or Secondary school teacher, teach different subjects or upgrade your teaching accreditation, the UNE Bachelor of Education (In-Service Conversion) provides a flexible pathway to pivot and grow as an in-demand education professional. Upskill and enhance your on-the-pulse skills for the benefit of your career, your students and the profession at large. Stay relevant and pave the way for a successful teaching career in a supportive, flexible environment.

Please note: those studying music must pass an audition or be granted an audition waiver to gain entry into this course. Find out more.

Duration
  • 1.5 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online

Expand and hone your teaching knowledge while building a highly valuable breadth of skills with the UNE Bachelor of Education (K-12 Teaching). This is a dual sector degree giving you the flexibility to teach in both primary and secondary schools. It is accredited with the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) and is designed to meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. In this course you will have the opportunity to specialise in subject areas that interest you most and gain experience in teaching to a wide range of age groups, culminating in sought-after skills to future-proof your education career.

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

In today's increasingly science and technology-driven world, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is essential to help students develop 21st-century skills such as creativity, critical thinking and problem solving.

If you're passionate about STEM and you want to develop the knowledge and skills to become a sought-after secondary teacher, the UNE Bachelor of Education (Secondary STEM) is for you.

You have the flexibility to design your course from a wide range of teaching areas, including Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Earth and Environmental Science, Mathematics, Computing and Agriculture. Moreover, UNE is currently the only provider of an undergraduate NESA-accredited degree that offers Agriculture as a teaching area. 

Our coursework is contemporary and well-rounded, ensuring you are ready to enter the profession with specialist STEM knowledge and real-world skills to pursue a rewarding teaching career.

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

The environmental problems that we face in a rapidly changing world require solutions developed by skilled scientists and innovators. UNE's Bachelor of Environmental Science gives you a broad foundation in the theories and practice that underpin a multidisciplinary career working to solve environmental issues on regional, national and global environmental scales.

With a range of majors and interdisciplinary minors covering the breadth of environmental science, you will find a program of study that suits you. Access state-of-the-art facilities in our interactive learning environment both on-campus and online, allowing you to tailor your study.

Duration
  • 3 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Geoscience plays a crucial role in finding, extracting and managing earth resources. These minerals and energy resources are essential to almost every aspect of our day-to-day modern life. Studying UNE's Bachelor of GeoScience online or on campus will open doors to a range of opportunities for you in this critical field. Our course has a strong practical focus on earth science, geology and GIS, allowing you to upskill and future fit your career. You will expand your knowledge of our planet's composition, structure and natural geological systems, and hone your skills in managing the earth's resource to secure their continuing contribution to our socio-economic wellbeing in the future.

Duration
  • 3 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

With UNE's Bachelor of Rural Science, you will graduate at the forefront of the agricultural industry ready to solve complex problems in agricultural systems across enterprises, landscapes and the globe. You will have the paddock-ready scientific skills to adapt to future challenges as a professional, and you will gain an understanding of the sustainability of the whole agricultural system from the biophysical (soils, plants and animal production) including environmental, social and economic principles.

You will be fit for the future and well positioned to become a leader in a range of industry contexts from farm management, the corporate world and scientific research.

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus
Bachelor of Science

Constant technological disruption and new discoveries in science influence every aspect of our lives, meaning that there has never been a better time than now to safeguard your future career with scientific knowledge and practical skills. With 20 majors to choose from, UNE’s Bachelor of Science is flexibly delivered by experts in research and teaching. Tailor your degree towards generalist or specialist science, while developing a broad scientific base and refining your abilities in critical analysis and complex problem solving. Our majors span the pure and applied sciences, with specialisation available in traditional disciplines and emerging fields.

Duration
  • 3 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

Studying the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws at UNE will equip you with an extensive portfolio of knowledge and skills to future proof your career. In this comprehensive program of study, you will develop contemporary skills in how to write for, research, argue and apply the law, as well as explore a full breadth of contemporary science topics and issues. You will graduate with knowledge and skills to apply to a wide range of professions, benefitting from UNE's regional, rural and remote expertise in both fields to ensure you are ready to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Duration
  • 5 years full-time
  • Up to 12 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

In a rapidly changing world, there has never been a better time to expand your understanding of science and technology. UNE’s Bachelor of Scientific Studies is designed to provide you with broad scientific background to assist with future employment or to pursue further study. It is also a pathway to transition to a specialised science-based degree if you do not have an educational background in science. Our course encourages the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as skills for communication and lifelong learning, allowing you to apply these skills to your specific field of interest.

With an adaptable skill set you will be ready to respond to the challenges and opportunities in any career.

Duration
  • 3 years full-time
  • 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Work with people to build a better world and make a real difference with the Bachelor of Sustainability at UNE. Our degree integrates the social sciences and humanities with environmental sciences and natural resource management to give you a thorough understanding of sustainability and help you build on your experience to develop real-world strategies that work. By broadening your knowledge, plus honing your critical, analytical and problem-solving skills, you can advance your career while working towards finding tangible solutions for environmental and social dilemmas.

Duration
  • 3 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus
Diploma in Science

Are you interested in studying science and want to explore the topics that interest you? UNE’s Diploma in Science is ideal if you are new to university study and want to get started in science, or if you wish to develop a foundation of skills and knowledge across a broad range of scientific disciplines to supplement your study in another field or add value to your role. Our course is designed to provide you with maximum flexibility, allowing you to tailor your program of study to your individual needs, with guidance and support from our experienced academic staff.

Choose from units across a wide range of scientific disciplines or focus on a specific subject area, and equip yourself with the tools you will need to pursue further study or pivot in your career and thrive in the rapidly changing world of science and technology.

Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Environmental Studies at UNE is a diverse area of study that helps you to understand our natural environment and gain skills to make a tangible impact on our world.

The Undergraduate Certificate in Environmental Studies provides you with a wide range of foundational knowledge and skills in this rapidly evolving area.

Whether you want to experience a taste for university studies, or you're currently working in the field and want to gain tertiary qualifications to boost your skills, this course is the ideal starting point.

Duration
  • 1 year part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

The study of Life and Earth Studies is diverse and multidisciplinary, involving science, geology, ecology, biology, chemistry, evolution and more.

Students at UNE are part of a rich history of life and earth science education in Australia, and benefit from the unique landscape that preserves half a billion years of history.

Our Undergraduate Certificate in Life and Earth Studies equips you with the foundational knowledge and skills to ensure you’re ready for placement in the industry or further study in the field.

Duration
  • 1 year part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

Contribute to world class research by completing a Bachelor of Science with Honours at UNE. Position yourself with advanced scientific knowledge in an era of rapid change. Our honours course goes beyond the normal practical and field training and provides you with a wide range of cross-disciplinary applied research opportunities to foster your development as a skill research professional.

We offer a range of majors spanning the pure and applied sciences, working with UNE's internationally recognised research disciplines. Our flexible, innovative learning environment equips you with advanced discipline knowledge and skills in critical thinking, data analysis and problem-solving to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • 2 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

With UNE's Graduate Certificate in Agriculture, you can expand your professional skills and gain a specialisation in a specific area of agriculture or develop your fundamental knowledge of agricultural science. UNE's Graduate Certificate in Agriculture is an opportunity to fast-track your career via a range of coursework programs designed to develop your expertise. You'll be able to choose your specialist area from options that include general agricultural production, precision agriculture, cotton production, agricultural consulting, sustainable agriculture, sheep and wool science, genetics, soil science, and animal health and nutrition.

Open doors to employment options in this rapidly changing industry and future fit your career.

Duration
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Environmental factors play an increasing role in decision making in many fields. The ability to take these factors into account and improve the productivity and sustainability of environmental systems to meet the current and future needs of communities and industry is in demand in the workplace. UNE's Graduate Certificate in Environmental Science gives you a foundation in environmental science, allowing you to upskill and expand your knowledge, whether you wish to pivot in your career or add value to your role.

With future-proofed skills and an in-depth understanding of environmental problems and their management, you will be better placed to anticipate and respond to the challenges we're facing in a rapidly changing world.

Duration
  • 0.5 or 1 year full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Adapt to an evolving workplace and open the door to new career opportunities with UNE's Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice. Whether you want to create more career choices, hone your specialist skills, or take a new career direction, we will work with you to customise a course to match your skills and aspirations.

Choose from a full breadth of subjects. Avoid getting bogged down in a lengthy, traditional course, and instead, play to your natural strengths, refine your skills and draw on your experience to prepare for the future. And do it all with the support of an expert academic success advisor with 1:1 guidance from start to finish.

Duration
  • 0.5 years full-time
  • 2 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online

In modern economies, the relationships between global growth, prices, supply and demand are complex and dynamic. Using quantitative modelling and critical thinking, economists analyse how these economic forces interact and explore how to solve current challenges to trade, commerce, policy and living standards in a constantly changing world.

With UNE's Graduate Diploma in Economics you will upgrade your analytical skills and build advanced economic knowledge to enhance your career, enabling you to add value in all sectors of business, government and society.

Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Design a bespoke course and prepare for a rapidly evolving workplace with the UNE Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice. Whether you want to advance your career, hone your skills or embark on a new career direction, we'll work with you to design a course to match your skills and aspirations. You will have the freedom to assemble your course from a full breadth of subjects, play to your strengths and draw from your experience to achieve your goals. Learn in a way that suits your timeframe and do it all with the support of an expert academic success advisor — with one-on-one guidance from start to finish. You'll be paving your pathway to the next stage of your career.

Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online

Whether you want to upgrade your expertise or pivot to another scientific speciality, UNE's Graduate Diploma in Science allows you to hone your skills and future fit your career. Flexibly delivered, and with a wide range of majors in diverse scientific disciplines to choose from, you can tailor the course to your strengths and interests. Add value to your role and ensure you can adapt and thrive in the rapidly changing world of science and technology.

Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Communities and regions face complex challenges as they work towards improving living standards and wellbeing. Economists play a critical role in community and regional development by informing the decisions of government and non-government agencies as they strive for sustainable economics growth and stability around the world.

UNE’s Master of Economic and Regional Development will equip you with the expertise to help solve the issues faced by regions and nations as they define their directions and chart a course toward a better future.

Duration
  • 1.5 or 2 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus
Master of Economics

Economics influences almost every aspect of business, government and society. Policy makers and leaders in all organisations need to understand the economics interactions of global political and commercial systems, whilst considering living standards, and resource and environmental constraints. Economists provide these insights and influence decisions about how to prioritise actions and allocate resources in a continuously changing environment.

UNE's Master of Economics is perfectly positioned to build your expertise and hone your analytical skills to solve today’s economic challenges and advance your career.

Duration
  • 1 or 1.5 or 2 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

The world is faced by rapidly advancing environmental challenges, with complex interactions between industry, government and communities driving development in the sector. Be ready to adapt and innovate to produce solutions to tomorrow’s environmental problems with UNE’s Master of Environmental Science and Management.

Our course builds on your expertise with advanced interdisciplinary conceptual and scientific knowledge, provides you with opportunities to hone your applied technical skills in the field or laboratory, and consolidates your applied research and problem-solving skills. With units that cover a range of environmental science specialities and the option to complete a research project, you can tailor the course to meet your needs.

Future proof your career and add value to your role by upgrading your professional knowledge in this constantly changing field.

Duration
  • 1 or 1.5 or 2 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

With a wide range of majors in both the pure and applied sciences, UNE's Master of Scientific Studies provides you with specialised training in your chosen scientific discipline. Do you want to be able to respond to constant technological disruption in the workplace by learning more about big data? Perhaps you are passionate about our natural environments and want to refine your knowledge of Australian plants and animals. Are you upskilling to position yourself at the cutting-edge of new medical discoveries?

Our coursework Master's degree gives you opportunities to future fit your career by expanding on your expertise, upgrading your applied skills, and developing the advanced knowledge needed to solve complex problems in the rapidly changing world of science and technology.

Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

Accelerate your career opportunities with the UNE Master of Teaching (Secondary). Gain the specialist knowledge and skills you need to become a sought-after teacher who makes a difference. Study online in a flexible timeframe that suits your lifestyle. Be positioned at the forefront of educational expertise to make your education career goals a reality.

2024 Teaching scholarships

Starting one of UNE's Teaching courses in 2024? You can get up to $40,000 toward your studies. For more information about the range of teaching scholarships available, register your interest now.

Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

A Doctor of Philosophy is the pinnacle of academic study. Using rigorous and systematic research, combined with critical analysis, you will add to society's understanding of complex issues at the cutting-edge of your discipline or profession.

When you complete your PhD at UNE, you will be recognised as an expert in your area of study. Your original discoveries and innovations will be applied to benefit society and industry in Australia and worldwide.

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • 8 years part-time
Start
  • Research Period 1
  • Research Period 2
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

Become an agent of change in the complex and evolving world of environmental science and play a key role in fixing today’s problems for future generations. With a focus on the major environmental challenges that currently face the world, UNE’s Master of Environmental Science (Research) provides you with the opportunity to work alongside world-class scientists to produce original research and develop specialist knowledge in your field.

At UNE we have a long tradition of producing environmental science research of the highest calibre in a collaborative, innovative academic environment. Future proof your career with knowledge and research skills that are highly valued and be prepared to adapt and respond to the challenges you will face as our understanding of climate change, food security, sustainability and conservation advances.

Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Research Period 1
  • Research Period 2
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

High quality research and analysis allows us to better understand the complex issues we face in industry and society. With UNE's Master of Philosophy by research, your original findings and insights will add to the body of knowledge and inform decision-making in your specialist area.

You will work independently, with personalised support from recognised experts in your area of study every step of the way. Expand your expertise, hone your research skills, and immediately apply your knowledge in a research topic of your choice.

Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Research Period 1
  • Research Period 2
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

Upgrade your knowledge and skills or pivot your career by developing expertise in sustainable, science-based agricultural systems of production through UNE's Master of Rural Science. This postgraduate degree offers a supportive program of independent research related to practical and sustainable production of food and fibre.

UNE is a leading innovator in teaching and research in the agricultural sciences. Your advanced knowledge and skillset will prepare you for high-level work in this rapidly evolving industry.

Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Research Period 1
  • Research Period 2
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online
Master of Science

Understanding and discovery in science drives advancement, providing solutions to the world's health, environmental, agricultural and technological challenges. UNE's Master of Science allows you to study flexibly, to gain expertise and research training, and to contribute to current scientific knowledge. You will be supervised by internationally-recognised scientists and with opportunities to immerse yourself in UNE's vibrant research culture and access to our world-class facilities, develop your skills as a research professional.

Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Research Period 1
  • Research Period 2
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online
Cross-Institutional

If you are enrolled at another university, you can choose to study subjects at UNE that will count towards your course. Apply as a cross institutional student directly and complete one or several individual subjects (units) from the full scope of UNE's discipline areas.

Duration
  • 1 trimester full-time
  • 1 trimester part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus
Non-Award

The world is full of possibilities, with so much to discover and learn. There are endless opportunities to enrich your knowledge to prepare for the future, but what if you don’t want to undertake a full degree? And how can you zero-in on the subjects that matter most to you? That’s what a Non-Award with UNE will help you to achieve.

Studying a Non-Award means you can learn without the need to complete entire course requirements or take on a full course load.  Whether it’s a language you want to learn, a business unit to enhance your career, an improvement of your IT skills, an update on education principles or developing your management style, Non-Award study gives you the flexibility and control to explore what matters to you.

Duration
  • 1 trimester full-time
  • 1 trimester part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1
  • Trimester 2
  • Trimester 3
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus
  • Bespoke Graduate Certificate: design your own 4 unit postgraduate course and have your work experience recognised in the process.
  • ‘Fundamental’ Bespoke Course: choose two, three or four fundamental units from a traditional degree. If you are planning a new direction, or adding a new set of skills to your portfolio, you may want to start with this option. These units provide a foundation, or a ‘base camp’, to return to if you want to later progress to a full degree.
  • ‘Advanced’ Bespoke Course: choose two, three or four advanced units from a full degree. This is a great strategy for staying current in your field, or advancing your knowledge.
  • ‘Critical Content’ Bespoke Course: choose two, three or four units from any of the available units in a degree to create a Critical Content Bespoke Course. This option lets you get the knowledge you need without the time and cost of a full degree.
  • ‘Mix and Match’ Bespoke Course: combine two, three or four units from different degrees and disciplines to design your mix and match Bespoke Course. This option lets you diversify your knowledge.

What our students say

Bachelor of Rural Science graduate Sara Paton leans over a gate on a sunny day on a rural property

Getting hands-on in the practicals, meeting students with similar passions and interesting life experiences, and getting to know our lecturers are some of the great experiences at intensive schools.

Sara Paton, graduate, Bachelor of Rural Science

Find the right major or specialisation for your studies in Sustainability

Prepare for increasing environmental challenges and a growing need for sustainability professionals by studying with UNE. Our courses give you the skills to make a positive impact on the world and tackle the crisis facing the planet right now. Explore our sustainability offerings now.

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Showing 110 of 45 results
Agricultural and Resource Economics
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
UNE's business experts will help you develop your skills in statistical, economic and policy analysis. Safeguard your career in the rapidly changing world of agribusiness that is increasingly focused on sustainable farming practices, natural…

UNE's business experts will help you develop your skills in statistical, economic and policy analysis. Safeguard your career in the rapidly changing world of agribusiness that is increasingly focused on sustainable farming practices, natural resource management and precision agriculture.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Agricultural and Resource Economics Specialist Course Undergraduate
Master of Economics Major Postgraduate
Graduate Diploma in Economics Major Postgraduate
Agricultural Sustainability
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course

UNE’s well-regarded agriculture academics will introduce you to recent and future tech advancements in science and farming for food production. Enhance your skills and prepare for sustainable success in the fast-changing world of agriculture.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Agriculture Minor Undergraduate
Bachelor of Rural Science Minor Undergraduate
Animal Ecology
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Benefit from UNE's highly regarded zoology academics and develop the research and practical skills to prepare you for a career in the rapidly changing field of ecology. Learn about current and emerging tech advancements and changes in animal…

Benefit from UNE's highly regarded zoology academics and develop the research and practical skills to prepare you for a career in the rapidly changing field of ecology. Learn about current and emerging tech advancements and changes in animal conservation, biodiversity, and behaviour.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Zoology Minor Undergraduate
Bachelor of Zoology Major Undergraduate
Applied Management
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Applied Management approaches Environmental Science from a management lens, developing skills in areas such as environmental assessment, regulatory compliance, and sustainable development. Develop transferable, flexible, and in-demand skillsets to…

Applied Management approaches Environmental Science from a management lens, developing skills in areas such as environmental assessment, regulatory compliance, and sustainable development. Develop transferable, flexible, and in-demand skillsets to secure your place in the field.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Environmental Science Major Undergraduate
Biodiversity
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Benefit from UNE's unique location and our biodiversity experts and develop the critical analysis and complex problem-solving skills to secure your future as a scientist in the academic world. Learn to use up-to-date tools and advancing…

Benefit from UNE's unique location and our biodiversity experts and develop the critical analysis and complex problem-solving skills to secure your future as a scientist in the academic world. Learn to use up-to-date tools and advancing technology to study the planet’s changing ecosystems.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws Major Undergraduate
Botany
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Benefit from UNE's expert botanists and develop the critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills to secure your role in the rapidly changing world of scientific research; a field set to see vast changes as technology advances and…

Benefit from UNE's expert botanists and develop the critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills to secure your role in the rapidly changing world of scientific research; a field set to see vast changes as technology advances and the climate crisis continues.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Environmental Science Minor Undergraduate
Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Laws Minor Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Zoology Minor Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science with Honours Major Bachelor Honours
Master of Scientific Studies Major Postgraduate
Graduate Diploma in Science Major Postgraduate
Graduate Certificate in Science Major Postgraduate
Climate Resilience
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Benefit from UNE's passionate climate science experts and develop the critical analytical and practical skills to safeguard a career in sustainability. Learn how to balance scientific data with policy, politics and ethics and work with current…

Benefit from UNE's passionate climate science experts and develop the critical analytical and practical skills to safeguard a career in sustainability. Learn how to balance scientific data with policy, politics and ethics and work with current and emerging technology.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Agriculture Minor Undergraduate
Bachelor of Rural Science Minor Undergraduate
Community Engagement and Development
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Develop the skills to help communities with their resilience and capacity for long-term sustainability with UNE's sustainability experts. Future-proof your career and the planet as those in the field shift their focus to Indigenous communities…

Develop the skills to help communities with their resilience and capacity for long-term sustainability with UNE's sustainability experts. Future-proof your career and the planet as those in the field shift their focus to Indigenous communities and enduring sustainability practices.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Sustainability Major Undergraduate
Community Planning
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Develop visions, goals and plans that make communities more liveable and sustainable with UNE's expert planners. Learn skills in social analysis, research and communication and use advancing technology and practical strategies for future…

Develop visions, goals and plans that make communities more liveable and sustainable with UNE's expert planners. Learn skills in social analysis, research and communication and use advancing technology and practical strategies for future community development in our rapidly changing world.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Arts Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science Major Undergraduate
Conservation and Ecology
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
UNE's experienced environmental scientists will help you develop the scientific research and fieldwork skills to succeed in a career in conservation. Learn how to use up-to-date technology to analyse data and be future-fit for a changing world…

UNE's experienced environmental scientists will help you develop the scientific research and fieldwork skills to succeed in a career in conservation. Learn how to use up-to-date technology to analyse data and be future-fit for a changing world with new and ongoing environmental threats.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Environmental Science Major Undergraduate

Why study with us?

5 stars
For Overall Experience and Teaching Quality
Good Universities Guide 2024
Australian Universities
No. 1
For Undergraduate Student Support
Good Universities Guide 2024
Public NSW Universities
No. 1
For Postgraduate Student Experience
QILT Student Experience Survey
NSW Universities

Careers in Sustainability

By studying sustainability with UNE, you will have the future-proof skillset to secure positions in a wide range of careers and industries requiring sustainability experts. With the need for technical expertise set to rise, professionals with skillsets in sustainability can find work in a variety of settings.

  • Sustainability consultant
    Work with organisations to develop and implement sustainability strategies and initiatives.
  • Environmental analyst
    Assess the environmental impact of projects, policies or practices, advocating for sustainability.
  • Renewable energy specialist
    Promote and develop clean and renewable energy sources.
  • Sustainability researcher
    Conduct studies and analyse data to assess sustainability challenges and propose solutions.
  • Corporate social responsibility (CSR) manager
    Work within organisations to develop and implement social and environmental sustainability initiatives.
  • Sustainable supply chain manager
    Implement environmentally and socially responsible practices throughout the supply chain.
  • Sustainable urban planner
    Plan, create and manage environmentally-friendly and liveable communities.
  • Policy analyst
    Work with government agencies, NGOs or advocacy groups to analyse, develop, and promote policies that address environmental challenges.

A five-star experience

2024 Overall Experience Good University Logo

Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
2024 Student Experience Good University Logo

No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

QILT Student Experience Survey
2024 Teaching Quality Good University Logo

Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024

What happens next?

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1. Decide on your course

Got any questions about a course you would like to study? Don’t hesitate to contact us, our Future Student team is standing by to help.

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2. Apply

2024 applications are now open. The application process only takes 20 minutes to complete. Don’t delay, apply now!

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3. Receive an offer, enrol and start studying

Your start date is based on the study period you choose to apply for.