Sustainable Cities (Taught)

Learn how to design the cities of tomorrow, as you help deliver cleaner air, greener spaces and improved quality of life for people everywhere.

Cities across the world face huge sustainability challenges. While leaders pledge ‘zero carbon cities’ by 2040, a serious skills shortage means a new generation of sustainability leaders is needed.

Our Sustainable Cities MSc tackles this shortfall by equipping you with the expertise necessary to become an urban sustainability leader. You'll experience urban sustainability first hand, blending concepts and theories with real-world problems and solutions.

You'll learn about energy systems, transport networks, housing provision, urban ecosystems and food. Using real-life cases, you'll discover how to transform these structures for better economic, environmental, and social outcomes, fully equipping you to pursue careers in city government, consultancy, NGOs and beyond.

Though the challenges remain significant, sustainable cities offer better economic prospects, improved biodiversity, greater social equity and a better way of life. As an MSc Sustainable Cities graduate, you’ll play a crucial role in making that a reality.

Student profile: Jess Ryan-Smith

"[My course] has given me a renewed sense of hope and helped make me feel more empowered to do something about the climate crisis."

Jess Ryan-Smith, MSc Sustainable Cities

Why study at Leeds

• We embrace sustainability: Graduate with an MSc from a university that takes an active role in sustainability throughout our campus and beyond.

• Research excellence: Learn the latest innovations in sustainability through our globally-renowned research, which feeds directly into this course and gives you the opportunity to interact with academics who are actively working on solving major global issues.

• Get in-demand sustainability skills: Advance your skills and understanding in critical areas sought after in industry, learning how cities work sustainably, with particular focus on energy, sustainable housing, mobility and urban ecosystems.

• Expert tutors: Experience expert theoretical and practical teaching, delivered by academics and researchers from across the School of Earth and Environment, School of Geography and the Institute for Transport Studies, whose specialisms closely match the content on this course.

• Get industry experience: Get the chance to collaborate with clients and gain consultancy experience as part of our 2-week online Global Industry Programme.

Rankings and awards

• Top 100 in the world, QS World University Rankings 2026

• Top 40 in the world for Environmental Sciences, QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026

Where this degree could take you

Here’s a snapshot into some of the job positions and organisations previous graduates in sustainability-related MScs have secured:

• Procurement Operations Coordinator, South Pole

• Sustainability Programme Lead, Pierce County

• Sustainability Consultant, Arup

• Energy and Sustainability Specialist, Bulb

• Industry Consultation Manager, Network Rail

• Energy Research Analyst, N-ERGY Power Solutions

• Sustainability Project Manager, City of York Council

• Sustainability and Climate Change Consultant, WSP Global

Careers support

Top 10 most targeted for 10+ years by the UK's leading employers, The Graduate Market 2026, High Fliers Research

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one.

Our Careers Service has the global expertise and sector-spanning industry partnerships that, combined, go way beyond simply helping you get a job. They provide you with the resources you need to upskill and achieve the future you aspire towards – even in the face of lightning-paced change.

You will be assessed using a range of techniques including exams, essays, presentations, with assessment of problem based learning sets. The problems set will be drawn directly from real world challenges facing cities and are an excellent preparation for professional practise.