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  • a New Zealand citizen.

International student

You are an international student if you are:

  • a temporary resident (visa status) of Australia;
  • a permanent resident (visa status) of New Zealand;
  • a resident or citizen of any other country, intending to study on a student visa.
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Deakin master of sustainability professional students in front of recycling containers talking.

International

Master of Sustainability (Professional)

Top 100 worldwide for sustainability

I am an international student ?International students are students who intend to study, or are currently studying, in Australia and are temporary residents of Australia, permanent residents of New Zealand, or residents or citizens of any other country.
Domestic International

Entry requirements for

I am an international student ?International students are students who intend to study, or are currently studying, in Australia and are temporary residents of Australia, permanent residents of New Zealand, or residents or citizens of any other country.
Domestic International
English requirements 6.5 IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent View entry requirements
Academic requirements Course-specific academic requirements apply.
English requirements 6.5 IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent View entry requirements
Academic requirements Course-specific academic requirements apply.
Campus
  • Burwood
  • Online
Duration 2 years full-time
Intakes Trimesters 1, 2 View how to apply
Fees $44,400 for 1 yr full-time AUD View fees and scholarships
EnquireApply

#1 Melbourne university for course satisfaction

#1 Melbourne university for science facilities

Top 100 worldwide for sustainability

Why choose sustainability (professional) at Deakin

Explore how humanity can meet its growing needs while ensuring future generations can meet theirs in the Master of Sustainability (Professional). Focusing on multidisciplinary approaches to policy and management, you will acquire the advanced knowledge and skills needed to develop successful sustainability strategies that balance environmental, social and economic considerations. 
 
This flexible course allows you to tailor your degree to suit your career aspirations by providing a choice of options towards the latter part of your studies –research, sustainability-focused elective study, or a combination of industry practice and sustainability-focused elective study. You will build a solid foundation in sustainability, environmental science, and global change, before specialising in an area of your choosing. Whatever you choose, you will be equipped for a rewarding career effecting positive change. Be the catalyst for a wonderful, sustainable future.

  • Unbeatable employability

    Build advanced sustainability skills preparing you for roles across government, business and consulting sectors.

  • Work-integrated learning

    Complete a professional placement or project that connects you with real sustainability challenges and industry partners.

  • Interdisciplinary learning approach

    Explore sustainability across science, policy and systems thinking, giving you a broad skill set to solve industry problems.

  • Leadership-ready capabilities

    Develop strategic thinking and applied knowledge to lead sustainability initiatives in complex organisational settings.

Connected to industry

Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.

A Deakin student leans against a grey wall on the Waurn Ponds campus.

Open doors with a Deakin scholarship

Study with certainty at Deakin. Our international scholarships recognise excellence and empower you to thrive by reducing the cost of studying abroad.

Explore scholarships

Deakin puts employability first

Career outcomes

Develop advanced skills to address complex sustainability challenges and drive meaningful change. If you choose the research option, you can also pursue further research study, including a masters by research or PhD.

Environmental manager

Plan and oversee environmental programs that help organisations manage their environmental impact. Support compliance, assess environmental risks and implement strategies to improve environmental performance.

  • $180k

    Typical annual salary in Australia

  • 11.5%

    Projected job growth in 5 years

Sustainability officer

Evaluate community needs and environmental impacts, and develop programs that support more sustainable practices. Work with stakeholders to deliver projects and recommend ways to reduce negative impacts.

  • $100k

    Typical annual salary in Australia

  • 24%

    Net growth in Australia by 2030

Professional areas

  • Environmental protection
  • Natural heritage management
  • Land and water management
  • Natural resource management
  • Agriculture
  • Communications and planning

FAQs

Find answers to the most common questions about this course.

The cost of studying at Deakin depends on your degree, units and study load – tuition fees are listed on degree pages under the fees and scholarships tab. Beyond tuition, you will need to budget for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), accommodation, transport, groceries and textbooks. Find out more about the cost of living in Australia, use the Study Australia calculator to estimate living expenses and explore international scholarships which may help to reduce your tuition costs.

Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships that can reduce your postgraduate tuition fees by 20%, 25%, 50% or 100% for the duration of your degree. Eligibility varies by scholarship and the degree you choose, but you will automatically be considered for most scholarships when you apply to Deakin. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by 'citizenship' to see what is available to you, or explore Australia Awards scholarships if you are from an eligible country.

It depends on the degree and how you study. Graduate certificates typically take six months full time or one year part time. Graduate diplomas usually take one year full time and masters degrees typically take one to two years full time. Recognition of prior learning can reduce your study time. Check the degree page for full details.

Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world for students, with strong legal protections, reliable public services and a multicultural community. In fact, Melbourne is ranked the #4 student city in the world! At Deakin, you will be part of a supportive community, with 24/7 help, dedicated campus security and practical tools to help you feel safe, confident and connected. Deakin’s SafeZone app also connects you directly to campus security and support services if you ever need help. Find out more about studying in Australia.

We value your experience and qualifications. That is why every new degree application at Deakin is assessed for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Through RPL, Deakin can assess your previous study and life experience and may award course credit that could reduce your study duration, as well as the cost of your study. Qualifications from universities and private tertiary institutions worldwide are considered, as is informal learning related to your degree. Use the RPL calculator to see how much credit you may be eligible for.

Deakin offers a wide range of support to help you settle in and succeed throughout your studies – we are ranked the #1 university in Melbourne for student support. You can access 1:1 study support, English language support, career planning help, disability services and free counselling, as well as financial assistance if you need it. On campus, the SafeZone app and 24/7 security services mean help is always within reach. You can explore the full range of support services for international students or start an online chat with a student ambassador before you arrive.

To enrol in a postgraduate degree at Deakin, many degrees require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). Some degrees require higher scores, so check the entry requirements tab on the degree page for details. You may also meet the requirement through recent secondary or university study completed in English, or by demonstrating five or more years of living and working in an English-speaking country. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not yet meet the requirement, the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) offers pathway programs to help develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Completion of DUELI’s English for Academic Purposes can give you the minimum English language requirements for most Deakin degrees.

Deakin’s postgraduate degrees are designed to advance your career, whether you want to deepen expertise in your field, move into a specialist role or shift direction entirely.  All our degrees are shaped by industry partners, so what you learn reflects what employers need now and into the future. We’re proud to be the #1 university in Melbourne for international student graduate employment. With flexible study options and financial support available, Deakin helps you gain the skills, recognition and confidence to reach your next professional goal.

*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.

Course structure

To complete the Master of Sustainability (Professional), you must pass 16 credit points.

Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.

Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.

3
Core units
+
4
Specialisation units
+
9
Pathway units
=
16
Total units

All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements

Units

You are required to complete three core units (these are essential units for this degree)

In your first trimester you must also complete two 0-credit point units which are compulsory for this degree.

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)
DAI001
Career Tools for Employability (0 credit points)
STP710
Professional Research Practice
SLE761
Sustainability in the Anthropocene
SLE756
Environmental Science and Global Change
SLE757

Professional recognition

The Master of Sustainability (Professional) is professionally accredited by the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ). As a student of this course, you are encouraged to apply for EIANZ student membership and connect with the professional network that can support your future career as an environmental professional.

Deakin student smiling and holding a bag, dressed in business wear.

What to expect while studying

You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, workshops, site visits and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Students will have an opportunity to complete work experience as part of the industry practice pathway.

At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.

If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.

When can I start?

When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.

Explore important dates

Campus
Trimester 1
Trimester 2
Trimester 3
BurwoodMelbourne
Online

Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.

Course Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate mastery and specialist knowledge of natural and social sciences related to sustainability, environmental management, health and environment and sustainable regional development.

Plan and execute a substantial research or industry based project to demonstrate a deep understanding and mastery within the sustainability, environmental management and sustainable regional development disciplines.

Demonstrate well-developed judgement and responsibility to review, analyse and develop sustainability strategies based on holistic principles.

Present a reasoned argument that highlights essential details of sustainability, environmental management and sustainable regional development, theory and application, key observations, results and conclusions of scientific research in a professional manner using appropriate style, language and references including local, national, and international contributions or contexts.

Apply listening skills and effective communication skills to accommodate, encourage and answer questions from a range of audience and to defend research/project findings and sustainability implementation propositions.

Interpret the boundaries or limits of social and scientific information, data, discuss error, probability, uncertainty, conclusions and arguments to justify theoretical propositions, methodologies, methods, techniques, conclusions and professional decisions.

Use well-developed technical skills, judgement and responsibility to independently locate, analyse, evaluate the merits of, synthesise and disseminate sustainability data, information and literature in the planning and implementation of projects to a range of stakeholders in sustainability, environmental management and sustainable regional development.

Reflect on information, data and results and develop strategies for disseminating research outcomes in a digital world.

Appraise complex social, economic and scientific methodologies and information from a broad range of interdisciplinary sources using critical, analytical and logical reasoning from multiple perspectives for evaluating and providing solutions to sustainability issues that incorporate the holistic principles.

Formulate research questions to test and/ or contest ideas, concepts and theoretical propositions through an evidence-based well-structured project.

Plan and implement sustainability research investigation by using traditional and emerging techniques and technologies to identify problems and by applying analysis and synthesis skills, and triple-bottom line principles to solve research and/or practical problems.

Demonstrate complex problem-solving skills by identifying and creating solutions to real world sustainability through social, economic and/or scientific inquiry.

Contribute to advancements in scientific knowledge through mastery in the use of traditional and emerging instruments and techniques to device an investigation, and in the collection, interpretation, analysis, synthesis and dissemination of issues pertaining to the identification of issues and solutions to improve sustainability in general and/or environmental management and/or sustainable regional development.

Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing national and international professional contexts to develop autonomy as researchers and evaluate own performances.

Work autonomously, responsibly and safely to solve unstructured problems and actively apply knowledge of social frameworks and scientific methodologies to make informed choices based on the triple-bottom line principles.

Work independently and collaboratively with advice from the supervisor towards achieving the outcomes of a project and thereby demonstrate interpersonal skills including the ability to brainstorm, negotiate, resolve conflicts, managing difficult and awkward conversations, provide constructive feedback and work in diverse professional, social and cultural contexts.

Apply principles of sustainability and environmental management knowledge and skills with a high level of autonomy, judgement, responsibility and accountability in collaboration with the supervisor to articulate the place and importance of social and scientific inquiry in the local and global context.
Award granted
Master of Sustainability (Professional)
Year

2027 course information

Deakin code
S728
CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
108874H Burwood (Melbourne)
Level
Higher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9

View detailed course and unit information in the Handbook

Your academic history, work and life experience, and individual circumstances will be considered. Meeting the minimum academic and English language requirements does not guarantee admission, but alternative pathways may be available.

Entry requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:

  • completion of a bachelor degree or higher in any discipline

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

Get credit for your experience

We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn't have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you're able to commit to your study.

Fees

Estimated tuition fee

$44,400

for 1 yr full-time AUD

The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning.

Learn more about tuition fees for international students.

Save 10% as a Deakin alumni

We love welcoming Deakin alumni back to continue their journey with us. If you're starting a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible for a 10% discount on your enrolment fees, applied per unit. It's our way of supporting your next step.

Learn more about the 10% Deakin alumni discount

Scholarships

Most international students at Deakin receive a scholarship or bursary to help with the cost of study. Apply to Deakin and you will automatically be considered for a range of scholarships, with tuition fee reductions of up to 100% available.

Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship

Exceptional students may receive a 100% or 50% tuition fee reduction for the normal duration of their degree.

Deakin International Scholarship for Excellence

Students from select countries may receive a 25% reduction in tuition fees for the normal duration of the degree.

Deakin International 20% Merit Scholarship

Receive a 20% reduction in tuition fees for the normal duration of your degree.

Southeast Asia Priority Bursary

Students from Southeast Asia may receive a one-off payment of up to $2,000.

Apply now

Apply directly to Deakin

Apply directly through StudyLink Connect. Depending on your location, you may need to apply through a Deakin Authorised Agent, who can support and submit your application.

See our guide to applying to Deakin for application steps and requirements.

Apply through StudyLink Connect

Recognition of prior learning

We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.

Pathways

Graduates will be uniquely positioned to commence a PhD. You will have access to a range of elective units from a variety of relevant discipline areas across the University. This will allow you to tailor a program relevant to your specific interests. As a pathway to PhD, the course has a key component in the form of a research project. The thesis should offer a significant contribution to knowledge in the discipline concerned and demonstrate your capacity to carry out independent research.

Students not wishing to pursue further studies in research will have the opportunity to undertake an industry practice placement or undertake course electives that will allow them to complement their studies with a range of relevant options.

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