Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies BASc
A*AA at A level; graduates earn a median £37,500 three years on.
75% of entrants came with A levels · 100% stay on after year 1 · Warwick course page, Discover Uni
What do you need to get in?
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. Contextual offer: AAB, for applicants from under-represented backgrounds.
Warwick course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
UCAS tariff points — a points scale for grades: A* = 56, A = 48, so A*A*A = 160. Entrants’ totals include extra subjects.
Other qualifications4
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| IB | 38 points38 IB additional information You will also need grade 7/A in GCSE Mathematics and grade 6/B in GCSE English Language or equivalent. | — |
| BTEC | —We welcome applications from students taking BTECs alongside one or two A levels. | — |
| Advanced Highers | AAAA in two Advanced Highers and AAA in three additional Highers subjects. | — |
| Access | 45 Credits at Level 3, including Distinction in 33 Level 3 credits and Merit in We will consider applicants returning to study who are presenting a QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma on a case-by-case basis. Typically, we require 45 Credits at Level 3, including Di | — |
What do you study?
Compulsory modules this year: green & sustainability 40% · transversal skills 23% · social & cultural skills 15% · natural sciences 13%.
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
Warwick course page · optional modules vary by year
- Economic Principles of Global Sustainable Development
What you learn (11)
- apply core economic principles to analyse sustainable development issues
- describe how economic activity links to social and environmental outcomes
- identify standard indicators used to measure economic development
- critique the limitations of conventional development measurement methods
- compare alternative frameworks for assessing sustainable economic progress
- explain theories of externalities and their relevance to policy intervention
- explain ethical and efficiency arguments for sustainable development intervention
- apply game theory to explain collective decision-making outcomes
- interpret abstract economic models relevant to sustainability
- apply quantitative data on global sustainability to evaluate policy design
- conduct independent research on an economic topic
- Environmental Principles of Global Sustainable Development
What you learn (11)
- explain the causes and extent of global environmental decline
- describe how human activities have affected the planet over time
- apply scientific knowledge when researching environmental sustainability issues
- analyse and present research findings on sustainability topics
- evaluate debates on environmental decline from multiple disciplinary viewpoints
- describe key academic concepts and frameworks used in sustainability studies
- evaluate governance approaches for improving global environmental sustainability
- conduct rigorous research on environmental issues to inform policy proposals
- formulate practice-based recommendations from environmental research findings
- present evidence-based policy proposals persuasively in writing
- present evidence-based policy proposals persuasively through oral argument
- Social Principles of Global Sustainable Development
What you learn (5)
- explain key global challenges using evidence-based reasoning
- describe social problems arising from specific economic development models
- evaluate explanations for uneven economic development between nations
- evaluate proposed strategies for reducing social inequality
- critique competing concepts of sustainable development in writing
- Global Sustainable Development (GSD) Project
What you learn (3)
- formulate research questions that break down sustainable transport problems
- design a research strategy selecting suitable methods to test hypotheses
- distinguish between types of evidence and assess them against scientific criteria
1 optional module
- Management of Global Risks
What you learn (11)
- identify risks arising in a firm's natural environment
- identify risks arising in a firm's social environment
- identify risks arising in a firm's political environment
- describe forms of socio-economic governance affecting business activity
- explain how governance structures affect multinational corporation activity
- evaluate constraints and opportunities governance presents to firms
- identify managerial responses to natural environmental risks
- identify managerial responses to social and political risks
- apply critical analysis skills to global risk issues at undergraduate level
- evaluate the quality and reliability of evidence sources
- integrate multi-disciplinary themes to analyse global risk topics
Year 2 · 0 core, 3 optional
3 optional modules
- Health and Sustainable Development
What you learn (4)
- explain intended and unintended effects of health interventions and policies
- analyse how development processes and contextual change influence population health
- apply interdisciplinary frameworks to analyse global health problems
- use theoretical and practical tools to take action on global health challenges
- Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System
What you learn (9)
- apply a food systems framework to identify sustainability issues in food production chains
- research sustainability issues arising across food production, processing and consumption
- analyse broad sustainability issues within the global food system
- evaluate technical responses proposed to address global food needs
- evaluate governance responses proposed to address global food needs
- explain key concepts of food security, sovereignty and sustainability
- apply these concepts critically to analyse food systems
- evaluate personal food consumption choices against sustainable development goals
- evaluate collective food consumption choices against sustainable development goals
- Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All
What you learn (9)
- identify key features of inequalities in contemporary societies
- evaluate recent trends in inequality across local and global settings
- analyse debates linking inequality to socio-economic and environmental sustainability
- explain the complexity of sustainability-related policy problems
- assess challenges faced by policymakers addressing inequality
- describe cross-disciplinary theories explaining causes of inequality
- evaluate empirical evidence on consequences of inequality
- explain public attitudes towards inequality
- conduct independent research on inequality-related issues
Year 3 · 1 core, 6 optional · 30 credits ≈ 300 hours
- Dissertation/Independent Study
What you learn (7)
- design a feasible research project
- plan a research project schedule and approach
- carry out a research project according to plan
- manage the progress and resources of a research project
- produce an original research study on a current sustainability issue
- design an event to share research findings with the public
- present research findings to a public audience
6 optional modules
- Surviving the Apocalypse
What you learn (3)
- evaluate crises experienced by human societies
- design a project investigating causes or effects of contemporary crises
- analyse factors that limit or enable efforts for social change
- The Energy Trilemma
What you learn (8)
- identify key issues around energy security, equity and sustainability globally
- evaluate differing government approaches to managing energy resources
- explain the importance of energy to economic growth and social well-being
- describe the benefits of collaboration among stakeholders in energy solutions
- explain the role of technology and innovation in sustainable energy development
- apply research skills to investigate energy-related topics
- synthesise academic and industry research into coherent outputs
- adapt research outputs to suit different audiences
- Managing Natural Resources
What you learn (11)
- apply key theories from natural resource management to practical cases
- critique the use of natural resource management theories in practice
- identify obstacles that hinder conservation management interventions
- propose improvements to existing conservation initiatives
- design a group research project on environmental resource issues
- conduct monitoring techniques within a collaborative research project
- identify species using taxonomic and identification characteristics
- detect environmental change using indicator species across habitats
- describe everyday realities of life within a developing community
- explain constraints affecting governance and policy structures in context
- reflect critically on personal experiences in relation to theory
- International Business Strategy
What you learn (9)
- identify strategic and organisational challenges faced by multinational firms
- describe core theories and concepts underpinning international business
- apply analytical frameworks to support strategic decision-making
- apply business concepts to resolve real-world strategic issues of multinationals
- analyse market trends and data to draw business conclusions
- analyse complex organisational and strategic issues in depth
- propose solutions to complex strategic business problems
- evaluate competing theories and arguments in international business
- evaluate strategic options to justify a preferred choice
“What you learn” restates each module’s published learning outcomes in our own words, as short skill statements in the same form as the GCSE and A level curriculum, with the help of an AI model; fields of knowledge follow the twelve fields of the knowledge sphere. The university’s module page, linked from each title, is the authoritative description.
Where does it lead?
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 50 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 23, 14, 24
Half of graduates earned between £29,000 and £53,000. Five years on, the median is £52,500. 85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 90% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 10% left | 100% | 10 |
| In work or study, 15 months on5% studying | 85% | 15 |
| Professional or managerial job | 90% | 15 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £33,500 | 10 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £37,500 | 50 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £52,500 | 50 |
What does it cost?
Tuition fee loan — paid straight to the university; repayments start the April after you leave, at 9% of income above the threshold. UK fees are capped by government and rise with inflation; placement and study-abroad years are usually charged at a lower rate.
Warwick fees page · source
About £30,150 in fees over 3 years, covered by a tuition fee loan you repay only when earning above the threshold.
What do students say?
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 70% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 15 students answered
Highest: 100% agreed on question 1; lowest: 46% on question 19.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 100% |
| Question 2 | 93% |
| Question 3 | 79% |
| Question 4 | 79% |
| Question 5 | 79% |
| Question 6 | 57% |
| Question 7 | 86% |
| Question 8 | 71% |
| Question 9 | 57% |
| Question 10 | 57% |
| Question 11 | 71% |
| Question 12 | 64% |
| Question 13 | 93% |
| Question 14 | 64% |
| Question 15 | 100% |
| Question 16 | 71% |
| Question 17 | 50% |
| Question 18 | 62% |
| Question 19 | 46% |
| Question 20 | 93% |
| Question 21 | 79% |
| Question 22 | 86% |
| Question 23 | 100% |
| Question 24 | 57% |
| Question 25 | 64% |
| Question 26 | 86% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of Warwick’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of Warwick is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.