Many of the most serious environmental and social problems that we face can be traced to root causes in our economic system. On this programme, students learn the main concepts and tools of ecological economics – a multidisciplinary field that views the economy as embedded within biophysical and societal realities, constrained by physical laws, and shaped by socio-political contexts. The programme is open to all students with an interest in economic issues and does not require a previous degree in economics.
The School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability at Leeds is home to a world-leading ecological economics research group. Our researchers maintain a close working relationship with the Economics division in the Business School, which offers optional modules in pluralistic economics. The research-based teaching in this programme provides students with a solid grounding in ecological economics. They also learn methods and analytical tools such as input-output analysis and system dynamics modelling to understand the relationships between the economy, society, and environment.
In addition to the core modules, students may choose to follow one of two pathways. The ‘Ecological Macroeconomics’ pathway develops relevant skills used in policy analysis and finance. The ‘Values and Governance’ pathway has been developed for those interested in economic, social, and environmental justice.
Students are encouraged to conduct their dissertation on a real-world problem in their main area of interest. They acquire strong career prospects, in organisations ranging from government and academia to international NGOs and social enterprises.
Students will be considered for the award of MSc Ecological Economics if they pass 165 credits of modules including any listed Pass for Progression (PFP) modules and achieve an overall average mark of 50 or above, calculated across the 180 credits of modules.
Students who are not eligible for this award will be considered for the awards of Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) or Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert). Please review the University of Leeds Academic Regulations for further information on these awards.
This programme may include field activities. Should a planned destination be deemed unsafe or unviable, we will arrange appropriate alternative means for students to meet programme learning outcomes.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOEE5014M | Research Skills | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| SOEE5020M | Research Project | 60 | 1 Sep to 31 Aug (12mth) | |
| SOEE5060M | Methodology in Ecological Economics | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5098M | Introduction to Ecological Economics | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates will be required to study 45 credits from the following optional modules from EITHER the Ecological Macroeconomics pathway OR the Values and Governance pathway:
Ecological Macroeconomics Pathway
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUBS5101M | Macroeconomics | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LUBS5134M | Econometrics | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LUBS5146M | Money, Monetary Policy and the Global Financial Crisis | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS5148M | Economics of Wellbeing | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5120M | Ecological Macroeconomics | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5330M | Finance for Sustainable Development | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| TRAN5162M | Green Logistics | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Values and Governance Pathway
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUBS5134M | Econometrics | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LUBS5140M | Global Economic Coordination and Governance | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LUBS5146M | Money, Monetary Policy and the Global Financial Crisis | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS5148M | Economics of Wellbeing | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5097M | Environmental Values and Governance | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5330M | Finance for Sustainable Development | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5474M | Environmental Politics, Policy and Governance | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Last updated: 07/05/2026 15:17:50
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