Practical group project work and individual projects undertaken within rural areas are important elements in the course, and work experience is encouraged and supported wherever possible. Those with other equivalent qualifications, notably those with practical experience, are welcome to apply. The course is divided into five complementary components. All RRRP students take a common core comprising Environment, Resources and Rural Development, Land Use Planning, Rural Environmental Economics, Research and Planning Methods. In addition, students take a further Stream Core comprising Environmental Concepts and Instruments.
All students also undertake project and field work.
All students studying for the Masters degree must prepare a dissertation, which may be based on organised work experience with an approved agency, or on individual original research. A programme of supplementary lectures and seminars from a wide range of guest speakers is also organised for those taking this course. This stream provides an advanced, interdisciplinary, understanding of the theoretical and ethical underpinnings, sectoral contexts and application mechanisms of sustainable development. It is designed to enable and improve career prospects within a wide variety of organisations engaged in sustainable development policy-making, research or implementation. In parallel, students acquire a range of transferable computing, research and group-working skills, brought together in project work on the implementation of sustainable development strategies.