Why Study/Key Benefits

The Master of Sustainable Development Goals (MSDG) is a postgraduate qualification focused on the theory and practical implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It combines sustainability theory, multidisciplinary approaches, measurement of SDG progress, specialist study and practical workplace experience. Massey describes the qualification as addressing major global challenges including poverty and inequality, climate and environmental degradation, prosperity, peace and justice.

Key benefits for international students include:

• Develop an advanced understanding of sustainable development across economic, social and environmental dimensions.
• Study the UN Sustainable Development Goals through both theoretical and practical perspectives.
• Learn how sustainability progress can be measured and integrated into policy and professional practice.
• Explore Indigenous knowledge and alternative approaches to sustainability alongside mainstream frameworks.
• Choose a specialist subject aligned with a particular career or professional interest.
• Gain practical workplace experience through a 60-credit SDG practicum.
• The practicum involves professional work in an approved organisation and provides an opportunity to examine how real organisations implement SDG-related policies and practices.
• International students undertaking the practicum can choose to remain in New Zealand or, where appropriate, return to their home country to complete the practical component.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The MSDG is a parts-based qualification. Students must complete Part One before progressing to Part Two. Progression requires a Grade Average of at least B across the 120 credits of Part One.

Part One – Core courses: 60 credits

Students complete the two core courses:

• 131704 Sustainable Development – 30 credits
  • Sustainable development across economic, social and environmental dimensions.
  • The 17 SDGs.
  • Indigenous understandings of sustainability.
  • Sustainable livelihoods.
• 131709 Sustainable Development Goals in Practice – 30 credits
  • Practical application of the SDGs.
  • Multidisciplinary frameworks.
  • Measuring SDG progress.
  • Integrating sustainability into policymaking and professional practice.

Part One – Specialisation/subject courses: 60 credits

Students then select 60 credits from their chosen specialisation. Current subject areas include:

Business and Sustainability

Courses include:

• 152704 Business and Sustainability – 30 credits
• 152728 Business Ethics and Responsible Management – 30 credits
• 152730 Advanced Contemporary Issues in Sustainability – 30 credits

Topics include sustainable business, corporate responsibility, stakeholder management, business ethics, sustainable supply chains, sustainable operations, ethical trade and corporate sustainability strategies.

Climate Action

Courses include:

• 131720 Climate Change and Sustainability – 30 credits
• 131721 Global and Local Responses to Climate Change – 30 credits
• 178719 Climate Change Economics and Policy – 30 credits

Topics include climate mitigation and adaptation, resilience, Indigenous and Pacific approaches, climate finance, climate policy, and economic responses to climate change.

Disaster Management

Available courses include:

• 130701 Natural Hazards
• 130702 Coping with Disasters
• 130705 Emergency Management
• 130706 Emergency Management in Practice
• 132751 Planning for Natural Hazards and Climate Resilient Development

The focus includes disaster risk, emergency management, resilience, hazards planning, disaster preparedness and climate-resilient communities.

Economics for Sustainability

The regulations list courses including:

• 178719 Climate Change Economics and Policy – 30 credits
• 178740 Global Food Markets and Trade – 15 credits
• 178742 Environmental Economics for Non-Economists – 15 credits
• 178755 Economic Growth, International and Development Economics – 30 credits

However, the 2026 official regulations mark Economics for Sustainability as "No new enrolments". Therefore, prospective students should not assume this specialisation is currently available for new applicants.

Educational Equity

Current programme information includes an Educational Equity specialisation. Courses cover areas such as:

• Equity and inclusion in education
• Maori and Indigenous education
• Pacific peoples and education
• Educational leadership
• Relationships and practices in educational contexts
• Manarite and Mana Motuhake.

Environmental Sustainability

Current courses include areas such as:

• Environmental Management Principles and Practice
• Land System Change
• Life Cycle Assessment and Footprinting Principles

The subject focuses on environmental management, human-environment relationships, land-use change, sustainability assessment and environmental footprints.

Global Development

Courses include:

• 131701 Rethinking Development
• 131702 Development Management
• Other approved Global Development subject courses

Topics include development theory, international development, development management, gender and development, environmental sociology and natural-resource planning.

Peace and Security

The current regulations still identify Peace and Security as a subject, but the official regulations explicitly state "No new enrolments." Therefore, it should not be treated as a currently available new-student specialisation without confirmation from Massey.

Part Two – Practicum: 60 credits

The final component is:

• 131810 Sustainable Development Goals Practicum – 60 credits
• 320 hours of professional work in an approved agency.
• Students critically analyse the organisation's SDG-related work using relevant literature on sustainable development.
• Prerequisites include the two core courses, 131704 and 131709.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The current official qualification regulations identify these MSDG subjects:

• Business and Sustainability
• Climate Action
• Disaster Management
• Economics for Sustainability – no new enrolments
• Educational Equity
• Environmental Sustainability
• Global Development
• Peace and Security – no new enrolments

Programme Highlights

Important programme features include:

• NZQF Level 9 master's qualification.
• 180-credit structure.
• Interdisciplinary approach to sustainability.
• Direct focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Two compulsory sustainability/SDG core courses.
• Multiple subject areas allowing students to build a specialist focus.
• 60-credit practical practicum.
• 320 hours of professional workplace experience in an approved agency.
• Opportunity to complete the practicum in New Zealand or, where appropriate, in the student's home country.
• Integration of Indigenous knowledge and alternative sustainability paradigms.
• Possibility of studying online from outside New Zealand.
• Possibility of onsite study in New Zealand depending on specialisation.
• Progression to Part Two requires at least a B average in Part One.
• Merit or Distinction may be awarded where the relevant postgraduate requirements are met.

Career Outcomes

Massey states that the qualification is intended to prepare professionals who can translate, implement, monitor and report on the SDGs across business, government and civil society.

Potential employment areas include:

• Sustainability management
• Sustainability advisory
• Sustainable business
• Environmental sustainability
• Climate action
• Government policy
• Sustainable development
• International development
• Corporate social responsibility
• Environmental management
• Disaster and resilience management
• Education equity and social justice
• NGO and civil-society organisations
• SDG monitoring, implementation and reporting
• Policy and programme development

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

Several current points are important for 2026–2027 applicants:

• The current qualification has 180 credits and a 1.5-year full-time duration.
• The current qualification regulations identify eight subjects/specialisations, but Economics for Sustainability and Peace and Security are marked as having no new enrolments.
• The current live programme pages emphasise Business and Sustainability, Climate Action, Disaster Management, Educational Equity, Environmental Sustainability and Global Development as active areas.
• Progression from Part One to the practicum requires at least a B Grade Average across the 120 Part One credits.
• The practicum requires 320 hours of professional work in an approved organisation or agency.
• The exact organisation for the practicum must be suitable for the chosen subject and approved under Massey's requirements.
• Some individual courses may have prerequisites, restrictions or limited offerings.
• 131703 Gender and Development, for example, is noted on the Global Development page as being offered in alternate years.
• Exact course availability can therefore vary by year.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying the MSDG in New Zealand, the relevant immigration route is generally the New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that the visa:

• Costs from NZD 850.
• Can be granted for up to four years, depending on circumstances.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires evidence of tuition-fee payment or sufficient funds/scholarship to pay tuition.
• Requires evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Requires acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Requires applicants to meet health and character requirements.
• Requires evidence of genuine study intentions.
• Requires evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.