Conservation and Sustainability Education PGCert

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Course Summary

Develop. Lead. Transform. Education for Conservation and Sustainability.

Whether you work in formal education or aspire to lead educational initiatives in conservation and sustainability, this PGCert provides the skills, insight and community to help you make lasting change.

Developed in partnership with Chester Zoo, this Postgraduate Certificate is designed for professionals and volunteers at all stages of their careers, whether you're teaching in a school, designing community engagement projects, or championing sustainability within your organisation. You'll explore how learning, in all its forms, can respond to urgent global environmental challenges.

This course also supports those seeking a career in conservation and sustainability education to design and deliver initiatives that contribute to long-term goals and strengthen their organisation's impact in tackling today's conservation and sustainability priorities.

Responding to the growing demand for high-quality leadership and education across the environmental sector, this programme draws in professionals from schools, community organisations, conservation bodies, cultural institutions, and forward-thinking businesses.

You'll study fully online through a flexible, interactive learning model that connects you with a cohort of peers and expert educators from Chester Zoo and the University of Chester. Over three 10-week modules, you'll gain the practical tools and strategic insight needed to build inclusive, engaging and future-facing programmes.

As a student, you'll join a growing network of passionate conservation and sustainability educators who are committed to professional excellence and sector-wide impact. You'll graduate with a clear understanding of how to lead, evaluate and embed education for sustainability in your context, whether you work in a school, zoo, museum, NGO, business or informal learning setting.

We welcome applicants from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. You do not need a science-based degree to apply, as this course values diverse perspectives and is suited to those from science, arts, humanities, education, and environmental sectors who are committed to making a difference through learning.

What You'll Study

Learning is organised into three modules delivered over the course of one academic year. Through these modules, you will explore how to lead meaningful change within your organisation or community, design and evaluate impactful education programmes that align with global sustainability and conservation goals, and create inclusive, evidence-based initiatives that empower others to take action. The course will support you to respond confidently and creatively to the urgent environmental challenges we all face.

Modules

Foundations of Climate, Conservation, and Sustainability Education

  • Examine the history, barriers, and opportunities of delivering education in different contexts. Focus on inclusion, diversity, accessibility, and the drivers of engagement.
  • Synthesise knowledge of conservation, sustainability, and educational frameworks to design impactful programmes tailored to diverse goals and contexts.
  • Reflect critically on personal assumptions and biases to enhance self-awareness and improve the inclusivity and relevance of educational approaches.
  • Evaluate and apply principles of inclusion, diversity, and accessibility to design culturally responsive and equitable education initiatives.
  • Analyse the drivers and barriers of engagement in conservation and sustainability, developing strategies that maximise impact across different learning environments.

Planning for the Future: An Introduction to Programme Design

  • Explore foundational tools and frameworks for designing effective sustainability and conservation education programmes that align with global and local goals.
  • Critically analyse the current knowledge base underpinning conservation and sustainability education, identifying gaps or challenges and demonstrating further development of knowledge to enhance professional practice.
  • Evaluate how theoretical frameworks and research inform educational strategies that address contemporary environmental challenges.
  • Critically assess methodologies and practices used in conservation and sustainability education, identifying opportunities for innovation and improvement.
  • Synthesise and communicate developments in behaviour change theory to design impactful and measurable education programmes that respond to climate and ecological crises.

Innovative Methods in Conservation and Sustainability Education

  • Discover modern, creative educational approaches such as gamification, outdoor learning, and free-choice learning. Learn to critically evaluate and lead impactful education programmes using robust methods.
  • Analyse and apply monitoring and evaluation frameworks using qualitative and quantitative tools to assess the effectiveness and impact of education programmes.
  • Demonstrate advanced and reflective leadership in conservation and sustainability education by applying theory to practical challenges, informed by scientific rigour and reflective practice.
  • Explore and integrate future-focused concepts such as free-choice learning, emerging technologies, and future-proofing strategies into programme design.
  • Critically evaluate and apply pedagogical and andragogical approaches to implement engaging interventions that promote connectedness to nature and address climate change and sustainability goals.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainability Education

Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainability Education

Who You'll Learn From

Una Meehan

Senior Lecturer
Uná Meehan

How You'll Learn

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Online sessions delivered over two weekends per term

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Coursework assignment that encourages reflection and links to professional practice

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This course does not involve in-person study

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This course is taught online

Flexible, Interactive Learning

The PGCert is delivered fully online through live, interactive seminars and collaborative group sessions, allowing us to bring together like-minded professionals regardless of location. The structure is designed to support those working or volunteering, while still creating a rich, engaging learning community.

You'll take part in three compulsory modules delivered across the academic year, with teaching organised over two weekends per term. Each term includes:

  • Two mid-week evening seminars
  • Two all-day Saturday sessions
  • Access to online learning resources, guided study tasks, and discussion forums

All assessment is coursework-based and rooted in your own professional context, allowing you to apply what you learn directly to your role whether in education, conservation, outreach, or community engagement. This structure ensures you develop both theoretical knowledge and real-world insight throughout your studies.

Entry Requirements

2:2honours degree

A 2:2 honours degree in any subject, and be engaged in, or aspire to work in, teaching and learning or public engagement with conservation and/or sustainability. Applicants with other degree classes and significant experience may be considered through interview and if they can demonstrate, on application, their ability to work at Level 7.

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency to IELTS 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in each band or equivalent.

This is a practical course that could be undertaken as part of full-time employment to develop the professional skills of those currently working in a related field including zoo/aquarium/conservation and sustainability and/or education.

Ability to access the internet to study remotely is essential.

2:2honours degree

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also take into account appropriate work experience.

See below for your country specific requirements. Please note, some programmes have special entry requirements and if applicable, these are listed below.

English Language Requirements

For more information on our English Language requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

Fees and Funding

£2,925 for full-time course (2025/26)

Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses are available to view on our Postgraduate Taught Programmes Fees page. Here you will also find information about part-time fees and project/placement year fees.

£15,000for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £15,000.

Please note: For MSc programmes where a placement or project year is undertaken there will be an additional charge of £2,750 for the placement/project year (due at the start of the second year of the course).

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. 

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Your Future Career

Job Prospects 

Conservation and Sustainability Education happens in a vast and diverse range of settings, including zoos, national trust, wildlife trust, forestry commission, as well as schools in both formal and informal manners.

This Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainability in Education has been designed to meet the training and development needs outlined within the WAZA conservation education strategy (PDF).

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

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