About the programme

Every aspect of the global economy is changing rapidly due to the effects of climate change. As a result, employers need people who are agile and innovative,  who understand sustainability challenges and crucially, are capable of taking action.

Students learn the Design Thinking process, a human centred problem solving methodology that originated in Stanford University, to create innovative, sustainable solutions to complex, real-world problems. In tandem, students develop a sustainability mindset through sustainability literacy including a working knowledge of sustainability systems, issues and tools, framed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability, introduces key concepts such as the circular economy, decarbonisation, and just transition. Students also learn how to embrace their creative and entrepreneurial side to lead change, embed sustainability, and address complex challenges.

Everything students learn is put into practice with a project to look at real-world sustainability challenges. These will be set by our industry partners, who have previously included ESB, Oxfam, Dublin City Council, and SuperValu. In the final component of the MSc students apply their learnings to a project of their own choosing – an opportunity to lead a project with real world impact, offering an ideal springboard for the next step in your career.

By the end of this MSc students are ready to reposition their career for the emerging green economy.

Modules and Topics

• Creative Thinking & Innovation
• Systemic Approaches, Interdisciplinary Solutions
• Entrepreneurship: Application and Mindset
• Innovation Sprint
• Leadership for Innovation and Creativity
• Design for User-Centric, Sustainable Solutions
• Design Your Purposeful Life
• Applied Sustainability Project

Career Opportunities

Decision makers in government, enterprise and civil society now recognise that learners must have not just the knowledge to act on sustainability, but also the skills to act quickly. The MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability is a unique programme that bridges knowledge and skills, ensuring students begin to affect change within the programme and are ready to quickly transition to new roles and opportunities upon graduation.

Where is the Class of 2025 working now?

•     ECO UNESCO
•     Bash Fashion
•     Williscroft & Co
•     Vivid Edge
•     Tik Tok
•     Freelance Makeup Artist
•     O’Briens Wine
•     Better Homes
•     Our Story Visual Comms & Storytelling
•     The Rediscovery Centre
•     National Print Museum
•     Dublin Pride
•     Meath LEADER

    “Shifting global trends in technology, economy, demographics and the green transition are projected to generate 170 million new jobs by 2030, while displacing 92 million others.”

    – Future of Jobs Report, World Economic Forum

The MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability offers students an opportunity to apply, test and master their learnings individually with a high degree of autonomy in a high stakes, real world context. Students must design innovative implementation plans and individually lead a complex and ambitious sustainability project, managing multiple stakeholders and competing needs to deliver an actionable solution.

As a result of the highly applied nature of this MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability, students may leverage the project for future career opportunities.

    “The Irish economy will need to fill more than 20,000 jobs by 2030 just to support green economy sectors.”

    – IDA Ireland

Entry Requirements

• Transcript – A minimum honours degree (Level 8) qualification. Please provide a copy of your academic transcript. If you have previously studied at UCD, please provide your UCD student number on a Word document / pdf. If you do not have a Level 8 you may be eligible to apply under Recognition of Prior Learning. Please contact [email protected] first for further guidance.
• Interview (Online) – As part of the admissions process, all applicants are required to complete a 15-minute online interview.
• English Language Test – if applicable. English requirements are currently under review and confirmation and final approval will be confirmed by 16 October. Scores are expected to be approved as follows:
• IELTS: minimum overall score of 7.0 over all components and a minimum of 6.5 in each band
• TOEFL: A minimum score of 5 with no less than 5 in each section of reading, listening, speaking and writing. If using old scoring system, min score of 95 overall and no lower than 23 in each section.
• DET: A min. overall score of 130 with no section below 125
• For any other English tests, the overall score must be evaluated to be equivalent with CEFR C1, including any spoken components of the exam.
• Personal Statement – Approx. 1 page long
• CV
• Two References – (Professional or Academic)

Tuition Fee

We expect to be launching a scholarship funded directly by Innovation Academy in January available to both EU and non-EU students, pending Governing Board and ACCASP approval.

• Application fee – €70
• Deposit to secure your place – €500 (EU) or €750 (non-EU)
• Your deposit is deducted from the full course fees.
• First instalment September 2026
• Second instalment January 2027
• Third instalment May 2027

For more information on scholarship opportunities, please contact [email protected].

Testimonials

Ciara O’Flaherty, 2023 Graduate (Ireland):

    “This course was life changing for me. I was a change maker before doing small things when it comes to sustainability but this course has given me the connections and the skills to do bigger things and have the impact I want.”

Lucy Shah, Grad Dip  2023 Alum (Ireland) | Active Travel Project Coordinator, An Taisce:

    “It was a fantastic experience. I came into this course feeling a bit lost, not quite sure what direction to go in but now I feel so confident going into a job in industry, in sustainability.”

Alan Feeney, Grad Dip 2022 Alum (Ireland) | Production Manager, Button Factory:

    “In the event space, we all know now that sustainability has to be at the heart of what we do. As part of of the course I got to work on a project with Convention Centre Dublin who I knew had a team that was dedicated to sustainability. They were, at that very time, prepping for an international award in sustainability. I was lucky enough to be there as they built their pitch.”

Mae Ly Lim, 2021 Graduate | Executive planner, Declan Brassil & Company:

    “We proposed to our industry partner that they create an opening for a community liaison officer. They liked the idea and created the role. In fact, they offered me the position. I got to create the job and now I’m doing it.”