Graduate destinations range from UK-based organisations in the public, private and community sectors to governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations which operate in a development capacity in the Global South.

Graduates have also been employed by international NGOs and aid and development agencies. Some graduates return to their home countries and engage in the practice, teaching or research of urban development practice; other graduates have successfully sought employment in international development organisations away from their own countries. Programme alumni have also successfully embarked on MPhil/PhD programmes. 

Examples of organisations where graduates have been employed include: Public Sector: DEFRA and DfID (UK), Ministerio das Cidades (Brazil) and many other local government organisations International Agencies and NGOs: UNEP, UNDP, UN-Habitat, JICA, GIZ (former GTZ), InsightShare, Save the Children and WWF Think tanks, academic and research organisations: IIED, Stockholm Environment Institute, Resources for Development Center, WaterWise and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport Private companies: HappoldConsulting, EcoSecurities, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Dialogue by Design, and BioRegionalQuintain.

As this MSc is widely recognised, many of our graduates go on to help shape future sustainable development agendas in local government, international agencies (such as UN agencies and the World Bank), bilateral aid organisations from different countries. and civil society organisations.

The programme equips students with interdisciplinary and transferable skills. It develops reflective and ethical professionals with enhanced capacities as critical thinkers, researchers, team players, leaders, effective project managers and impactful communicators.

Specific skills that help students include:

• prepare balanced and critical analyses/arguments, attentive to the particularities of place, based on theoretical insights and empirical evidence
• undertake well-supported diagnoses of the problems and opportunities in given urban development contexts, in ways that reframe strategic opportunities for socially and environmentally just action
• formulate systematic and well-supported strategic proposals, aimed at responding to complex urban environmental change, including organisational and institutional development
• build presentation, advocacy and negotiation skills
• develop research skills including interviewing, conceptual framework formulation, and the ability to analyse a range of information sources
• deliver group projects, and negotiate the dynamics of working in diverse teams
• operate professionally in unfamiliar environments, including in Global South contexts 

Recruiters

• Brodie Consulting Ltd
• Climate Bonds Initiative
• Derbyshire NHS
• Global Action Plan, London
• Guildford Environmental Forum
• Hammersmith & Fulham Council
• Hubbub
• Klimato, Sweden
• LC Energy Ltd
• Modulaire Group Holdings Ltd, London
• Surrey County Council.