In a bold move to redefine the role of higher education in addressing the climate crisis, the University of Exeter has announced the launch of a pioneering new degree designed to equip students with the cross-disciplinary skills needed to build a more sustainable future.
Launching in September 2026 at the university’s Penryn campus in Cornwall, the BA/BSc (Hons) in Global Sustainability is set to blend natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities in a single, solutions-focused programme aimed at preparing the next generation of change-makers.
This innovative degree breaks with the tradition of siloed academic study, allowing students to shape their own learning journey, choosing to specialise in science or the humanities, or integrating both to tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, and social justice.
“Many of the planet’s most urgent issues don’t fit neatly into a single discipline,” says Professor Tom Currie, co-director of the new programme and faculty member at the Centre for Ecology and Conservation. “To find real solutions, we need people who understand both the natural environment and the human systems that shape it.”
The Global Sustainability degree is being developed collaboratively across all departments at the Penryn campus, which recently marked its 20th anniversary. Drawing on expertise from fields as diverse as climate science, biodiversity, history, politics, health, and engineering, the course aims to equip students with both the theoretical understanding and practical tools to become leaders in the global sustainability movement.
First-year students will build a broad foundation through interdisciplinary core modules in subjects such as geography, environmental science, politics, and history. From the second year onward, they’ll have the flexibility to tailor their studies toward either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science, depending on their academic interests and career ambitions.
Fieldwork, community engagement, and collaboration with external partners, including businesses, NGOs, and public sector organisations, will be embedded into the course, offering students the chance to apply their learning to real-world sustainability challenges.
“What sets this degree apart is not just that we’re bringing together different disciplines,” says Dr Wendy McMahon, co-lead on the programme and a senior lecturer in history. “We’re integrating them, interweaving different perspectives and actively engaging with the organisations and communities working on the frontlines of sustainability.”
One of the programme’s key strengths lies in its versatility. Unlike many undergraduate pathways that encourage early specialisation, Global Sustainability encourages academic breadth and adaptability, qualities increasingly valued in today’s complex and rapidly evolving job market.
Graduates will be well-positioned to enter a wide range of sectors, including environmental policy, education, science, media, business, and international development.
“We want our students to leave here with the freedom to shape their own futures,” adds McMahon. “Because if we’re going to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we need people working across every part of society, from the boardroom to the classroom, the lab to the newsroom.”
With climate and social issues continuing to dominate global discourse, the University of Exeter’s Global Sustainability degree offers a timely and forward-thinking model of how higher education can rise to meet the moment, by educating not just students, but future leaders.