Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

This programme is for graduates who wish to develop careers in managing water and environmental sanitation services in low and middle-income countries. It aims to: 

• provide the multidisciplinary knowledge and skills to coordinate, plan, manage and monitor water and environmental sanitation services, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries;
• support the professionalization of the sector, through policy development, performance improvement, institutional reform, change management, benchmarking services and aiming for financial viability;
• encourage a critical approach to the global principles and local practice of sustainable water and environmental management for the public good;
• equip students with appropriate expertise and skills for relevant work in management of water and environmental sanitation for low- and middle-income countries; and
• encourage critical analysis through in-depth study of a specialist topic.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (2014) Part A: Setting and Maintaining Academic Standards: The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies, QAA, Gloucester. 

• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (2015) Subject Benchmark Statement: Master’s Degree in Business and Management, QAA, Gloucester. 

• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (2015) Characteristics Statement: Master's Degree. 

• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (2015)Subject Benchmark Statement: Engineering, QAA, Gloucester. 

• Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) core competencies required for a water, sanitation and hygiene project manager published by a consortium of twelve international agencies.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of:

 PG Cert:

 K1     international and local initiatives and institutions that promote water and sanitation for all;

 K2     the links between water and environmental sanitation services (including water resources, water treatment and supply, excreta, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste management), hygiene behaviour, health and socio-economic development;

 K3     the key issues in relation to environmental and social impact, equity, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and replicability in planning and managing sustainable water and environmental sanitation services;

 K4     the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of water and environmental sanitation and ways to integrate technical, social, economic and environmental perspectives in financing, coordinating, planning, promoting, managing, and monitoring services;

 K5     the range of appropriate water and environmental sanitation technologies and the level of service they provide; and

 K6     the assessment, planning, facilitation, regulation and management of social, institutional, economic and environmental issues at sector-wide, institutional and project implementation levels that ensure the sustainability and improvement of water and environmental sanitation services.

PGDip and MSc: As above for PGCert and in addition:

 K7     effective qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis and dissemination.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

PG Cert: 

C1     critically analyse past and current initiatives to deliver water and environmental sanitation services to unserved populations globally; 

C2     evaluate socially excluded groups and individuals within target populations; 

C3     critically appraise users’ water and environmental sanitation needs and demands based on conflicting and limited information; and 

C4     critically appraise institutional, social, economic, environmental and technical constraints and review possible solutions; 

PGDip and MSc: As above for PGCert and in addition: 

C5     justify appropriate sustainable institutional, social, economic and environmental solutions to meet users’ needs and demands for water and environmental sanitation services; and 

C6     investigate relevant emerging challenges facing the sector.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

PG Cert: 

P1     identify whether and to what extent different socio-economic contexts align with different physical/ natural contexts; 

P2     plan surveys and collate suitable data sources relating to the enabling environment, sector, institutional and organisational performance, social conditions, economic performance and environmental status; and 

P3     choose appropriate methods to review, validate, analyse, interpret and communicate dissimilar data sets using appropriate methods. 

PGDip and MSc: As above for PGCert and in addition: 

P4 negotiate and defend various approaches to managing and improving water and environmental sanitation services.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

PG Cert: 

T3     communicate effectively in writing, verbally and visually to an range of audiences to disseminate quantitative and qualitative information, advocate change and promote new ideas; 

T5     demonstrate appropriate selection and use of IT. 

PGDip and MSc: As above for PGCert and in addition: 

T2     listen to and record a range of views, especially from socially excluded or vulnerable groups; 

T4     demonstrate flexible working with the constraints of limited time, resources and information by initiating, planning, organising and prioritising activities in an ethical manner; 

MSc: As above for PGCert and PGDip and in addition: 

T1     find and critically evaluate a variety of existing sources of data, information and knowledge where the quality and quantity of publications is limited;

4. Programme structure

4.1 Structure of MSc programme 

Modules will only run in the semesters identified below.  However, students have the option of specifying the number of modules taken in any given semester. 

YEAR 1: SEMESTER 1 (compulsory modules)

 YEAR 1: SEMESTER 2 (compulsory modules)

 YEAR 2: SEMESTER 1 (compulsory modules)

YEAR 2: SEMESTER 2 (compulsory module)

 YEAR 2: SEMESTER 2 (optional module*, choose one)

*All optional module choice is subject to availability and timetabling

YEAR 3: SEMESTER 1, SEMESTER 2 AND SUMMER PERIOD (compulsory module)

4.2  Structure of the Postgraduate Diploma programme

The structure for the Postgraduate Diploma is as shown above for the MSc but omitting study of the Research Dissertation module.

4.3  Structure of Postgraduate Certificate programme

The structure of the PG Certificate programme is shown above, comprising the Semester 1 modules in years 1 and 2. The phase in of the MSc will mean that two years is required to complete this.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements set out in Regulation XXI.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Not applicable.