Course Summary
This full-time Level 9 Graduate Diploma equips students with the core skills to quantify the sustainability of a product, process or system, identify areas for improvement and devise and manage measures for implementation to improve sustainability.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
The target market are candidates who are recent graduates, jobseekers or are in full time employment, with a Level 8 Honours degree with minimum 2:1 award (NFQ level 8) or international equivalence in disciplines which include strong mathematical, technological and analytical skills. Examples of acceptable disciplines are engineering, physical science, geography and planning, architecture and environmental related degrees.
Those without a Level 8 honours degree in a relevant subject but with >5 years relevant professional experience in a relevant field will be considered.
Minimum English language requirements will apply. The English language requirements for degree courses at UCD are listed:
https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/policiesandgeneralregulations/generalrequirements/minimumenglishlanguagerequirements/
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.
https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/
Application Details
Apply online
Who Should Apply?
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: No
T390 Graduate Diploma in Environmental Sustainability Implementation Graduate Diploma - Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Fees
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Career Progression
This 60 ECTS Graduate Diploma is a Pathway programme that can build to a Masters degree award. Students who complete the Graduate Diploma have the option of completing a 30 ECTS project which builds to a Masters degree award.
Progression to Masters: If you are interested in progressing to the Masters in Environmental Sustainability Implementation on completion of the Graduate Diploma, please email [email protected]? for more information. Please note there is no direct entry to the Masters programme.
Career Opportunities
There is very significant industry demand for engineers and scientists with knowledge on methods to quantify sustainability for internal benchmarking, process improvement, and reporting purposes. In August 2025 there were >1000 sustainability-related jobs advertised in Ireland (based on data from LinkedIn). Upon completion of this Graduate Diploma, graduates will have the skills needed to lead the sustainability agenda for a company either individually or as part of a team.
Duration
Delivery: Blended
The programme is designed to be suitable for people working in any sector in Ireland.
As most modules can be done either in real-time or via recordings – this gives workers flexibility in managing their learnings around their work hours.