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Global Management of Natural Resources MSc

London, Bloomsbury and Adelaide, Mawson Lakes

Study the global management of natural resources at both UCL and Adelaide University, on this jointly delivered, one-year Master's. Become well-versed in multiple aspects of the natural resources industries, develop communication, research and management skills, and access networks and opportunities to build your career in the natural resources sector.

Please note this programme involves approximately 5 months of overseas study. The programme is taught in London between September and March, and in Adelaide, Australia between April and mid-September.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£24,100
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£43,500
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of a second-class Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline – preferably engineering, Earth sciences, chemistry or finance/business - from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Relevant work experience may be taken into account.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

For advice on eligibility to study in Australia please contact the Student Centre.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The natural resource industries are critical to the continued development of technology and society. However, they face several challenges, including financial, policy and governmental constraints, technological limitations, very high levels of energy consumption and the availability of resources into the future.  

On this specialist MSc programme, you'll build a broad understanding of natural resources: where the resources come from, how to best extract and use them, what the environmental and social consequences of these operations are, and how we incorporate good governance and sustainability practice into these efforts. 

What's more, you'll hone in on the socioeconomic responsibilities, learn to operate within international constraints, and develop insight into the technical complexity of the challenges faced. These are key skills that will equip you to lead the charge towards a more sustainable future for these industries and society.

The programme is transcontinental (offered by UCL and Adelaide University), and has been designed with input from industry.

You will spend the first half of the course in London, and the second in Adelaide, Australia. 

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal for you if you have a background in science and engineering, business, finance, management, human resources and/or similar/allied fields. 

It is designed for those who want to develop a more holistic understanding of the natural resources sector, and you have a demonstrable interest in the programme outcomes.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities:

  • Get a postgraduate degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025), providing you with a prestigious qualification that is highly regarded by employers worldwide. 
  • Develop your skills with renowned academics and practitioners at UCL Chemical Engineering, UCL Earth Sciences, UCL Bartlett and UCL School of Management in London – and Adelaide University.
  • UCL's Chemical Engineering department is ranked 20th in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024) and Adelaide University is one of Australia’s leading universities for interdisciplinary research, offering extensive industry facing and focused opportunities in science and engineering.
  • Study a programme that has been developed in collaboration with industry and research partners to meet the growing need for managerial professionals with enhanced industry knowledge in the existing and developing natural resources fields.
  • Develop an integrated understanding of resource genesis, production, supply, socio-environmental footprint and sustainable practice. These industries rely on effective collaboration between scientists, engineers, analysts, managers and investors.
  • Benefit from networking opportunities in London and Adelaide, career advice throughout the programme, and the chance to develop transferable skills in our multidisciplinary environment.
  • Attend several field trips, including a visit to Onkalo nuclear waste repository in Finland, and several trips to mine sites and processing facilities in South Australia.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates from this programme have gone on to successful roles at organisations including EY, Xodus Group Ltd, Goldman Sachs, and UK Government.

Examples of alumni careers and further study following graduation from this programme can be found on our student life webpage and alumni testimonial webpage.

I decided that a degree from UCL would provide me with good opportunities and excellent teaching. I chose the course because it is highly multidisciplinary, covering many areas of natural resources and business that I had never touched before.

Headshot of alumna student Alexandra Mitchell

Alexandra Mitchell

MSc Global Management of Natural Resources

Read more student testimonials

Employability

By the end of this Master’s, you will be well placed to secure highly skilled, multidisciplinary managerial and specialist jobs in the natural resources sector. You will also be equipped for further postgraduate research in relevant disciplines.

Networking

You will have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your Master’s.

  • Take part in events hosted by UCL Careers to get 1-2-1 support, and enhance your CV writing and interview skills. 
  • Take part in regular seminars, to hear from expert academic speakers from different universities around the world talking about topical research issues, and network afterwards.
  • Benefit from guest lectures from industry professionals as part of select modules.

Accreditation

The Global Management of Natural Resources MSc is an accredited programme of study, with accreditation at the CEng with further learning level (CEng is FL), on behalf of the Engineering Council by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

Upon graduating from this programme, graduates who already have an accredited MEng in engineering/technology, or an accredited Bachelors (with Honours) in engineering/technology will have fulfilled the educational requirements for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, site visits, independent reading and research, as well as online material. 

This programme is assessed via examinations (quizzes), presentations, essays, coursework, group project work, and a dissertation. Please note that assessment will vary according to the module choices of the student. 

On this programme, you can expect approximately 16-18 hours of contact hours a week. The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the terms depending on the module choices of the student. This is a full-time course, which means students should expect a weekly working schedule of approximately 35-40 hours a week divided between contact hours, self-directed learning, and preparing for assessments.

All teaching sessions take place Monday – Friday 9am to 6pm. Wednesday afternoons are normally kept free. There may be additional events, such as careers sessions, which may take place outside of these hours.

At Adelaide University in Australia, students will be expected to spend at least 20 hours a week dedicated to self-study for their research project, as part of the dissertation. This is in addition to 8-10 hours a week on average in a mixture of in-person teaching, self-directed study and assessment for Social Licensing, and additional meetings, seminars and field trips throughout the study period.

Modules

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 UCL credits. The programme consists of 6 compulsory modules, 2 optional modules, and a dissertation.

7 modules are taught in London, along with research methods and associated assessment as part of the Dissertation. Social Licensing and remainder of the dissertation, including the research project itself, are delivered in Adelaide, South Australia.

In Term 1, students engage primarily with elements of science and engineering as applicable to the resource industries. This is from perspectives within the hydrocarbon, solid mineral and nuclear industries. Term 2 engages students with aspects of governance, policy, business management, environmental and social practice and additional specialised technical knowledge.

Students spend Term 3 and the summer at Adelaide University's Mawson Lakes Campus in Adelaide, South Australia. Studies typically need to be in Adelaide by the week after Easter in April to the second full week of September. Final dates for the academic year are confirmed in the first term of studies in London. Details on costs associated with these overseas elements can be found in the additional costs section of this webpage. Here, students undertake their research projects with leading academics in aspects of natural resources, as well as further learning in Social Licensing and other relevant activities, including field trips, seminars and presentations.

UCL is solely responsible for Admissions to the programme, and the degree issued is UCL only.

Late Summer Assessment

Please note that GMNR students are not eligible to undertake re-assessments during the LSA (Late Summer Assessment) period. LSA is where students at UCL ordinarily undertake re-assessment in late August or early September of the same academic year, on the basis of results confirmed by the summer exam board for taught modules, typically in June.

Whether or not a student undertakes re-assessment during the LSA period is dependent on the outcomes of all taught modules as confirmed in the summer exam board. As some taught modules for GMNR continue into the summer period, not all results can be confirmed in the summer exam board, and it is therefore not possible to make condonement decisions, or decisions related to the requirement for re-assessment at that time. Condonement in this case, is where students who fail one 15 credit taught module between 40.00 and 49.99% are not required to undertake re-assessment, and instead their degree can progress, incorporating the condoned module mark. Where students fail one 15 credit taught module below 40.00%, or fail more than one 15 credit taught module (or the dissertation) below 50.00%, then re-assessment at the next available opportunity will be required.

Furthermore, LSAs are not available to GMNR students as they are normally in Australia during the summer period. In the interest of fairness to all candidates, all GMNR re-assessments are offered during the academic year following the period of registration for the MSc.

Compulsory modules








Optional modules









Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Global Management of Natural Resources.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork offers the opportunity for students to observe and discuss many of the topics discussed in lectures, seminars and tutorials. This is particularly helpful in geological contexts. Fieldwork may include:

  • A four-day trip to Dorset in either November or March (to be confirmed) for those on GEOL0034 Geology for Global Managers and Engineers;
  • A two-day trip to Helsinki, Finland to visit the Onkalo nuclear waste repository in February as part of CENG0036 Prevention and Remediation of Environmental Contamination;
  • Trips to visit relevant sites in South Australia as part of CENG0037 Dissertation;
  • Shorter trips that may be arranged on an annual basis.

The international components and field trips in this programme are subject to national and international Covid-19 regulations and restrictions, and/or other significant future events. Field trips and the period of overseas study may not be possible; in such circumstances the field trips will be substituted by alternative learning (e.g., virtual field trips or lecture based material), and the material taught in Australia (Social Licensing and the Dissertation) will be delivered remotely in London, but with significant input from Adelaide University.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Where you'll study

Two students in white lab coats working on computers in chemical engineering lab

UCL Chemical Engineering is proud to offer outstanding experimental facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. Our modern laboratories and specialist tools create an ideal environment for innovation and academic growth. With access to these resources, students have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research and to contribute to meaningful advancements in the field. The Advanced Propulsion Lab (APL), a global centre of excellence dedicated to the decarbonisation of the transport sector, specialising in battery and fuel cell electric vehicles. The Manufacturing Futures Laboratory (MFL), a multi-disciplinary research and teaching hub, driving strategic research and fostering innovative industry collaborations to deliver the sustainable products and manufacturing processes of the future.

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Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £24,100
Tuition fees (2025/26) £43,500

Australian students will be classified as Overseas for fee purposes. Students will need funds to cover the cost of travel between UCL and UniSA and for field trips.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

The field trip to Finland may require some students to apply for a Finnish or Schengen visa for entry. The cost of the visa is €90 as of the 1st of August 2024, and this may be refunded by the Finnish authorities due to the educational nature of the visit. The visa must be applied for any time after October of the academic year, and a sponsorship letter is provided by the department.

The approximately 5 and a half months to be spent in Australia will incur some additional compulsory costs, correct as of 1st August 2024 (note that these may be impacted and/or increased by the Coronavirus pandemic and inflation):

  • Flights to and from Australia, starting at approximately £1000;
  • Overseas healthcare costs in Australia, approximately £250;
  • Australian student visa cost, currently £830 (1600 AUS$).

There may be additional costs associated with applying for the visa in Australia. This may include:

These costs are typically paid between December and April of the academic year. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to investigate the costs of an Australian student visa and associated travel costs for their personal circumstances before applying to this programme. Further information can be found on the Australian visa website. These costs may be subject to significant increases prior to, and throughout your period of study.

You would be expected to pay for your living costs and accommodation in Adelaide, South Australia. These are typically less than the equivalent costs in London.

The cost of field trips to Dorset, Finland and the field trips in Australia, apart from personal costs (such as food, visas, appropriate clothing and footwear, pens and pencils etc.), will be met separately by the Department. Any additional optional field trips arranged with short notice within the UK may incur some additional travel costs, estimated not to exceed £100.

Students may apply for travel grants, bursaries and scholarships associated with the programme of study or the department to help with the costs of their studies.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For those who have applied (with completed references) by the 31st March 2025:

  • One studentship of £3,000 based on academic merit and/or professional excellence.
  • We will contact you to apply for these funds after the cut-off date.

More information can be found on our website. 

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Global Management of Natural Resources at graduate level.
  • Why you want to study Global Management of Natural Resources at UCL.
  • What particularly attracts you to study at UCL and Adelaide University.
  • How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme.
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering

chemeng.pgt.queries@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students. UniSA is regulated by Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency .