The challenge of responding and adapting to climate change will drive trillions of dollars of new investment over the coming decades, with major changes required across the economy, in energy production and consumption, industry, buildings, transport, infrastructure, forests and agriculture. Delivering this investment will require greatly enhanced capacity in all aspects of carbon finance. In addition, following the Paris Agreement both developed and developing countries now have increased commitments for addressing climate change which is driving increased demand for skills and knowledge in carbon and climate finance.
This programme is the world's first MSc in Carbon Finance, dedicated to professionals in the climate change investment field and focussed on the business opportunities and financial flows driven by society's response to climate change (carbon finance).
The MSc in Carbon Finance will appeal to graduates with significant work experience in business, government or the NGO sector.
Typically students will not have had an opportunity to specialise in climate change but will want to move into a career in climate change investment, carbon markets, consulting or carbon accounting.
Likely future roles include carbon credit development, low carbon portfolio management, renewable energy investment, climate find management, carbon trading, carbon consulting, carbon accounting and related policy or regulatory roles (e.g. with government or NGOs).
Very few business schools in the world have a similar depth of expertise in carbon finance.
Learning will primarily be through lectures, set reading, class discussions, exercises, group-work assignments, problem solving in tutorials and case studies. Assessment methods include examinations, assignments, presentations or continuous assessment.
Students who follow this programme will gain an understanding of:
The online MSc in Carbon Management is a ground-breaking development of the award-winning campus-based MSc in Carbon Management programme at the University of Edinburgh.
Building on the proven success and expert content of the established residential programme, this new online programme provides high-level knowledge, skills and training in the business, economics and science of carbon management.
The programme is designed for graduates who want an advanced academic qualification in tackling climate change management by business, industry, NGOs and government.
The interdisciplinary nature of the programme provides a detailed understanding of climate science and economics, and a broad and integrated understanding of carbon management. Students can devise study programmes suited to their own personal interests and career goals through their choice of individual research projects.
The online delivery allows study to be balanced alongside full-time employment and family commitments. A blend of interactive content, videos, virtual case studies and online discussions enables students to explore the science and business responses to climate change.
The MSc is completed on a part-time basis over a period of 36 months, starting in September each year. There is also a 24 month accelerated learning option.
The MSc comprises seven core courses and a dissertation, and is organised into three sections:
The first two sections can be taken as standalone qualifications. If both are successfully completed then the student will be eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma in Carbon Management.
In order to achieve the full MSc in Carbon Management, the first two Certificates must be successfully completed before the third can be taken. This is because the core courses taught in these Certificates provide the foundation knowledge required to carry out the research element on the programme.
Each of the Certificates are part-time one-year courses, with one course each semester.
Read more about the Postgraduate Certificates:
By the end of the programme, students will:
Our existing MSc Carbon Management boasts excellent relationships with relevant employers, as well as a great alumni network covering more than 25 nations and providing unrivalled opportunities to link up on research projects and find new positions in the field of carbon management.
The main employment sectors for our graduates are those of climate change consultancy, renewable energy and carbon management project development, and government and NGO climate change advisors. Several of our graduates are also now studying for climate change-focused PhDs.
The MSc in Carbon Management is a landmark collaboration between the world-renowned Schools of Geosciences, Economics and the Business School at the University of Edinburgh. It provides students with expertise, knowledge and skills in the business, economics and science of carbon management.
MSc Carbon Management was recently ranked in the top 15 World’s Best Masters in Sustainable Development and Environmental Management (Eduniversal Masters Ranking 2013-14).
Carbon management is now at the heart of tackling climate change and has rapidly become a central part of the global business environment. Edinburgh in particular has emerged as one of the most important global centres in this new discipline.
This innovative programme, taught by world-leading experts in key fields of climate change and carbon management, is for graduates who want an advanced academic qualification to launch careers in carbon and climate change management in business or government.
This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Environment & Society Academy.
Applicants who applied after 12 December 2016 receiving an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, may be required to pay a tuition fee deposit. Please see the fees and costs section for more information.
This MSc programme consists of two semesters of taught courses. Each course consists of a balance of lectures, seminars, workshops and visits. Students will then undertake individual dissertation project work.
Compulsory courses typically will be:
In consultation with the Programme Director, you will choose from a range of option courses. We particularly recommend:
Courses are offered subject to timetabling and availability and are subject to change.
If you are unable to commit to a full MSc at present, it is possible to study a Postgraduate Certificate by online distance learning:
A key strength of our programme is the employability of our graduates.
The programme has won the PricewaterhouseCoopers award for ‘Teaching Employable Skills’ as well as providing the opportunity to conduct business carbon audits, work on placements with major industry groups such as the 2020 Climate Group, and conduct dissertation research as part of work-based projects with a wide range of external collaborators.
Our graduates are enjoying roles ranging from government advisers and NGO researchers to renewable energy project developers and commercial carbon management consultants.
See what some of our MSc Carbon Management alumni are doing now:
Would you like to know what it’s really like to study at the School of GeoSciences?
Visit our student experience blog where you can find articles, advice, videos and ask current students your questions.
Based upon our highly successful on-campus MSc Carbon Management, this online programme utilises a blend of interactive content, videos, virtual case studies and discussions to explore the economics and policy of climate change management.
The interdisciplinary nature of the programme provides a detailed understanding of the economics of climate change and a broad and integrated understanding of carbon footprinting, ecosystem valuation, energy systems and energy policy.
This programme is designed for those with a passion for tackling climate change and who require the flexibility that online learning provides.
The programme is affiliated with the University's Global Environment & Society Academy.
This programme is delivered as flexible part-time study using our online virtual learning environment. You will learn from academics working at the leading edge of carbon management and climate change.
The lectures are all delivered online through our virtual learning environment. The lectures are delivered as a series of short video segments, animated slides and accompanying reading resources and links.
Each week students and staff also meet online to discuss issues, questions and ideas with the group.
As a student of one of our online learning programmes, you will:
This programme takes one year to complete (September to July), with one course per semester.
This programme comprises of three compulsory courses that move from the economics of climate change, to measurement of climate change impacts to the policy and science behind the energy sources we use to power our world.
Compulsory courses typically will be:
With this Postgraduate Certificate you can choose to:
Read more about our related online qualifications:
On completion of this programme you will be able to:
Our existing MSc Carbon Management boasts excellent relationships with relevant employers, as well as a great alumni network covering more than 25 nations and providing unrivalled opportunities to link up on research projects and find new positions in the field of carbon management.
The main employment sectors for our graduates are those of climate change consultancy, renewable energy and carbon management project development, as well as government and NGO climate change advisors. Several of our graduates are also now studying for climate change-focused PhDs.
This is the only programme of its kind in the UK, giving you high-level skills and training across the rapidly developing area of carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Global energy demands are still rising, and fossil fuels remain central to meeting those demands in the medium term. CCS is a recognised solution to reducing CO2 emissions until fossil fuels are entirely replaced by renewable energy technologies.
With commercial trials under way, countries and industries are investing in this new technology. In the UK, all existing power stations must have a full-scale retrofit of CCS within five years of the technology being independently judged as technically and commercially proven.
This MSc draws on our world-class interdisciplinary academic research and the insights we have gained from projects involving our industrial stakeholders.
This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Environment & Society Academy.
Applicants who applied after 12 December 2016 receiving an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, may be required to pay a tuition fee deposit. Please see the fees and costs section for more information.
The MSc has two semesters of lectures and practical classes, followed by a research dissertation of up to 15,000 words. The programme includes industry guest lectures as well as opportunities for fieldwork and industry site visits to a range of locations.
Designed for graduates of engineering or geoscience-related subjects, the programme provides high-level skills and training in the entire value chain of CCS, including combustion, transport, geoscience and legal aspects.
Compulsory courses typically will be:
Option courses:
In consultation with the Programme Director, you will choose from a range of option courses. We particularly recommend:
All courses are offered subject to timetabling and availability and are subject to change.
Graduates can enter into all manner of jobs due to the transferable and highly desirable nature of the skills gained. However, typically our graduates pursue careers in business, industry, government and non-governmental organisations in the field of low-carbon energy production.
Would you like to know what it’s really like to study at the School of GeoSciences?
Visit our student experience blog where you can find articles, advice, videos and ask current students your questions.
Based upon our highly successful on-campus MSc Carbon Management, this online programme utilises a blend of interactive content, videos, virtual case studies and online discussions to explore the science and business responses to climate change.
We examine the leading ways in which the global climate change challenge can be addressed, covering adaptation and mitigation solutions across a wide range of sectors and regions. The programme is designed for those with a passion for tackling climate change and who require the flexibility that online learning provides.
This programme is delivered as flexible part-time study using our online virtual learning environment. You will learn from academics working at the leading edge of carbon management and climate change.
The lectures are all delivered online through our virtual learning environment. The lectures are delivered as a series of short video segments, animated slides and accompanying reading resources and links.
Each week students and staff also meet online to discuss issues, questions and ideas with the group.
As a student of one of our online learning programmes, you will:
This programme takes one year to complete (September to July), with one course per semester.
The programme comprises three compulsory courses that move from the science of climate change and its impacts, through the key adaptation and mitigation solutions, to examination of the business response to climate change, and the risks and opportunities it represents.
The compulsory core courses typically are:
All courses are subject to change.
With this Postgraduate Certificate you can choose to:
Read more about our related online qualifications:
Our existing MSc Carbon Management boasts excellent relationships with relevant employers, as well as a great alumni network covering more than 25 nations and providing unrivalled opportunities to link up on research projects and find new positions in the field of carbon management.
The main employment sectors for our graduates are those of climate change consultancy, renewable energy and carbon management project development, and government and NGO climate change advisors. Several of our graduates are also now studying for climate change-focused PhDs.
This MSc is aimed at students who wish to pursue a geosciences-related career in the future energy sector, as it transitions from fossil fuels to a low carbon economy. The aim is to offer a programme that uses subsurface (geological) knowledge opening a diverse range of career pathways in lower carbon geoenergy technologies; the disposal of energy-related wastes and the hydrocarbon industry.
This MSc programme builds on the strength and reputation of the research groups operating in the School of GeoSciences on uses of the subsurface: carbon capture and storage (CCS); radioactive waste disposal; energy storage and extraction; unconventional and conventional hydrocarbons; wet and dry geothermal heat; and subsurface fluid tracing using noble gases and stable isotopes.
Compulsory courses (for students who have accredited prior learning, elective courses are taken in lieu) – 90 credits
Compulsory Courses – for those with Geoscience background – 20 credits
Compulsory Courses – for those without Geoscience background – 20 credits
Optional courses: choice of 10 credits from following
Compulsory Dissertation
This programme will train students in the use of subsurface geological knowledge opening a diverse range of career pathways in lower carbon geoenergy technologies and the disposal of energy-related wastes. These include radioactive waste disposal; carbon capture and storage; geothermal energy and subsurface energy storage including compressed air energy storage.
Other pathways include working in environmental and regulatory aspects of energy storage involving potential pollution; tracking subsurface fluids in the event of leakage from subsurface facilities and ground water resources.
Gain a robust understanding in renewable energy and sustainable technologies, as well as carbon management and energy use in the built environment.
The MSc Renewable Energy: Technology and Sustainability deals with the applications of renewable energy and sustainable technology combined with the impact on the environment of using non-sustainable technologies. We focus on the technical and policy questions arising from global demands for secure, affordable and sustainable energy. We cover rapidly-evolving fields that are vitally relevant to how society develops in the 21st century. This course is accredited by the Energy Institute and the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers.
The distinctive focus is on renewable energy and sustainable technologies, as well as carbon management and energy use in the built environment.
There is international concern about the environmental damage associated with the conversion of energy from all sources. Renewable energy sources can make a significant contribution to the reduction of pollution, if used in a sustainable way. Renewable fuels and energy systems can also offer protection against future shortages and price increases of conventional energy, and can provide energy supplies in remote areas.
This course has been Labelled by Climate KIC - a knowledge and Innovation Community that works with existing and relevant Master's courses to enhance them with complementary learning.
Sample modules
Please note that all modules are subject to change. Please see our modules disclaimer for more information.
Dissertation
The dissertation is a major individual research project. Guidance will be given on choosing a research topic, research techniques and the style and presentation of the finished document. Classes in research skills are provided as part of the dissertation module. Students will have their own carefully selected dissertation tutor whose role is to help them plan and successfully execute this key part of the programme.
Full-time
We offer a one-year, full-time modular course. It is taught with ten, one-week attendance periods at the University. The full-time programme starts in September each year.
Flexible part-time
We also offer a two-year, part-time modular course. It is taught with ten, one-week attendance periods at the University. The duration of the flexible route is strongly recommended as two years, but this is not fixed. The flexible course starts in September each year.
The School has international alumni spread throughout the world. Many are in senior positions within governments, NGOs or the private sector. Graduates from the MSc in Renewable Energy: Technology and Sustainability are uniquely equipped to engage with the challenges of reducing the carbon footprint of energy generation and use. You will acquire the expertise and skills to significantly enhance your employability options in a wide range of energy and sustainability-related occupations. Particular attention is given to the development of research skills and critical thinking. The specific aim is to develop specialist skills. These arise from exposure to theory, research and methods of critical evaluation, while enabling career development.
Graduates will typically be employed in professional roles, such as:
Sustainability, Earth and Atmospheric Science Masters Degrees - School of Earth and Environment
Leicester Castle Business School - created by De Montfort University to meet the needs of 21st century business
