Masters Degrees (Climate Policy)

Who is this programme for?:

The MSc Global Energy and Climate Policy (GECP) is the first Masters programme to jointly address the issues of climate and energy policy in an interdisciplinary fashion. It tackles policy and regulatory change, the historical and technological evolution of energy sources, energy markets and their participants, the global governance of climate change as well as the challenges associated with transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

The programme specifically addresses the requirements of those wishing to deepen their theoretical and practical understanding of how energy and climate policies are designed, shaped, advocated and implemented and by whom across a multitude of cases drawn from the Global North and South and across multiple levels of political organisation from global to local arenas.

The MSc is designed for those engaged with or planning a career in professional contexts relating to energy and/or climate policy. It prepares for a multitude of careers in public and private contexts, including in public administration and government departments, strategic policy and risk advisory, government relations and public affairs, policy advocacy, think tanks and academia.

Guest speakers on the programme's modules have included Angus Miller (Energy Advisor, UK Foreign Office), Tom Burke (Founding Director, E3G and Environmental Policy Advisor, Rio Tinto), Jonathan Grant (Asst. Director Sustainability and Climate Change, PwC), Kash Burchett (European Energy Analyst, IHS Global Insight), Chris Dodwell (AEA Technology, former Head of International Climate Policy, UK Department of Energy and Climate Change) and Andrew Pendleton (Head of Campaigns, Friends of the Earth).

The programme draws on the teaching and research strengths of CISD and of the SOAS departments of International Politics, Law, Economics and area studies (especially of Asia, Africa and the Middle East) as well as a wide range of languages. In particular, students will be able to benefit from the expertise located at the Centre for Environment, Development and Policy (CEDEP), the Law School's Law, Environment and Development Centre (LEDC), the Centre on the Politics of Energy Security (CEPES), the Centre for Water and Development, and the SOAS Food Studies Centre.

In addition to the three core modules of Global Energy and Climate Policy (1 unit), Applied Energy and Climate Studies (0.5 units) and Global Public Policy (0.5 units) students choose a fourth module to meet their specific professional needs and personal interests.

Students on this course will have the opportunity to participate in CISD's Study Tour of Paris and Brussels.

Programme objectives

- Excellent understanding of the nature and development of global energy and climate policy, drawing on a variety of contributing disciplines

- Excellent knowledge of regulatory challenges and their impact on public and private stakeholders in both the Global South and North

- Ability to critically contribute to contemporary policy debates about reforms of international energy and climate governance architectures and their interaction with national and sub-national policy and regulatory frameworks

- Development of practical skills including policy analysis and policy advocacy, risk analysis, strategic communication and media

We welcome applications from a wide variety of fields and backgrounds. It is not necessary to have a degree in a discipline directly related to global energy and climate policy.

Each application is assessed on its individual merits and entry requirements may be modified in light of relevant professional experience and where the applicant can demonstrate a sustained practical interest in the international field.

Listen to the MSc Global Energy and Climate Policy and CISD's 1st Annual Energy and Climate Change Conference (May 2011) podcast (http://www.4shared.com/mp3/EdRUc-qq/CISD_Energy_and_Climate_Change.html), organised by students.

Visit the website http://www.soas.ac.uk/cisd/programmes/msc-global-energy-and-climate-policy/

Programme Specification

Programme Specification 2015/2016 (pdf; 172kb) - http://www.soas.ac.uk/cisd/programmes/msc-global-energy-and-climate-policy/file80890.pdf

Teaching & Learning

The programme may be taken in one year (full time) or in two or three years part time with the schedule designed to allow participation by those in full time employment. Participants may choose a combination of courses to meet their professional needs and personal interests. The programme is convened on a multi-disciplinary basis, and teaching is through lectures, tutorials and workshops conducted by SOAS faculty and visiting specialists.

The Centre endeavours to make as many of the courses for Global Energy and Climate Policy (GECP) accessible to part time students. The majority of CISD lectures are at 18.00 where possible however lecture times will be rotated on a yearly basis for some courses (between evening and daytime slots) so that part time students will have access to as many courses as possible over the duration of their degree. Associated tutorials are repeated in hourly slots with the latest taking place at 20.00. Students sign up for tutorial groups at the start of term and stay in the same group throughout the academic year. There is a minimum of two and a half hours formal teaching a week (lecture and tutorial) for each GECP course taken. Practical exercises may take place at weekends.

Teaching includes:

- Theory and practice of global energy and climate change policy as intertwined global issues

- Practical toolkit including policy analysis and planning, risk analysis, strategic communication, policy advocacy and negotiation skills

- Interaction with policymakers and government officials, energy industry and NGO representatives, and other practitioners

- An elective from a wide range: International Relations, International Law, International Economics, International Security, Multinational Enterprises in a Globalising World or a course offered by other SOAS departments (e.g. Development Studies, Politics, Economics, Law)

Further activities:

Also included in the degree programme:

- Week-long study trip to energy and climate change related organisations in Brussels and Paris
- Advanced media and communication skills training by current and former BBC staff
- Participation in workshops attended by public and private sector stakeholders
- Opportunity to organize and run the Centre’s annual Energy and Climate Policy conference
- Guest lectures by leading scholars and senior practitioners (visit the CISD website (http://www.cisd.soas.ac.uk/all-audios/1) to listen to the podcasts)

This course is also available online and is designed for those engaged with or planning a career in professional contexts relating to energy and/or climate policy and who wish to study in a flexible way. Please click here to view more information http://www.soas.ac.uk/cisd/programmes/msc-global-energy-and-climate-policy-online/

Find out how to apply here - http://www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/pg/howtoapply/

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This MPA is designed for professionals in the public, private and third sectors tasked with balancing the reduction in massive, energy-related carbon emissions and the affordability and accessibility of energy. Students undertake a major live project associated with a real world energy/climate problem and have opportunities to learn from practising energy and climate specialists.

Degree information

Students are taught the conceptual frameworks, policy analysis tools and analytical methods to develop energy and climate policies. Students also study how energy and climate policies are implemented, evaluated and revised in policy cycles. A focus on leadership and the development of professional skills is emphasised throughout.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The programme consists of four core modules (105 credits), one optional module (15 credits), an elective module (15 credits), and a major group project module (45 credits).

Core modules
Students undertake three core modules with students from sister MPA programmes, and a specialist module focussing on their degree topic.
-Introduction to Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy
-Analytical Methods for Policy
-Energy, Technology and Climate Policy
-Evidence, Institutions and Power

Optional modules - students select one optional STEaPP module from the following:
-Science, Technology and Engineering Advice in Practice
-Risk Assessment and Governance
-Communicating Science for Policy
-Negotiation, Mediation and Diplomacy
-Students will then also select one further 15-credit graduate module which is relevant to their degree of study. This module can be selected from any UCL department.

Dissertation/report
In the group project, students work with an external client on a relevant policy challenge. With the support of STEaPP academic staff, the multidiscipinary student groups work together to produce an analysis that meets their clients' needs.

Teaching and learning
The programme combines innovative classroom teaching methods with unique scenario-based learning, enabling students to dynamically engage with real-world policy challenges. Scenarios are designed to help students consolidate knowledge and develop essential practical skills and their understanding of principles. During the programme, students acquire a comprehensive range of relevant skills.

Careers

Graduates with Energy, Technology and Climate Policy Policy MPA degrees will typically work in government agencies, corporate regulatory affairs departments or within advocacy groups doing legislative, regulatory or policy analysis. The career path for this type of profession begins as research or policy assistant, moves through policy or research analyst, then to technical consultant or project director or other senior professional roles. Ambitious candidates can work toward top-level positions such as assistant secretary or executive director.

Why study this degree at UCL?

A rapidly changing energy landscape is providing opportunities for energy leadership in almost every country and industry sector. This practical programme offers experiential learning for skills needed in energy and climate policy-making.

Students undertake a week-long scenario activity on the policy-making process where they engage with external experts and UCL academics. Students go on to undertake a nine-month major project on energy/climate policy for a real world client. Example policy problems include renewable energy sources, carbon capture and storage, or emerging energy technologies.

Students also network with their peers in sister MPA and doctoral programmes.

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This course builds on the curriculum of the graduate certificate to provide you with a broader range of specialist topics

This course develops knowledge, understanding and appreciation of sustainability and climate policy issues in social research and analysis. It assists in career development, preparing students for new employment opportunities in a variety of public and private sector contexts that require social research and analytical skills in sustainability and climate policy. It is designed to complement existing knowledge gained from an undergraduate qualification in any recognised area including business, humanities, sciences and education.

The course also combines a general qualification with more specific educational opportunities, enabling you to learn in a way that best suits your existing needs and priorities. It also offers advanced, individualised learning opportunities providing a pathway to the Master of Sustainability and Climate Policy.

Upon successful completion of the graduate certificate, you may transfer to the graduate diploma and then enrol in the masters degree.

Career opportunities

Graduates are prepared for new employment opportunities in a variety of public and private sector contexts requiring social scientific research and analytical skills. Many organisations are now hiring sustainability consultants in an effort to improve their relationship with the environment and their stakeholders.

Credit for previous study

Creative overlap between current employment and study is emphasised. Credit may be awarded for prior learning and demonstrated skills.

Notes

Many units are available as regularly scheduled classes spread across a semester or as intensive programs offered over three or four days.
Off-campus and online study options are under development.

2016 Curtin International Scholarships: Merit Scholarship

Curtin University is an inspiring, vibrant, international organisation, committed to making tomorrow better. It is a beacon for innovation, driving advances in technology through high-impact research and offering more than 100 practical, industry-aligned courses connecting to workplaces of tomorrow.

Ranked in the top two per cent of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015, the University is also ranked 25th in the world for universities under the age of 50 in the QS World University Rankings 2015 Curtin also received an overall five-star excellence rating in the QS stars rating.

Curtin University strives to give high achieving international students the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised education through offering the Merit Scholarship. The Merit Scholarship will give you up to 25 per cent of your first year tuition fees and if you enrol in an ELB program at Curtin English before studying at Curtin, you will also receive a 10 per cent discount on your Curtin English fees.

For full details and terms and conditions of this scholarship, please visit: curtin.edu/int-scholarships and click on Merit.

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This course builds on the curriculum of the graduate certificate and graduate diploma to provide you with an opportunity to complete individual research projects. You will work with dedicated supervisors to design, conduct and report on major applied research topics in your area of interest and expertise.

These courses will provide you with the tools and knowledge to think holistically and respond appropriately to the uncertainty and complexity associated with climate change. You will develop solution-focused approaches to climate change, environmental health, resource use, Indigenous and other cultural concerns, and disparities in wealth and power.

The course is offered on three levels: graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master degree.

You will explore the basic issues, concepts and methodologies central to sustainability and have the opportunity to pursue studies in a particular area of need and priority through optional units.

Curtin’s sustainability program has a strong emphasis on professional practice. You will apply your skills and knowledge to real-life issues through professional work and community engagement. Individual projects provide opportunities for you to research real-world issues.

The course caters for both full-time and part-time students and is offered in traditional and non-traditional study modes, including regular scheduled classes and intensive programs offered over a one-week period.

Career opportunities

Graduates are prepared for new employment opportunities in a variety of public and private sector contexts requiring social scientific research and analytical skills. Many organisations are now hiring sustainability consultants in an effort to improve their relationship with the environment and their stakeholders.

Credit for previous study

Creative overlap between current employment and study is emphasised. Credit may be awarded for prior learning and demonstrated skills.

Notes

Many units are available as regularly scheduled classes spread across a semester or as intensive programs offered over three or four days. Off-campus and online study options are under development.

2016 Curtin International Scholarships: Merit Scholarship

Curtin University is an inspiring, vibrant, international organisation, committed to making tomorrow better. It is a beacon for innovation, driving advances in technology through high-impact research and offering more than 100 practical, industry-aligned courses connecting to workplaces of tomorrow.

Ranked in the top two per cent of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015, the University is also ranked 25th in the world for universities under the age of 50 in the QS World University Rankings 2015 Curtin also received an overall five-star excellence rating in the QS stars rating.

Curtin University strives to give high achieving international students the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised education through offering the Merit Scholarship. The Merit Scholarship will give you up to 25 per cent of your first year tuition fees and if you enrol in an ELB program at Curtin English before studying at Curtin, you will also receive a 10 per cent discount on your Curtin English fees.

For full details and terms and conditions of this scholarship, please visit: curtin.edu/int-scholarships and click on Merit.

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The skills and knowledge you develop in this course can be directly applied to your professional life. You will gain an understanding and appreciation of contemporary social issues, and heightened skills in social research and analysis.

You will explore the basic issues, concepts and methodologies central to sustainability and have the opportunity to pursue studies in a particular area of need and priority through optional units.

Curtin’s sustainability program has a strong emphasis on professional practice. You will apply your skills and knowledge to real-life issues through professional work and community engagement. Individual projects provide opportunities for you to research real-world issues.

The course caters for both full-time and part-time students and is offered in traditional and non-traditional study modes, including regular scheduled classes and intensive programs offered over a one-week period.

Upon successful completion of the graduate certificate, you may transfer to the graduate diploma and then subsequently enrol in the master degree.

Career opportunities

Graduates are prepared for new employment opportunities in a variety of public and private sector contexts requiring social scientific research and analytical skills. Many organisations are now hiring sustainability consultants in an effort to improve their relationship with the environment and their stakeholders.

Credit for previous study

Creative overlap between current employment and study is emphasised. Credit may be awarded for prior learning and demonstrated skills.

[Other notes]]
Many units are available as regularly scheduled classes spread across a semester or as intensive programs offered over three or four days. Off-campus and online study options are under development.

2016 Curtin International Scholarships: Merit Scholarship

Curtin University is an inspiring, vibrant, international organisation, committed to making tomorrow better. It is a beacon for innovation, driving advances in technology through high-impact research and offering more than 100 practical, industry-aligned courses connecting to workplaces of tomorrow.

Ranked in the top two per cent of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015, the University is also ranked 25th in the world for universities under the age of 50 in the QS World University Rankings 2015 Curtin also received an overall five-star excellence rating in the QS stars rating.

Curtin University strives to give high achieving international students the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised education through offering the Merit Scholarship. The Merit Scholarship will give you up to 25 per cent of your first year tuition fees and if you enrol in an ELB program at Curtin English before studying at Curtin, you will also receive a 10 per cent discount on your Curtin English fees.

For full details and terms and conditions of this scholarship, please visit: curtin.edu/int-scholarships and click on Merit.

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The Strathclyde LLM in Climate Change Law & Policy will provide you with a timely qualification and highly specialised knowledge in an ever-growing field of law and policy.

The course is taught through a combination of two residential sessions at New Lanark Mill Hotel and at the University campus in Glasgow city centre.

The flexibility of the course allows you to undertake this exciting programme within one to three years while continuing with your current professional role.

It's a useful qualification for anyone working in areas such as government, international organisations, law firms and consultancies, the banking and insurance sector, electric utilities, and research, educational and advocacy organisations. It also provides an excellent opportunity for recent graduates in law and other relevant disciplines to start out your career in an exciting growth area.

Study mode and duration:
- LLM: 12 months full-time; up to 36 months part-time
- PgDip: 9 months full-time; up to 36 months part-time
- PgCert: 4 months full-time; up to 36 months part-time

See the website https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/climatechangelawpolicy/

Expert teaching staff

The LLM is delivered by leading experts in the field of climate change law and policy coming from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. They'll provide you with practical insights and inside knowledge.

Venues

The first residential session will take place at the New Lanark Mill Hotel in New Lanark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located not far from Glasgow and Edinburgh. The second residential session will take place in Glasgow in the University's Technology and Innovation Centre. LLM candidates will be hosted in a nearby hotel, within walking distance of the Centre.

We believe that these venues will provide the perfect mix. A secluded environment during the first residential session will enable the group on the programme to get to know each oher. During the second session, participants will have the chance to experience the University and get to know the city.

Our students

The current cohort is made up of professionals from across the globe currently working in roles such as an administrative law judge, research associates and senior partner in law firms.

Learning & teaching

The LLM is delivered through a combination of distance learning using the University’s virtual learning environment and two compulsory weeks of seminar-based learning.

Each module can also be taken as a specialised course.

- September
You’ll attend an intensive one-week long (Monday to Saturday) residential session where you’ll follow two core modules:
- Climate Change & International Law
- Comparative Climate Change Law

- September to December
You’ll work from home on the assignments for the two above-mentioned modules and on a third core module - Research Methods & Skills.

- January
You’ll attend a second intensive one-week long residential session where you’ll follow two elective modules from:
- Equity & Adaptation or Carbon Markets & Climate Finance
- Forests, Land Use & Climate Change or Sustainable Energy Governance

- January to May
You’ll follow a third module chosen between Climate Change & Litigation and Climate Law & the Global Economy. Both are delivered entirely online. You’ll also work from home on the assignments for the two above-mentioned elective modules and the third online elective module.

- May to September
You’ll work on a dissertation, provided you’ve passed the necessary credits.

- October
If you’ve accrued the necessary amount of credits, you’ll be awarded the LLM in Climate Change Law & Policy.

Assessment

The course will be assessed mainly by written assignments.

Entry requirements

For the Strathclyde LLM in Climate Change Law and Policy we're in a position to waiver the official University post-graduate English language proficiency requirements. If you do not have a IELTS certificate, we will gauge your level of English on an ad-hoc basis in order to determine whether your level of English is sufficient. Since participating on the Strathclyde LLM in Climate Change Law and Policy does not require students to stay in the UK permanently, participants will be required to gain a visitor’s Visa, and not a student Visa (Tier 4).

Pre-Masters preparation course

The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course for international students (non EU/UK) who do not meet the entry requirements for a Masters degree at the University of Strathclyde. The Pre-Masters programme provides progression to a number of degree options

To find out more about the courses and opportunities on offer visit isc.strath.ac.uk or call today on +44 (0) 1273 339333 and discuss your education future. You can also complete the online application form, or to ask a question please fill in the enquiry form and talk to one of our multi-lingual Student Enrolment Advisers today.

Careers

The skills that you’ll acquire through the LLM in Climate Change Law & Policy will allow you to confidently move into the ever-growing field of climate change law and policy.

The course may be of interest to:
- professionals within the public sector already working in or interested to move into the energy/climate change field in national governments
- professionals within the private sector already working in or interested to move into the energy/climate change field within electricity utilities, in specialised law firms, in consultancy firms or in the banking and insurance sector
- professionals already working in or interested to move into the energy/climate change field within non-governmental organisations, research centres and academia
- recent graduates from relevant subjects keen to move into the climate change/energy legal and policy field

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MSc Climate Studies

The question is no longer if our climate will change, but how will it change and how will we adapt to these changes? Adaption and mitigation to global warming, the greenhouse effect and climate change all form the basis of the Master Climate Studies programme at Wageningen University.

Students will gain a broad overview of climate change during this two-year programme. As changes and challenges crystallise, the demand for scientists able to understand and investigate them will rise. This master programme is specifically targeted at students who wish to focus on the scientific insights into climate change and on the social and economic implications of climate change in the broadest sense.

Programme summary

The MSc Climate Studies programme focuses on an improved understanding of climate change across the earth and its impact on ecosystems and society. The debate in science no longer revolves around whether our climate will change, but how it will change, how we can cope with the impact (adaptation), and how we can limit climate change in the long term (mitigation). These issues are important for the entire world and fuel a range of new challenges to natural and social sciences. Society needs answers to questions such as: How will climate change affect ecosystems and how will these in turn affect the climate system? What will the effect be on the availability of water and food? How will climate change issues set national and international political agendas? How will citizens, consumers, companies and other social actors respond to climate change? What will the economic costs be of the impact and measures related to climate change, and how will these costs be distributed globally? Will new social and economic opportunities emerge in the process of adaptation?

As these changes and challenges become ever more apparent, the demand for scientists who are able to understand and investigate them will rise. Wageningen University has therefore bundled expertise from several disciplines in a Master study programme specifically designed for students who wish to focus on the scientific insights into climate change and its implications for nature and society. Climate Studies does not only cover the most important geophysical and biogeochemical processes involved in climate change (the mechanisms), but it also covers the socio-economic aspects of causes and effects; as well as adaptation and mitigation as the main categories of societal response.

Specialisations

Climate Studies gives you a broad overview of climate-change related issues. You can specialise in a topic of your choice during your thesis research. We offer a wide range of thesis tracks:
• Meteorology
• Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry
• Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management
• Crop and Weed Ecology
• Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology
• Soil Biology and Biological Soil Quality
• Earth System Science
• Environmental System Analysis
• Integrated Water Management
• Environmental Economics and Natural Resources
• Environmental Policy

You future career

Graduates from this programme are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to continue their academic training as a PhD student or to start a career as a scientific professional at universities, research institutes, and environmental and governmental organisations. Applied climate change researchers and experts are sought after by banks, insurance companies, construction, power companies and government.

Student Lennart Pompe.
"Climate Studies and the specialisation Integrated Water Management are the perfect combination for me where science and society come together to tackle the challenges the water sector faces. I took the opportunity to enrich my master with the label of the Climate-KIC, a European knowledge and innovation community. I joined several Climate-KIC activities, among others, the inspiring 5-week summer school ‘the Journey’ aimed at developing your own business plan. My thesis focussed on climate change and human development in the Bengal delta and the related salinisation issues. I am excited to enter the Dutch-leading water sector."

Related programmes:
MSc Environmental Sciences
MSc Earth and Environment
MSc Management, Economics and Consumer Studies

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General Information

UBC’s two-year, professional Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program will equip students with a broad policy foundation of strong analytical and technical skills – plus knowledge in development and social change, sustainability, and global governance.

The Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs curriculum is designed to emphasize many aspects of being a professional in a policy-making environment: comprehensive knowledge, application of scientific and engineering principles, assessment of alternatives, and problem-solving.

Students will graduate with a deeper understanding of policy networks between North America or Europe and China and other emerging nations in Asia and beyond. The MPPGA program will graduate policy professionals prepared to create boundary-crossing solutions to address urgent issues facing the world in the 21st century.

What makes the program unique?

UBC’s MPPGA degree prepares future policy leaders with an informed perspective, critical and creative thinking skills, and professional networks qualifying them to work effectively with global policy establishments. Together, this toolkit will allow graduates to diversify and enhance their careers. The MPPGA program has a novel and broad approach to governance: going beyond government bodies to include a network of actors - NGOs, social enterprises, international institutions, and the private sector – that are target employers for graduates.

The program’s three streams allow for customization and specialization of global public policy and are reflective of UBC's unique strengths on Asia and sustainability in particular. Students will be exposed to global case studies in the areas of political, socio-economic and cultural change taught by some of the world’s leading public policy experts.

Quick Facts

- Degree: Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs
- Specialization: Policy
- Subject: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
- Mode of delivery: On campus
- Program components: Coursework only
- Registration options: Full-time
- Faculty: Faculty of Arts

Program

The world is in the midst of major and rapid transformation: dramatic technological change, instability in the system of globalization, dramatic rise of emerging powers and rebalancing of power, increased presence of systemic risk, climate crisis and urgent sustainability challenges. What is required is policy education with particular focus on global-domestic interactions, multi-sectoral interactions, sustainability issues and cross-Pacific functional capacity as well as a “learning-by-doing” environment that increases graduates readiness to enter employment productively from the standpoint of both the employer and employee.

Learning Outcomes

The Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs curriculum is designed to emphasize many aspects of being a professional in a policy-making environment: comprehensive knowledge, application of scientific and engineering principles, assessment of alternatives, and problem-solving. With relevant training in various sectors, Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs graduates will be capable of:
- working proficiently and efficiently with professionals,
- designing and developing policy solutions for global problems.

The core courses offered in Year 1 will allow students to acquire the necessary multi-disciplinary policy analysis and design skills they will need to understand domestic and global policy processes, manage organizations, and communicate effectively across organizations and cultures. Over the course of the program, students will acquire knowledge and skills in development, sustainability, and global governance through:
- core and elective courses,
- related policy events, and
- development cases.

Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs students will integrate tools with policy through field-based and hands-on professional experience within internships, professional workshops, and Capstone projects.

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This MPA is designed to train the next generation of policy leaders in how to use science, technology and engineering to address development needs. Students learn how to build innovation systems and engage in policy experimentation. Students undertake a major project on a real development initiative and have opportunities to learn from global policymakers and innovators.

Degree information

Students are taught the conceptual frameworks, policy analysis tools and analytical methods to creatively develop innovative sustainable development policies. Students also study how development and innovation policies are implemented, evaluated and revised in policy cycles. A focus on leadership and the development of professional skills is emphasised throughout.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (105 credits), one optional module (15 credits), an elective module (15 credits), and a major group project module (45 credits).

Core modules - students undertake three core modules with students from sister MPA programmes, and a specialist module focusing on their degree topic.
-Introduction to Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy
-Analytical Methods for Policy
-Development, Technology and Innovation Policy
-Evidence, Institutions and Power

Optional modules - students must select one compulsory option from the following STEaPP modules:
-Science, Technology and Engineering Advice in Practice
-Risk Assessment and Governance
-Communicating Science for Policy
-Negotiation, Mediation and Diplomacy
-Students will then also select one further 15-credit graduate module which is relevant to their degree of study. This module can be selected from any UCL department.

Dissertation/report
In the group project, students work with an external client on a relevant policy challenge. With the support of STEaPP academic staff, the multidiscipinary student groups work together to produce an analysis that meets their clients' needs.

Teaching and learning
The programme combines innovative classroom teaching methods with unique scenario-based learning, enabling students to dynamically engage with real-world policy challenges. Scenarios are designed to help students consolidate knowledge and develop essential practical skills and their understanding of principles. During the programme, students acquire a comprehensive range of relevant skills.

Careers

Graduates with Development, Technology and Innovation Policy MPA degrees will typically work in government agencies, corporate regulatory affairs departments or within advocacy groups doing legislative, regulatory or policy analysis. The career path for this type of profession begins as research or policy assistant, moves through policy or research analyst, then to technical consultant or project director or other senior professional roles. Ambitious candidates can work towards top- level positions such as assistant secretary or executive director.

Employability
Through the MPA programme, students will:
-Gain a greater awareness of current issues and developments in innovation, development, science, technology and engineering.
-Develop a greater awareness of the knowledge systems underpinning successful policy-making processes.
-Learn how to communicate with scientists and engineers, policymakers and industry experts.
-Develop the skills to mobilise development, technology and innovation policy, and science and engineering knowledge and expertise, to address the societal challenges they care about.

Why study this degree at UCL?

Developing countries face rapid technological change, increased global interdependencies, and problems such as climate change. This practical programme offers experiential learning for skills needed in innovative development policy-making.

Students undertake a week-long scenario activity on the policy-making process where they engage with external experts and UCL academics. Students go on to undertake a nine-month major project on development innovation policy for a real-world client involved in development initiatives. Example policy problems include water or energy infrastructure, food, or telecoms.

Students also network with their peers in the sister MPA and doctoral programmes

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Discover how to change the food system for the better on this unique MSc in Food Policy at City.

Who is it for?

From artisanal bakeries to Ministries of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Our students come to study the MSc in Food Policy from around the world, across the food landscape and go on to develop their careers in a variety of ways once they graduate.

The course is for students who are passionate about food policy and are open to challenging their own assumptions. We want you to graduate from this Masters with a more disciplined and rigorous approach so you can be more effective in pursuing your passions within the food domain.

Objectives

How does a coconut growing in Malaysia become a coconut drink in the UK? On this programme we explore how policy influences the trajectory of food not just from field to fork but across time and territory.

The MSc in Food Policy is about analysing, researching and informing the future of food policy from the local to global scale. It is run by the Centre for Food Policy, which has pioneered an integrated approach to food policy since 1994.

The ways in which we produce, process, distribute, market, prepare and consume food have important consequences for our health and that of the planet. We look at the positive and negative impacts of food, from the health, environmental, political, socio-economic and cultural perspective.

This Masters promotes genuine interdisciplinary because we think you need to look at the subject from all angles to make the most holistic evaluation. It draws on social sciences (sociology, politics, economics, anthropology, psychology) as well as health sciences and epidemiology. We look at the latest food policy debates and place them in a historical context.

You will be taught by a team of specialist food policy specialists who are leaders in the field. Our academic staff are actively involved in research and in policy-making on the local, national and global stage. Our teaching reflects this engagement.

Students are exposed to conflicting narratives about the problems facing the food system and the best ways to resolve them. We address important questions of our time, such as:
-Are we producing too much or too little food to feed the world population?
-How have we ended up living in a world where there are more overweight and obese people than under-nourished people?
-Why is a third of the food produced globally lost or wasted?
-How can we deal with the massive impact of agriculture on climate change?
-How do lobbyists and the media influence what we eat?

Academic facilities

As a food policy student at City, University of London you can learn from experts at leading institutions across the UK through the Innovative Food Systems Teaching and Learning (IFSTAL) initiative.

Created for postgraduate students, the initiative aims to address an urgent skills shortage in the food industry and tackle systematic failings in the food system by combining resources and knowledge. The network, which is made up of five leading higher education institutions including City and the University of Oxford, gives you the opportunity to take part in research and internship placements during your degree.

When it comes to studying food policy, London is an amazing location. Giving you one of the most sociologically diverse laboratories, it offers a wide range of accessible resources. From the myriad centres of policy and media to the endless range of public events, at City you can become a researcher in a global city and hone your focus towards your own area of interest and/or expertise. As part of the University of London, you can also become a member of Senate House Library for free with your student ID card.

Teaching and learning

We are a passionate and engaged team who will help you understand how to change the food system for the better. You will learn through a mixture of lectures, small group activities, whole class discussions, workshops and independent study. There are a lot of group discussions in class. We encourage you to ask questions, contribute your own experiences and apply your own perspectives to the issues we explore. The programme also encourages a strong peer-to-peer community through social media.

For the distance-learning mode you will be able to watch the lectures online, which are supplemented with written exercises and one-to-one Skype tutorials with the teaching staff.

Assessment

Each taught module is assessed by two pieces of written work. The first is handed in during the middle of term so that you receive useful feedback before moving on to the second assignment. In each case you will choose the topic. You will also be asked to write different kinds of documents (briefing papers, memos, reports as well as essays) that correspond to those you would have to write in policy-making organisations. Then you work on your dissertation, which is a longer (15,000 word) piece of work, enabling you to delve into a food policy topic of your choice in depth. You will gain support from a personal supervisor who is a senior academic from the Centre for Food Policy.

Modules

The course consists of four core taught modules (worth 30 credits each) and a dissertation (worth 60 credits). The dissertation gives you the opportunity to undertake research on a topic of your choice that is relevant to food policy. The course has been designed to enable you to pursue your own interests and passions. In every assignment you have the opportunity to engage with the issues you care about.

The course is flexible to fit in with your work commitments so you can study this Masters on a full-time (one year), part-time (two years) or on a distance-learning basis (two years). The taught modules take place in the first and second terms, and the dissertation starts in the third term and continues until September (December for part-time students). For each taught module there are approximately 10 three-hour teaching sessions. In addition you are expected to undertake around 270 hours of independent study. For the whole programme, you should expect to study for around 1800 hours (35 hours per week for full-time students, 17.5 hours for part-time students).

Taught modules
-FPM001 - Food and public policy (30 credits)
-FPM003 - Food, culture and society (30 credits)
-FPM002 The political economy of food (30 credits)
-FPM004 Food, public health and the environment (30 credits)

Career prospects

We are very proud of our alumni. Our employability stats – the highest within the School – reflect the range of opportunities available to our graduates. For example, our alumni run NGOs and progressive food businesses, work in government and UN agencies, and have established great careers in health advocacy, journalism and academia.

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Climate change is a multifaceted issue, with relevance across a wide range of economic sectors and policy areas. The MSc Climate Change offers you the chance to take a truly interdisciplinary approach to your study in climate change, engaging with academic, professional and popular literature. The programme will equip you with an understanding of climate change and how this challenge is being tackled by governments, business and other organisations. You will be able to critically evaluate scientific scenarios of future climate and associated impacts, assess the effectiveness of different policy approaches, and determine suitable business responses to the climate change challenge.

You will also explore the key debates and ideas from a range of viewpoints, balancing science, policy and business practice. The course is designed for both climate change practitioners wishing to further develop their understanding of key issues, and those hoping to move into this fast-developing sector. As the programme is offered through part-time, evening, face-to-face study, it provides a distinctive opportunity for practitioners to combine study with their career.

The 5 compulsory modules - Climate Change, Environment and Policy, Sustainable Business Practice, Energy and Climate Change, and Research Methods - give a comprehensive grounding in key topics and an opportunity to reflect on practice at both individual and corporate levels.

These compulsory courses are complemented by a wide range of option modules, which allow you to pursue your own interests. Alternatively, you can elect to take option modules that lead to Institute of Environmental Managers and Assessors (IEMA) Associate Member status.

In addition, you will receive training in research methods and complete a research project, involving in-depth study of real challenges arising from climate change.

Staff teaching on this programme

Dr Becky Briant
Dr Melissa Butcher
Dr Paul Elsner
Dr Aideen Foley (Programme Director)
Dr Diane Horn

Why study this course at Birkbeck?

The MSc Climate Change will give you an advanced understanding of climate science, policy and business practice, meeting the needs of both climate change practitioners and those hoping to move into this fast-developing sector.
Successful completion of the relevant modules allows you to become a Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), a non-profit membership organisation that promotes best practice standards in environmental management, auditing and assessment. IEMA supports the professional development of individuals involved in the environmental and sustainability profession in the public, private and non-governmental sectors.
Find out more about studying at Birkbeck and what our students say about our geography- and environment-related programmes.
Listen to an introductory lecture: 'Climate Change and the River Thames' (delivered by Becky Briant).
The programme allows you to pursue your own interests, undertaking in-depth research in a sector of your own choosing.
Our location in central London offers excellent access to a wide range of research resources, including the Birkbeck Library, the LSE Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE), the Royal Geographical Society and Senate House Library (University of London).
The Department of Geography, Environment and Development Studies has contacts with many public and private sector organisations, professional bodies and researchers at other academic institutions, which can lead to important networking opportunities.
We offer an excellent range of student support services.
Our academic staff are experts in their respective fields, publishing and teaching in a wide range of topics including climate modelling, renewable energy, flooding and coastal adaptation.

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Concern about global environmental change has never been greater. The University of Bristol's MSc in Climate Change Science and Policy trains highly skilled graduates for professional employment in the public and private sectors, academia, consultancies and non-governmental organisations.

The programme is provided by the School of Geographical Sciences, ranked top in the country in terms of world-class research (REF 2014) and one of only two UK geography departments in the top category in every national research assessment. You will join our research groups in analysing four key areas of the science:
-Climate change science and its links to policy and policy-makers
-Modelling of the Earth System, from simple box models to complex climate models
-Remote sensing of the environment and GIS
-Understanding past climate change and making predictions of future change.

This innovative programme also allows you to develop a range of professional skills – including presentation, project work, teamwork and communication – which will be invaluable in your future career.

The programme is closely linked to the renowned Cabot Institute, which brings together all of the University's research into the changing global environment across the sciences, social sciences and engineering.

Programme structure

Core units
-The science and impacts of climate change, including interactions between climate scientists and policy and the media
-Environmental policy and politics
-Case studies of past climate change and predicting the future, including using complex models of the Earth System to predict future global change
-Remote Sensing of the environment, including science and practices behind remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS)

Research project (January to September)
-Project Phase 1: Researching background material and acquisition of basic practical skills, in preparation for the main phase of the project starting in May. You will choose your main project supervisor at the start of Phase 1. The project is assessed through a literature review and a seminar that outline the background to the project, implications for policy and the work to be carried out in Phase 2. Feedback is given throughout this phase, developing the research skills of the student.
-Project Phase 2: An independent investigation of a chosen topic, supervised by one of the academic team. The project is to be submitted as a written thesis and the main findings will be presented in a research colloquium.

Careers

Previous graduates have secured a wide range of jobs following the MSc, including environmental consultancy, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the UK Met Office, as well as numerous PhD positions.

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There is a pressing national and international need to understand the nature and consequences of climatic change and to develop adaptation strategies. The UCL Climate Change MSc provides rigorous scientific and vocational training for the next generation of climate change professionals.

Degree information

The programme provides you with a knowledge and understanding of the Earth system (incorporating the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere) and the nature and causes of climate variability and change. It combines observationally based climate and environmental science with state-of-the-art modelling, specifically concerned with understanding the impacts of climate change. It seeks to place climate change within the context of broader anthropogenic environmental change and social policy dimensions.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consist of four core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits). A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time nine months) is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, full-time 12 weeks, part-time one year) is offered.

Core modules
-Climate Dynamics
-Models in Environmental Science
-Past Climates
-Global Environmental Change

*modules running are dependent on staff sabbaticals

Optional modules
-Biological Indicators of Environmental Change
-Climate Modelling
-Coastal Change
-Cities and Climate Change
-Environmental GIS
-Impacts of Climate Change on Hydro-ecological systems
-Non-biological Indicators of Environmental Change
-Ocean Circulation and Climate Change
-Politics of Climate Change
-Terrestrial Carbon: Modelling and Monitoring
-Surface Water Modelling
-Other MSc modules offered across UCL may be taken at the discretion of the MSc convenor.

*availability of modules is dependent on staff sabbaticals.

Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of approximately 12,000 words and an oral presentation.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory and computer-based practical classes. Assessment is through independent project work, practical-based and written coursework, and the dissertation.

Careers

The programme provides an ideal foundation for PhD research, or for employment with a wide range of private industries, non-governmental organisations, government agencies and environmental consultancies. Graduates have gone on to careers in the commercial, non-profit and academic sectors. Examples include government policy implementation, sustainability consultancy, science communication and research. A significant proportion of students go onto further study such as a PhD.

Top career destinations for this degree
-Policy Manager, Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC)
-Science Communicator, Science Museum / London Transport Museum
-MSc in Environmental Economics, University College London (UCL)
-PhD in Hydrology, University of Leeds

Employability
Climate change is big issue with many governmental, non-governmental and commercial cosequences. This programme will give graduates an edge when applying for jobs in the private sector relating to adaptation and mitigation - such as the insurance industry and carbon monitoring companies respectively. It also provides a great stepping-stone to a PhD.

Why study this degree at UCL?

As one of the world's top universities, UCL excels across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. The MSc is run by UCL Geography, which enjoys an outstanding international reputation for its research and teaching.

The Climate Change MSc brings together the strong expertise of the department, offering a distinctive blend of fundamental climate science, environmental modelling, impacts and adaptations, delivered from both natural and social science perspectives.

By bringing together students and researchers we aim to create a vibrant and informal academic environment of mutual discovery and ongoing debate.

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The Master Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy (SEEP) is an innovative, internationally unique program that equips participants with the necessary theoretical background and factual information about the interconnected dynamics of economic and social systems and the physical environment. The program also enables participants to use appropriate analytical tools to engage in decision processes and longer-term policy on multiple spatial levels.

Visit the website: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/programs/masters-programs/socio-ecological-economics-and-policy/overview/

Course detail

Rapid environmental change, population dynamics, poverty, and exclusion are interrelated processes that challenge human development. To tackle these complex issues, traditional disciplinary approaches to analysis and policy formulation are not sufficient. Instead, integrated and interdisciplinary approaches to studying the working of the human-environment system are needed. The Master Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy presents integrated approaches to development and human well-being that go beyond the usual polarization between socioeconomic development and environmental goals.

Purpose

The program offers training in socioeconomic analysis and focuses on the interfaces between environmental, economic and social challenges. This interdisciplinary and internationally oriented approach is based on three major pillars: theory, methodology, and application. The theory courses include concepts from a variety of disciplines, chosen for their relevance to global challenges. The methodological courses offer an integrated introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods and thus illustrate how they are best combined in empirical analyses. Relevance for policy making and organizational practice is emphasized throughout the program.

Our main focus lies on providing a thorough internationalization at the home university by attracting a diverse set of students from all over the world. The “international classroom at home” thus created is meant to allow students to experience foreign (academic) cultures, languages (especially English), and an international renowed faculty without having to leave the campus.

Format

The program offers four concentration areas of which you can choose two: Environment, Population, Multi-Level Policy and Social Policy.

- Semester 1 -

- Contemporary Global Policy Challenges
- Methodology for Interdisciplinary Research
- Growth, Well-Being, and Development
- International Institution, Governance, and Policy Evaluation
- Service Learning 1

- Semester 2 -

- Actors, Behaviors, and Decision Processes
- Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
- Service Learning 2

Concentration Area 1 and 2 – choice of two:

- Environment
- Population
- Multi-Level Policy
- Social Policy

- Semester 3 -

- Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 2

Concentration Area 1 and 2 – continuing the chosen two areas from 2nd semester:

- Environment
- Population
- Multi-Level Policy
- Social Policy

- Semester 4 -

- Research Seminar
- Master Thesis

Career Prospects

The program has been designed to provide students with the necessary understanding of global sustainability issues, an ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, and sound training in socio-economic concepts and methods.

The MSc program prepares graduates for:

- Employment as policy analysts, program managers, consultants, civil servants, project managers, and advisors who provide an insight into and support decision processes relating to sustainability issues by, for example, undertaking risk and uncertainty analyses in the social and environmental sectors; analyzing long-term developments relating to climate change, population development or aging in society; undertaking sustainability appraisals at company, regional or policy levels; helping design social, environmental, economic or educational policies; designing and facilitating participatory processes

- Working in international organizations, consultancies, companies, ministries, national and international NGOs, and research institutes where interdisciplinary skills and knowledge about the interactions of sustainability issues are needed

- Doctoral studies in the social sciences, in particular in economics, social policy, environmental studies and demography

How to apply: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/programs/masters-programs/socio-ecological-economics-and-policy/application-admission/

Funding

Information on funding and scholarships can be found at the following webpage: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/students/my-degree-program/masters-student-guide/grants-and-scholarships/

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This refreshed programme explores issues, concepts, and debates in social and public policy research to gain an insight into policy making and its social impacts on individuals and communities.

Core modules will explore social theories, issues and research methods relevant to social policy and welfare. You will also develop core skills in critical policy analysis and policy evaluation. There will be opportunities to study and debate current policy issues, such as work and welfare, child and family policy or the challenges of ageing populations, with a focus on real-life examples.

Supported by our well-known research centres and taught by expert tutors, you’ll tailor the programme to suit your own interests and career aspirations. With a range of optional modules to choose from, you could pursue further advanced research skills or study complementary social topics such as disability studies, gender studies, racism and ethnicity studies, or globalisation.

You’ll gain an insight into some of the most sensitive and complex social issues affecting governments worldwide.

Research insight

You’ll learn in a research-intensive, stimulating environment. As well as the Leeds Social Sciences Institute which fosters collaboration, you’ll benefit from the interdisciplinary expertise hosted by the Centre for Disability Studies, Centre for Ethnicity and Racism Studies, Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies and many others. All of these centres run their own calendars of events such as workshops and seminars.

From the start of the programme you’ll study core modules that introduce you to the social contexts and social problems that challenge policy makers, understanding society and social research. As the course develops you will focus more specifically on the welfare state, the process of social policy formation, and the kinds of evidence on which new policies and programmes are founded, and against which their effectiveness is evaluated.

You’ll gain a thorough understanding of research methods, the theoretical assumptions which underpin them and how these affect the way the findings are interpreted. You’ll also focus on specific examples such as welfare reform or employment activation policies.

With this foundation, you’ll choose from optional modules to specialise in topics that suit you. You could study contemporary social thought to contextualise your work, or look at issues such as labour mobility, care, healthcare, disability or ‘race’ and ethnicity. You could study further data analysis and research methods to prepare for future research.

At the end of the programme, you’ll submit your dissertation – an independent piece of research on a related topic of your choice, which allows you to demonstrate and apply the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired during the year.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation (Social Policy) 60 credits
• Researching Culture and Society 30 credits
• Social Policy Analysis 15 credits
• Policy and Programme Evaluation 15 credits
• Understanding Society and Culture 30 credits

Optional modules

• China's Development 15 credits
• Environmental Assessment 15 credits
• European Human Rights 15 credits
• Human Resource Management: An International Perspective 15 credits
• Managing Change 15 credits
• Understanding and Managing Effective Groups and Teams 15 credits
• Social Media Marketing 15 credits
• Management of Finance for Health 15 credits
• Policing Post-Conflict Cities 15 credits
• Development Management Techniques 15 credits
• 'Race', Identity and Culture in the Black Atlantic 15 credits
• Disability and Development 15 credits
• Contested Bodies 15 credits
• Que(e)rying Sexualities 15 credits
• Social Policy Debates 15 credits
• Quantitative Research Methods 15 credits
• Qualitative Research Methods 15 credits
• Power, Critique & Global Transformations 15 credits
• Standards and Tools for Business, Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility 15 credits
• Climate Change Mitigation 15 credits
• System Dynamics: Modelling Policy 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Social and Public Policy MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information on typical modules, read Social and Public Policy MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a range of teaching and learning methods including presentations, seminars, workshops, tutorials and lectures. Optional modules may also use other methods such as online learning. However, independent study is crucial to this degree – it allows you to prepare for taught sessions, develop your research interests and build a range of skills.

Assessment

Your core modules will be assessed using essays. Optional modules may use other forms of assessment that reflect the diversity of the topics you can study, including presentations, book and literature reviews, research proposals and reports among others.

Career opportunities

You’ll gain a wide range of knowledge and skills throughout this programme, including sophisticated skills in research, communication and analysis that will be useful in a variety of careers.

Social and Public Policy graduates have gone on to a wide range of posts across the third-sector public services, government and business. These have included central and local government departments, community bodies, housing and health organisations, research consultancies and advocacy or campaigning.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

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