Climate Change and Environmental Policy MSc

Overview

Climate Change is a growing issue for environmental policy makers at the international, national and sub-national levels, as well as for environmental managers and experts in public, private and non-profit making organisations.

Our Climate Change and Environmental Policy MSc provides you with a unique combination of training on the physical, social and policy aspects of climate change and on broader environmental policy and governance.

This Masters programme combines modules taught at the School of Earth and Environment, with optional modules from the School of Geography and the School of Politics and International Studies and Leeds University Business School.

Our teaching draws on the latest cutting-edge research and is delivered by experts and the world’s leading researchers on climate change policy (e.g. IPCC lead authors, and a DEFRA UK lead advisor) to give you in-depth knowledge and guidance.

We offer the highest level and breadth of expert teaching in climate change and environmental policy. Hence, this course is ideal if you want to become an interdisciplinary environmental manager, consultant, advisor or policy maker, or if you are looking to improve your career prospects or make a career change.

Course highlights:

• Be taught by three lead authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which advises world governments on the evolving and complex issue of climate change, and a lead advisor to the UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). All academics have won teaching awards.
• Engage with some of the world's leading researchers from the Priestley International Centre for Climate (PICC), the ESRC-funded Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP), the RCUK-funded UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and Leeds University Business School’s Centre for Decision Research; they have published high profile papers with past students.
• Attend excellent seminars and talks run by the School and its research centres, where you will access the latest, cutting-edge research delivered by leading climate policy makers and advisors. Plus, attend other seminars run by the School of Geography, School of Politics and International Studies, and Leeds University Business School. Ideal if you want to build, or extend your network to enhance your career.
• In addition to a free field course to East Yorkshire, choose an optional overseas field course to Tanzania, which provides an opportunity for you to gain practical experience and apply classroom-based learning first-hand in a developing country context. Ideal if you are considering working in an international capacity in this field.

You will be taught by a world-leading team of academics and researchers from the School of Earth and Environment, School of Geography, School of Politics and International Studies and Leeds University Business School.

Our team of expert scientists, government advisors and practitioners actively engage in international, national, regional and local climate change research and climate-related policy. For example:

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
• Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN)
• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Consumer Emissions

Course content

When completed on a full-time basis, this 12 month Masters is split into 3 semesters.

When completed on a part-time basis, the course runs for 24 months, with each year split into 3 semesters. You will take compulsory and optional modules in each semester, followed by an extended research project leading to the submission of a 12,000-word dissertation in semester 3 of your final year.

Modules

_{Compulsory modules}

• Research Methods
• Research Project
• Environmental Policy and Governance
• Climate Change: Physical Science Basis
• Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptation
• Climate Change Mitigation

_{Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)}

• For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Climate Change and Environmental Policy MSc Full Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

You will learn through a variety of teaching methods to help you develop both generic and subject-specific skills.

This includes lectures, practical workshops, field trips (UK and overseas), computer lab sessions, research seminars and project work (individual and group work).

Assessment

You will be assessed through a variety of ways including both written and oral assignments, exams and poster presentations.

Applying, fees and funding

_{English language requirements}

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

_{How to apply}

APPLY (FULL TIME) 

APPLY (PART TIME) 

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students.

_Fees

• UK/EU: £8,750 (total)
• International: £20,000 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

_{Additional cost information}

On this course you have the option to attend an overseas field trip in Semester 2, at an additional cost of £1,200-£1,500 (dependent on exchange rates, cost of flights and student demand).

This is paid in two instalments across semesters 1 and 2. A £100 deposit is required when enrolling onto the module in October.

_{Scholarships and financial support}

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Scholarships are available.

Career opportunities

Here is a snapshot of the types of career paths you could take:

• City or urban development and planning (resilience to climate change)
• Climate services and environmental risk communication
• Community and stakeholder participation and consultation
• Consultancy and project management
• Environmental and socio-economic impact assessment
• Environmental information systems development
• Environmental protection
• Environmental risk assessment and management
• Policy and strategy development and evaluation
• Science and research advisory services
• Sustainability assessment and strategy development
• Studying for a PhD.

Visit the Climate Change and Environmental Policy MSc page on the University of Leeds website for more details!