Climate Change Science and Policy - MSc

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, which is the top-ranked geography department in the UK for research (Times Higher Education analysis of REF 2014). You will join our research groups in analysing key areas of science and policy:

• 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;
• environmental policy and politics with a focus on climate change;
• researching and communicating climate science. 

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. It includes a strong emphasis on carrying out your own research project. 

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

You will study a number of core units and, between January and September, you will complete a research project. During phase one of the project, you will research background material and develop basic practical skills, in preparation for the main phase of the project starting in May. Feedback is given throughout this phase to develop your research and communication skills. In phase two you will conduct an independent investigation into a chosen topic, supervised by one of the academic team. The project is submitted as a paper and the main findings are presented in a research colloquium.

Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for our MSc in Climate Change Science and Policy.

Careers

Previous graduates have gone on to work at a wide range of employers after completing this MSc, including environmental consultancy, UK and other governments, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the UK Met Office, as well as numerous PhD positions.

Visit the Climate Change Science and Policy - MSc page on the University of Bristol website for more details!