MSc Climate Change

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 Programme provides rigorous scientific and vocational training for the next generation of climate change professionals. Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of the Earth System (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere) and the nature and causes of climate variability and change.

The Programme combines empirically-based climate and environmental science with state of the art modelling, specifically that concerned with understanding the impacts of climate change. The Programme seeks to place climate change within the context of broader anthropogenic environmental change, and social policy dimensions.

The Programme provides an ideal foundation for PhD research, or for employment with a wide range of private industries, NGOs, government agencies and environmental consultancies.

The MSc Climate Change is completed over one year (calendar) full time. All students study four core modules in the first term (autumn) to build a solid knowledge about the fundamentals of climate science. In term two (spring) students take four advanced courses from a range of options. Students subsequently undertake a piece of original research leading to a dissertation of up to 12,000 words (60 credits) with the support of an academic supervisor.

COMPULSORY MODULES (Term One)

OPTIONAL MODULES (Term Two)

The four optional modules are normally selected from the following list, but not exclusively so. Due to sabbaticals and staff changes, not all modules are available every year, and module availability is subject to change. If you have questions relating to a specific optional module available in the forthcoming year, please contact the course convenor.

Students on the MSc Programme embark on a Dissertation (60 credits) in May, which lasts until the end of the programme in September. The Department enjoys strong links with industry, and projects are regularly carried out in collaboration with organisations outside the college. With the range of expertise available in the department and across UCL, this leads to a very wide variety of possible topics for investigation.

Information on fees and funding can be found on the main UCL website.

1. Fees
2. Scholarships

You can apply for a place on this Programme via UCL Admissions.

Potential applicants are expected to have a First or Upper Second-Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Environmental Science, Geography, Oceanography, Biology, Chemistry or Engineering) from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with relevant professional experience in climate science or environmental management will also be considered. Formal qualifications in mathematics are not a prerequisite for entry to the programme but students are expected to have an aptitude for mathematical studies and if necessary to undertake revision prior to the start of the programme. Academic enquiries may be emailed to the Geography Department. Overseas applicants will need a recognised English language qualification. Further information relating to your country and UCL can be found on the international prospective students website. To find out if your degree is recognised by UCL please contact UCL Admissions.

Graduate careers are diverse and include environmental consultancy, catastrophe modelling, government planning and PhD research. Take a look at our Careers page to see where some of our students have gone on to work.