MSc Climate Change Science and Policy

Program Overview

This MSc program equips graduates with a comprehensive understanding of climate change science and policy. It provides hands-on training in climate modeling and data analysis, while exploring the governance and societal impacts of climate change. Students undertake a dissertation project under expert guidance, preparing them for careers in environmental consultancy, research, or policymaking.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MSc in Climate Change Science and Policy trains highly skilled graduates with a solid grounding in climate change science, alongside a critical understanding of the context for action on climate change. The program is designed for students with a background in science (through their undergraduate or work experience) and includes hands-on quantitative training with climate models and climate data. Graduates of the program have experience in the tools and methods of climate science, and an understanding of the role of scientific evidence in policy, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to governing the environment.

Outline:

The program consists of six taught units and a dissertation project. Currently, all students will undertake three mandatory units, providing:

• hands-on learning and a chance to explore the dynamics of the Earth System with numerical models,
• training in quantitative analysis of climate datasets.
Students also choose three optional units, with the opportunity to pursue further training in quantitative skills (for example, statistics, GIS, remote sensing data) and/or further understanding of the context for climate change policy-making (for example, environmental policy and politics, urbanisation, global development). Students then undertake a research dissertation project on a climate change-related topic of their choice, with the support of a supervisor from the School of Geographical Sciences.

Teaching:

The program is provided by the School of Geographical Sciences, ranked first in the UK for 'Geography and environmental studies' research (THE analysis of REF 2021). Students will join research groups in analysing key areas of climate change science and environmental policy. The program also allows students to develop a range of professional skills, including presentation, project work, teamwork and communication. There is a strong emphasis on carrying out their own research project.

Careers:

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

Other:

The program is closely linked to the renowned Cabot Institute, which brings together the University's research into the changing global environment, and benefits from the location in the city of Bristol, a vibrant hub of environmental action.

UK: full-time £13,100 per year UK: part-time (two years) £6,550 per year Overseas: full-time £28,800 per year For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.