Climate Change

Overview

Climate change is one of the most pressing and challenging issues facing humanity. Extreme heat, flooding, and rising sea levels are leading to a number of dangerous and irreversible impacts on societies and economies. Avoiding the worst impacts depends on decisions we make today to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and to find solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere. A course in climate change has never been so important, as we attempt to tackle these fundamental issues facing humanity in the 21st century.



This highly interdisciplinary course offers a specialised knowledge of climate change from multiple perspectives, addressing many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around themes including climate science; impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; technological and nature-based mitigation; and the connections between climate change and human culture. Practical skills training is embedded in all modules and will provide vital hands-on experience in applying subject knowledge in the real world.



There are also strong links with employers – notably through a careers module and an opportunity to undertake an employer-focused research project. This will ensure students graduate as the global citizens and leaders that society needs to help secure the future of our planet. This will open the doors to a wide variety of careers and pathways for future study – including the public sector (e.g. national meteorological and environmental agencies, and local councils), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and charities; the private sector (e.g. environmental consultancies, energy and utilities companies, risk, finance and insurance providers); universities and research institutes; and many more.



Course Structure

The Master of Science is awarded to students who successfully complete the taught element of the programme (120 CATs) comprising 80 CATs core modules and 40 CATs elective modules, and a 60 CATs Research Project.



Student may register on a Full-time or Part-time basis.



For full-time study, 60 CATs are taken in the first semester, 60 CATs in the second semester, and the 60 CATs Research Project during the summer (with lead-in time during the second semester).



For part-time study, 80 CATs are taken in the first year, and 100 CATs in the second year – including the 60 CATs Research Project.



Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing the taught element of the programme (120 CATs) or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATs from the taught programme.



We strive to teach in longer blocks across fewer days to reduce the need for commuting and enable students to work part-time around their course.

Year 1

Core Modules

Mitigating Climate Change (20 credits)

The Science of Climate Change (20 credits)

Careers in Climate Change (0 credits)

Research Project (60 credits)

Living with Climate Change (20 credits)

Culture and Climate Change (20 credits)



Optional Modules

Assessment of Environmental Impacts (20 credits)

Environmental Interaction (10 credits)

Foundations for Sustainable Development (20 credits)

Introduction to Renewable Energies (10 credits)

Planning for Sustainable Communities (20 credits)

The Politics and Political Economy of Energy and Low Carbon Energy Transitions (20 credits)

Urban Futures (20 credits)

Applied Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technologies (20 credits)

A 2.2 Honours Degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in any subject.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 30th June 2025 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.



Please note: A deposit will be required to secure a place on this course.

1 year (Full-time), 2 years (Part-time)

Entry Year: 2025/26

Career Prospects

In addition to the subject-specific skills acquired on the programme, considerable care has been taken to ensure students are equipped with employability skills and are supported in their career development. Most notably, the programme includes a bespoke “Careers in Climate Change” module providing employability support and opportunities to network with employers in the climate change arena. Practical skills training is central in all core modules, ensuring students graduate with a range of technical hard skills (e.g. climate modelling, GIS, quantitative and qualitative data analysis) and transferable soft skills (e.g. presentations and report writing) that are highly valued by employers. The Research Project module includes an employer-focused option, involving a project co-designed and co-supervised by a member of staff from an external organisation. This is another way students can boost their career prospects, through working on a project of direct relevance and importance in the workplace, and by networking with staff within that organisation. Finally, students can avail of central University support through the QUB Careers, Employability and Skills department.