Law - Environmental & Climate Law

MSc Environmental & Climate Law
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)

The programme draws on UCD Sutherland School of Law’s established strength in climate and environmental law and policy, while also benefiting from teaching and research expertise from across the university, including from the Schools of Geography, Economics, Biology & Environmental Science, and Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy.

Note: In keeping with our commitment to environmental responsibility, international students undertaking this programme online will be charged the same fees as Domestic/EU students.

An interdisciplinary legal degree for tomorrow’s environmental leaders

This unique programme allows law and non-law graduates to combine a legal degree with the development of expertise in a range of other vital environmental disciplines.

Dr. Andrew Jackson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Law

Andrew Jackson has diverse research interests in the fields of climate and environmental law and is an accomplished litigator, having been involved in public interest environmental cases for many years, including before the Irish, English and EU courts. He acted for Friends of the Irish Environment in the landmark ‘Climate Case Ireland’ before the Supreme Court of Ireland. His previous roles include working for a large law firm in London and Paris, for the UK government's Department for Environment, and as in-house lawyer for an environmental NGO in Ireland.

Prof. Suzanne Kingston, Professor of Environmental Law

Suzanne Kingston is Professor of Environmental Law at UCD and a Judge of the EU General Court. Suzanne has published widely in the fields of environmental and climate law and is co-author of ‘European Environmental Law’ (Cambridge University Press), described by reviewers as an "essential text" and a "major contribution to the literature".

Who should Apply?
Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Students with an upper second class honour degree or equivalent in Law or a related discipline in teh climate change and environmental area.

We have a January start for this programme

Course Content and Structure:
90 credits taught masters = 60 credits taught modules + 30 credits dissertation

September and January start dates are available for this programme.

Students must choose the following four core taught modules (40 credits in total):

Foundations of Environmental Law
Climate Change Law and Policy
Natural Resources Law
Environmental Moot Court
Students choose 2-4 of the following optional modules (20 credits in total), which includes a field trip for those who opt for

Planning Law:

Practical Environmental Assessment
NGOs: Law, Governance and Social Change
The Market for Labour, Land & SDGs
Ecology and its Applications
Peatlands and Environmental Change
Culture, Heritage and Human Rights
Sustainable Cities
Planning Law
International Law of the Sea

All core modules are online only. Depending on the optional modules chosen, students can complete the programme fully online or partly online and partly in person.

This programme is intended for applicants with a degree in law or another relevant discipline, including the social and natural sciences. An upper second class honours NFQ Level 8 (GPA 3.08 or international equivalent) is required.

•Exemption may be given to those with significant, relevant, practical experience or those with a relevant graduate qualification.

The following entry routes are available:

MSc Environmental & Climate Law FT (B783)
Duration 1 Years
Attend Full Time
Deadline Rolling*

MSc Environmental & Climate Law PT (B784)
Duration 2 Years
Attend Part Time
Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

Application Procedure

Applicants should indicate which programme they are applying for. All applicants should note:

Official transcripts must be submitted as proof of examination results by all applicants except UCD graduates.
The personal statement is an important component of the application. It should contain information demonstrating your capability to undertake the course successfully. You should detail any relevant research and practical experience including any publications and major essays/projects.
Applicants must nominate two academic referees (name, position, postal address, e-mail address and telephone number). If an applicant has been in employment for more than two years, one of the referees must be your employer.

1 year full-time or 2 years part time online.

NEXT INTAKE: 2024/2025 September.

Careers & Employability
The aim of this programme is to equip graduates to work in the fields of climate and environmental law/policy, internationally or in Ireland, as a practising lawyer, legal adviser, policy maker, advocate, researcher, consultant or academic. Career opportunities exist for example in inter-governmental organisations (e.g. United Nations, European Union, Council of Europe), in government departments and agencies, in local government, in international and domestic non-governmental organisations and think tanks, and in leading planning and environmental consultancies and law firms.

Several UCD careers events are held throughout the year, including dedicated law careers fairs which are attended by top employers. For specific careers advice, the UCD Sutherland School of Law has a dedicated careers advisor on its academic faculty.