Climate Change Management MSc

This MSc programme (total 180 credits) comprises:

• compulsory and option courses (total 120 credits)
• dissertation (60 credits)

Topics

The MSc programme enables a diverse coverage of topics. Core aspects include:

• essential understandings of climate change science
• the politics of climate evidence and policy
• climate mitigation technological developments and applications
• examination of what is happening in climate adaptation, risk and impacts
• tools and methods to understand and explore these issues.

These are supplemented by a wide array of optional courses that encompass topics as diverse as:

• carbon finance and accounting
• energy systems and technologies
• global governance
• environmental sustainability
• nature-based solutions
• food systems

Dissertation

Your teaching team will work with you throughout the programme to prepare for the dissertation project. This will be your opportunity to explore, in depth, a topic of your choice in relation to climate change and carbon management and prepare a dissertation that you can use to demonstrate your work to potential employers.

You can even use the dissertation to explore your own business idea for tackling climate change through the business plan dissertation option.

We also work with our wide network to find opportunities for dissertation projects with external organisations, enhancing the real-world relevance of your degree.

How will I learn?

You will experience a range of learning styles while studying, depending on the subject matter and courses you are taking. Teaching for this programme will typically involve a mix of flipped-classrooms, lectures, seminars, invited guest presentations, and workshop-style group discussions.

Courses are delivered by our staff, most of whom are also active researchers. Their expertise is supplemented by guest speakers from industry, consultancy, government and other research organisations.

You can view each relevant course for teaching and assessment methods through the ‘Programme Structure’ link under compulsory and option courses below.

Part-time study

You may study this programme part-time as we are committed to helping people into education while continuing to work or managing family and personal commitments. Two and three-year part-time options are available. We recommend living within a commutable distance from Edinburgh in order to undertake part-time study, and we encourage you to contact us to discuss part-time study in more detail.

Changes to teaching and learning

We are committed to offering high-quality education to all our students. However, please be advised that there may be changes to course options and delivery. All decisions are made to ensure we can provide the highest standards for your educational experience.

Although we endeavour to provide a wide range of optional courses to choose from, these can be subject to change or cancellation at short notice. Places on optional courses can be limited due to course capacity and timetabling constraints. It may not be possible to guarantee every offer holder their top choice of optional courses.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

This programme is undergoing structural changes as it transitions from MSc Carbon Management to MSc Climate Change Management. We link to the latest information available for this programme, which refers to the current MSc Carbon Management programme (24/25). Please note that this should be considered indicative.

• MSc Carbon Management (1 year full-time) Programme Structure 24/25
• MSc Carbon Management (2 years part-time) Programme Structure 24/25
• MSc Carbon Management (3 years part-time) Programme Structure 24/25

(Revised 11 October 2024 to provide clarity on course options within the programme)

On completing the MSc Climate Change Management, you will:

• Gain a critical understanding of theories, concepts and principles underpinning the impacts of, and responses to, local, regional and global climate change.
• Be able to demonstrate responses to climate change issues that are reflective, self-critical and based on research and evidence.
• Be able to demonstrate multidisciplinary skills, techniques and practices that draw upon different empirical sources, analytical perspectives and sub-disciplines within climate change and carbon management studies.
• Be able to demonstrate initiative in tackling and managing problems towards realising a just and equitable society given global climate change.

A key strength of the MSc Climate Change Management is the employability of our graduates.

The MSc aims to provide businesses, industry, academia and governments with an annual cohort of graduates with the high-level knowledge necessary to help respond to climate change and move the world towards a net-zero future.

Our programme combines the teaching of academic knowledge and understanding with the development of applied and practical skills.

Our graduates have been successful in securing employment in the carbon and climate change sector worldwide.

Although there is not a 'typical' job our graduates go on to do, your career after completing the MSc Climate Change Management can include:

• climate change and carbon management consultancy companies
• climate change managers in a wide range of companies, representing many sectors
• renewable energy project developers
• central, regional and local government civil servants delivering a wide range of climate change and decarbonisation policies
• climate policy advisors
• NGO climate policy researchers and executives
• climate change adaptation and mitigation specialists
• PhD research and a subsequent academic career path

In addition, some alumni have created their own successful businesses and consultancies.

Our graduates

In the climate change field, our graduates are employed by hundreds of organisations around the world, for example, in programme management and leadership roles, as data analytic and technical specialists, consultants or in communication and engagement positions.

Examples of organisations include:

• Bloomberg New Energy Finance
• Carbon Sense
• Mott MacDonald
• Costain Group
• PwC
• John Wood Group
• The World Bank
• Forestry Department Malawi
• The Carbon Trust
• Arup
• Deloitte
• The Nature Conservancy
• Japanese Ministry of Education
• China Beijing Environmental Exchange
• University California Berkeley
• WindPower Nepal
• Rolls-Royce
• Department of Business
• UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero
• London Assembly
• Asian Development Bank
• SEPA
• Scottish Parliament
• Forestry Research Institute of Ghana
• LCP Delta
• DSS+ DuPont Sustainable Solutions
• Jacobs Inc.
• UNDO

Networks

The MSc in Climate Change Management has excellent relationships with relevant employers and an exclusive alumni network on LinkedIn, with over 450 members covering more than 30 nations.

This network provides you with unique opportunities to seek advice from alumni, some of whom have decades of experience in the job market.

Edinburgh Innovations – start-up opportunities

We have fantastic resources through the University department 'Edinburgh Innovations' to help you successfully nurture your entrepreneurial ideas and launch your own enterprise.

• Visit the Edinburgh Innovations website

Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience at the University, providing:

• tailored advice
• individual guidance and personal assistance
• internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
• access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree. Studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success, whatever shape that takes.

• Careers Service

Edinburgh Climate Change Institute

This programme is housed in the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI).

You will have access to the shared 'Masters Hub' study space in ECCI as well as the café and shared working spaces on the ground and first floors. Some of your teaching will take place in the ECCI.

ECCI brings together law, business, social science, technology, and policy experts to help develop a low-carbon society. Through ECCI, you will have the opportunity to work and network alongside professionals and potential employers within this high-demand field.

ECCI is also close to many teaching spaces and facilities within the Central Area campus. For example, the Main Library and gym.

• Visit the ECCI website

Facilities

You will have access to the University's facilities across all University sites.

For example:

• laboratories
• libraries
• study spaces (some of which are open 24 hours)
• computing facilities
• social spaces
• leisure facilities

Depending on the option courses you choose, you may study at various campus locations in Edinburgh.

Take a virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the School of GeoSciences and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Discover our city's landmarks, our campuses and accommodation, and get video tours - all in one place.

• Take a virtual tour

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject such as environmental sciences, management, social sciences, energy, sustainability, earth sciences, physical sciences, geology, geography, economics, biology, health sciences, engineering, business administration, or finance.

We may also consider degrees in other disciplines if you can demonstrate how it is relevant to the programme, or if you have relevant work experience in a related field.

We may also consider a UK 2:2 honours degree, or its international equivalent, if you have substantial, related professional experience.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place.

• £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

• Tuition fee deposits

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money
  • taking out a loan
  • family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

• ScottishPower Master Scholarships

School of GeoSciences scholarships

• See potential funding for GeoSciences students

Scholarships and student funding

You can find funding opportunities, tuition fees and costs of living for prospective UK and international postgraduate students on the University website.

• Postgraduate scholarships and student funding

You are also encouraged to undertake your own research into the range of potential scholarships and other funding outside the University for which you may be eligible.

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding