University College Dublin
MSc Environmental & Climate Law
Dublin, Ireland
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
EUR 10,170 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* EU/non-EU fee per year for full time- € 10170; EU/non-EU fee per year for part time- € 5090;
Introduction
Environmental degradation and the climate and biodiversity crises are amongst the most important issues of our time. At their heart are questions of intersectionality and justice. This interdisciplinary programme enables law and non-law graduates to develop core knowledge and skills that will be needed to help address these challenges, whose significance will continue growing in the years ahead.
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.
Ideal Students
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 honor degree or equivalent in Law or a related discipline in the climate change and environmental area.
We have a January start for this program
Admissions
Curriculum
Course Description
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 include 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 program fully online or partly online and partly in person.
Modules
Stage 1 - Core
- Foundations of Environmental Law
- Dissertation
- Climate Change Law and Policy
- Environmental Moot Court
- Natural Resources Law
Stage 1 - Option
- The Market for Labor, Land & SDGs
- Ecology & its Application (On-line)
- Peatlands and Environmental Change
- Peatlands & Global Change (On-line)
- Practical Environmental Assessment
- Planning Law
- NGOs: Law, Governance and Social Change
- Culture, Heritage and Human Rights
- Sustainable Cities
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
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 career advice, the UCD Sutherland School of Law has a dedicated careers advisor on its academic faculty.