University of Birmingham - College of Life and Environmental Sciences
MSc in Climate Change, Adaptation and PolicyBirmingham, United Kingdom
DURATION
12 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
29 Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 30,370 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international students | application deadline for home students - 29 august 2025
** for international students | GBP 10,900 - for UK students
Key Summary
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Introduction
Global warming is breaking through planetary boundaries towards conditions not seen in ~10,000 years of human civilisation. The global population faces unprecedented threats from rising temperatures, sea level rise and extreme weather. Responding to these challenges requires combined mitigation and adaptation.
Accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), this MSc programme will prepare graduates to make change happen, giving you the skills to keep pace with cutting edge research, understand the policy and governance frameworks for climate change and sustainable futures, and implement evidence-based mitigation and adaptation strategies.
This MSc will will equip students with the expertise and practical skills to help both policy and broader sectors to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate. The programme will teach the fundamental principles of climate change processes, with a firm grounding in the science of climate change impact, mitigation and adaptation research.
The course draws on the diverse, internationally leading research and teaching across the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, from fundamental climate hazards, to hydrological and ecological impacts, to resilient planning for a safe and healthy population, to governance and leadership of change.
- Learn to interrogate lines of evidence for climate impacts and adaptation strategies.;
- Combine physical and social sciences with leadership and management skills to communicate with stakeholders from varied backgrounds.;
- Build research skills to fill knowledge gaps on climate change adaptation, including opportunities to work with employers in the sector;
- Accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), providing free IEMA Student membership while studying, and the option to upgrade to Graduate membership on successful completion of the MSc;
- The University of Birmingham is proud to be a member of the Met Office Academic Partnership;
- We are home to the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
125th Anniversary Scholarships for International Students
We have a proud heritage of removing barriers to education. In 2025, we celebrate our 125th anniversary as a University. To mark this milestone, we’re offering £5,000 scholarships to students from a select number of countries.
Scholarships for international students
At Birmingham, we believe in removing all barriers to education, so all of our talented students can achieve their full potential. As an international student, you can take advantage of our wide range of University-run scholarships as well as the many scholarships and bursaries from external funding organizations.
Curriculum
Study 120 credits from a blend of compulsory and optional modules, completed with a 60-credit dissertation.
The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.
As a research-intensive University, our teaching is informed by the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff. For more information on the circumstances in which the University may need to make changes to modules, please refer to the Terms and Conditions for applicants.
The following must be taken:
- Fundamentals of Climate Change Projections and Policy
- Health and Safety, Environment and Sustainability Management & Leadership
- Environmental analysis and modelling
- Carbon Management
- Weather, Climate and Society
You must choose one of the following:
- Dissertation with Placement
- Dissertation/Research Paper
You must choose 40 credits of modules from the following list:
- Environmental Protection and Climate Change
- Governance of Environmental and Energy Transitions
- Green Infrastructure and Health
- Advances in Water Science and River Management
Rankings
- 17th in the UK (For Geography) - QS World University Rankings 2025
- 12th Geography & Environmental Science - Complete University Guide 2025
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
This programme has been developed in response to a growing number of jobs aimed at implementing green transitions. Graduates will be well-prepared for employment in this sector, such as policy, consultancy, or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) roles. Interactions with practitioners and stakeholders throughout the course will develop your network. Climate impact adaptation is an important research area; interested students may go on to apply for doctoral study.
Careers Network
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services, including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, career fairs, and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
- One-to-one career guidance from our college-specific advisors;
- CV and job application advice to help you stand out to employers;
- An annual programme of careers fairs on campus to meet employers and find out about a range of opportunities available;
- Employer presentations and networking sessions;
- Careers workshops to improve your interview skills and help you find work experience;
- Skills training for postgraduates;
- Graduate mentoring;
- Support and advice on setting up your own business;
- Online career action planning tools and self-enrolment career development courses to use in your own time and support your career planning;
- Specific support for postgraduate researchers, including events, workshops, advice sessions, socials and wellbeing events.
Facilities
Faculty
Program delivery
This course will run over 12 months in a full-time mode. Study a range of compulsory and optional modules completed with an independent research dissertation. While the exact content may change, here’s what you can expect to study each term.
You will learn through a variety of teaching approaches, including lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials.
- Taught modules - delivered through a mix of traditional lectures and practice-oriented activities;
- Seminars - take part in discussion-led seminars alongside your peers and experts in the field;
- Research-intensive teaching - gain research and transferable skills with specialist teaching.