University of Manchester

MSc in Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions

Our climate is changing. How we mitigate climate change and adapt to live in a changing climate are fundamental questions for society. Delivered from the unique vantage point of the world's first industrialised city, the MSc Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions has been designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills you will need to help respond to the challenges of human-induced climate change.

This interdisciplinary programme is led by the Department of Geography, with contributions from around the University, including the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. It will develop your understanding of the options for tackling climate change, the societal and political contexts in which they reside, and the scientific background to the problem itself.

The programme aims to empower you with an applied and critical understanding of the full range of social, political, and technical options for tackling climate change. This includes mitigation options for reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation options for protecting against climate change impacts, as well as more unconventional solar geoengineering ideas for reflecting sunlight back into space and cooling the planet. It will also enable you to develop your scientific knowledge of climate change; hone your critical, analytical, and communication skills; and to design and deliver cutting-edge research under expert guidance.

The programme is ideal for those who want to pursue a career in: local, national or international climate policy; businesses and industries focussed on climate change innovations or corporate social responsibility (CSR); non-governmental organisations (NGOs) campaigning or lobbying for action on climate change issues; or in academia with a focus on climate change research. You will have the freedom to specialise according to your interests and ambitions through drawing upon an array of elective units. This will be carefully guided through the induction process and wider programme support.

Special features

• Geography has been studied at Manchester for more than 125 years, and we're one of Europe's best-equipped universities for the subject.
• Our Geography research improves the quality of knowledge across the world, with 90% of our activity defined as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
• We’re home to world-class academics in Geography and other areas of the University contributing to the programme, including the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research , the Manchester Urban Insitute , and the Manchester Environmental Research Institute .
• Join the Manchester University Geographical Society (MUGS) a society run by Geography students for Geography students.

Teaching and learning

Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority.

The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.

The role of SEED

• changes to the rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
• a risk assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University identifying unmanageable risk;
• changes that enhance the educational value and student experience of the activity;
• changes to the situation of a placement provider (for example, which cause them to be unable to accept students);
• the unavailability of appropriate insurance cover;
• the unavailability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs;
• where fieldwork and placements are a compulsory element of the Programme, they will be replaced with something academically similar;
• where a trip or placement is not a compulsory element of the Programme, it may not be replaced.

We will consult with affected students at the earliest possible opportunity and explore the options available to them.

The duty of students

Preparation, attendance and conduct

Attendance at preparatory classes is a compulsory pre-requisite of the fieldwork and placements to ensure safety and learning outcomes are met.

Students who do not attend the compulsory preparatory classes may be prevented from participating in the fieldwork or placement. It is the duty of students to discuss any attendance issues with the field course or placement convenor.

Students are representatives of the university during their fieldwork or placement. Behaviour deemed by the convenor to be unacceptable may result in students being sent home.

Where a student is unable to attend or complete the fieldwork or placement (e.g. due to mitigating circumstances), is prevented from attending due to absence from compulsory preparatory classes, or returned home due to poor conduct:

• a suitable alternative assessment will be offered (as appropriate) to ensure that the programme ILOs are met, and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
• the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.

Immigration, passport and visa requirements

It is the responsibility of the individual student to ensure they have:

• a valid passport to enter the destination country (including sufficient months prior to expiry);
• a valid visa (where required) and comply with its requirements.

The School cannot guarantee that visas required for fieldwork or a placement will be granted by the relevant authority. Please note that countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice.

Where a student is unable to attend fieldwork or a placement because they do not have the required visa or passport:

• a suitable alternative assessment will be offered to ensure that the programme ILOs are met and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
• the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.

Coursework and assessment

Assessment will involve a range of formative and summative assessments, including individual and group work, oral presentations and essays, project work and reports. Coursework is designed to allow you to pursue your particular areas of interest. In the second semester, you will work independently to undertake a dissertation.

Course unit details

MSc Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions comprises the following four core units:

• Climate Emergency, Technology and Society
• Climate Change: Past, Present and Future
• Climate Change Knowledge Politics
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Practice

Plus one of the following two dissertation support units, for students pursuing social science and natural science research, respectively:

• Doing Environmental Research
• Dissertation Support

Students will also take three elective units offered in other areas of Geography and/or from other disciplines within the School of Environment, Education and Development (Department of Planning and Environmental Management, Global Development Institute), School of Social Sciences (Department of Politics), School of Arts, Languages and Cultures (Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute) and the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (UCIL).

MSc Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions responds to the rapidly growing need for interdisciplinary expertise in climate change.

The programme is ideal for those who want to pursue a career in:

• local, national or international climate policy;
• businesses and industries focussed on climate change innovations or corporate social responsibility (CSR);
• non-governmental organisations (NGOs) campaigning or lobbying for action on climate change issues;
• or in academia with a focus on climate change research.

MSc Climate Change graduates have particularly great employment prospects and go on to shape environmental policy through positions in the public and private sectors.

Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in areas including consultancy, research, non-governmental organisations, project management, environmental management, agriculture and forestry, environmental sciences, energy, marketing, and finance.

Top employers include:

• DEFRA;
• the Environment Agency;
• Natural England;
• the Organic Soil Association;
• the UK Atomic Energy Authority;
• UNEP.

Careers support

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability.

Careers support for international students

The Careers Service provide specialist resources, advice and events for international students to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.

• Working in the UK after study
• Working during study
• Professional and alumni networks for international students

Global networks

The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK.

International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country. It is an opportunity to build professional and social networks.