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Environmental Modelling MSc

London, Bloomsbury

There is a growing need for qualified professionals with expertise in environmental modelling. The UCL Environmental Modelling MSc is a cross-disciplinary degree that provides rigorous technical and scientific training for the next generation of environmental modelling professionals.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£15,100
£7,550
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£31,100
£15,550
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have a first or upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject (e.g. computer science, environmental science, geography, oceanography, engineering, mathematics, physics or biology) from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with relevant professional experience will also be considered.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


You will gain a well-rounded training in the role, development and application of models in environmental science. Core modules provide a critical perspective on model-based science and introduce essential computational and numerical methods. The programme is contextualised with reference to the challenges of understanding both natural and human-induced changes to a variety of environmental systems.

Who this course is for

This MSc is designed to appeal to students looking to obtain a good grasp of the model-based approach to environmental science and management. It will appeal not only to those with backgrounds in environmental sciences, but also to those with a background in other sciences or engineering who wish to develop their skills in an environmental science context.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The Environmental Modelling MSc is run by UCL Geography, which enjoys an outstanding international reputation for its research and teaching. Research groups contributing to the MSc include those concerned with environmental modelling and observation, past climates, and recent environmental change and biodiversity.

The programme draws on the unrivalled strengths of UCL in environmental modelling. Our expertise encompasses state-of-the-art global climate models, regional ocean models, advanced hydrodynamic and hydrological simulations, palaeoclimate reconstruction over geological to recent historical timescales, earth observation-derived vegetation and carbon cycle modelling, and model-based assessment of climate change impacts on coastal, estuarine and freshwater systems.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

The programme has been designed to provide an ideal foundation for PhD research, or for employment with environmental monitoring and protection agencies, industry and environmental consultancies. Graduates have gone on to careers as management consultants, business analysts and university researchers.

Employability

Modelling was identified as the highest priority UK skills gap in a recent government review of the environmental sector. This MSc programme exposes students to a broad spectrum of environmental modelling applications, which places graduates in a strong position to find employment. We anticipate that graduates of this MSc are either employed in the private environmental consulting sector or undertake a PhD.

Networking

Students will benefit from the expertise of our world-class researchers and due to the inter-disciplinary nature of our work, you can develop your knowledge across subjects, learning from academics not only in Geography but the wider UCL community as well. The department also hosts annual careers events where alumni share their experience of post-graduation training and employment across the wide variety of opportunities available to geography graduates.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and laboratory and computer-based practical classes.

Assessment is through independent project work, practical-based and written coursework, written examinations and the dissertation.

Each 15 credit module involves 150 learning hours per module. This includes in-person time (such as lectures or practicals), online materials (such as pre-recorded lectures and written documents), independent study, peer-to-peer learning, tutorial support, and assessment and assessment preparation. In general, the in-person contact time will consist of a two-hour session per module in each week of term. This will be supplemented by online contact hours, and voluntary in-person activities including research seminars and assessment and feedback hours.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time nine months, part-time two years) is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, full-time 12 weeks, part-time one year) is offered.

Modules

You will undertake 8 taught modules and the research dissertation.

Full time structure:

Term One: you will take 4 compulsory modules which will include lectures, computer practical work and interactive group exercises.

In addition to the three fixed modules, you will choose either GEOG0118 Climate Dynamics or GEOG0044 Mitigation and Adaptation to Environmental Change as your fourth compulsory module.

Term Two: you will take 4 optional courses from a list of Geography modules available that year. You may also select up to 15 credits from a list of relevant modules from other UCL Departments, depending on availability.

Term Three: the dissertation planning commences in Term Two with the research and writing conducted in Term Three and the summer with the dissertation submitted at the end of August.

Part time structure:

Year One: You will normally take 2 compulsory modules in term one and 2 optional modules in Term Two.

Year Two: You will normally take the remaining 2 compulsory modules in term one and 2 optional modules in Term Two. In Term Three and over the summer you will complete the research dissertation.

Compulsory modules








Optional modules










Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Environmental Modelling. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Environmental Modelling. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Environmental Modelling.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £15,100 £7,550
Tuition fees (2024/25) £31,100 £15,550

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Students produce a poster for the final dissertation presentation. Additional costs: approximately £20.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Aziz Foundation Scholarships in Social and Historical Sciences

Value: Full tuition fees (equivalent to 1yr full-time) (1yr)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Brown Family Bursary

Deadline: 20 June 2024
Value: £15,000 (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Environmental Modelling
  • why you want to study Environmental Modelling at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and/or professional background meets the demands of a challenging academic environment
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Geography
Geography

geog.office@ucl.ac.uk

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