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Climate Change MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Ready to join the next generation of climate change professionals? Explore the complexities of global heating and develop the critical skills needed to develop urgent and future adaptation and mitigation strategies. Learning from UCL’s world-renowned researchers, you'll receive rigorous, industry-ready training, with opportunities to specialise in areas such as modelling, geohazards, and citizen science.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject (such as environmental science, geography, oceanography, biology, chemistry, physics or engineering) from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with relevant professional experience in climate science or environmental management 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


The programme provides you with a knowledge and understanding of the Earth system (incorporating the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere) and the nature and causes of climate variability and change. It combines observationally based climate and environmental science with state-of-the-art modelling, specifically concerned with understanding the impacts of climate change. It seeks to place climate change within the context of broader anthropogenic environmental change and social policy dimensions.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for students with a geographical or scientific background who are interested in acquiring a thorough understanding of the Earth's climate system and techniques for measuring and modelling its variability.

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

What this course will give you

As one of the world's top universities, UCL excels across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. The MSc is run by UCL Geography, which enjoys an outstanding international reputation for its research and teaching.

The Climate Change MSc benefits from the world-class expertise of the department across several disciplines, offering a distinctive blend of fundamental climate science, environmental modelling, impacts and adaptations, delivered from both natural and social science perspectives.

By bringing together students and researchers we aim to create a vibrant and informal academic environment of mutual discovery and ongoing debate.

“I chose UCL because of its global reputation, specialised programme and expert academics... The Department can help shape and support your interest in your chosen specialism, and for that reason, I would recommend it to prospective students.” - Bishal Bhardwaj, MSc Climate Change.

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

The foundation of your career

The programme provides an ideal foundation for PhD research, or for employment with a wide range of private industries, non-governmental organisations, government agencies and environmental consultancies. Graduates have gone on to careers in the commercial, non-profit and academic sectors. Examples include government policy implementation, sustainability consultancy, science communication and research. A significant proportion of students go onto further study such as a PhD. (Graduate Outcomes survey 2017-2022)

I chose UCL because of its global reputation, specialised programme and expert academics... The Department can help shape and support your interest in your chosen specialism, and for that reason, I would recommend it to prospective students.

Image of Bishal Bhardwaj

Bishal Bhardwaj

Climate Change MSc

Read more

Employability

Climate change is a big issue with many governmental, non-governmental and commercial consequences. This programme will give graduates an edge when applying for jobs in the private sector relating to adaptation and mitigation - such as the insurance industry and carbon monitoring companies respectively. It also provides a great stepping-stone to 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 computer-based practical classes. Students can also choose modules which are delivered through laboratory work and field studies.

Assessment is through independent project work, presentations, practical-based and written coursework aimed at a variety of audiences, and the dissertation.

Each 15 credit module involves 150 hours of learning, including lectures, practicals, pre-recorded lectures, independent study, peer-to-peer learning, tutorial support, and assessment and assessment preparation. This will be supplemented by voluntary in-person activities including research seminars and assessment and feedback hours.

For full-time students, this is typically around 12 hours per week contact time. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, you will typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using your remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments. Additionally, you will be expected to complete a dissertation, worth up to 60 credits. You will have regular contact with your supervisor(s) who will guide and support you throughout your work.

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

Modules

You will undertake eight taught modules and a research dissertation.

Full time structure:
Term 1:
You will take four modules to give you a knowledge of the fundamental science of climate change as specified below. Modules contain a variety of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, computer practicals and interactive group exercises.

Term 2:
You will take four optional modules from the available list of modules (with a minimum of 30 credits from the Department of Geography), the modules contain a variety of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, laboratory work and computer practicals.

Term 3:
The dissertation planning commences in Term 2 with the research and writing conducted in Term 3 and the summer with submission at the end of August.

You will undertake eight taught modules and the research dissertation.

Part time structure:

Year 1:
In Term 1, you will take two modules from the list of five available for full-time students. 
In Term 2 you will take two optional modules. 
In Term 3 and over the summer, you will be supported to commence work on your dissertation.

Year 2:
In Term 1, you will take a different two modules from the list of five available for full-time students. 
In Term 2, you will take two further optional modules. 
In Term 3 and over the summer, you will complete the research dissertation.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules















Field Evidence of Environmental Change



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 Climate Change. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Climate Change. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Climate Change.

Accessibility

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

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Students produce a poster for the final dissertation presentation (additional printing costs: approximately £20). 

Should students opt for modules with field trips (such as GEOG0176 Field Evidence of Environmental Change), they will need to cover these costs at their own expense. Please note that the cost of the field class to students will be in the region of £600.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

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) (1 year)
Criteria Based on 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. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study climate change
  • why you want to study MSc Climate Change 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: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Geography
Geography

geog.office@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.